Kelly Ripa owns a weird little spot in my heart. I’m generally averse to morning show-style patter and generally avoid wakeup television except for the Charlie Rose-helmed CBS Morning Show. (In case you’ve always suspected that I’m a senior citizen masquerading as a 20-something New Yorker, there’s another piece of evidence for your conspiracy.) Every now and then, though, I stumble across Live with Kelly and Michael, and I’m struck by how warm, quick and funny Kelly is. She’s not a host I’d expect to like, but she wins me over within minutes every single time.
Kelly’s not as ardently followed by paparazzi as some of the folks that we feature, but because she lives in Soho and has a fancy media job, New York photogs do get their fair share of pictures of her. We went through those photos to come up with a summary of Kelly’s bag collection, and what we discovered is that Kelly is like a lot of us – she buys a nice bag and then uses it over and over again, until it’s worn out or she gets sick of it in favor of something new. Other than the tight workout regime, Ripa might be one of us, which is perhaps what makes her so totally likable in the first place.
Although she’s a rather prominent media personality, Kelly likely doesn’t receive free bags at nearly the rate that singers and actresses do, if at all, because she’s not in a position of scrutiny that gives weight to her every fashion choice. If I had to guess, I’d say that she bought every bag on this list, starting with her much-loved Celine Luggage Tote, which is the piping-free version from several years ago. Kelly still carries this bag almost constantly and seems to love it.
When it comes to clutches, Kelly seems to have an affinity for Balenciaga – check out her Balenciaga Patent Giant Envelope Clutch. Pick it up in regular leather for $945 via Barneys.
Kelly has also toted a Balenciaga Hip Bag without its shoulder strap as a clutch. (Or at least that’s what I think we’re looking at here, anyway.) The red version will set you back $815 via Neiman Marcus.
Kelly’s Chanel Cambon Reporter Satchel is a huge blast from the past for me; I wanted one so badly in the mid-2000s.
Amply proportioned black bags seem to be Kelly’s daytime go-to, just like they are for so many women in NYC (and everywhere, but we’re especially fond of black around here). Her Tod’s Helmut Bag is a frequent companion. Shop Tod’s via Neiman Marcus.
The Alexander Wang Bianca Vest Bag is such an odd piece, plus it was only produced for one season, in 2009. It makes me weirdly pleased to see that Kelly still wears hers (or half of it) regularly. Shop Alexander Wang via ShopBop.
Kelly also occasionally goes for a large brown bag, like the Marc Jacobs Striped Hudson Tote in dark chocolate. Shop Marc Jacobs via Net-a-Porter.
On the bright side, there’s Kelly’s Balenciaga Cherche Midi Bag in white. Shop Balenciaga via Neiman Marcus.
To round out the day bags (well, the non-Hermes day bags), we have Kelly’s Louis Vuitton Deauville Bag. $1,610 via Louis Vuitton.
As you can probably imagine, Kelly cleans up pretty well, like with this sparkly Judith Leiber Beaded Clutch for the NYC Ballet Gala. Shop Judith Leiber via Neiman Marcus.
Above all, Kelly’s biggest bag loves seem to be her two neutral Birkins. When she’s not carrying her Celine tote, she’s almost always got one of these on her arm. First, the classic black Hermes Birkin.
On a more casual (and by the looks of it, far more sweltering) day, Kelly’s preference is for her tan Hermes Birkin.
There’s nothing special here. I believe that even the staff of PurseBlog has more exciting bag collection than a TV mogul like her.
I think that’s actually the reason I like her collection so much. The bags ARE special in that they are all pretty expensive for someone who actually has to pay for them. There’s something just refreshingly honest and real about it… For the most part, her collection reflects my current collection with the addition of some major pieces that I’d love to own someday.
Aww her and her husband are so cute together!
I have the same birkins & LV. I remember meeting her & her husband years ago. They were really sweet.
I love hearing that famous people are actually nice in person. It makes me like them more :).
Was it Elizabeth Taylor who so famously said that after 40 a woman has to choose between her face and her a**? When the leather on your bags looks better than the skin on your face, you might need to rethink your choices.
wow, guest – on Wednesdays we wear pink.
Love Kelly, her bag choices, her prioritization on family – all good!
HA! This made my day!
Is butter a carb?
I know! How dare a woman have the nerve to age! I can’t believe she leaves the house.
That was sarcasm for the record.
I have to think if I had the money (which I don’t), this collection of bags is very similar to what I would really carry. And to Amanda’s point, makes me like Kelly more. What else makes me like her more…is that is some of these pics, she obviously is not made up to the nines. While it’s nice to see all the ridic collections of Lisa Vanderpump, the Karadashians, etc…it’s refreshing to see someone who likes nice things, potentially pays for it themself, and is not following the trends just to be followed by the press.
I like her collection, she owns bags that a non-celebrity person with good taste would choose -all neutral, all classic -I love it.
I think it’s funny that some actresses/singers (and kardashians, yuck) are given free bags while Kelly Ripa isn’t-I’d be much more likely to buy something after seeing pictures of her with it than after seeing a reality tv star with the same bag. I don’t think her skin looks that bad by the way-she’s 43 and from what I gather she has a pretty brutal schedule (I know at one time she was working on three separate shows). She’s not going to look like a pampered 25 year old.
Lol, I was waiting for the requisite Kardashian hater/snark. Did not disappoint.
You know what I love (aside from her bags) is the fact that in most pictures she is with her husband or her kids…nice to see a celeb who obviously cares out her family A LOT.
I personally think she looks awesome for being 43 and I love her bags!
Her husband gets hotter and hotter, I swear. Anyway, I like Kelly, but her style, including the bags is safe mini-van majority fluff that is her demographic. Expensive, but not too out there to upset the moms who watches her sensibilities. In other words, boring.