Hermes Special Order Bags

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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?
Current color charts Page 1529 Post 22,934 February 16, 2025
Most Recently Known Selection Definitions (bag types, sizes, combos) Sept 4, 2021 - Probably out of date
Thread Choices for stitching. - Probably out of date
Lucky Symbols for stamping.


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 middle 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?
2024 on post 21,296 page 1420 Feb 7, 2024
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
 
I don’t get it. You’d think that if they were short of leather and too far behind, they would just work the current orders and not offer it for new SOs. They could even call and confirm the really outstanding orders before starting them...or at least ask them for an alternative color or leather before canceling. That seems absolutely horrible to wait that long and have to start over.
 
I feel like a lot of slouchy bags in general are from those who don’t properly store them on their back stuffed. I saw a Facebook post of a closet and her b35 was horribly slouchy. She said it was stuffed but it didn’t look stuffed at all.

Yes, properly stuffing helps. Thanks to the intel here at TPF, I learned it's also important to lay the bags down, same way as how it's packaged in the box. It makes sense, because we all know gravity is a b****, right? LOL.....

I take the paper pillow out of the box and put underneath my bags. So other than my sellier Ks in box and Epsom leather standing straight on the shelf, my other bags all look like sleepy beauty on the shelf in my closet :biggrin::biggrin:
 
I don’t get it. You’d think that if they were short of leather and too far behind, they would just work the current orders and not offer it for new SOs. They could even call and confirm the really outstanding orders before starting them...or at least ask them for an alternative color or leather before canceling. That seems absolutely horrible to wait that long and have to start over.
This makes 100% perfect sense and I have been discussing this with friends. Alas. Who knows.
 
Ack! We just set my appointment for this Saturday.

As DH prefers Bs, I think it will have to be a B. Plus, I do not want to wait the extra time for a chevre sellier K. Although, hmm....I wonder about maybe ordering a togo sellier?

Anyway, I forget, what are the size limits for chevre? I’m thinking I might need to get a B30 back into my collection, but would prefer chevre.

Let’s say B30.

I *did* know what I was going to get before the new interior colors were posted. I was going to do rose Pourpre chevre exterior rose Azalee interior with the contrast stitching. I’ve tried to figure it out but I don’t think RT really works with Pourpre.

Yeah, I do want Pourpre, even though I have Azalee and anemone.

Other option with rose Pourpre is maybe blue Paon. Would have to be different stitching because Paon stitching doesn’t pop enough against Pourpre so maybe Azalee stitching.

I could do with a neutral but I don’t love Etoupe and Im afraid Gris Perle would be too light.

Other options (but always bghw and contrast stitching)
RP exterior Gris T interior
Paon exterior Rose T interior.
Paon exterior Jaune Amber interior.
Switch to togo and do Gris asphalte exterior rose tyrien interior

Thoughts? Trying not to duplicate as I have noir, rose a, anemone, blue Hydra and bamboo. I have had etoupe, raisin, rouge h, ebene - all great neutrals but not for me.

What is also throwing me off is that the interior list is VERY short. What happens when you pick a bicolor exterior and neither of the colors are on the interior list? And, like with Gris T and Rose A clemence - would they dictate which one is the main panel and which one is the accents because only Gris T is an interior color? It seems they are discouraging bicolor exteriors.
 
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I don’t get it. You’d think that if they were short of leather and too far behind, they would just work the current orders and not offer it for new SOs. They could even call and confirm the really outstanding orders before starting them...or at least ask them for an alternative color or leather before canceling. That seems absolutely horrible to wait that long and have to start over.
Exactly
There you cancelled
Here you offering and prioritize
H really live up to its name
Puzzle game
 
Hi weN84, you are not alone, I'm #7. May I know what colors you ordered? Mine was BP and Etoupe
Sorry to hear. :sad: I ordered Rouge Casaque exterior. The few others who had their Chevre orders canceled mostly had Bleu Paon as one of their colors. Etoupe was also mentioned along with Noir.

Out of the 6 Chevre orders cancelled including yours, colors include Bleu Paon (2x), Etoupe (2x), Noir (1x), Rouge Casaque (1x), Raisin (1x), Feu (1x) if that helps. Though I'm sure there's no rhyme or reason with H, as usual. (You might notice there's more than 6 colors as some chose bicolor exteriors.)
 
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What is also throwing me off is that the interior list is VERY short. What happens when you pick a bicolor exterior and neither of the colors are on the interior list?
For bicolor exteriors, one is to choose both colors from the same leather type. It doesn't matter whether any of colors are on the interior list.
And, like with Gris T and Rose A clemence - would they dictate which one is the main panel and which one is the accents because only Gris T is an interior color? It seems they are discouraging bicolor exteriors.
For any bicolor exterior option, one dictates which is the primary and secondary color according to one's preference. If you wish to have Gris T as primary color, that's perfectly fine, of which Azalee will be the secondary color. The available colors for interior does not affect any bicolor exterior options. HTH. :smile:
 
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So my dream color Gris Tourterelle is offered this SO season... but only in clemence leather. I know this leather is not as popular as Togo due to its slouchiness...Does anyone have a B35 in clemence and if so, how crazy slouchy does it fit? I love Gris T and B35 is my favorite size.. If it were you would you SO this combo even if it could only be in clemence leather? TIA!!
GT in clemance leather is the best out of all other leathers IMO. It has a tint of lavender in it and it's absolutely gorgeous! In terms of slouchiness, you really can't say for sure whether the batch used for your SO will be slouchy or not. Yes clemance is generally a softer leather but you can always use an insert as others have suggested. Some batches of togo are sloucher than others too so you really can't tell in advance.
 
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Ack! We just set my appointment for this Saturday.

As DH prefers Bs, I think it will have to be a B. Plus, I do not want to wait the extra time for a chevre sellier K. Although, hmm....I wonder about maybe ordering a togo sellier?

Anyway, I forget, what are the size limits for chevre? I’m thinking I might need to get a B30 back into my collection, but would prefer chevre.

Let’s say B30.

I *did* know what I was going to get before the new interior colors were posted. I was going to do rose Pourpre chevre exterior rose Azalee interior with the contrast stitching. I’ve tried to figure it out but I don’t think RT really works with Pourpre.

Yeah, I do want Pourpre, even though I have Azalee and anemone.

Other option with rose Pourpre is maybe blue Paon. Would have to be different stitching because Paon stitching doesn’t pop enough against Pourpre so maybe Azalee stitching.

I could do with a neutral but I don’t love Etoupe and Im afraid Gris Perle would be too light.

Other options (but always bghw and contrast stitching)
RP exterior Gris T interior
Paon exterior Rose T interior.
Paon exterior Jaune Amber interior.
Switch to togo and do Gris asphalte exterior rose tyrien interior

Thoughts? Trying not to duplicate as I have noir, rose a, anemone, blue Hydra and bamboo. I have had etoupe, raisin, rouge h, ebene - all great neutrals but not for me.

What is also throwing me off is that the interior list is VERY short. What happens when you pick a bicolor exterior and neither of the colors are on the interior list? And, like with Gris T and Rose A clemence - would they dictate which one is the main panel and which one is the accents because only Gris T is an interior color? It seems they are discouraging bicolor exteriors.
Blue paon with RT interior!!!:loveeyes::loveeyes::loveeyes::hbeat:
 
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For bicolor exteriors, one is to choose both colors from the same leather type. It doesn't matter whether any of colors are on the interior list.

For any bicolor exterior option, one dictates which is the primary and secondary color according to one's preference. If you wish to have Gris T as primary color, that's perfectly fine, of which Azalee will be the secondary color. The available colors for interior does not affect any bicolor exterior options. HTH. :smile:

Thank you so much, weN. It all makes sense to me until I get my time slot and then I freak out. [emoji28]
 
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I know, that’s gotta be gorgeous. Just wondering whether it’s too similar to my other SO (blue Hydra exterior, rose jaipur interior).
It is, but it isn’t lol! IMHO it will look the same at first sight, but the shades of blue and pink are completely different in each bag, and in a complementary way, I think. Btw, I love your BH+RJ, but I think I love BP+RT even more. The only reason I’m not going for this combo (if I do get a slot) is because I’ve just purchased a blue paon B30, which DH will be picking up next week :biggrin:.
 
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Just needed some opinions... I am offered a SO, but wanted something classic, should I go for :

Option. 1 : Chèvre noir with contrast lining

Option 2 : Lakis in black? Does Lakis comes in only swift or I can do it in chevre too?

Or is black chèvre common and I should wait for it to be offered as a normal bag next year?

TIA
 
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