One of the most iconic purses of recent years is the Hermès Kelly bag, a truly timeless handbag design. The Kelly first came to light in in the 1930s but it wasn’t until 1956 that it really became a must-have accessory. The Kelly bag is named after one of Hollywood’s most stylish actresses, Grace Kelly, who used the chic purse to hide her pregnancy bulge from the press. Pictures of her shielding her stomach with the Hermès bag became iconic images and even made it to the cover of Life magazine. Kelly bags are available in 5 different sizes and are usually manufactured from crocodile, alligator, ostrich-skin or plain leather. They are identifiable by their distinctive metal clasp, which closes with a tiny padlock. Nowadays, vintage examples of the Hermès Kelly are much sought-after and change hands for large amounts of money. An early 60s crocodile Kelly would be expected to fetch anything from $3,000 - $6,000 at auction. Some things never go out of fashion and for a touch of retro Hollywood glamour the Kelly Bag – one of the fashion world’s most iconic items – might just be the investment for you.