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The Hermes Kelly Bag,
though originally released
in 1935, gained
unprecedented popularity
in the 1950’s. Grace Kelly
used the bag to hide her
pregnant belly from the
paparazzi and the bag
become so associated with
the actress that Hermes
renamed it in her honor.
The allure of the Kelly
and the elegance
associated with it continue
today.
1960-1970 Snobs & the
Swingin’ Sixties
A good handbag was now
a sign of good breeding.
The fashion editors
advised a woman to invest
as much as she could in a
good handbag, which
would last a long time and
could help to hide the fact
that her clothes were
perhaps not as well-made.
Joy feelings magazine
One reporter is quoted as
saying, “A good handbag
is something one can
afford to be snobbish
about; it is so very much a
sign of good grooming.”
A handbag was now part
of a smart woman’s outfit
and her outfit said a lot
about her place in the
world.
As rock and roll and op art
began to change the
cultural landscape, fashion
followed suit. The fashion
of the 1950’s was heavy
and serious but the fashion
of the 1960’s was fun,
carefree and colorful.
Teenage girls began to
experience a new freedom
and new companies
sprung up making
products that would be
attractive to these younger
consumers.The handbag
was now not only a