Hermes leathers for rainy climates.
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Really? That is great news. I love Ostrich but thought it would be very delicate
RE: Box leather in the rain -- is it really that bad?
Since your thread was redirected here...
I too noted the outcry over box leather in the rain...
Personally, I choose my bags based on mood, rather than weather. So, I exercise reasonable care, but I don't "freak out" when I, or anyone else, wears box leather when it's raining. Although I'd never intentionally drench a box bag under torrential downpours... occasional rainsplatter hasn't damaged my bags at all... even without waterproofing treatment. An umbrella is usually sufficient, if it's raining, to cover me and my bag. Or, if my umbrella isn't wide enough, and the rain is not terrible, then my bag is exposed to the rain until I'm somewhere dry. After which, I thoroughly dry off my bag, which is typically, none the worse for wear.
On the other hand... if it's raining and I'm planning to be outdoors all day, i.e. amusement park, zoo, etc... then I'll wear a LeSportsac instead.
Since your thread was redirected here...
I too noted the outcry over box leather in the rain...
Personally, I choose my bags based on mood, rather than weather. So, I exercise reasonable care, but I don't "freak out" when I, or anyone else, wears box leather when it's raining. Although I'd never intentionally drench a box bag under torrential downpours... occasional rainsplatter hasn't damaged my bags at all... even without waterproofing treatment. An umbrella is usually sufficient, if it's raining, to cover me and my bag. Or, if my umbrella isn't wide enough, and the rain is not terrible, then my bag is exposed to the rain until I'm somewhere dry. After which, I thoroughly dry off my bag, which is typically, none the worse for wear.
On the other hand... if it's raining and I'm planning to be outdoors all day, i.e. amusement park, zoo, etc... then I'll wear a LeSportsac instead.
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RE: Box leather in the rain -- is it really that bad?
Since your thread was redirected here...
I too noted the outcry over box leather in the rain...
Personally, I choose my bags based on mood, rather than weather. So, I exercise reasonable care, but I don't "freak out" when I, or anyone else, wears box leather when it's raining. Although I'd never intentionally drench a box bag under torrential downpours... occasional rainsplatter hasn't damaged my bags at all... even without waterproofing treatment. An umbrella is usually sufficient, if it's raining, to cover me and my bag. Or, if my umbrella isn't wide enough, and the rain is not terrible, then my bag is exposed to the rain until I'm somewhere dry. After which, I thoroughly dry off my bag, which is typically, none the worse for wear.
On the other hand... if it's raining and I'm planning to be outdoors all day, i.e. amusement park, zoo, etc... then I'll wear a LeSportsac instead.
This makes total sense ... it is, in fact, exactly the way I have approached the "Bags in Rain" issue with every other bag I own .... until I got my box Kelly, and read all the extreme warnings here, and got paranoid. I'm very glad to hear you've gotten your untreated box bags a little wet, dried them off, and they've been fine. In my mind, this is how it's supposed to be!
I also don't carry my H bags when it is raining. I usually use my ferragamo Sofia bag when the weather is bad. I don't want to damage my H bags because they cost way more.
I don't have a box bag but I have a pair of boots made of similar leather. I worn them constantly without any treatment last winter and they are now covered with wrinkles and marks. I regret to this day that I have not protected them. I now wear rain boots when I know it's going to be raining.
I have carried my clemance and togo H bags in light rains and they have turned out fine. But I wouldn't do it with any leather similar to box without treatments.
I have carried my clemance and togo H bags in light rains and they have turned out fine. But I wouldn't do it with any leather similar to box without treatments.
My box leather kelly got wet and got the most horrendous blisters. The bag was so bad that it would have had zero resale. The blisters were all different sizes and it was just the most awful thing you've ever seen.
When I got home I tried to dry it off as best I could and took a hair dryer on moderate heat and blew it over and over and over the blisters for a good 15 minutes. They looked a tad better but really I thought the bag was a goner.
I looked at it two days later and it was still blistered. So I put it away and decided to look at it after two weeks. Low and behold the blisters were gone. But there were circular shadows where each blister had been. Fortunately the bag was black you only saw them in certain light.
After that experience I will never ever have a box leather bag near water again. One of the managers at Hermes told me an even worse story about croc. That, it seems, is even worse in the rain. I try to only use my epsom bags when I know it's going to rain. Clemence and togo have gotten wet too but I've dried them off and had no problems with them. Epsom it seems is really bullet proof to moisture.
When I got home I tried to dry it off as best I could and took a hair dryer on moderate heat and blew it over and over and over the blisters for a good 15 minutes. They looked a tad better but really I thought the bag was a goner.
I looked at it two days later and it was still blistered. So I put it away and decided to look at it after two weeks. Low and behold the blisters were gone. But there were circular shadows where each blister had been. Fortunately the bag was black you only saw them in certain light.
After that experience I will never ever have a box leather bag near water again. One of the managers at Hermes told me an even worse story about croc. That, it seems, is even worse in the rain. I try to only use my epsom bags when I know it's going to rain. Clemence and togo have gotten wet too but I've dried them off and had no problems with them. Epsom it seems is really bullet proof to moisture.
I'm with Vigee on this!
I will carry Clemence , Togo, or buffle in very light rain, running to and from the car.
On really rainy days I carry a Longchamp or LV canvas
Box or barenia, never. I check the forecast for even a slight chance of rain.
And I always carry a rain coat or a plastic shopping bag, just in case the forecast was wrong.
I do the same with shoes. I keep several pairs of cheap shoes specifically for downpours.
I attended a tented outdoor wedding that was held in the midst of several days of torrential rain.
There was no way I was going to ruin a good pair of shoes, so I bought a decent looking pair at banana republic for the occasion figuring they would be a one-wear thing. So many women were complaining about their ruined shoes, the water was up to the ankles so you couldn't even see anyone's shoes. Can you believe those BR shoes held up? That was at least eight years ago, and they are still my dress up in a downpour shoe choice
I'm also with VigeeLeBrun on this! I have fjord, clemence and swift and I just don't carry my H in the rain. Perhaps it's more peace of mind for me rather than the bags getting wet, but I can't bring myself to carry them in the rain!
I'm with Vigee on this!
I will carry Clemence , Togo, or buffle in very light rain, running to and from the car.
On really rainy days I carry a Longchamp or LV canvas
Box or barenia, never. I check the forecast for even a slight chance of rain.
And I always carry a rain coat or a plastic shopping bag, just in case the forecast was wrong.
I do the same with shoes. I keep several pairs of cheap shoes specifically for downpours.
I attended a tented outdoor wedding that was held in the midst of several days of torrential rain.
There was no way I was going to ruin a good pair of shoes, so I bought a decent looking pair at banana republic for the occasion figuring they would be a one-wear thing. So many women were complaining about their ruined shoes, the water was up to the ankles so you couldn't even see anyone's shoes. Can you believe those BR shoes held up? That was at least eight years ago, and they are still my dress up in a downpour shoe choice
Monceau, I am with you on this and carry my Lonchamp bag on very rainy days!
omggg that's horrible!! i am looking at buying my first box calf bag...
are there ways to protect it and make it waterproof. I m probably going to grab a plastic bag with me all the time but still i would like the added protection!
See Docride's most recent advice from this post, onward: Hermes Vintage Bag Nightmares & Hermes Leather Care
There's a lot of information in this thread... but it's quite a long thread to wade through...
There's a lot of information in this thread... but it's quite a long thread to wade through...
I have to agree with VigeeLeBrun on this one. I usually try not to use an H bag if I know there's rain in the forecast. In moderate or heavy rain I will use a Longchamp or LV Epi leather bag since they are hardy. Or even a Chanel bag with Caviar leather. If it is only from the car to another place then I will use my Togo or Clemence bag. I just wipe off the rain and they have been fine.
I have used all my bags in the snow and rain - barenia, swift, clemence, togo, chevre. No issues. In fact, my swift bag was caught in a torrential downpour, got soaked, and dried with no issues. The only bag I wouldn't take in the rain/snow was my box bag, which is one reason I sold it.
