Hello Darlings! It’s the latest edition of “What’s in My Bag?!” – Hermes Kelly 32 bag review. I’m restarting this blog post series once a month so be on the lookout! If you have a specific bag that you want me to review (and I own it), then let me know! Somehow, I missed last month, but I’m back in the saddle. Haha! Get it? (Hermes was started as an equestrian brand.)

SIZE and PRICING

To share a bit of bag trivia… this bag was named after Grace Kelly when she was photographed holding the bag to hide a pregnant belly. It was originally introduced in 1892 as the Haut à courroies bag to hold saddles then later redesigned to become a travel bag,  Sac à dépêches, in 1930. It was re-named the Kelly in 1977.

This is a vintage retourne Hermes Kelly 32 in black Gulliver leather. Gulliver leather was discontinued in 1999 and is the predecessor to swift leather introduced in 2005. Current retail cost is $10,400 (in togo leather). I purchased it pre-owned in 2011 for approximately $3000. It is a medium sized top-handled bag with an attachable shoulder strap. When opened, there is one large zipper compartment (in the back) and a slim double-pocket (attached to front).

I have removed the lock and clochette to give it a cleaner appearance. Retourne gives the bag the “slouchy and relaxed” look versus Sellier having the “boxy, structured, and rigid” look. There is visible piping and the edges appear rounder. The Number 32 denotes the width in centimeters. For example, this is a Hermes Kelly 32 (which is 32cm wide).

The Kelly sizes range from 15 cm – 50 cm with the most common sizes being K28, K32, and K35. The dimension of this bag is approximately 32 cm W x 23 cm H x 10.5 cm D.  (My bag is actually 12 cm deep.) For reference, I am 5’4″ {but usually wearing heels}.  This size fits everything that I need!

AESTHETICS and CONSTRUCTION

Hermes is one of the only French couture brands that remains family owned. With this ownership, the family places a lot of value on quality and craftsmanship. One of the reasons for the exorbitant costs of these bags is that they are hand-made by an artisan that who is vetted after years of experience. Many attend a school that specializes in working with luxurious leathers.

Even after years of wearing my bag (not daily), it still looks beautiful. All of the seams are intact, and the leather remains very luminescent and doesn’t appear dry or cracked. There are a few scratches that are visible on the front of the bag and the gold hardware.

Because of the retourne construction, the bottom edges have sagged a little and the color is worn off the corners. During retourne construction, the bag is turned inside out and stitching is done on the inside. This is what gives that wonderful relaxed look but makes it more prone to needing refurbishment (versus the Sellier where seams are topstitched together and waxed to prevent damage).

This bag is over 20 years old, and I still love the way it looks. You can tell that it is a well-made bag.

FUNCTIONALITY

The Kelly can be carried by the top handle, worn in the crook of the arm, or on the shoulder. This bag came with an attachable shoulder strap which gives it the ability to be hands-free. I don’t have any pictures of it on my shoulder; However, I use it that way when I’m shopping or have the little ones.

As with most top-handle bags, it has to be fastened/closed after each use otherwise the contents of your bag will be exposed. This could be an issue if you must get in and out of your bag often or quickly. I have become used to it and can throw the flap over the hardware very easy to close it.

Since this is the retourne style, the corners tend to sag. When it’s not being used, I stuff it with dust cover bags in the corners to prevent it from smooshing down more.

This is a lightweight bag, but I find it can get heavy because it can hold so much. The weight will depend on the type of leather – my Togo birkin is heavier.

SOS RATING

THREE GOLD STARS {out of five}! I took off two stars because of the price and the top handle situation. If money were no object, then this bag would be a 4.5 star bag. This was my holy grail bag when I purchased it, and I still LOVE IT today. This is DEFINITELY an investment bag. The black leather and gold hardware make my heart pitter patter and you would never know that it’s over 20 years old.

Have you heard of the Hermes Kelly? What are your feelings on the bag?

If you have any questions about the bag, then let me know in the comments and I’ll do my best to help! If you have a specific request for the next “What’s in my Bag?!“, then please let me know too! 

SHOP THE POST

// pre-owned Hermes Kelly bags //

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Here’s a YouTube video to show you what’s in my bag and how the bag organizer fits! Hope you enjoy it!

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Hermes Kelly 32 Bag Review