Kelly in Epsom vs Kelly in box: pros and cons

[ladysarah]

Box, box and box.
I am probably one of the few who has had problems with epsom (quality).
My box C18 has no such problems and I would love to find a K box one day. It is the glow, the feel and texture of the box. It doesn’t compare.

oh may I ask what quality issues you had with epsom? was it new?

If you want color then go for Epsom
Otherwise go for box in a dark color
In 10 years of hard use the box calf will look much better after it’s refurbished than the Epsom

Neither leather should be used when swimming

Both can benefit from some preventive wet weather care

When you wear off the top surface of a textured leather it’s always going to look bald and smooth different from the rest of the bag.
When you do so to a smooth leather pretty much it’s a color touch up and a polish and it looks great .

My 2 cents

thank you miss Docride, that is a brilliant way to summarise some of the pros and cons. There is no doubt that box, (especially in your skilled hands) refurbishes beautifully. Exactly as you say, Hermes also said not to get epsom wet and use the rain jacket. Having said that, tiny little droplets of London rain dont seem to hurt epsom. Would you recommend anything specific for rainproofing it though? I already use your method on my box.

 

[docride]

oh may I ask what quality issues you had with epsom? was it new?



thank you miss Docride, that is a brilliant way to summarise some of the pros and cons. There is no doubt that box, (especially in your skilled hands) refurbishes beautifully. Exactly as you say, Hermes also said not to get epsom wet and use the rain jacket. Having said that, tiny little droplets of London rain dont seem to hurt epsom. Would you recommend anything specific for rainproofing it though? I already use your method on my box.

There are quite a few decent products for giving weather protection out there
I would say for Epsom or any grained leather to use a thin liquid or creamy formula rather than a thick or waxy one as it would tend to build up and leave residue in the grains icky for sure

I think the take home message is not to try and weather proof it rather weather protection which can be handle easily enough with a conditioner check the label there are many good light conditioners which state that application can give weather protection.

I’m not going to name brands here I’ve got a thread for that already

I’ll add some lists there

Good luck
Doc

 

[weibandy]

Go with your heart
it’s kind of silly to try and be practical with your luxury item choice
I mean you love what you love right?
And it is about how you feel about you when you have it or wear it right?
If one bag makes you fall hard and fast don’t talk yourself out of it ...
Oh it’s not going to look awesome in 10 years or some such thing
Who knows if you’ll keep it that long ?
After all
While I’m a proponent of buying for your actual lifestyle not the one in your head
I do believe that when a bag has got you in a tizzy and you’re thinking about it constantly
And you know , just know you’ll want that bag in view of your workspace and the first thing you see when you a wake then .... sigh it’s the one !
However if your uncertain;
Try not to put the bar to high, remember kind of like relationships they are not all life long and as you grow and your lifestyle changes you may find a different style or color or leather just works better...

Just docride handbag logic
No one has to agree...
Good luck

Doc

Such wise words! Thank you!

 

[catin]

There are quite a few decent products for giving weather protection out there
I would say for Epsom or any grained leather to use a thin liquid or creamy formula rather than a thick or waxy one as it would tend to build up and leave residue in the grains icky for sure

I think the take home message is not to try and weather proof it rather weather protection which can be handle easily enough with a conditioner check the label there are many good light conditioners which state that application can give weather protection.

I’m not going to name brands here I’ve got a thread for that already

I’ll add some lists there

Good luck
Doc

I just found myself googling box kellys after reading your last several posts haha....tempting

 

[DR2014]

Go with your heart
it’s kind of silly to try and be practical with your luxury item choice
I mean you love what you love right?
And it is about how you feel about you when you have it or wear it right?
If one bag makes you fall hard and fast don’t talk yourself out of it ...
Oh it’s not going to look awesome in 10 years or some such thing
Who knows if you’ll keep it that long ?
After all
While I’m a proponent of buying for your actual lifestyle not the one in your head
I do believe that when a bag has got you in a tizzy and you’re thinking about it constantly
And you know , just know you’ll want that bag in view of your workspace and the first thing you see when you a wake then .... sigh it’s the one !
However if your uncertain;
Try not to put the bar to high, remember kind of like relationships they are not all life long and as you grow and your lifestyle changes you may find a different style or color or leather just works better...

Just docride handbag logic
No one has to agree...
Good luck

Doc

You make perfect sense to me. Thank you!

 

[DR2014]

I just found myself googling box kellys after reading your last several posts haha....tempting

ha ha me too!!! And Barenia!!

 

[ladysarah]

Go with your heart
it’s kind of silly to try and be practical with your luxury item choice
I mean you love what you love right?
And it is about how you feel about you when you have it or wear it right?
If one bag makes you fall hard and fast don’t talk yourself out of it ...
Oh it’s not going to look awesome in 10 years or some such thing
Who knows if you’ll keep it that long ?
After all
While I’m a proponent of buying for your actual lifestyle not the one in your head
I do believe that when a bag has got you in a tizzy and you’re thinking about it constantly
And you know , just know you’ll want that bag in view of your workspace and the first thing you see when you a wake then .... sigh it’s the one !
However if your uncertain;
Try not to put the bar to high, remember kind of like relationships they are not all life long and as you grow and your lifestyle changes you may find a different style or color or leather just works better...

Just docride handbag logic
No one has to agree...
Good luck

Doc

wise words mate wise words - as we say in London

 

[QuelleFromage]

This is very helpful thank you. I like Togo, but I would only consider it if I were buying a retourner bag... out of interest what made you decide sell your Togo sellier? It sounds like you really liked the bag and it was a special order and everything... may I ask what you felt were the drawbacks?

There weren't any drawbacks at all, it's one of the best Kellys I have ever seen and I'd reorder this bag in a heartbeat in a 28. But I'm 5'1" and 95 pounds and I live a fairly casual lifestyle; 32 sellier is big on me in flats and jeans, great with heels and formal clothes. I would have carried it but not very often, and I have two other dark Kellys on order. If I could possibly justify an 11K bag that I rarely carried I would have kept it.
The actual use case of Togo sellier to me is ideal as you get the most classic K shape with a beautiful, hardy leather. I think it's only rare as most SAs don't think about it and some stores won't accept it. I actually ordered chevre and Paris changed it to Togo, but if I ever order another Kelly it will be Togo sellier.

 

[ladysarah]

+1

I like Epsom for ease and less worries. I tend to baby box leather and treat it as a special occasion bag.

I am with you there. I never thought I'd like Epsom, mostly because of what I read here. But after I saw a new Epsom Kelly in real life, it was a different story. I found the clean lines beautiful, almost mesmerising and it really is easy to use on a daily basis. With box I always felt a little more dressed up, no matter how distressed my jeans. It is true though that a bashed up box will look better than a bashed up Epsom though I haven't actually seen any battered epsom Kellys... if anyone has one would love to see photos.

 

[Newbie88]

If you want color then go for Epsom
Otherwise go for box in a dark color
In 10 years of hard use the box calf will look much better after it’s refurbished than the Epsom

Neither leather should be used when swimming

Both can benefit from some preventive wet weather care

When you wear off the top surface of a textured leather it’s always going to look bald and smooth different from the rest of the bag.
When you do so to a smooth leather pretty much it’s a color touch up and a polish and it looks great .

My 2 cents

Thanks for the advice! I bought my current Kelly in Epsom because I was worried about box being too delicate but I have to admit that I'm really tempted to get a vintage one after all these comments lol. Could i ask if it's very easy to get scratches for box leather and if it really does look new again after a spa treatment at Hermès, esp if it's a vintage bag? Thanks!

 

[ladysarah]

Thanks for the advice! I bought my current Kelly in Epsom because I was worried about box being too delicate but I have to admit that I'm really tempted to get a vintage one after all these comments lol. Could i ask if it's very easy to get scratches for box leather and if it really does look new again after a spa treatment at Hermès, esp if it's a vintage bag? Thanks!

I don’t think box looks like ‘new’ after refurbishment, but it does look very nice. Also I don’t think scratches disappeared as such, but they are not bothersome. It’s part of the character of the bag now.

 

[catin]

I don’t think box looks like ‘new’ after refurbishment, but it does look very nice. Also I don’t think scratches disappeared as such, but they are not bothersome. It’s part of the character of the bag now.

They look like well kept timeless classics after refurbishment. People will be kept guessing at their age!

 

[ladysarah]

They look like well kept timeless classics after refurbishment. People will be kept guessing at their age!

Totally agree. However it’s worth pointing out that is a very specific look and not to everyone,’s taste. vintage box does not look new.

 

[QuelleFromage]

Totally agree. However it’s worth pointing out that is a very specific look and not to everyone,’s taste. vintage box does not look new.

It does sometimes. It does not need to look battered. This baby is 38.

 

[Hat Trick]

It does sometimes. It does not need to look battered. This baby is 38.

(So beautiful, i think I'm in love, in emoji 'speak'.)