I got home late this evening from 4 days in NYC/CT. I flew in early Tues morning, and after dropping off my luggage at my son's office mid-town, I headed down to the Wall Street Hermes store.
I was fortunate to get an absolutely lovely SA who was willing to spend a great deal of time with me. I was also fortunate that there were several styles that I had been considering and had not yet seen IRL so I could try them on.
After 2 1/2 hours, I had come to the conclusion that a 32 Kelly is the right bag for me. The SA showed me one that was a sellier in Cacaon Coromandel Supple with gold hardware. I loved it but had also really loved a slightly larger chocolate one that was in the window that was a retourne, but it had Palladium hardware which is just not me. I also discovered that it was a bit more difficult to get into the softer bag - it took two hands. I just wasn't ready to make a decision so I asked my SA if she could hold it for me till later that afternoon so I could think about it. She ran an impression of my credit card and said she would.
I then went uptown to the Madison Ave store. It was mobbed and the SA that helped me was polite but clearly not about to spend much time with me. She had no Kelly's to show me. I did see a Bolide there in Verte Anis (sp?) that was gorgeous. If I were a multiple Hermes owner, I might well choose that one as a second bag - would be great with the colors I wear in the spring/summer.
I went from there to a great handbag shop on E 65th that specializes in exotics. They had some gorgeous bags but they are not inexpensive (even if much less than Hermes exotics), but I realized that this could never be an "everyday" bag due to the risk of water damage (it was misting off and on all that day!).
From there, I went to Lederer to see their version of a Kelly. I had bought my daughter their version of the Birkin in Oct and it is a stunning bag and she adores it. I must have spent 1 1/2 hours there trying on innumerable bags in various styles and leathers. I quickly discovered that while their version of the Birkin is a wonderful purchase (but not for me - too heavy and I need a shoulder strap), their Kelly is stiff and the handle and shoulder strap "fight" with one another for space. I ended up buying a shoulder bag that is "inspired by" Constance that will make a great bag for me when I need to keep my hands free and not worry about a strap sliding off my shoulder.
While there, I decided that I was just not ready to plunk down $7100 for a handbag. I called my SA and thanked her for all her help and for holding the bag but told her I was going to pass at this time. She was very gracious but suggested that she keep that credit card slip that she had run, just in case I changed my mind. I agreed.
I felt very comfortable with my decision until about 6 AM the next morning!!!! I woke up and started thinking about how beautiful that bag was and how near-perfect it was for me. I LOVE the color and the leather - it has a richness and luster that makes it just "glow". I knew that I had not seen either color of leather mentioned much on this forum, as well. I know that since I live in a city with no Hermes and only get to NYC a couple of times a year, I might have had a LONG wait. Yes, Chicago is close (5 hours), but they do not allow phone orders.
When I got up a few hours later, I just kept thinking about that bag!!!! If it had been a retourne, I think I would have bought it immediately (retourne is significantly less expensive than sellier). It was just SO much money! But I kept thinking and thinking, and an hour later, I went upstairs at my son's house and called my SA and asked her if it was still there. It was, and I said, "Send it"!!!!
I was very comfortable with this decision until Thanksgiving morning and now I'm scared to death! It will arrive Monday. I'm terrified that I won't like it as much as I did on Tues. I'm terrified that I'll regret that I didn't wait until the totally "perfect" bag showed up. I'm scared that I'll be terrified to actually carry such an expensive bag, and if I don't carry it often, I cannot justify spending that much money. I'm a widow and my social life is much more limited than it once was. I have a lot more when I'm on the Vineyard in the summer, but that Kelly is definitely NOT a Vineyard bag!
I know that if I truly regret this purchase, I can always re-sell the bag, but that is not what I want to do.
Have any of you been terrified between the time of your purchase and when it arrived? Help me here, ladies! It's going to be a LONG next two days!!!!
I was fortunate to get an absolutely lovely SA who was willing to spend a great deal of time with me. I was also fortunate that there were several styles that I had been considering and had not yet seen IRL so I could try them on.
After 2 1/2 hours, I had come to the conclusion that a 32 Kelly is the right bag for me. The SA showed me one that was a sellier in Cacaon Coromandel Supple with gold hardware. I loved it but had also really loved a slightly larger chocolate one that was in the window that was a retourne, but it had Palladium hardware which is just not me. I also discovered that it was a bit more difficult to get into the softer bag - it took two hands. I just wasn't ready to make a decision so I asked my SA if she could hold it for me till later that afternoon so I could think about it. She ran an impression of my credit card and said she would.
I then went uptown to the Madison Ave store. It was mobbed and the SA that helped me was polite but clearly not about to spend much time with me. She had no Kelly's to show me. I did see a Bolide there in Verte Anis (sp?) that was gorgeous. If I were a multiple Hermes owner, I might well choose that one as a second bag - would be great with the colors I wear in the spring/summer.
I went from there to a great handbag shop on E 65th that specializes in exotics. They had some gorgeous bags but they are not inexpensive (even if much less than Hermes exotics), but I realized that this could never be an "everyday" bag due to the risk of water damage (it was misting off and on all that day!).
From there, I went to Lederer to see their version of a Kelly. I had bought my daughter their version of the Birkin in Oct and it is a stunning bag and she adores it. I must have spent 1 1/2 hours there trying on innumerable bags in various styles and leathers. I quickly discovered that while their version of the Birkin is a wonderful purchase (but not for me - too heavy and I need a shoulder strap), their Kelly is stiff and the handle and shoulder strap "fight" with one another for space. I ended up buying a shoulder bag that is "inspired by" Constance that will make a great bag for me when I need to keep my hands free and not worry about a strap sliding off my shoulder.
While there, I decided that I was just not ready to plunk down $7100 for a handbag. I called my SA and thanked her for all her help and for holding the bag but told her I was going to pass at this time. She was very gracious but suggested that she keep that credit card slip that she had run, just in case I changed my mind. I agreed.
I felt very comfortable with my decision until about 6 AM the next morning!!!! I woke up and started thinking about how beautiful that bag was and how near-perfect it was for me. I LOVE the color and the leather - it has a richness and luster that makes it just "glow". I knew that I had not seen either color of leather mentioned much on this forum, as well. I know that since I live in a city with no Hermes and only get to NYC a couple of times a year, I might have had a LONG wait. Yes, Chicago is close (5 hours), but they do not allow phone orders.
When I got up a few hours later, I just kept thinking about that bag!!!! If it had been a retourne, I think I would have bought it immediately (retourne is significantly less expensive than sellier). It was just SO much money! But I kept thinking and thinking, and an hour later, I went upstairs at my son's house and called my SA and asked her if it was still there. It was, and I said, "Send it"!!!!
I was very comfortable with this decision until Thanksgiving morning and now I'm scared to death! It will arrive Monday. I'm terrified that I won't like it as much as I did on Tues. I'm terrified that I'll regret that I didn't wait until the totally "perfect" bag showed up. I'm scared that I'll be terrified to actually carry such an expensive bag, and if I don't carry it often, I cannot justify spending that much money. I'm a widow and my social life is much more limited than it once was. I have a lot more when I'm on the Vineyard in the summer, but that Kelly is definitely NOT a Vineyard bag!
I know that if I truly regret this purchase, I can always re-sell the bag, but that is not what I want to do.
Have any of you been terrified between the time of your purchase and when it arrived? Help me here, ladies! It's going to be a LONG next two days!!!!
Welcome to the H side! 
