Hermes Bags

Hermes Bags Simply Spill Elegance

So what is it about Hermes that makes every Manhattan socialite go wild? To begin, Hermes is characterized by classic elegance. Hermes is the name for a generation of women past who possessed a certain air…an air of grace. A Hermes woman is not seen out at 2am in a nightclub, staggering along the dance floor after an excess of intoxicants. No, impossible. The Hermes woman is delicate and refined. She walks to the tune of an invisible symphony. She has a driver, a coat with a fur-collar, and her perky patent pumps are never scuffed.

The Hermes woman is an international traveler; her passport is riddled with stamps from the exotic East. She is admired by all…from a distance.

This is the image that Hermes bags present, and it is an image that many young women would kill to attain without the encumbrance of an au pair and charm school.

Behind the Brand

The Hermes name began in 1837 through the creative enterprise of fashion designer Thierry Hermes, who started with a saddlery company that gradually expanded into boots, jewelry, silk scarves; later still, in 1920, by the hand of his grandson Emile, luggage was added to the inventory. Hermes originally opened in Paris, where the company's headquarters still remains.

It was the Hermes silk scarf that truly launched the Hermes name. These scarves were modeled after those worn by Napoleon's soldiers, and the liberated women of the early 1900's eagerly adopted these somewhat masculine scarves. Even today, the Hermes scarf remains the most commonly purchased item.

The Hermes company is now chaired by Jean-Louis Dumas who is a fifth generation member of the Hermes family. Currently, Jean-Paul Gaultier aids in the designing of the Hermes handbags, and Martin Margiela, a famous Belgian designer, heads up the ready-to-wear collections.

The Infamous Bags of Hermes

The two most popular and desperately sought after Hermes bags include the Birkin and Kelly bags.

The Hermes Birkin

Hermes bags are known for their exclusivity. Many of these bags hold prices in the five digits while requiring several years on a waiting list. The various and distinct styles of the Hermes Birkin are always featured on these lengthy lists.

The Birkin bag can come in styles crafted out of ostrich skin or turquoise leather, with gleaming gold hardware comprising the delicate front clasp.

The spring/summer 2005 Birkin collection, designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier, introduced the Hermes Shoulder Birkin that could actually hang from the shoulder, unlike previous Birkins.

The most stately and classic of the Birkin bags is the black leather with the gold clasp. This solid piece accessorizes well with almost anything, and thanks to the formidable quality of Hermes, after several years this bag will continue to look new.

The Kelly Bag

There's a reason why a Hermes Etrusque crocodile bag can sell for as high as 13,200 US dollars at a couture auction. The Kelly bag is defined by women of high stature, well-bred women who come from money. The name was dedicated to the actress and princess, Grace Kelly, who first appeared alongside the bag on a 1956 cover of Life magazine. Currently these bags are priced anywhere between 7,000 to 25,000 dollars.

Why the Steep Price?

Both the Kelly and Birkin bags are pieced together by the hand of a single artisan. The result is a flawlessly made bag boasting a cute hardware padlock of sparkling white or yellow gold. Materials range from lizard and calfskin to even ostrich.

Most importantly, this bag is exclusive. The amount of Kelly bags that are made do not meet the buyers' demands. These limited quantities place the public in a frenzy to get on the waiting lists of Hermes retailers.

More Styles

A variety of Hermes bags styles are available online at Bluefly, including canvas totes and leather messenger bags. Prices range upward of 1,000 dollars, even at a discount.