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?
Current color charts Page 1420 Post 21,296 February 7, 2024
Most Recently Known Selection Definitions (bag types, sizes, combos) Sept 4, 2021
Thread Choices for stitching.
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 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
 
@snnysmm GT and Nata is one of my favorite combinations. I received my bag last November and it has quickly become one of my most used bags. I was afraid of doing a lighter color on the handles initially but after a gazillion uses, my bag still looks pristine.
Here are a couple of pics to show you what a gorgeous combo this is. Pics don’t do it justice.
Congrats on your SO. You picked a winning combo and yes, I am totally biased:biggrin:
View attachment 5737024View attachment 5737025

So elegant :loveeyes:


You always manage to wear designer so tastefully. It’s such a delicate balance
 
Just an FYI for UK shoppers as I just found out yesterday. When you have a special order under your name your normal wishlist in the store is removed. You can only have one or the other. Was quite surprised by this!

For those outside of the UK, has your store also implemented this?
 
  • Like
Reactions: blinggirl74
Congrats on your SO!

I have the opposite fear! Mine is Craie (lighter base) / Gris Tourterelle (darker accent) and I noticed that more people chose a darker base and a lighter accent? (And to reassure you, I’ve been obsessing about this for a bit since I placed the order, looking nervously at all the combos where it’s dark/light!!)

We may be both overthinking and both our bags will come out great!
I have also put in a wish for craie and gris t in togo. I think it’s a beautiful combo and the main reason I chose the colourway is so that I have darker handles that I won’t have to worry as much about it :smile:

Hope this reassures you with your SO! :heart:
 
  • Love
Reactions: af068
Just an FYI for UK shoppers as I just found out yesterday. When you have a special order under your name your normal wishlist in the store is removed. You can only have one or the other. Was quite surprised by this!

For those outside of the UK, has your store also implemented this?
Really? This seems silly. I ordered a so last year and while it was pending, I got two other offers. I don’t understand why they would remove your wishlist. Doesn’t that just encourage you to bring up the wishlist more so that you can make sure you have a wishlist on file?
 
I have a question for all those who own a multico bag for more than 5 years -
Since I have seen now so many multico bags in this thread I started wondering whether I would ever dare to order a multico Kelly (if I ever get the opportunity to do a SO again ;)) but I’m not sure if I would get tired of it. I would probably stay in the same color scheme (i.e. bleu pale and gris perle, Nata and blanc, rose sakura and mauve pale, gold and alezan) to be on the safe side.

Did you ever get tired of your combination? Do you use your multico as often as you do your verso or single colored bags?

I have never rehomed a bag and don’t intend to do it in the future as I adore all bags that I buy and consider whether they add value (not as an investment :lol:) to my collection - I am not an impulse buyer at all - but since I never had a Multico, I wonder whether I could get tired of it after a few years, e.g. after more than 5 year.
TIA :ty:
 
I have a question for all those who own a multico bag for more than 5 years -
Since I have seen now so many multico bags in this thread I started wondering whether I would ever dare to order a multico Kelly (if I ever get the opportunity to do a SO again ;)) but I’m not sure if I would get tired of it. I would probably stay in the same color scheme (i.e. bleu pale and gris perle, Nata and blanc, rose sakura and mauve pale, gold and alezan) to be on the safe side.

Did you ever get tired of your combination? Do you use your multico as often as you do your verso or single colored bags?

I have never rehomed a bag and don’t intend to do it in the future as I adore all bags that I buy and consider whether they add value (not as an investment :lol:) to my collection - I am not an impulse buyer at all - but since I never had a Multico, I wonder whether I could get tired of it after a few years, e.g. after more than 5 year.
TIA :ty:

Wouldn't recommend ordering something just because "you see other people ordering it". I did this with a chevre SO (always heard people singing the praises of chevre, but never experienced it myself in a larger size like a B30). In short, I regretted the decision and eventually rehomed the bag after years.

Personally, I knew if I was ever offered a SO again after that I would get a neutral two tone option, since that is different from anything I have in my collection, and would go with almost everything in my wardrobe.

Really, only you can know if you will love this type of combination. I do, but others would never consider a two tone bag and I absolutely respect that point of view. It's not for everyone.

And perhaps, in 10-15 years I might realize this is no longer for me, but at this point, I see no part of me tiring of the combination I ordered (gris t/craie) kelly 25 retourne with permabrass. It's understated and elegant (IMO).

I personally could not pull off some of the two tone pink, blue, colorful combos, but have seen women in the boutique and on this forum who can carry them flawlessly. Just depends on your own personal style. I've tried very hard over the years to lean into my personal style and I try not to let other people's gorgeous combos sway me from what I know works best for me and makes me feel the most confident in my wardrobe.

Whatever you decide, as long as you know YOU love it, nothing else matters.
 
Really? This seems silly. I ordered a so last year and while it was pending, I got two other offers. I don’t understand why they would remove your wishlist. Doesn’t that just encourage you to bring up the wishlist more so that you can make sure you have a wishlist on file?
Exactly I thought it was beyond too. Apparently it’s been implemented in stores this year in London. It’s a shame because I don’t know how long I’ll have to wait for the bag and some people have had to wait more than 2 years! I think they want to manage the amount of bags individuals get? For example in the UK it’s a 2QB limit per year but wishes have increased from 8 months to 1 year so technically via a wish you could only be offered one. I’m not sure what’s really going on, maybe the demand is so high in the UK that they’ve had to apply even greater measures. They should bring this up at the point of SO because one may change their mind if they’d like to proceed with an SO or just go wishlist route.
 
Exactly I thought it was beyond too. Apparently it’s been implemented in stores this year in London. It’s a shame because I don’t know how long I’ll have to wait for the bag and some people have had to wait more than 2 years! I think they want to manage the amount of bags individuals get? For example in the UK it’s a 2QB limit per year but wishes have increased from 8 months to 1 year so technically via a wish you could only be offered one. I’m not sure what’s really going on, maybe the demand is so high in the UK that they’ve had to apply even greater measures. They should bring this up at the point of SO because one may change their mind if they’d like to proceed with an SO or just go wishlist route.
Yeah that's so odd. I think in the US it is 2QB per year. Usually, I just bring up a bag I want and my SA calls me a week later and tells me to come in if they have it. If they don't, then I wait a month or two, go in and ask again and the process repeats. I'm pretty sure they don't have any memory beyond a two-week period. While my SO was pending, I got offered multiple other bags in the meantime. It seems silly not to. If you can't get any offers while the SO is pending, then you may as well disappear and wait for the SO to come in. What incentive do you have to keep shopping?
 
  • Like
Reactions: faab89 and BreezyE
Yeah that's so odd. I think in the US it is 2QB per year. Usually, I just bring up a bag I want and my SA calls me a week later and tells me to come in if they have it. If they don't, then I wait a month or two, go in and ask again and the process repeats. I'm pretty sure they don't have any memory beyond a two-week period. While my SO was pending, I got offered multiple other bags in the meantime. It seems silly not to. If you can't get any offers while the SO is pending, then you may as well disappear and wait for the SO to come in. What incentive do you have to keep shopping?
Yes exactly, I think I’ll definitely have a chat with the SA I work with and see why they are operating this way. Hopefully I receive my bag this year and I won’t be too bothered. It’s a multico b25 togo and I feel that produces faster than a Kelly from reading on here!
 
  • Like
Reactions: carlinha
Yes exactly, I think I’ll definitely have a chat with the SA I work with and see why they are operating this way. Hopefully I receive my bag this year and I won’t be too bothered. It’s a multico b25 togo and I feel that produces faster than a Kelly from reading on here!
I think the company is making a huge push to get SOs delivered within 6-9 months in the majority of cases. If one assumes they can make that happen then your SO basically becomes your “Wish.“
 
I have a question for all those who own a multico bag for more than 5 years -
Since I have seen now so many multico bags in this thread I started wondering whether I would ever dare to order a multico Kelly (if I ever get the opportunity to do a SO again ;)) but I’m not sure if I would get tired of it. I would probably stay in the same color scheme (i.e. bleu pale and gris perle, Nata and blanc, rose sakura and mauve pale, gold and alezan) to be on the safe side.

Did you ever get tired of your combination? Do you use your multico as often as you do your verso or single colored bags?

I have never rehomed a bag and don’t intend to do it in the future as I adore all bags that I buy and consider whether they add value (not as an investment :lol:) to my collection - I am not an impulse buyer at all - but since I never had a Multico, I wonder whether I could get tired of it after a few years, e.g. after more than 5 year.
TIA :ty:
I have one multico Kelly I've had for 8 years now, and I also debated a very long time in choosing multico. I knew it would be more limiting in terms of wear, and perhaps not as classic. But the problem with doing a Verso on a kelly is that no one sees the interior but you when you open it... so, I threw caution to the wind and went with it.

I have to honestly say that to this day, I love the color combination I chose. I don't wear it very often, but I have many bags in my collection to rotate through. It still goes with and suits my wardrobe.

Over the years, I've learned that I wouldn't do certain things again with special orders that have nothing to do with multico:
1. No more brushed GHW for me - everyone pushes for this because brushed HW is only available for special orders and therefore makes it more "special". For me, it's just a little too yellow and brassy, and shows scratches more easily
2. No more epsom no matter how desirable the color, just my personal preference

So with that being said, my multico Kelly is in epsom with brushed GHW. If I could change anything about this bag, it would be the leather type and HW, but not the color combination.

My advice with multico is if you want it to be a classic lifetime bag, choose more neutral or tone-on-tone colors, and hopefully you will love it and use it forever!

Here's my baby, I've had her since 2015
Bleu Glacier & Bleu Paradis epsom
Brushed GHW
Cobalt contrast stitching

Edited to add: I get many compliments on this bag... Hope, the VP for the Eastern Region H USA saw me at the store one day carrying this and enthused over the bag.

792539B1-008D-4CCA-AA8C-C036FEFA8D1C.jpeg

F8426E46-F189-46DA-864E-6F20E33B056B.jpeg
 
Last edited:
I have one multico Kelly I've had for 8 years now, and I also debated a very long time in choosing multico. I knew it would be more limiting in terms of wear, and perhaps not as classic. But the problem with doing a Verso on a kelly is that no one sees the interior but you when you open it... so, I threw caution to the wind and went with it.

I have to honestly say that to this day, I love the color combination I chose. I don't wear it very often, but I have many bags in my collection to rotate through. It still goes with and suits my wardrobe.

Over the years, I've learned that I wouldn't do certain things again with special orders that have nothing to do with multico:
1. No more brushed GHW for me - everyone pushes for this because brushed HW is only available for special orders and therefore makes it more "special". For me, it's just a little too yellow and brassy, and shows scratches more easily
2. No more epsom no matter how desirable the color, just my personal preference

So with that being said, my multico Kelly is in epsom with brushed GHW. If I could change anything about this bag, it would be the leather type and HW, but not the color combination.

My advice with multico is if you want it to be a classic lifetime bag, choose more neutral or tone-on-tone colors, and hopefully you will love it and use it forever!

Here's my baby, I've had her since 2015
Bleu Glacier & Bleu Paradis epsom
Brushed GHW
Cobalt contrast stitching

Edited to add: I get many compliments on this bag... Hope, the VP for the Eastern Region H USA saw me at the store one day carrying this and enthused over the bag.

View attachment 5737721

View attachment 5737722
I love how everything is color coordinated, including puppy! :smile: