Hermes Special Order Bags

Since this thread is now huge and the internal links to frequently asked questions no longer work, here is a brief FAQ for newcomers to the Hermes Special Order process.

What are the current choices for "a la carte" Special Order bags?
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What is an Hermes Special Order?
Each year Hermes gives select clients the opportunity to customize a classic bag in a made-to-order a la carte process. This thread is only for bag A La Carte orders (please use the separate threads for watch SOs and shoe SOs). "A la carte", "SO" (special order), and "HSS" (horse shoe stamp) are used interchangeably on this forum.

When is the Special Order season?
Currently, there is one SO season each calendar year, opening around the beginning of February and closing when slots run out or the end of December, whichever occurs first. New SO menus are typically leaked in February and remain constant until the following calendar year. Individual stores have complete discretion on when, within this window, they offer SO appointments to their clients.

Which specs can I customize?
Hermes defines which specs can be customized and these specs can change each SO season. Generally these specs include: leather type, leather color, and hardware color. At your SO appointment, your SA will present you will the limited menu of choices including bag types and sizes (Birkin 25, Kelly 28, etc), pre-set combination designs (line, verso, multico, etc), leather choices, leather colors, hardwares, and a map for which options can be selected for which bag type and size. Not all leathers and hardwares are allowed for all bag types and sizes.

Can I make physical changes to a bag definition during SO?
Sometimes clients would like to change a physical aspect of a bag, like increase the handle drop or add a pocket or a strap. Unfortunately, Hermes does not allow any type of alteration to the bag definition during SO. For extensive changes like these, a client would need to pursue a “Horizon order” which can be read about here.

How long will my SO take?
There is no way to predict how long a SO will take from placing the order to receipt of the finished product. Although Hermes has recently put forward efforts to fulfill a la carte orders within a year, it isn’t uncommon for bags to arrive in just a few months or also much longer than the year estimate.

Can my SA give me status my existing SO?
Unfortunately, the info that can be seen by SAs at the local store is very limited. They can generally see if the order is still outstanding (ie hasn’t been cancelled) but do not get status updates beyond that. Some stores will update clients when they get notice that a bag has been shipped from Paris but other stores wait until the bag is physically in store before alerting the client.

Do I need to place a deposit for SO?
In most regions of the world, a deposit is not required for SOs. However, some Asian and Middle Eastern locations do seem to request at least a partial deposit. Deposits may also be required in other regions if the SO selections are very personalized (ie if you have your personal initials hot stamped onto the bag) such that selling the bag to a different client, if the original client declines the bag, would be difficult.

Do I receive confirmation of my SO after placing my order?
In most regions of the world, the client gives their specifications to their SA and that is the last they hear about it until the bag arrives. Paris stores seem to be an exception to this and send the client a confirmation email within a few weeks of placing the order.

Is there a premium for a SO bag?
No, there is no premium price for SO bags. Their price is the same as any other standard stock bag of the same specifications at the time of delivery.

Is my SO a quota bag?
SO bags are generally counted toward a client’s two-bags-per-year limit at the time that the bag is received and paid for. If a client has already maxed out their quota bag allocation for the year, some stores will allow an exception to purchase your SO as a third bag for the year while other stores will require the customer to wait until a new calendar year before receiving the bag. These policies are subject to be changed per store at their convenience so it is always wise to check with your specific SA.

Where can I get ideas for my SO bag?
This thread shows unique combination bags and this thread shows contrasting stitching bags. Please consider posting your bag there once it arrives!

Where can I see historical SO menus?
2023 on post 19,874 page 1325 Feb 3, 2023
2022 on post 17,729 page 1182 Sept 13, 2021
2021 on post 15,439 page 1030 Aug 16, 2020
2020 on post 13,222 page 882 Aug 8, 2019
2019 on post 10,472 page 699 Sept 10, 2018
2018 on post 7,687 page 513 Sept 15, 2017
2017 on post 4,749 page 317 Sept 26, 2016
 
Fastest SO ever! My SA told me she had something special for me a couple of days ago. Came yesterday to take a look and she brought this amazing k25 chevre sellier! She's not sure what the colors are but we are guessing it's orange poppy with rose tea! Anyone can help with colors? Will try to take daylight pics tomorrow, it's gloomy here today :sad:

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This is so special and so lucky of you to acquire it. Congratulations.
 
Yes, you can. My last SO but one was noir chèvre Kelly 28 sellier, bleu saphir interior, cobalt stitch. As long as the thread color is on the SO list and Paris accepts it you are fine. (BTW I think this is version 1.) Contrast stitch looks amazing on sellier.


You can order sellier in any leather. I just received a Togo sellier a month ago. For a very rigid sellier, chèvre and sombrero are probably the best SO options, but sellier is also available in swift and even clemence.

Hey QF, are you able to post an image of your togo sellier? I'm curious to see what your togo sellier looks like :smile:

My SM has recently offered me an opportunity to personalise a bag. He said he would contact me in a few weeks for an appointment. So I'm super excited and am keen to come up with options.

At this stage, I am planning to go for a Kelly sellier. Am choosing either chèvre, epsom or togo. I'm quite keen on togo because it has a matte finish compared to chèvre which has a sheen. It will be great if you could share yours. I have searched the hermes forum and have only found two images but nice to see more. One of the images seems to show that the bag has softened up.

Do you think it'll slouch overtime? Thanks!
 
Fastest SO ever! My SA told me she had something special for me a couple of days ago. Came yesterday to take a look and she brought this amazing k25 chevre sellier! She's not sure what the colors are but we are guessing it's orange poppy with rose tea! Anyone can help with colors? Will try to take daylight pics tomorrow, it's gloomy here today :sad:

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Congratulations! She looks amazing & the cordinates so well. On my monitor it looks like rose tea & 5P. But then again h colors are so hard to capture :biggrin:. & that touch of brushed gold hardware blends in well with the color :heart:
 
Oh no, wonder if I should change it back to a Anemone-Trench combo now. It might be my only SO because I am not a big customer. hence I don't want to be disappointed if one day it turns yellowish.
Since you are concerning about how to care for lighter bag, H Spa does not clean inside the bag in case it shows some wear and tear visibly, but I think having a good bag insert definitely helps.
 
Hey QF, are you able to post an image of your togo sellier? I'm curious to see what your togo sellier looks like :smile:

My SM has recently offered me an opportunity to personalise a bag. He said he would contact me in a few weeks for an appointment. So I'm super excited and am keen to come up with options.

At this stage, I am planning to go for a Kelly sellier. Am choosing either chèvre, epsom or togo. I'm quite keen on togo because it has a matte finish compared to chèvre which has a sheen. It will be great if you could share yours. I have searched the hermes forum and have only found two images but nice to see more. One of the images seems to show that the bag has softened up.

Do you think it'll slouch overtime? Thanks!
I won't post pictures of the bag or any of my SOs in this particular forum, but I will PM them to you. The bag is in Paris being monogrammed (they forgot!) so I'll take pictures as soon as I get it back - supposedly next week.

Some of the Togo sellers you will see from the past are sellier mou, which is intended to slouch. My bag is reinforced like all classic selliers (the Mou lacks this second layer) so it's quite structured, but it is softer than other options. Congratulations on your SO!
 
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OMGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!! Sooooo cute P!!!! Chevre is the best and you are soooo lucky!!!! We can probably guess the colors if we know when it was placed? Any idea??? Or let's see what colors were offered a few seasons past.... the orange looks like Poppy... and the pink looks like 5 P.....on my monitor...

Thank you!! She said another SA/the director placed the order so I'm not sure when the order is placed. I read on the other SO thread that there is no orange poppy SO, that makes me unsure of the colors. Is 5p = bubblegum pink?

It looks like orange poppy on my monitor too but that pink.....what a happy bag though in any color!

Thank you!

Congrats! I'll hazard a guess at the pink being bois de rose or pink confetti depending on light!

Thanks! I need to check on bois de rose. I know it's not confetti, I compared it with my confetti chevre and this one is more pale.

congrats it is STUNNING!!!! i love the permabrass, and i love sellier K28!!! lucky you!


congrats! please share specs/pics!


it is beautiful, congrats pcil!


:lol::lol::lol: so funny
Thank you!!

This is so special and so lucky of you to acquire it. Congratulations.

Thank you so much!!

Congratulations! She looks amazing & the cordinates so well. On my monitor it looks like rose tea & 5P. But then again h colors are so hard to capture :biggrin:. & that touch of brushed gold hardware blends in well with the color :heart:

Thank you! to top it off, the strap is longer too so it can be worn cross body! :heart:
 
Thank you!! She said another SA/the director placed the order so I'm not sure when the order is placed. I read on the other SO thread that there is no orange poppy SO, that makes me unsure of the colors. Is 5p = bubblegum pink?

Thank you! to top it off, the strap is longer too so it can be worn cross body! :heart:
Well you definitely need to quiz the SM then!!!!
Yes, 5P is bubblegum pink. It was available a year or so ago in chevre too.....
we need more pics in the light babe!!!! We want to solve this mystery of an amazing SO!!!!!!!!!!!! You really got lucky with the longer strap too!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Thank you!! She said another SA/the director placed the order so I'm not sure when the order is placed. I read on the other SO thread that there is no orange poppy SO, that makes me unsure of the colors. Is 5p = bubblegum pink?



Thank you!



Thanks! I need to check on bois de rose. I know it's not confetti, I compared it with my confetti chevre and this one is more pale.


Thank you!!



Thank you so much!!



Thank you! to top it off, the strap is longer too so it can be worn cross body! :heart:

OMG really :nuts:?? Thats just icing on the cake! Looking forward to see you with her!:flowers:
 
I've finalized my SO. It's an Epsom Kelly 28. Black is the primary color and Rose Azalee as a secondary color, version 3 with contrast stitching. I was vacillating between RA, Malachite, and Anemone. However, RA won out in the end. Has anyone possessed or seen a SO with black and RA combo? Thanks!
Just came across this black/rose tyrien combo for SO that's similar to what you ordered.

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