Photos of your less than perfect vintage Hermès and share experiences

[fashiongodess*]

26 years old: B35 in ostrich, Vert Veronese ❤:
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what a gorgeous colour!!

 

[Sammy Royal]

what a gorgeous colour!!

Thank you, dear fashiongodess!

 

[girlhasbags]

She is vintage but absolutely perfect: my 1980 Ardennes Marron Fonce (I thought it was Ebene for a while, then Havane, but Paris just definitively declared this Marron Fonce). She's just been freshly spa-ed and had her hardware replaced to butterfly clasps, so that I can wear her shoulder style! As you can see, she's held up great for all her years, and spa has made her nearly new again!

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She is a beauty do you still own her? How has the leather held up? I'd love to hear everything about her I am considering one in this exact combination.

 

[girlhasbags]

My 1989 Bleu Saphir Kelly 32

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Oh boy!!! I love that

 

[girlhasbags]

1990's Trim in Cerf (deerskin), eBay find quite a while back. 1980 Kelly 28 in Box calf, purchased from a private seller maybe 8 years ago - might be my favorite bag, I have an unreasonable love for it. Both Rouge H.

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That box though!!!!!!! OMG

 

[girlhasbags]

I want one from 1964. If anyone sees one please alert me. Thanks!

 

[Anthropolo]

Hello everyone

I wonder if I could get some Vintage Hermès Lovers opinion on something.

I recently obtained this vintage Kelly Bag from 1970 (Stamp Z) in Crocodile leather. It‘s seen better days, but I thought I could potentially get it fixed up. Hermès would not, as the bag has been worked on probably in the late 80‘s. The original owner probably got the job done by a cobbler, it was quite horrendous, but luckily not THAT visible. (some doubled up stitching on the gussets and badly installed rivets on the flap hardware)

Anyways, as you can see with its age came the sacking effect, so the corners all fell into themselves. I was wondering if I should get them re-inforced professionally (meaning the bag being taken apart and new stiffener glued between crocodile and lining) so that the corners would lift, or if this is part of the vintage bags charm.

I will definitely get the tears on the gussets fixed as minimally invasive as possible anyway, but the corners seem to be another story.

Let me know what you think!

 

[WKN]

Hello everyone

I wonder if I could get some Vintage Hermès Lovers opinion on something.

I recently obtained this vintage Kelly Bag from 1970 (Stamp Z) in Crocodile leather. It‘s seen better days, but I thought I could potentially get it fixed up. Hermès would not, as the bag has been worked on probably in the late 80‘s. The original owner probably got the job done by a cobbler, it was quite horrendous, but luckily not THAT visible. (some doubled up stitching on the gussets and badly installed rivets on the flap hardware)

Anyways, as you can see with its age came the sacking effect, so the corners all fell into themselves. I was wondering if I should get them re-inforced professionally (meaning the bag being taken apart and new stiffener glued between crocodile and lining) so that the corners would lift, or if this is part of the vintage bags charm.

I will definitely get the tears on the gussets fixed as minimally invasive as possible anyway, but the corners seem to be another story.

Let me know what you think!

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I'm not able to help, unfortunately for you, but this is a quick note to say how much I envy you as I've been looking for a stamp Z bag for years (my birthyear). Please keep us updated on this grand dame's future spa. Congratulations and wear her in good health!

 

[papertiger]

Hello everyone

I wonder if I could get some Vintage Hermès Lovers opinion on something.

I recently obtained this vintage Kelly Bag from 1970 (Stamp Z) in Crocodile leather. It‘s seen better days, but I thought I could potentially get it fixed up. Hermès would not, as the bag has been worked on probably in the late 80‘s. The original owner probably got the job done by a cobbler, it was quite horrendous, but luckily not THAT visible. (some doubled up stitching on the gussets and badly installed rivets on the flap hardware)

Anyways, as you can see with its age came the sacking effect, so the corners all fell into themselves. I was wondering if I should get them re-inforced professionally (meaning the bag being taken apart and new stiffener glued between crocodile and lining) so that the corners would lift, or if this is part of the vintage bags charm.

I will definitely get the tears on the gussets fixed as minimally invasive as possible anyway, but the corners seem to be another story.

Let me know what you think!

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Other than making cardboard conical 'pointers' to reinforce the corners I'm not sure how you could reinforce without invasive procedures. This is one reason that some people store Ks stuffed and on their backs. I don't think these detract from the beauty of the vintage bag.

It may help if you are able to re-edge the flap, you'll find even room moisture can attack and swell the croc leather.

So sad that someone patched it so badly and H was not able to hep you. The good thing is that there are more options for handbag repair these days.

 

[Anthropolo]

Other that making cardboard conical 'pointers' to reinforce the corners I'm not sure how you could reinforce without invasive procedures. This is one reason that some people store Ks stuffed and on their backs. I don't think these detract from the beauty of the vintage bag.

It may help if you are able to re-edge the flap, you'll find even room moisture can attack and swell the croc leather.

So sad that someone patched it so badly and H was not able to hep you. The good thing is that there are more options for handbag repair these days.

I know it‘s a shame that H couldn‘t help. And yes!! The edges need to be sealed again, but first the cardboard that cobbler installed in the flap needs to go as well and be replaced with veg tan or bonded leather. Makes me furious that whoever did that didn’t just pass on repairing it, but I guess the owner did not have a very good eye. I‘ve already started to fix the torn gussets myself. Pretty meticulous let‘s say the least. I‘ve also added some bonded leather between the lining and the crocodile to make it tear proof for the future:

 

[BowieFan1971]

Hello everyone

I wonder if I could get some Vintage Hermès Lovers opinion on something.

I recently obtained this vintage Kelly Bag from 1970 (Stamp Z) in Crocodile leather. It‘s seen better days, but I thought I could potentially get it fixed up. Hermès would not, as the bag has been worked on probably in the late 80‘s. The original owner probably got the job done by a cobbler, it was quite horrendous, but luckily not THAT visible. (some doubled up stitching on the gussets and badly installed rivets on the flap hardware)

Anyways, as you can see with its age came the sacking effect, so the corners all fell into themselves. I was wondering if I should get them re-inforced professionally (meaning the bag being taken apart and new stiffener glued between crocodile and lining) so that the corners would lift, or if this is part of the vintage bags charm.

I will definitely get the tears on the gussets fixed as minimally invasive as possible anyway, but the corners seem to be another story.

Let me know what you think!

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Gorgeous bag! I would leave the sagging!

 

[papertiger]

I know it‘s a shame that H couldn‘t help. And yes!! The edges need to be sealed again, but first the cardboard that cobbler installed in the flap needs to go as well and be replaced with veg tan or bonded leather. Makes me furious that whoever did that didn’t just pass on repairing it, but I guess the owner did not have a very good eye. I‘ve already started to fix the torn gussets myself. Pretty meticulous let‘s say the least. I‘ve also added some bonded leather between the lining and the crocodile to make it tear proof for the future:

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You seem to be the right person to own this piece now

BTW, when I talked about card 'pointers' I meant removable ones, literally like the templated, cardboard base shapers everyone used to make for their own 'saggy-bottomed' bags (until people produced them commercially).

Best of luck!

 

[Anthropolo]

You seem to be the right person to own this piece now

BTW, when I talked about card 'pointers' I meant removable ones, literally like the templated, cardboard base shapers everyone used to make for their own 'saggy-bottomed' bags (until people produced them commercially).

Best of luck!

Ohh, do you by any chance have a name of a brand? All I can find are the basic flat base shapers, but those wouldn‘t really lift the corners, just stabilise the base itself (luckily it seems to be intact on my bag) I tried to stuff the corners with paper but they are too „strongly“ deformed and it would just squish it out. I guess it‘s just part of the bag for now.

By the way, in the meantime I have fixed both of the torn gussets.

I‘ll put a before and after:

Before

After

 

[papertiger]

Ohh, do you by any chance have a name of a brand? All I can find are the basic flat base shapers, but those wouldn‘t really lift the corners, just stabilise the base itself (luckily it seems to be intact on my bag) I tried to stuff the corners with paper but they are too „strongly“ deformed and it would just squish it out. I guess it‘s just part of the bag for now.

By the way, in the meantime I have fixed both of the torn gussets.

I‘ll put a before and after:

Before
View attachment 5127801
After
View attachment 5127799

You'd have to make them yourself.

My Gucci Flora Nice tote bag had the same problem after storing for a year (it's a Summer only bag for me). All it took was using her for the Summer and it ironed out that corner sagging.

 

[bagnut1]

Update on the repairs on my 1956 Rouge H Kelly 35….
If you remember, Hermès told me on May 19 that I should receive a quote in 2 weeks. I waited a full week after that, making sure to check my junk folder along with my email inbox, and…nothing.
Well, after having to drove 40 minutes each way and physically go to the store because they did not respond to two phone calls/messages I left 3 days apart or an email I sent last Saturday to the SA I have been working with (can’t honestly call him my SA now since he couldn’t be bothered to acknowledge my email or respond), I was told they would not work on my Kelly. It was “damaged beyond repair”. The SA helping me said a manager claimed to email
me about it, but I verified my email address and have been checking my multiple times a day for two weeks just to be sure I did not miss it. Nobody from Hermès sent me an email. The SA went to the back and brought me my bag and said he didn’t understand why they said it was damaged beyond repair. To be honest, I don’t think it ever left the store. I realize I am not a high dollar customer, but I did want to purchase there regularly. Now I am left with a very bad taste after this transaction and feel pushed aside/unwelcome. I took it to a local well reviewed leather shop, who took it in and said it was not that bad, that they have seen (and repaired) far worse. I will let you know how it turns out. Their estimate was less than I expected and included work on the inside pockets that Hermès would not do.

Do you have the option of taking it to another H boutique? I have read so many, many stories here about terribly inconsistent treatment between boutiques (and SAs within boutiques).

Whatever approach you take, wishing you and your lovely bag the best luck!