UMA THURMAN

41-year-old actress, Uma Thurman boards a yacht during the 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival where she served as a member of Robert de Niro's jury, alongside actor Jude Law.  Her Havanne 40CM Crocodile Kelly came along for the ride.

KELLY RUTHERFORD

Gossip Girl’s Lily van der Woodsen loves her designer bags, and so does Kelly Rutherford, the actress playing her in the tv series.  

She is seen here, playing her real-life favorite role of “mom”, while carrying her Kelly, Birkin, and Evelyne bags.  She loves Hermès so much, her eldest son is named Hermès!

She once explained, “At my baby shower, my friends joked that I should name my baby Hermès because I love Hermès. Everywhere he looks, he’s going to have his name on everything, especially my credit card bills!”

KELLY

Let’s talk about Kelly.  Perhaps, it is safe to say that one of the most sought-after bags in the world is the Hermes Kelly bag.  (In fact, the first time I saw one – the clean, tailored-shape, and the two leather metal-tipped straps sealed with a cute little padlock, it took my breath away.  Yes, it looks a tad more mature than what a girl in college would be carrying, but I’ve always loved the retro-classic-chic vibe.  And I knew then that I wanted one when I grew up.  But, I had yet to learn about the price tag.)

This bag came into being in 1930, but was propelled into stardom in 1956, when Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco used her Hermes bag to shield her pregnant belly from the prying eyes of reporters and paparazzi.  Photographs of her covering her pregnancy bulge with her handbag were splashed all over the world, earning the bag the name “Kelly” and its iconic status today.

 

Kelly bags come in 5 different sizes and are made from a plethora of materials from crocodile, ostrich, alligator, to matte or shiny leather.  Functionality-speaking, some have complained about the complicated way to open and close this purse.  You will need both hands to unclasp the straps and open the flap, for you to take out your keys, your wallet, your lipstick, or your pistol, and go through the same step-by-step process to seal.  There is no way to tote this around while leaving it open like its sister, the Birkin.  But then, maybe a proper lady has no business opening her pocketbook in public.