Lauren Sánchez’s lavish wedding was anything but ordinary, so why should her everyday bag be any different?
In recent weeks — and during her multi-day Venice nuptials last month — the newly minted Mrs. Jeff Bezos has been spotted carrying an extremely rare version of Hermès’ iconic Kelly purse: the Kelly Midas.
“The name draws inspiration from King Midas, the mythical Greek figure cursed with the golden touch — everything he touches turns to gold,” Daniel Englander, an expert on luxury resale site Fashionphile‘s VIP Relations team, tells Page Six Style.
“The bag itself embodies this myth: its handle is partially crafted from real 18-karat gold, and the hardware is also made of solid gold. Visually, it looks as though King Midas himself just laid hands on it, and it’s beginning to transform before your eyes.”
While the original Kelly bag’s been around since the 1930s, the gilded version was released in 2023. Based on “limited intel,” per Englander, a calfskin version retails for around $115,000, while a crocodile one like Sánchez’s will cost you closer to $170,000 at an Hermès boutique.
But as anyone familiar with the French fashion house knows, only top Hermès clients are offered the opportunity to purchase its bags (and especially rarer models like the Kelly Midas) in-store.
For everyone else, resale’s the way to go, which means higher prices. Englander tells us that exotic-skin versions of the Kelly Midas can fetch up to $250,000, saying that “[the style’s] scarcity only adds to its desirability and value.”
Given Sánchez is a loyal Hermès client — she’s the proud owner of multiple Birkins, and also brought out an exotic Kelly Cut during her wedding weekend — she’s likely one of the lucky few able to purchase a gold-dipped bag the old-fashioned way.
“Lauren reportedly hosted a private shopping event at Hermès for her bachelorette party, and it’s quite possible this bag was secured then — a truly special piece for a major life moment,” Englander says.
“I think Lauren was likely drawn to the extraordinary craftsmanship and exclusivity of the Midas — qualities that Hermès collectors and luxury connoisseurs deeply appreciate.”
In addition to toting her Kelly Midas during a post-bachelorette dinner date with Bezos in Cannes, Sánchez carried it with a Grace Kelly-coded Dior skirt set and Hermès headscarf during her wedding festivities in Italy. (We wonder what the Kelly bag’s eponym would think of its gold-plated upgrade.)
More recently, the newlywed brought the rare design to Paris Couture Week and the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference, the so-called “summer camp for billionaires.” Clearly, she’s going for cost per wear here.
And considering Sánchez’s taste for over-the-top glamour in all its forms, the Kelly Midas is certainly an on-brand choice of accessory.
“The use of exotic skin paired with real gold is one of the most overt expressions of ultra-luxury we’ve seen in recent years,” Englander says — adding that while Sánchez’s version “is a masterpiece,” it’s actually not the rarest iteration of the style on offer.
“The most coveted version features exotic skin with a handle made of 18-karat white gold encrusted with diamonds. It’s the pinnacle of Hermès luxury, and perhaps the ultimate collector’s piece,” he explains.
Should Bezos already be on the hunt for the perfect first anniversary gift for his new bride, that’d definitely fit the bill.
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