What’s your unpopular Hermes opinion?

[QuelleFromage]

I call this the Stepford uniform.

On the point of Hermes leathers, I read here AGES ago that togo leather with veining is inferior leather compared to it without. Yet everyone wanted veining because "it added character to the bag," and the company was all too happy to continue purveying such leather. Anyone know if this is true? Oh, to stay on topic: I prefer no veins in my bag. Most people seem to prefer otherwise.

This is not true, which leads me to:
Today's unpopular opinion: people state, with utter certainty, way too many "facts" about Hermès online that are based on absolutely nothing. Togo with veining is bad Togo. Clemence blisters in water. Etc. And, because too many online writers do no actual research, this stuff gets perpetuated.

 

[mesvalises]

My latest unpopular opinion is I’m tired of Hermes. You can probably lump in generally how I’m feeling about luxury brands. Everything on social media is on repeat. Same bags, same questions about Sa’s and shopping, same everything. Here’s another gog kelly, another faubourg, another Avalon, another pair of orans. I get for new people it’s all exciting but just wait a few minutes after you wake up and reflect on your experience. Everything really was just meh. Yes you got the bag but at what price? Did you really “win?” The only winners in the game of Hermes is Hermes.

Today, I took my beloved Galop 50 into the newly opened H boutique in my area. The buffalo zipper pull has broken off on one side. Other than that the bag is still in flawless condition. The verdict: 6-9 months for a modest repair! I'm going to bring it back in May when I won't need it for travel.

As I looked around, I saw nothing that interested me enough to inquire about, or even anything as nice as my wonderful, go-to-for-decades Galop. As you say, everything looked and felt meh. While waiting for the SA, a very pleasant young customer complimented me on my glasses. She was being helped by another SA. The young woman who spoke to me was rocking the "Crocs, PJ bottoms, and puffer" look.

I knew in that instant that I am no longer part of the H demographic.

It was the same way I felt when I saw Kim and Kanye on the cover of Vogue. I never subscribed again. But hey, Anna W did what she had to do to keep Vogue alive, and so it now goes with Hermès.

 

[SPBiaes]

i love Pierre Hardy and has been a fan of his designs for decades so this is not targeted towards him, but I often joke that it doesn’t make sense for Hermes to start making high jewelry. Well… actually we all know why they make them lol. No doubt that some pieces are truly clever and breathtaking, but at the end of the day, I do not dream of ordering high jewelry pieces from a house who is deeply rooted in …equestrian leather goods...? Give me Chaumet. Give me Boucheron. Give me VCA and Cartier for high jewelry.

This applies to Chanel, too. I’m so tired of them making gorgeous gems into another perfume bottle for the 555th time in the name of high jewelry.

 

[saugalady]

I know the charms- Rodeo and Pegasse are meant to look like the Trojan horse but I find them so ugly. Makes the craftsmanship lazy and over simplified especially at that cost.

 

[QuelleFromage]

I know the charms- Rodeo and Pegasse are meant to look like the Trojan horse but I find them so ugly. Makes the craftsmanship lazy and over simplified especially at that cost.

I did not know this about the Trojan horse reference. Wonder why Hermès would pay homage to that?

Staying on topic, my unpopular opinion about Rodeos and all bag charms and specifically them always being offered with a bag purchase, is that a $12K bag should look beautiful all by itself 🤣

 

[FameOrFortune]

(post #4) I'm still working on an opinion! 😂

 

[mesvalises]

Somehow, I feel compelled to keep stirring the pot on this subject. OK, here goes:

As many of us have probably already pointed out, H has now jumped the shark from IYKYK to middle class aspirational brand.

The vast number of bags on internet display would logically indicate that some women are taking on serious credit card debt to buy these bags. IMO, no one should EVER take on debt to buy a bag, or any other lux product for that matter. Being in debt is DEFINITELY not luxurious. (BTW, I still think that lots of the bags on display on Insta are mirror replicas.)

To H's credit, they have not yet launched a lower priced "bridge" line. Wanna bet that the line would nave "Twilly" in there somewhere?

 

[SPBiaes]

If you shroud yourself in mystery, people will want to find out what you actually are. It’s human curiosity. Hermes, or many luxury brands for that matter, had the success of creating and maintaining this mysterious “I belong to a niche” aura about themselves. I often think about Bottega and Loewe from 20, 30+ years ago. They were also viewed as artisanal “quite” brands with incredible craftsmanship enjoyed by iykyk and had no market swaying power like they have today. But at the end of the day, the purpose of a business is generating profits for stakeholders and every step they take is a business strategy. Eventually more people will join in on the fun as a big part of human interaction is information exchange. When secrets are out, some people stay in the group welcoming new members, and some will leave to explore the next mystery (*cough cough* all the online discussions on the Row/Loro Piana etc *cough cough*). And the cycle begins again. I say let’s just enjoy the moment! I tell myself I should and will only care about a brand as much as a brand cares about me, which isn’t gonna be much! Ha!

I personally don’t think being an aspirational brand is problematic. We all have goals and dreams. DH and I came from nothing so having something to dream about gave us that fighting spirit and that led us to the life we enjoy today. I can’t imagine taking debts just to show off your lifestyle online but that’s what social media does to some people. Is it really “your” lifestyle when your life is so completely under the influence of overconsumption and vanity?

Getting OT here lol! My other unpopular opinion abt H: i know petite H is all about new creations using leftover materials or rejects. But man oh man some of the petite H creations are just confusing, ugly, overpriced and should probably be rejected again lol.

 

[mesvalises]

If you shroud yourself in mystery, people will want to find out what you actually are. It’s human curiosity. Hermes, or many luxury brands for that matter, had the success of creating and maintaining this mysterious “I belong to a niche” aura about themselves. I often think about Bottega and Loewe from 20, 30+ years ago. They were also viewed as artisanal “quite” brands with incredible craftsmanship enjoyed by iykyk and had no market swaying power like they have today. But at the end of the day, the purpose of a business is generating profits for stakeholders and every step they take is a business strategy. Eventually more people will join in on the fun as a big part of human interaction is information exchange. When secrets are out, some people stay in the group welcoming new members, and some will leave to explore the next mystery (*cough cough* all the online discussions on the Row/Loro Piana etc *cough cough*). And the cycle begins again. I say let’s just enjoy the moment! I tell myself I should and will only care about a brand as much as a brand cares about me, which isn’t gonna be much! Ha!

I personally don’t think being an aspirational brand is problematic. We all have goals and dreams. DH and I came from nothing so having something to dream about gave us that fighting spirit and that led us to the life we enjoy today. I can’t imagine taking debts just to show off your lifestyle online but that’s what social media does to some people. Is it really “your” lifestyle when your life is so completely under the influence of overconsumption and vanity?

Getting OT here lol! My other unpopular opinion abt H: i know petite H is all about new creations using leftover materials or rejects. But man oh man some of the petite H creations are just confusing, ugly, overpriced and should probably be rejected again lol

Being an aspirational brand is not a problem at all. But, as you say, some of us recognize that it's time to move on from Hermès. If I am paying 20K and up for a bag, I want something truly special and unique. I want something that is not an internet cliche. I shuddered when H opened a boutique recently in our local upscale MALL. I want a bag that's not available in an "upscale" MALL. I want straightforward, stellar, and CONSISTENT customer service, and I most certainly don't want to do the cha cha with a sales assistant.

 

[880]

At least Hermes doesn’t do sunglasses via luxottica or some such (yet).

If i were a teenager or just venturing into premier brands, I could see myself saving up to buy cosmetics, hair ornaments, horn, bangles, and some other first floor merchandise.

I still remember in high school , my first chanel thing (purchased with my allowance) was Chanel makeup highlighter. Adored it. And still remembered it when I was given my first bags from my mom in college or when i Bought my first RTW myself in 2001. I can imagine Hermes being the same way for others

Perhaps the idea that H is aspirational is an unpopular opinion.

ETA: What is unpopular for certain is that I’m not a fan of Pierre Hardy. I don’t want a metal H or abstract chaine d’ancre or tired on my bag, waist, and my feet. And there’s only so much faux equestrian that I can do, given that I haven’t ridden a horse in decades.

Another unpopular opinion is I was good with very orange and equipage. And maybe a little vetiver tonka, but not the others. Not a fan of Jean Claude Ellena either.

 

[Neeya]

Vastly overthinking something as entirely, wildly subjective as handbag taste and directly correlating it with perceived vs actual ~"old"~/~"new"~ wealth and finding that just....really, intensely silly...might be my unpopular opinion lol

Do people really scrutinize their accessory purchases this heavily to determine how society views them and if that view is adequate for what they want to portray? How much vs how little money do you have to have to not give a ***t 😂 Please don't care ya'll, just enjoy what you love, none of it matters, we are all gonna die one day, life is too short lol

 

[mesvalises]

Vastly overthinking something as entirely, wildly subjective as handbag taste and directly correlating it with perceived vs actual ~"old"~/~"new"~ wealth and finding that just....really, intensely silly...might be my unpopular opinion lol

Do people really scrutinize their accessory purchases this heavily to determine how society views them and if that view is adequate for what they want to portray? How much vs how little money do you have to have to not give a ***t 😂 Please don't care ya'll, just enjoy what you love, none of it matters, we are all gonna die one day, life is too short lol

Yes, women do examine other women's handbags, just like men judge each other by the cars they drive. A handbag says A LOT about whomever is carrying it.

In addition, life is also too short to get knocked down and mugged or killed cuz everybody and their uncle knows how much your Hermès bag costs.

 

[Neeya]

Yes, women do examine other women's handbags, just like men judge each other by the cars they drive. A handbag says A LOT about whomever is carrying it.

I try not to assume anything by what someone is driving or wearing tbh; I know we all have first-glance hasty opinions, but hopefully, most people can humanize, empathize, and understand their way past them, as people are not the sum of their belongings. And hopefully also have social and spatial awareness regarding when something is carried or worn. Probably an unpopular opinion as well? We all think differently, variety being the spice of life and all!

 

[haute okole]

My unpopular opinion is I absolutely love buying Hermes for me, my girls and my home because it fits my aesthetic. I buy Hermes because I wanted to replicate the style of those elegant woman I saw in Asia in the 70’s at various Embassy parties. Influencers and their photos don’t bother me because I don’t see or look at them and neither do my kids. How influencers or anybody pays for their bags, whether on credit, are they in debt or not, is of no concern to me, because it is none of my business. Judging people based on what they have or do not have says more about the “judge” and not the person being judged.

 

[lalame]

My unpopular opinion: the cultural obsession today with the brand is toxic. Shopping at Hermes is one thing, but I can't even watch social media content about Hermes anymore because you always see a few themes come through in the content itself or the comments: 1. Snobbishness about it being too mainstream, 2. Anger about not getting a quota bag, 3. Desperation to get a quota bag, 4. Random academic commentary about how to look "old money" - as if that applied to even 1% of people on earth. There's just so many emotions in it. IMO, this is just shopping. We're talking about accessories here not a way of life.