What’s your unpopular Hermes opinion?

[MillStream]

@Notorious Pink, I'm holding out for a Retourne Birkin in Box Calf, Chevre or Ostrich, all leathers which become more and more beautiful with use. It hadn't occurred to me to specify Retourne on my wishlist, and that came back to bite me when I was offered a Sellier Box Calf Birkin that I declined.

I'm with @maxroxxherhandbags on Sellier Birkins, although I much prefer Sellier Kellys. That said, I've yet to actually see a Sellier 25cm Birkin and think I might like that size in Sellier.

 

[Notorious Pink]

@Notorious Pink, I'm holding out for a Retourne Birkin in Box Calf, Chevre or Ostrich, all leathers which become more and more beautiful with use. It hadn't occurred to me to specify Retourne on my wishlist, and that came back to bite me when I was offered a Sellier Box Calf Birkin that I declined.

I'm with @maxroxxherhandbags on Sellier Birkins, although I much prefer Sellier Kellys. That said, I've yet to actually see a Sellier 25cm Birkin and think I might like that size in Sellier.

That’s good to know; I thought that for a Birkin you don’t need to specify Retourne, because Birkin Sellier is only done in Epsom and Croc or Gator. Of course, Box, Chevre and Ostrich are all Sellier for Kellys, but I forgot about Box for Birkin Sellier.

I ordered the Birkin Sellier (25cm) because I don’t have one yet, and there is a range of pale blues that I am interested in, one of which was offered in Epsom, so my SA thought it would be a perfect choice for me.

 

[Notorious Pink]

I can enjoy chevre for it’s shine and durability and structure… for it’s natural look with imperfections…

Aaaah swift… I like the hand on swift… so there is not such a big aversion than it’s epsom 🫣

It seems I am not drunk enough… find me at the bar inside the hotel now… it is getting to cold and lonely at the pool.

I like the hand of Swift too, but it scratches too easily for me. If it’s going to scratch that easily, it might as well be Tadelakt, which has the most incredible sheen ever (almost iridescent). I have a Tadelakt bag which I love (and don’t carry nearly enough), and I don’t find it any more delicate than Swft.

 

[sibsib]

UO: A lot of Epsom ‘hate’ is bandwagoning/snobbery more so than actual disliking of the leather itself.

Find me in the pond in the hotel gardens, as I must now duck. Please bring bread.

 

[Goldenbelle]

Joining in: I don’t like Epsom, Swift, , Togo, Madame and Barenia F - which made me think a lot when I was discussing bag wishes with my SA recently. Leaves me with just smooth Barenia, Ostrich, Box, Porc (and the exotics, which would probably not suit my using my bags in all kind of situations and weathers live style). Chèvre and Clemence are ok but not really what really appeals to me. Adding that I am out for a larger Kelly (32|35) in Retoure makes it nearly impossible to state a wish that stands a chance to be fulfilled 😭. I would not mind a longer wait though.

Good for my wallet though…

However, I really wish that H went back to the variety of leathers and other materials we see in vintage bags, leathers that actually age and become more beautiful as leathers with use and show a live lived. Not just leathers that try to look new as long as possible (probably UO). Or at least make them available as SO again.

Oh, and final UO: I don’t get it why people buy these bags like candy, meaning buying one and while still at the checkout desk talking about getting the next one. Just getting more and more for the quick (sugar) fix, not giving one self the time to truly enjoy and appreciate what you already own. And, if one of your friends or acquaintances has a “newer” or more “special” bag immediately needing the same or a better one to keep up. Like kids wanting or demanding the sweets of their friends greedy at once, too. (Sometimes I feel this itch, too, I have to confess… 😂)

However, appreciating bags as an eye candy as such, to be enjoyed and savoured or as a reward or treat for yourself is perfectly fine for me.

 

[HappySteve]

Not just leathers that try to look new as long as possible (probably UO).

Well isn’t that what people enjoy? Keeping there bags brand new for as long as possible?

This might be a new « polémique » … to be followed.

 

[HappySteve]

it might as well be Tadelakt, which has the most incredible sheen ever

Never had a bag in my hands in tadelakt, and as hermes doesn’t provide big samples of there leather (as they should, popular opinion?) I am left onder ING now!

Find me in the pond in the hotel gardens, as I must now duck. Please bring bread.

🥖🥖🥖

To stay on topic:
my UO is that hermes should continue to not have big samples in leather and should not have, like in faubourg, samples of bags in different size for people to try on. They should continue sending people to third party platforms to try them out or tell people to google things which is so convenient. 🥰
My 2 nd UO is that they should continue to not offer a platform or a booklet with all the RTW pieces they are producing so you can search yourself after pieces you might enjoy.

Ps i am leaving the hotel for another country now as I suspect there will be heavy protesters outside in a few moments. ✈️✈️✈️

 

[HappySteve]

You seem like someone who’s very very well versed in the leathers and know exactly what you want. To @Goldenbelle and others, is there a way to express in words what it is about these leathers that you like or don’t like? I hear that Epsom feels like plastic to some (I don’t get that at all…). But why no to Togo and yes to clemence… aren’t they pretty similar?

To me, Clemence and Togo has a hard embossing but you can feel the leather. It is hard but it is much softer on the hand. There is embossing but with a pebbled feel wich feels more authentic. More natural. The coating on it also feels less present.
Epsom feels hard, treated, looks hard and stiff. It has absolutely no leather feel to me. I half joked when I say it makes me feel like vegan leather or reconstructed leather (the ones who are repressed from scraps)

 

[Prada Prince]

UO: Some of us already have to start thinking about the next bag while acquiring the current one because it's going to take a good while (or 3 years for some of us lol!) before the next one comes into the picture...

Me waiting for the next call from H...

 

[papertiger]

For more discussions and info on leather and comments on Epsom (v others and otherwise) please do a search or start with the below (we have 23 pages on Epsom alone).

https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/togo-vs-epsom.1067376/

https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/epsom.1036202/

https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/1994-courcheval-v-2014-epsom-which-one.1038684/

https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/evelyne-epsom-or-clemence.1030152/page-2

https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/how-is-your-epsom-bag-ageing.568030/page-7#post-33619315

etc

No more comments on Epsom from this post on, it's derailing this thread

 

[Goldenbelle]

UO: Some of us already have to start thinking about the next bag while acquiring the current one because it's going to take a good while (or 3 years for some of us lol!) before the next one comes into the picture...

Me waiting for the next call from H...

I do, too, actually constantly 😂 - to make the right selection for me, as I too have and partially want to wait to learn more about what I really want.

This is not what I meant with my post, it is the urge to keep adding as quickly as possible as much as possible which seems to be more important that the enjoyment of what one just bought.

 

[meowlett]

On the subject of shrink wrap, I am pretty sure it is location dependent. This photo was from two years and one day ago. I am usually oblivious to this kind of things and don’t pay much attention if it has stopped.

My UO: I had reasons to believe that this bag was shrink wrapped for dramatic reasons. . It was a HSS item and I am pretty sure my SM and SA would have inspected it prior to calling me up.

 

[hermesandchanel]

Here’s a list….attack if you must but I’m shielded by the title of this thread

1. I find it unacceptable when an SA knows nothing about H. As in, I would bet they couldn’t spell Hermes correctly the first time. I don’t expect every SA to be an H connoisseur, but surely there’s an intensive onboarding program to learn about basic history, most popular products, etc. I’m sorry, swift leather? Like leather you can sweep quickly? Yes of course we provide all bags in new box.

Im sorry madame, a 90 scarf? Im afraid we don’t have 90 scarves available to sell today…..oh you mean the size. Yes here we have the smallest size and over there you can see the large one. Sorry I don’t know what fabric it is… will you say? Let me check the tag…

2. It really irritates me when people, particularly SAs, don’t attempt to pronounce color names correctly. I recognize many people do not speak French, nor would I expect such a thing. But try to call the product/colors what they are. You may not be able to say “Hermes” with a perfect French accent but you know it’s not Huhr-meece . It’s just like pronouncing a name, if you’re not sure how to pronounce it, ask. Dont confidently pronounce wrong and repeat it again and again without verifying if you’re saying it wrong. Regular people I’ll give a pass. But an SA…again, know your shiznit.

3. I love smooth leathers, box, swift, Jonathan…. I know this is an UO as they are priced low on resale relative to non smooth leathers….but in my view are the epitome of depth and luxury. Whereas I find any type of pebbled leather/graining to look significantly cheaper (no hate to pebbled leather, like togo, I have a few with beautiful veining and they make great workhorse bags, but I think grained leather automatically makes any product look inferior to those with smooth leathers… this is my view for any brand not just H, but I find the gap much wider between H leathers )


Whew now I can relax

 

[ari]

Here’s a list….attack if you must but I’m shielded by the title of this thread

1. I find it unacceptable when an SA knows nothing about H. As in, I would bet they couldn’t spell Hermes correctly the first time. I don’t expect every SA to be an H connoisseur, but surely there’s an intensive onboarding program to learn about basic history, most popular products, etc. I’m sorry, swift leather? Like leather you can sweep quickly? Yes of course we provide all bags in new box.

Im sorry madame, a 90 scarf? Im afraid we don’t have 90 scarves available to sell today…..oh you mean the size. Yes here we have the smallest size and over there you can see the large one. Sorry I don’t know what fabric it is… will you say? Let me check the tag…

2. It really irritates me when people, particularly SAs, don’t attempt to pronounce color names correctly. I recognize many people do not speak French, nor would I expect such a thing. But try to call the product/colors what they are. You may not be able to say “Hermes” with a perfect French accent but you know it’s not Huhr-meece . It’s just like pronouncing a name, if you’re not sure how to pronounce it, ask. Dont confidently pronounce wrong and repeat it again and again without verifying if you’re saying it wrong. Regular people I’ll give a pass. But an SA…again, know your shiznit.

3. I love smooth leathers, box, swift, Jonathan…. I know this is an UO as they are priced low on resale relative to non smooth leathers….but in my view are the epitome of depth and luxury. Whereas I find any type of pebbled leather/graining to look significantly cheaper (no hate to pebbled leather, like togo, I have a few with beautiful veining and they make great workhorse bags, but I think grained leather automatically makes any product look inferior to those with smooth leathers… this is my view for any brand not just H, but I find the gap much wider between H leathers )


Whew now I can relax

How about regular clients pronouncing it ERME?
UO - I don’t like the H belts anymore.

 

[hermesandchanel]

How about regular clients pronouncing it ERME?

Haha I think any genuine attempt is satisfactory.

Broadly speaking my general view is as a client/consumer you can call things whatever you want, especially if you purchased something and own it .

Many Porsche owners know the “correct” pronunciation of Porsche but choose to pronounce it in their own way, which is fine. But if you’re representing the Porsche dealership in any capacity, you should attempt to pronounce it correctly (regardless of how poor the accent is), vs your own interpretation of how it should sound

So if you own a birkin and want to call it bikini squash, have at it!