First Kelly

[Sandar]

Hello, I would like to get my hands on my first Kelly
I resold all my bags and now I only have a handful of bags I really like as I started practicing luxury minimalism. I work
remotely, so I don't really need a work bag, and I only drive to places. I only travel like 3-5 times a year.

My current collection includes:
1. Birkin 25 RGHW Black
2. Chanel Classic Flap GHW Small Black
3. LV Capucine Mini Black
4. Lady Dior Micro Black
5. Loewe Basket Bag
6. Bottega Veneta Knot Clutch Black

I only buy black and small bags so, my first Kelly would also be black. Shall I buy a 25 or a 28? And also if I bought a 25, will it look too similar to my birkin? Should the first one be Sellier or Retourne? Thank you in advance.

 

[r luvs h]

Hello, I would like to get my hands on my first Kelly
I resold all my bags and now I only have a handful of bags I really like as I started practicing luxury minimalism. I work
remotely, so I don't really need a work bag, and I only drive to places. I only travel like 3-5 times a year.

My current collection includes:
1. Birkin 25 RGHW Black
2. Chanel Classic Flap GHW Small Black
3. LV Capucine Mini Black
4. Lady Dior Micro Black
5. Loewe Basket Bag
6. Bottega Veneta Knot Clutch Black

I only buy black and small bags so, my first Kelly would also be black. Shall I buy a 25 or a 28? And also if I bought a 25, will it look too similar to my birkin? Should the first one be Sellier or Retourne? Thank you in advance.

For me, a Birkin and Kelly serve different purposes. A Birkin is a tote bag, so I use those more for schlepping around large amounts of things or traveling. It is not really a bag that I would take to a planned dinner (as opposed to a spontaneous dinner) because it feels especially casual.

On the other hand, a Kelly is more of a day-to-day/day-to-night bag. It’s also a causal bag, in my opinion, but less so than the Birkin. I use Kellys when I only have a few errands to run, when I have dinner plans later, or when I am taking a quick overnight trip. I think retourne is a good option for day-to-day, while sellier (especially in Box Calf leather) is good for day-to-night. Again, this is just how I use these bags. In my opinion, size 25 is better for day-to-night, while size 28 is better for day-to-day. I think what you opt for should be whatever makes the most sense for your life. Happy searching!

 

[Midge Maisel]

Shall I buy a 25 or a 28?

That's a bit of a preference issue. Looking at your current collection, it seems like a 25 would fit your stuff. But I'd just evaluate what you need/want to carry during the day and select accordingly.

And also if I bought a 25, will it look too similar to my birkin?

No, don't worry. Here's a Birkin next to a Kelly, both 25. They're definitely distinct.

Should the first one be Sellier or Retourne?

This is 100% a taste issue. Only you can make that call!

 

[annaria]

I'm always into how things were originally designed. Even with the C classic flap, I prefer the 2.55 reissue.

And I'm a bit more casual than formal. So I have Kelly Retourne.

 

[CTLover]

Hello, I would like to get my hands on my first Kelly
I resold all my bags and now I only have a handful of bags I really like as I started practicing luxury minimalism. I work
remotely, so I don't really need a work bag, and I only drive to places. I only travel like 3-5 times a year.

My current collection includes:
1. Birkin 25 RGHW Black
2. Chanel Classic Flap GHW Small Black
3. LV Capucine Mini Black
4. Lady Dior Micro Black
5. Loewe Basket Bag
6. Bottega Veneta Knot Clutch Black

I only buy black and small bags so, my first Kelly would also be black. Shall I buy a 25 or a 28? And also if I bought a 25, will it look too similar to my birkin? Should the first one be Sellier or Retourne? Thank you in advance.

I have both a K28 Sellier GHW Noir Epsom and a B30 Sellier PHW Noir Box. Similar sized and same color I view them as two different bags. The different color hardware determines which bag I used based on what I'm wearing. I regard both as being a bit too big for going to dinner (I prefer bags that fit in my lap like my KTG or Chanel WOCs), but both hold enough "stuff" when I'm out and about for the day, and if I need to transition to dinner I can manage. When I travel, I take the Kelly because of the strap lets me go hands free. I also like the Kelly for special events like weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs etc because its more formal and ladylike. When I know I'm going in and out of stores, I like the Birken because I can just reach in and grab wallet, keys, credit cards etc.

I also tend to practice luxury minimalism. Additional Hermès bags include a GP30 in gold, KTG touch Noir GHW and 2 mini Halzans in Black and Rose Eglatine. The only other bags I have 3 Chanel WOCs, pink with SHW, Black with GHW and Silver with SHW. A Gray Boy Bag with rhodium hardware, and 2 Prada bags.

Bags I'd like to add to my Hermès collection at this point are a K25 Sellier in black with PHW, a K28 Retourne in Noir or Etain PHW, and a Birkin retourne in a white or light pink shade. The K25 to have a smaller Kelly for going to dinner or special events that matches my silver/white gold jewelry. The K28 REtourne to have a more casual travel option to match my silver/white gold jewelry, and the Birkin just to have a more summery option to the blacks bags I usually wear.

 

[crocodilemonkey]

Hello, I would like to get my hands on my first Kelly
I resold all my bags and now I only have a handful of bags I really like as I started practicing luxury minimalism. I work
remotely, so I don't really need a work bag, and I only drive to places. I only travel like 3-5 times a year.

My current collection includes:
1. Birkin 25 RGHW Black
2. Chanel Classic Flap GHW Small Black
3. LV Capucine Mini Black
4. Lady Dior Micro Black
5. Loewe Basket Bag
6. Bottega Veneta Knot Clutch Black

I only buy black and small bags so, my first Kelly would also be black. Shall I buy a 25 or a 28? And also if I bought a 25, will it look too similar to my birkin? Should the first one be Sellier or Retourne? Thank you in advance.

Hi, if you dont need a work bag, the 25 is a good size.
A sellier is more structured so the leather will be more firm and the bag is likely to be more formal looking. A retourne can be made in more soft, supple leather like a taurillon. So it will depend on what kind of look you want to go for.
I have a vintage Kelly 30 and a really tiny mini Kelly. Both are very different usage. Also, I much prefer the Kelly to the Birkin which I find too much design-wise.

 

[nashpoo]

I would get a black k25 Sellier to make it more diff from the b25!

 

[880]

If you are deciding between a 25K and a 28K in black, I would get the 28. Bc you already have a 25B and I think the LV mini capucine might fulfill a similar function as a 25K.

However, unlike other posters above, I would find a 25B and 25K noir redundant. I have a 28K box retourne and a 30B barenia Birkin, and I almost never use the 28K. if I carry enough to justify the 28K, I just find it easier to use the B. I prefer the sellier K to the retourne. (I wear the sellier very casually). I would say, figure out if you are more of a B or K person, if you want a similar size and color.

I do happen to have an equal number of sellier 28K and retouched (classic) 30B because every five years or so, I decide I prefer the other style (I’m not a minimalist) But, I have different colors. And, bc I’ve been collecting for a number of years and gotten some great deals. The 28/30 is generally my size of choice, and larger bags are trending back.

I do have a 25B sellier gold and another 25K sellier bleu orage. I think in size 25 and below, the sellier is very special. I don’t use either of them as much as the 28/30, but they are good to have.

 

[880]

retouched

Retourne

 

[odette57]

Based on your collection, you seem to gravitate towards smaller bags. I have 28s and 25s in both retourne and sellier, I use my K25 retourne the most (in black coincidentally). It is the easiest to use, the perfect size to transition from day to night. It is my hand carry when I travel. I actually have more K25 selliers than retournes, but honestly, I havent used them in a while. I had this idea that I will use them as my daily bag but they are just harder to use. I dont use my K28s at all anymore sadly, as they are now too big for my needs.