The true test of a handbag isn’t just how it looks with an outfit for a season or two. It’s whether you’re still carrying it years after you bought it. Does it survive daily train commutes or messy little fingers reaching for it? Does it fit into your rotation as well as it did when you first got it? London-based DeMellier has built its business on this idea—that a solid handbag should hold up to real life and outlast every micro-trend that comes along.
For its latest launch, the Icons collection, the brand asked five stylish women—Montreal-based style figure Grece Ghanem, Paris creator Lena Mahfouf, and models Taylor Hill, Romee Strijd, and Rebecca Donaldson—to rework its best-known designs to reflect their own perspective and personal style. “We chose five different women, across generations, backgrounds and experiences, who were already part of our community and connected with our values,” shares founder Mireia Llusia-Lindh. “They are united by a strong sense of self, determination and purpose, and each has forged her own path.”
Llusia-Lindh launched DeMellier in London in 2017 after years in the luxury industry, with a focus on well-made bags priced below the big heritage houses. That approach quickly gained traction, and in the decade since, the brand has become a go-to for structured, polished styles that work for everyday and beyond. The lineup covers the DeMellier classics—including the Midi Hudson, the New York, the Large Siena Bucket, the Stockholm, and the Stockholm Shoulder—each updated in textures and colors that reflect their creator’s unique point of view.
Model Taylor Hill gravitated toward the Large Siena Bucket for its wearability and longevity, rendering it in a deep burgundy. “It feels timeless and is one of those colors that goes with everything,” she says. Grece Ghanem chose the Midi Hudson, which she has owned and carried for years, and reimagined it in dark navy croc-effect leather. “It was a natural choice to reinterpret it in my own way,” Ghanem says. “I chose to reimagine it in a navy croc-effect as it can elevate any outfit, by complimenting neutrals while still satisfying my desire for some edginess.”
Scottish model and entrepreneur Rebecca Donaldson selected the Stockholm Shoulder for its structured ease and finished it in a dark sage with fine grain leather. “It feels very true to my style because it’s understated and neutral but still has a little something unexpected about it,” Donaldson shares with Vogue. “I also added the white stitching as a subtle contrast, which gives the bag a soft point of difference without taking away from its simplicity.” The sage sits somewhere between green and gray, and works well as a neutral. “An iconic handbag is one that feels instantly recognizable without having to try too hard,” Donaldson shares. “It has a strong, distinctive silhouette, but also a sense of ease.”
Lena Mahfouf went with the New York in a fern-colored suede, while Romee Strijd chose to bring the Stockholm to life in a dark brown fine grain leather—a shade she said felt very true to her personal style. “I wanted something that works with everything but still feels special,” Strijd says, and was drawn to this bowling bag shape because it felt “feminine, timeless, and comfortable.”
The pieces, of course, are just as easyThey are designed to be worn like the originals, but with a personal twist that feels unique to each woman. The Icons collection is priced from $595 to $730 and is available exclusively to Vogue Shopping readers for 24 hours before its official launch, listed below.
Romee Strijd: The Stockholm
Photo: Courtesy of DeMellier
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DeMellier x Romee Strijd The Stockholm bag
$725
DEMELLIER
Grece Ghanem: The Midi Hudson
Photo: Courtesy of DeMellier
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DeMellier x Grece Ghanem The Midi Hudson bag
$715
DEMELLIER
Lena Mahfouf: The New York
Photo: Courtesy of DeMellier
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DeMellier x Lena Mahfouf The New York bag
$730
DEMELLIER
Rebecca Donaldson: The Stockholm Shoulder
Photo: Courtesy of DeMellier
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DeMellier x Rebecca Donaldson The Stockholm shoulder bag
$595
DEMELLIER
Taylor Hill: The Siena Bucket Bag
Photo: Courtesy of DeMellier
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DeMellier x Taylor Hill The Siena bucket bag
$690
DEMELLIER
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs Vogue Exclusive DeMelliers New Icons Collection Reinvents Its Bestselling Bags
1 What is DeMelliers Icons collection
Its a new line of handbags that reimagines DeMelliers most popular bestselling designs with fresh updates in shape hardware or materials
2 Why is Vogue featuring it
Vogue gave the collection an exclusive first look which is why its being called a Vogue Exclusive
3 Which bags are part of the Icons collection
It focuses on DeMelliers signature styleslike the New York Montreal and Vancouver totesrather than brandnew silhouettes
4 What does reinvents actually mean here
The bags keep their original DNA but get refined details updated proportions new hardware added compartments or upgraded leather
5 How is this different from a regular DeMellier bag
The Icons versions are limited more designforward takes on classics often with details you wont find on the standard models
6 What materials are used
DeMellier is known for sustainable ethically sourced leather and the Icons collection continues that with premium finishes
7 Are the bags still veganfriendly
DeMellier uses responsibly sourced leather not synthetic vegan leather so most Icons pieces are leatherbased
8 How much do the Icons bags cost
They sit in the premium rangetypically higher than core styles due to limited runs and upgraded detailing
9 Where can I buy them
Theyre available on DeMelliers official website and select retailers often starting with the Vogueexclusive launch
10 Are they limited edition
Yes most Icons pieces are produced in limited quantities so they sell out quickly
11 What sizes are available
Sizes vary by stylemini regular and tote formatsso check each product page for exact dimensions
12 Do the bags come with a warranty
DeMellier offers a standard warranty against manufacturing defects check the site for current terms
13 Whats the most popular bag in the collection
The New York tote tends to be the standout given its cult following and versatile design