Actually, I see celebrities the same way I see characters in a tv show or a movie. Celebrities - even when they're just out and about, typically are still selling some sort of image. And most of them are not even styled by themselves, but by someone they've hired. You can actually look at many celebs now and pinpoint exactly who their stylist is - because they tend to start looking alike (especially the ones Rachel Zoe styles).
So for me, they aren't really 'real' people. They're just characters. For that reason, I typically get my inspiration from actual fashion spreads, movies or tv shows - not really from celebrities themselves. The reason is because the 'look' is often carried through better - or it looks more cohesive than what you sometimes see celebs in. I LOVED Renee Russo's wardrobe in The Thomas Crown Affair. I also loved Anne Hathaway's wardrobe in The Devil Wears
Prada. And I loved Audrey Hepburn's long black and white gown in Sabrina, Grace Kelly's entire wardrobe from To Catch a Thief...
In fact, I even loved Grace Kelly's wardrobe after she became a Princess - even more a created image than a real person. Same with most royals. I love Queen Raina's look, and CP Mary of Denmark, as well as CP Letizia of Spain. And of course, Diana. I think it's mostly because they tend to wear classic pieces with just a hint of edge and that's up my alley style-wise. The styles royals wear are immediately accessible for a career-woman.
The reason I love the Hermes Kelly and Birkin bags is because they go with that royal-restrained-classic style that I gravitate toward. And also because of a quote from a book I read (can't remember which) that said: "French women carry a Birkin not because it's the IT bag, but because it's a family heirloom."
I want to be able to pass a bag down to my daughter that has staying power - thus I try not to subject myself to the whims of celebrity taste (that often isn't even theirs).