I don't like ostrich either. To me, it looks like leather with a skin problem.
What’s your unpopular Hermes opinion?
- Thread starter wowzers1941
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I don't find it hypocritical, just very odd. To me, it only makes sense if you know that you're going to flip the bag at some point. But, as I've said, I never sell my H bags and never plan to. Now Chanel? that's a different story. I've dumped all except one.
Shhhh! Don't tell the mini-baggers, but BIG bags are already BACK. Hermès sent 35s tripping down the runway for Spring '24. This tiny bag thing is simply NOT SUSTAINABLE. OTOH, luxury marketers were genius in convincing folks to spend more money for less leather.
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I think your point is the majority view, not an unpopular opinion
In the quote above, when Hermes talks about its tremendous value of people, they do not seem to be referring at all to clients. They refer to people who have the freedom to create highly crafted beautiful objects. . .so to me, the humanist values of Hermes are in elevation of the artisan.*
My unpopular opinion is based on hearing so many stories of super entitled client behavior (I hear horror stories from my SAs at Hermes, Dior, Chanel. Brunello, Loro Piana and other premier big brands. So, I can understand when my SAs tell me that they are exhausted from having to deal with certain types of clients. perhaps that is als9 why I give them a pass.
ETA: I love the style of Hermes and I own a lot of Hermes RTW, bags, Home goods, etc. But, I would argue that its craftsmanship falls quite a bit short of some independent artisans precisely bc Hermes is such big business. With their enormous costs of advertising, real estate, and other expenses related to being such a large premier brand, the quality of Hermes is arguably no longer the best. That too is an unpopular opinion on TPF.
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People aren't even loyal to jobs (and often spouses) anymore. Why on earth should anyone have to subjugate themselves to a company and a salesperson to buy a handbag? Why do we then have to spend hours artfully posing them and putting them on display for social media consumption? Anyone who was a customer the old days simply cannot play this sick game. I am sad for Hermés younger generation of customers. They really have no choice. And because of the prevalence of superfakes, newer collectors can't even reliably buy on the pre-owned market anymore.I think your point is the majority view, not an unpopular opinion
In the quote above, when Hermes talks about its tremendous value of people, they do not seem to be referring at all to clients. They refer to people who have the freedom to create highly crafted beautiful objects. . .so to me, the humanist values of Hermes are in elevation of the artisan.*
My unpopular opinion is based on hearing so many stories of super entitled client behavior (I hear horror stories from my SAs at Hermes, Dior, Chanel. Brunello, Loro Piana and other premier big brands. So, I can understand when my SAs tell me that they are exhausted from having to deal with certain types of clients. perhaps that is als9 why I give them a pass.
ETA: I love the style of Hermes and I own a lot of Hermes RTW, bags, Home goods, etc. But, I would argue that its craftsmanship falls quite a bit short of some independent artisans precisely bc Hermes is such big business. With their enormous costs of advertising, real estate, and other expenses related to being such a large premier brand, the quality of Hermes is arguably no longer the best. That too is an unpopular opinion on TPF.
All of this drama and the obsession with K & B bags will eventually subside. The truly savvy will shy away from the (now very LOUD) brand. Then what, Hermès?
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WAY back in 1979, Stanley Marcus (chairman of Neiman Marcus) wrote a wonderful book entitled "Quest for the Best" In it, Marcus quotes an executive at Hermès who admits that their leather was no longer the best quality. Hermès didn't even make Marcus' "Best of the Best" leather goods category at the end of the book. That honor went to Valextra. Hermès would NEVER make such a candid admission today, and I doubt that their leather quality has improved since then.I think your point is the majority view, not an unpopular opinion
In the quote above, when Hermes talks about its tremendous value of people, they do not seem to be referring at all to clients. They refer to people who have the freedom to create highly crafted beautiful objects. . .so to me, the humanist values of Hermes are in elevation of the artisan.*
My unpopular opinion is based on hearing so many stories of super entitled client behavior (I hear horror stories from my SAs at Hermes, Dior, Chanel. Brunello, Loro Piana and other premier big brands. So, I can understand when my SAs tell me that they are exhausted from having to deal with certain types of clients. perhaps that is als9 why I give them a pass.
ETA: I love the style of Hermes and I own a lot of Hermes RTW, bags, Home goods, etc. But, I would argue that its craftsmanship falls quite a bit short of some independent artisans precisely bc Hermes is such big business. With their enormous costs of advertising, real estate, and other expenses related to being such a large premier brand, the quality of Hermes is arguably no longer the best. That too is an unpopular opinion on TPF.
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Agree the verbiage was in a job posting and it is likely referring to its staff and clients.I think your point is the majority view, not an unpopular opinion
In the quote above, when Hermes talks about its tremendous value of people, they do not seem to be referring at all to clients. They refer to people who have the freedom to create highly crafted beautiful objects. . .so to me, the humanist values of Hermes are in elevation of the artisan.*
My unpopular opinion is based on hearing so many stories of super entitled client behavior (I hear horror stories from my SAs at Hermes, Dior, Chanel. Brunello, Loro Piana and other premier big brands. So, I can understand when my SAs tell me that they are exhausted from having to deal with certain types of clients. perhaps that is als9 why I give them a pass.
ETA: I love the style of Hermes and I own a lot of Hermes RTW, bags, Home goods, etc. But, I would argue that its craftsmanship falls quite a bit short of some independent artisans precisely bc Hermes is such big business. With their enormous costs of advertising, real estate, and other expenses related to being such a large premier brand, the quality of Hermes is arguably no longer the best. That too is an unpopular opinion on TPF.
There are many a client who walk in with a bad attitude. I appreciate those brands with sales reps who still put on a great face regardless of other client interactions. Take for example Nordstrom. I’m guessing bad clients also exist with the best hotels but I’ve never once had poor service from one of these places.
agree on quality of homeware. I was shocked to see my Avalon pillows show holes in places after about five years. We hadn’t even used them that much. They were mainly decorative for a bed. Here’s another unpopular opinion, I wish more of their tableware was dishwasher safe and made with without cobalt or lead. Those ca prop warnings are a bit off putting.
I am not a fan of Hermès jewelry. There is something awkward about it.
I would add to my post above that believe it or not, there was a time many moons ago when Hermès would happily authenticate a pre-loved H bag. As I recall, they stopped authenticating around 2005. Mesvalises
OG TPFers circa 2008, when I joined, opined that kelly bags from the 1990’s were the best skins and quality of workmanship.
Duret, where I bought my only bespoke, entirely hand stitched bag, has told me that box leather (he has stunning 50 year old hides) was better back then. . .I have been told by Hermes staff (and TPF members) that epsom is prevalent bc it is inferior box leather. So, I am assuming plenty of box doesn’t make the grade. (I don’t know any of this firsthand. It’s only what I’ve read or been told)
My purveyor of fine china (Silver Peacock, design center NYC) has told me that Hermes porcelain is decal pattern, so he does not know why there is such a long lead time. He doesn’t think decal is all that durable or high. Quality. After waiting a long time for an h deco teapot (that drips) and some cups, I decided to go with hering berlin (favored by multi star Michelin restaurants; hand painted Marie Daag; and some Bernardaud serving platters (simply bc they were in stock)
100% agree. I’m not a fan of Pierre Hardy in general and I dislike his own eponymous line (available in Palais Royale)
Loro Piana for cashmere outerwear that does not pill and is treated with storm system (their outerwear is gold standard)
LP’s gift of kings merino wool is far better than most cashmere, and the cost reflects this. Current collection LP is cut closer to the body and is more fashionable (i don’t know if this is bc the current head of LP used to be at Dior )
We just custom upholstered a semi circular banquette with LP nubuck leather (6 hides of anthracite color) which appears both lush and durable. That’s my only experience with LP leather, but I’m impressed and might buy a bag or two.
Bespoke or M2M leather shoes and bags (I found Duret bags and shoes by hiro yanagamachi, both sourced at trunk shows held by Leffot, NYC, to be of exceptional quality. DH orders bespoke shoes by Corthay; M2M by Edward Green; and other brands that are vastly superior to Hermes belts and shoes. (I find Hermes footwear to be quite heavy and unrefined, but I do own some boots and sandals that I enjoy as fashion pieces).
DH has ordered a M2M Hermes shirt which hasn’t come in yet, but most likely Charvet in Paris (where most of his shirts come from) will end up to be the most high quality. We consider the H shirt to be more of a fashion, novelty piece. A distant runner up is bespoke from Turnbull & Asser.
I like the fit of women’s Brunello cuchinelli pants, but we had a bad bespoke service experience and our SA left, so we stopped shopping there. . . . I do own some Hermes pants which are fun fashion items
The new Kelly Move is a waste of money and ridiculous. And you can't even get it. And the SA was rude and not only didn't let us try it, and he didn't know the price. And it's small.
Funny story: about two months ago, I was sitting around waiting somewhere and, out of boredom, I ran my hand along the hardware of my bag. I hadn't realized that there were still stickers on there! I'd had the bag since 2021, too. I felt like such an idiot for not noticing.
My unpopular H opinion is that whatever the hell this horse love story is that's been playing out across scarves for the last few seasons is, at best, weird.
Not remotely off topic Unpopular Opinion:
I don't care how beautifully hand crafted Hermès is, it's become overexposed and boring. If I see one more carefully arranged, twilly wrapped array of candy colored mini Kellys ( accompanied of course by a perfectly manicured hand, Lamborghini steering wheel, and Cartier Clou/ Love bracelets, I will SCREAM, (and then I will YAWN.)
Thanks to social media, and endless aspirational overkill, Hermès has lost all semblance of true luxury and exclusivity. In my mind, the brand is very close to becoming the equivalent of high priced LV.
Whether the quality is there or not, all top luxury bag makers are now chasing H prices-hence the ridiculous increases at LV and Chanel. Hermès must then ridiculously raise THEIR prices to stay ahead of the game.
Peter Nitz (and perhaps Duret) may be the light at the end of the tunnel.
I do not want people staring at or asking me about my handbags. I do not want people to know how much my purse costs or to determine how much money I have by looking my handbag.
That is not luxury.
I don't care how beautifully hand crafted Hermès is, it's become overexposed and boring. If I see one more carefully arranged, twilly wrapped array of candy colored mini Kellys ( accompanied of course by a perfectly manicured hand, Lamborghini steering wheel, and Cartier Clou/ Love bracelets, I will SCREAM, (and then I will YAWN.)
Thanks to social media, and endless aspirational overkill, Hermès has lost all semblance of true luxury and exclusivity. In my mind, the brand is very close to becoming the equivalent of high priced LV.
Whether the quality is there or not, all top luxury bag makers are now chasing H prices-hence the ridiculous increases at LV and Chanel. Hermès must then ridiculously raise THEIR prices to stay ahead of the game.
Peter Nitz (and perhaps Duret) may be the light at the end of the tunnel.
I do not want people staring at or asking me about my handbags. I do not want people to know how much my purse costs or to determine how much money I have by looking my handbag.
That is not luxury.
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A reminder that this thread is devoted to Hermes only. If posts venture off to other brands they may be better served in the general handbags forum