Hermes S

The most popular Hermes bag is the Evelyne. Originally designed to carry horse grooming tools, the Evelyne features a distinctive perforated H design, an exterior pocket, and a long strap making it a crossbody bag.

Hermes bags have blindstamps, placed under the plaques or on the interior. Usually they are placed close to the date stamps denoting the year of production. Recently, in a small % of receipts, the blind stamp is also printed on the store receipt which can be matched to the blind stamp inside the bag.

Black is the most popular Kelly color, followed by Gold (camel tan) and Etoupe (taupe).

It is extremely rare to walk into an Hermes store as a new customer and be offered a Kelly or Birkin for purchase. Most Kelly and Birkin bags are offered to loyal clients who have established a purchase history at a particular store and with a particular sales associate who may take note of your Birkin or Kelly wish.

Epsom is a stamped or embossed calf leather (as opposed to being a grained leather like Togo or Clemence, or a smooth leather like Swift or Box). It is lightweight and stiff; thus Epsom is known for its ability to retain structure over time. Epsom is the primary leather used to make Sellier Kelly and Birkin bags which feature outside stitching on its edges which result in a crisp and sharp line. Epsom is more rain-resistant than other calf leathers.

The Mini Constance is known as the 18cm Constance. It measures 7.25” width x 6.25” height x 2.25” depth with a 16.5” adjustable drop. It is the smaller version of the 24cm Constance, which measures 9.5” width x 7” height x 3” depth with an 18” adjustable shoulder strap

The Constance can be worn crossbody, or with the strap doubled as a shoulder bag.

Togo is made from a baby calf, while Clemence is made from a young bull.  Clemence is generally slouchier than Togo. Togo may have a smaller and bumpier grain with a drier hand; whereas Clemence may have a larger and flatter grain with a slicker hand.

The most popular size is still the Birkin 35cm. due to its creation as a carry-all for actress Jane Birkin. In recent years, mini bags have become trendy; thus, Birkin 30cm’s and 25cm’s have become more popular. Ostrich Birkins are usually produced in and most popular in 30cm size.

Established clients with a regular purchase history at Hermes may be offered a Birkin for purchase. Even so, Birkin and Kelly purchases are usually capped at a quota of one Birkin or Kelly per “semester” or six months. VIP’s may occasionally be allowed to surpass this quota. These rules are known to change frequently at Hermes. Ostrich and other exotic bags will usually be offered to VIP’s only.

Select Hermes goods go on sale twice a year in Paris, but Birkins – being highly coveted–are not known to be found at the sale. 

The wait for an Hermes Birkin bag depends on several factors, which may include the amount and quality of your spending at Hermes, the relationship you have established with your Hermes sales associate and store manager, as well as the length of time it takes for the store to receive and match you up with the type of Birkin you have requested.

It is virtually impossible to walk into an Hermes store as a new customer and be offered a Birkin for purchase. Most Birkins are offered to loyal clients who have established a purchase history at a particular store and with a particular sales associate who may take note of your Birkin or Kelly wish.

The wait for an Hermes alligator or crocodile bag can be up to several years. It is impossible to be offered the opportunity to purchase one at the Hermes store without spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in advance.

No, vintage Hermès Constance bags do not have serial numbers. 

When you’re trying to authenticate your Hermès Constance bag, there are a few things to remember. For one, there is no “authenticity card” — Hermès doesn’t accompany its Constance bags with any such certificate. There is a label stamp inside any authentic Hermès Constance handbag that reads “Hermès Paris Made in France” — the lettering will be clear and it won’t appear blocky or oversized. Lettering on this label that looks anything other than professionally set and lightly pressed into the leather may mean that your Hermès Constance bag is a fake.

Stitching is a good metric to consider because each Hermès Constance handbag is hand-sewn by Hermès artisans (spotting a fake Birkin bag requires similar inspections) according to Hermès’s celebrated saddle-stitching technique, so while the sew lines will have some inconsistencies, the work will be demonstrative of the company’s commitment to quality, and the stitching will indicate as much.

Hardware on your authentic Hermès Constance bag is always made of a genuine precious metal — the metal is typically brass that is hand-polished and plated with fine gold, palladium or permabrass, while the H-shaped clasp has been silvered, lacquered, set with diamonds, and more over the years. This metal will feel substantial, and it will not tarnish over time.

On the front of your Hermès Constance bag, the metal “H” doubles as both an insignia for the high fashion goods manufacturer and a clasp to keep your bag snapped shut. To open your Hermès Constance handbag, grab the metal “H” — position your fingers directly around the horizontal middle bar of the letter, so that your fingers are curled underneath it, and pull out toward you. The key to opening the clasp without scratching the accessory’s leather is to pull only at the horizontal bar. The bag opens and closes with the help of a spring-loaded mechanism that is concealed on each of the bar’s ends fixed to the flap.

If your Hermès Lindy bag comes with a dust cover — the Hermès Birkin and Kelly bags are accompanied by a cover — use it! When you are not using your bag, store it in a temperate, dry environment away from sunlight as well as intense heat, preferably in its original box or in the dust cover. To preserve its signature silhouette, place tissue paper or bubble wrap inside the bag and make sure all zippers are zipped closed and straps are attached. Don’t use anti-humidity sachets, as they may dry out the bag’s hide. And if your bag should get wet, wipe it down immediately with a soft, lint-free cloth. Hermès recommends that your Lindy should only be cleaned by the company’s expert craftsmen. 

First introduced by Hermès in the late 1930s, Hermès Twilly scarves are available at 1stdibs in a variety of interesting and colorful prints. The Twilly can come in useful if you own a Hermès Lindy bag — it goes without saying that the Twilly adds personal flair to your bag, but they’re also a great way to protect the handles of your bag from getting smudged or stained. A good way to tie a Twilly on a Hermès Lindy is by tying a knot on one end and then twisting the silk all around the handle of your Hermès Lindy bag and knotting the scarf on the other side. For more of a flamboyant touch, go ahead and leave the ends to drape over the front of your bag instead of tucking them back into the knot.

There are a few easy things to keep in mind when trying to spot a fake Hermès Lindy bag. Because all Hermès bags are handmade, stitching is a good metric to use (spotting a fake Birkin bag calls for the same careful inspection). Each bag is hand-sewn according to Hermès’s celebrated saddle-stitching technique, so while the sew lines will have some inconsistencies, the work will not be messy, and there won’t be any stitches that are out of place or out of line.

Hardware on authentic Hermès bags is always made of a genuine precious metal — locks, keys, studs, and other pieces of hardware are usually made of brass that is hand-polished and plated with fine gold, palladium or permabrass. This metal will feel heavy and substantial, and it will not tarnish.

Did you find an “authenticity card” tucked inside your Hermès Lindy bag? You shouldn’t have — Hermès doesn’t accompany its bags with any card like this.

On a fake Hermès Lindy bag, the Hermès logo will look irregular, with oversized or blocky text. An authentic Hermès bag has a label stamp — with clear lettering that is lightly pressed into the bag’s leather — that reads “Hermès Paris Made in France.” If your bag has an uneven or crooked label, you may have a fake Hermès Lindy bag.