Can minimalism and Hermes go together?

[Capitaliste]

So, my lifestyle has been a minimalist until I got to know Hermes. I used to be a believer that I wouldn't need so many bags, scarves, clothes, etc. because I am a minimalist. (In other words, I only buy things when I really, really need them.) Having so many items from Hermes nowadays (e.g., multiple bags and multiple scarves), I feel like my minimalist identity is getting attacked internally. Does anyone have similar issues? How do we shop better at Hermes when we are minimalists and/or want to remain minimalists? I am curious about this, and want to hear your opinions.

 

[880]

So, my lifestyle has been a minimalist until I got to know Hermes. I used to be a believer that I wouldn't need so many bags, scarves, clothes, etc. because I am a minimalist. (In other words, I only buy things when I really, really need them.) Having so many items from Hermes nowadays (e.g., multiple bags and multiple scarves), I feel like my minimalist identity is getting attacked internally. Does anyone have similar issues? How do we shop better at Hermes when we are minimalists and/or want to remain minimalists? I am curious about this, and want to hear your opinions.

My answer to the thread title is Yes, buy less but buy better. My SAs have been shocked by recent increases in prices. Many clients do not raise their budgets, but are simply more selective, and SAs see this across the premier big brands. My Chanel SA sees it too. The more things one has, the more discerning one becomes. You start to think, is this new item as nice, as versatile, as well priced, as high quality, as the one that I purchased before it. So long as you truly love what you buy; you can afford it; and, you will use it, why not. (With an eye towards how much space you have lol). JMO

 

[Love Of My Life]

Yes it can & if you shop & only buy in the categories you need, your wardrobe will
become well rounded. Be selective & if it turns out to be one piece in a season it
likely will be the right piece in your wardrobe
I tend to look at H collection for fall usually as for me it is a longer season & I get more use
from my pieces. I can wear my leather pieces right into June & in a cool summer evening as well
I tend to prefer H leather coats & jackets. I have enough H cashmere & many of my pieces
have pilled but I do wear them nonetheless but learned an expensive lesson for myself,
no more cashmeres & my coats take me where I need to go.
I do not buy any H logo pieces. I will purchase a silk piece if it appeals to me.
Several years ago H did an oversize cape/shawl with leather fringe in wonderful colors
I find that piece very functional in my wardrobe. It works over a sweater or jacket &
its great to travel with.
With the prices that H is now charging one may have to make sure that it will be a purchase
that will work in the wardrobe. To stockpile H or any other designer, doesn't work for me
& besides shopping in your own closet can bring pieces front & center that one can wear &
get pleasure from so you can remain a minimalist if you work at it, JMO

 

[FrenchNewbie]

So, my lifestyle has been a minimalist until I got to know Hermes. I used to be a believer that I wouldn't need so many bags, scarves, clothes, etc. because I am a minimalist. (In other words, I only buy things when I really, really need them.) Having so many items from Hermes nowadays (e.g., multiple bags and multiple scarves), I feel like my minimalist identity is getting attacked internally. Does anyone have similar issues? How do we shop better at Hermes when we are minimalists and/or want to remain minimalists? I am curious about this, and want to hear your opinions.

I agree---over the years I have accumulated many pieces. So I have started to go shopping in my own closets now. Feels like Xmas every month.

 

[WhiteBus]

So, my lifestyle has been a minimalist until I got to know Hermes. I used to be a believer that I wouldn't need so many bags, scarves, clothes, etc. because I am a minimalist. (In other words, I only buy things when I really, really need them.) Having so many items from Hermes nowadays (e.g., multiple bags and multiple scarves), I feel like my minimalist identity is getting attacked internally. Does anyone have similar issues? How do we shop better at Hermes when we are minimalists and/or want to remain minimalists? I am curious about this, and want to hear your opinions.

So what!

Well, that was rude. But much as I also admire, perhaps rather than aspire to, a minimalist aesthetic, you should not allow it to be a source of undue stress.
There is no absolute definition of the minimalist aesthetic.
You can define it for yourself as rigidly or flexibly as you choose.

I can accept that for you it means no duplication of accessories.
If you are equally disciplined in the styles and colours of the rest of your wardrobe, then go ahead and rightly beat yourself about the head for being so inconsistent.

Do you really need to limit yourself to one this or one that.
If your wardrobe is more varied than strictly minimalist,
then you should be able to justify a wider selection of accessories than you believe your minimalist style allows.

Please don't take that as permission to go out and buy Rodeos and Twilleys in every colourway.

For me minimalist initially means avoidance of unnecessary decoration. I achieve a colour palette based on patternless black, navy, grey and white most of the time, but I don't beat myself up about the occasional breakouts.

 

[girlfriday17]

I love the scarves (handbags too but those don’t tend to accrue as quickly) but keep quite a minimal wardrobe of simple clothes, plus they take up less room than say lots of jackets. I’ve been choosing things like a better white t shirt, simple black pants, etc. I’m trying to pare down shoes to those I use and love and only buy when something can’t be repaired. So I try and find a balance of things I can keep minimal and those things that I can have multiples on. Probably not true minimalism but more about mindful shopping and collecting. My big thing is to buy to use and use it lots so I try to buy quality on items I want have for a long time. I enjoy Colourful Noir on YouTube with her approach to styling if you are so inclined to watch someone talk about minimalism and luxury.

 

[etoile de mer]

I don't see a conflict with being a minimalist at heart and shopping at Hermes. I feel like that's the aesthetic of many French women, "buy less, but better". What's causing you to buy more than you feel you need or want?

 

[jenayb]

Interesting.... Actually, I would say that Hermes has made me more of a minimalist, to be honest. For me, more is more and that's always been my motto on most things, but especially fashion. Hermes has more of a "quality over quantity" vibe going on versus other houses IMO, so I tend to buy less "seasonal" or "trendy" items these days versus more expensive staples that I use and wear for years. I still buy and wear other brands, but Hermes feels less... fleeting, if that makes any sense at all.

I think that the idea of buying less but better as @880 said is spot on with my own personal feelings toward Hermes.

ETA: I do think sometimes about the fact that there are only so many B/K/C et al that one can own.. like how many different colourway and hardware options in ONE particular bag style is too much? But you could really apply that logic to any of the other houses; how many Jumbos can one own? How many Lady Dior or Book Totes are too many? I digress.

 

[allanrvj]

The prices at Hermès forces me to become a minimalist even if I don't want to.

 

[880]

For me minimalist initially means avoidance of unnecessary decoration. I achieve a colour palette based on patternless black, navy, grey and white most of the time, but I don't beat myself up about the occasional breakouts.

I add taupe to your list

expensive staples that I use and wear for years

The words “unnecessary” and “staples” can create a really wide loopholes lol,
But ultimately, I agree with all of the posters above not to beat yourself up over a well thought out purchase
Or fall in love piece.

 

[Kimchoi12]

I think so!

I'm not a "minimalist" per se but I do value quality over quantity and like to look at the possible cost per wear, fabric content, stitching, etc.. I won't say this evaluation happens all the time with inexpensive pieces but with Hermes, I kinda have to because it's so $$$. Unfortunately, I don't have an unlimited amount of "fun" budget so I'd like my purchases to be enjoyable and worth it!

Perhaps a fun exercise will be to explore what aspects of being a minimalist you enjoy most and maybe even redefine what the means accordingly so you no longer feel like your identity is attacked? Fashion and shopping should be fun and echoing the others - I hope you don't beat yourself over it!

edited for spelling

 

[luckygirl31]

Yes and NO!

I became a minimalist after getting in to Hermes and getting 2 bags.

I looked at everything I bought(which I loved and could use in my life) but with this mindset in mind it feels as a bit much.

I declutter my house from time to time but can never declutter any H items. I try to use them all but it is difficult. After getting my 2 bags i promised myself to stop shopping there. I want to use everything i have and shop in my closet.

I do not feel the need to buy every pretty scarf or new color of orans anymore. I just look at the pictures online and admire them just like you would admire a beautiful tree. You can not bring it home but you still feel fulfilled.

It brings me so much joy and less anxiety because i am not chasing the next thing. I love minimalism in this regard.

I wish you good luck with the balance!

 

[Veritybelle]

My personal style is quite minimalist in the sense meant by @WhiteBus but despite my best efforts I am not very good at being a minimalist in the sense of the size of my wardrobe. I made a conscious effort to improve on this coming out of COVID (when I basically wore activewear for 2 years) and significantly reduced the quantity I had been buying pre-COVID. What I found that did was act as a convenient justification in my mind for any particularly expensive purchase I was contemplating! But essentially that has helped me distil my wardrobe to a style uniform that works for my life. H fits perfectly into that schema because the designs are so timeless.

 

[GabrielleS]

You can be a minimalist shopping anywhere with discipline but if you want a bag, the sales strategy is set up for maxmimalism. By this I mean, they encourage customers to come in frequently in person and spend before a bag is allocated and offered. There are lots of categories to choose from so there’s a lot to buy even if you don’t want 29 scarves and just a few things from some categories.

Yes there is the small minority who buys a few big ticket items and gets a bag or gets a bag with minimal spend. For everyone else, the bag sales strategy discourages minimalism.

 

[Capitaliste]

My answer to the thread title is Yes, buy less but buy better. My SAs have been shocked by recent increases in prices. Many clients do not raise their budgets, but are simply more selective, and SAs see this across the premier big brands. My Chanel SA sees it too. The more things one has, the more discerning one becomes. You start to think, is this new item as nice, as versatile, as well priced, as high quality, as the one that I purchased before it. So long as you truly love what you buy; you can afford it; and, you will use it, why not. (With an eye towards how much space you have lol). JMO

I love it when you mentioned, "buy less but buy better." But, I feel like it requires some "long-term shopping experiences" to build into that, perhaps? Another issue for me is like, "I am going to Hermes today to see and potentially buy A, B, and C." Then, my SA and I found not only these items but also "D and E," and made me feel like I need to get them all! Why? Because you know, it may be gone if I don't buy them this time and this is pretty common in Hermes!

Also, you have a very good point in the last two sentences; Hermes is actually very well priced for RTW when compared to other brands, so I cannot really complain in terms of quality, style, etc.