How did you first hear about Hermes?

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#46
Used to read Vogue - Paris/ Brit/ USA for years and learned about Hermes' history, product range and all about the Kelly and Birkin as a teenager. I knew I had to grow into it as these iconic bags and the brand would only look suitable on me past a certain age; as a young specialist I was always mistaken by my patients for a student!
With my first paycheck, I added an Hermes scarf chosen by me, to my Mum's collection for her birthday. I have that one now.
I told myself one day I would own a Kelly and that dream has come true.
 
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#49
It was many years ago and I don't truly recall. It must have been in an article and of course reading about Grace Kelly using it to hide her bump. Wherever I learned about the Kelly it became my holy grail. Few years back I was vacationing in Miami with my parents and we walked into H. I asked if there was a k I could see and learn more about it ... little did I know how things worked at that point. :lol: They told me sorry but they could show me other handbags. We thanked the sa and politely said no thank you and left. Years after that my DH and I were honeymooning in France. He knew how I had long wished for a K and he found a vintage shop that had one K. He ran back to the hotel to tell me and insisted I go to the boutique with him right away. So we did and I fell in LOVE with the gold/gold Kelly. I took her to her forever home and it's to never leave me. :hbeat: So I thank and blame ;) my DH and whatever article or way I learned about Hermes.
 
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#50
Would like to add that after a few trips to Paris with my family, I one day decided to go and visit FSH. The first time with only my siblings. (we were all in University and took the Eurostar from London on a kids trip by ourselves). We were meant to stay with our country's Ambassador to France at the embassy (who happened to be friends of our parents) but let's just say we managed to diplomatically avoid that. ;) Then during our weekend dates, DH and I began our visits to Paris and FSH. I still remember seeing the most beautiful shell pink Kelly 28 Sellier which the SA kindly told me was part of the store window display (likely designed by Leila Menchari) and not finished for sale. That was the start of our history with Hermes, the brand and the Maison.
 
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#51
When I was much younger, my mom used to say that she rly wanted a birkin bag but she knew about the waitlist and couldn’t imagine spending a few thousand dollars on a bag. I thought it was a hideous bag for old women and told her to not consider it. Fast forward 20 years and here I am with the birkin bag that she always dreamed of. I always offer it to her to use but she refuses to borrow it bc of fear of being targeted (we live in the Bay Area where people are scared of being followed and robbed in daylight now).
 
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#54
ntshstrk said:
Growing up, my siblings and I loved a designer chocolate shop in the luxury district of our city. We visited so often that the servers knew us and our usual orders. It closed down and was replaced by Hermes, and we were so angry. Guess who’s not angry about it now :P
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This made me laugh! What a great story!
 
#55
greencurrytofu said:
This made me laugh! What a great story!
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Even funnier is that the chocolate shop reopened less than 6 months later within the same general area, and we were still furious about the closure for years and would turn our nose up every time we passed Hermes. It was like not having our frequent dose of Venezuelan hot chocolate for that 6-month span was the most offensive thing in the world to us :lol:
 
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#56
I think I saw a Birkin in a magazine, maybe 25-30 years ago. Walked into Hermes, and got a Kelly on my first visit. Had an amazing 20 year run, with every whim and fancy fulfilled! SAs were so experienced, and made every visit into a lovely memory. They made you feel like they were as pleased to sell you the bag, as you were to acquire it. Now it’s the Hunger Games. Makes me sad, this is not what luxury is about, this is not what Hermes was about. I actually can‘t disagree with the SA who told me recently “just because you‘re a long-time loyal customer doesn’t mean you can continue to get every bag you want”…of course it was said a with a little more subtlety. There are a lot more customers now, and everyone should have a shot. I agree with a more ********ic attitude. But to show such disdain and indifference to customers that were loyal for 25 years…wow. I’ve never ”flipped” a bag. I still own that first Kelly. But I see my acquaintances that are mostly re-selling their bags are the ones who have access. I feel I should get offered 1-2 bags a year. But for the last 4-5 years, zip, zilch, nada. A few times I gently complained and I was “encouraged“ to come in and buy other stuff. I‘m at a stage that I don’t need any more jewelry, furniture, china etc etc. Oh, well! Adieu, Hermes! We’ll always have Paris :)
 
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#57
washington said:
I think I saw a Birkin in a magazine, maybe 25-30 years ago. Walked into Hermes, and got a Kelly on my first visit. Had an amazing 20 year run, with every whim and fancy fulfilled! SAs were so experienced, and made every visit into a lovely memory. They made you feel like they were as pleased to sell you the bag, as you were to acquire it. Now it’s the Hunger Games. Makes me sad, this is not what luxury is about, this is not what Hermes was about. I actually can‘t disagree with the SA who told me recently “just because you‘re a long-time loyal customer doesn’t mean you can continue to get every bag you want”…of course it was said a with a little more subtlety. There are a lot more customers now, and everyone should have a shot. I agree with a more ********ic attitude. But to show such disdain and indifference to customers that were loyal for 25 years…wow. I’ve never ”flipped” a bag. I still own that first Kelly. But I see my acquaintances that are mostly re-selling their bags are the ones who have access. I feel I should get offered 1-2 bags a year. But for the last 4-5 years, zip, zilch, nada. A few times I gently complained and I was “encouraged“ to come in and buy other stuff. I‘m at a stage that I don’t need any more jewelry, furniture, china etc etc. Oh, well! Adieu, Hermes! We’ll always have Paris :smile:
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You could always try to look on the bright side, after all you have said you had a good run for 20 years. Most people just starting out (like myself) now would feel lucky to have had a long relationship like yours. Personally I think it's fairer that longstanding customers aren't grandfathered into an existing rule. Times change and there will always be a new wave of customers so as a business Hermes is trying to develop relationships with a new generation of clientele. Maybe there will be a slowdown in the luxury sector soon and bags may be more available so perhaps there is hope!
 
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#58
allanrvj said:
I believe this is a part of the fairytale series of ads H had before, and this one in particular was inspired by The Princess and the Pea :heart:

Other ones I could find:

Cinderella
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Little Mermaid
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If I recall correctly, I bought (and still have that mousseline) bc of this ad :biggrin:
bottom one; I think it’s new springs

@washington , I agree that Hermes is now premier brand big business which arguably can no longer afford to be old world luxury in quite the same way. I’m sure you have many gorgeous items as well as fabulous memories :smile:
 
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#59
gogingercat said:
You could always try to look on the bright side, after all you have said you had a good run for 20 years. Most people just starting out (like myself) now would feel lucky to have had a long relationship like yours. Personally I think it's fairer that longstanding customers aren't grandfathered into an existing rule. Times change and there will always be a new wave of customers so as a business Hermes is trying to develop relationships with a new generation of clientele. Maybe there will be a slowdown in the luxury sector soon and bags may be more available so perhaps there is hope!
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Absolutely I love and enjoy the bags I have. And I have also said that I agree ”grandfathered” customers should not be first in line. I used the term d e m o c r a t i c in my post, for some reason it was blanked out. But I don‘t agree with the supercilious attitude a lot of newer SAs have. But don‘t you wonder how thousands of Birkins and Kellys are always available on the secondary market? Obviously a lot of the buyers are not buying for love of the brand, they are buying to make a profit. And there is something to be said for the customer who came in month after month when you were not the hottest game in town. Most of my friends at that time honestly had no idea what I was carrying, most of the fashionable ones were still sporting Chanel, Gucci, YSL. Hermes at that time was the OG “quiet luxury” brand, the opposite of today. So yes, I think one bag a year is not unreasonable. But at the same time, I’m not crying myself to sleep. It’s just a handbag at the end of the day! :)
 
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#60
I first heard about it on Princess Diaries :smile: in the early 2000s. Then once I joined tpf I learned more about the brand. First stepped into an actual store in 2011 and purchased my first H item in 2013.
 
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