As the summer sun rises higher and higher, amplifying our desire for adventure, it’s time to examine an Hermès bag that is popular, chic, and deeply rooted in Transatlantic travel: The Bolide. Let’s take a comprehensive look at the historical and physical features of the bag…
What you can expect in this Bolide guide:
I. Is the Bolide Worth it?
II. History
III. Features
IV. Material
V. Sizes
VI. Prices
VII. Instagram Eye Candy
Photo courtesy: Nathalie Lecroc
I. Is the Bolide Worth It?
Though perhaps it doesn’t have the air of mystery and exclusivity that the Kelly and Birkin do (read: Hermes Birkin vs. Kelly 101), the Bolide has been a long-time celebrity and Hermès-aficionado favorite. The Bolide has fans all over the blogosphere who exalt its classic beauty and perfect functionality.
Here are 3 Good Reasons to Consider the Bolide:
- It’s Perfect for Travel: Inspired by the age of automobile production and designed as a travel bag, the Bolide has perfect functionality for road trips and transcontinental flights. The Bolide Secret has a zippered compartment perfect for passports, keys, and other items.
- It’s Ideal for the Working Woman: With a diverse range of sizes, the Bolide could certainly be used as a work bag, as the 35 and 45 can easily store small laptops and notebooks.
- The Bolide is Understated and Chic: A favorite in Paris and Tokyo, the Bolide has a more simple design than some of Hermès’ other selections, making it a classic, discrete beauty.
Photo courtesy: Dogs and Dresses
Photo courtesy: MaiTai’s Picture Book
II. History
When Emile-Maurice Hermès was traveling in North America, he visited Henry Ford’s automobile factories and discovered a mechanism used on the cloth tops of cars: the zipper. When he returned to France, Hermès filed a patent for the zipper and adapted it for his purses. In 1923, Hermès debuted The Bolide: the first purse with a zipper. Initially named “le sac pour l’auto,“ the Bolide literally means comet, inspired by a nickname for sport cars.
Photo courtesy: For Days Like These
@simplytokyo
III. Features
- Removable shoulder strap
- Roomy, dome shape
- Oval leather patch (for monogram or initials)
- Single zip closure
Photo courtesy: Hermès
Photo courtesy: Hermès
Photo courtesy: Hermès
IV. Materials
Before we talk specific materials, it’s important to establish that the Bolide comes in two different styles: Mou and Rigide. Mou is a soft leather, which is more casual, while Rigide is sturdier and harder.
Mou:
Photo courtesy: feather factor
Rigide:
Photo courtesy: The Beauty and the Geek
Leathers the Bolide is Commonly Available in:
Epsom: Easy to clean and with anti-scratch capabilities, the Epsom pattern is pressed into the leather. The material is laminated and has a clean, polished appearance.
Clemence: Matte and with relatively large cells, Clemence leather provides a natural look with anti-scratch capabilities.
Sikkim: Sikkim leather is incredibly soft and buttery. It is used for the Bolide Mou bags, and has little to no grain.
Photo courtesy: AestheticAlterations
V. Sizes
The Bolide comes in 4 sizes: 27 cm, 31 cm, 35 cm, and 45 cm. The Bolide 31 is generally recommended for everyday use, while the 45 is especially designed for traveling.
| Size | Dimensions (L x H x W cm) |
| Hermès Bolide 27 | 27 cm x 20 cm x 10 cm |
| Hermès Bolide 31 | 31 cm x 24 cm x 12 cm |
| Hermès Bolide 35 | 35 cm x 28 cm x 15 cm |
| Hermès Bolide 45 | 45 cm x 36 cm x 23.5 cm |
VI. Prices
*The Hermès Bolide will vary in price depending on size and material. Prices below are from July 2017.
| Size | Price in USD |
| Hermès Bolide 27 (Epsom) | $5,850 |
| Hermès Bolide 31 (Clemence) | $8,100 |
| Hermès Bolide 35 (Clemence) | $6,500 |
| Hermès Bolide 45 (Sikkim) | $7,000 |
*Price for the Bolide 35 is converted from Euros; this size does not appear to be presently available in the U.S.
VII. Instagram Eye Candy
@gorgeousconcepts_hermes
@masuu.0513
@by_md
@gorgeousconcepts_hermes
@masuu.0513
@ilwedgwood
We hope you’ve learned a little bit from our Hermes 101 on the ever-popular Bolide bag! Which guide do you want to see next?
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Updated: August 1st, 2017
Comments
2 Responses to “Hermès 101: Hermès Bolide Bag”
So, as the owner of two Bolides, I love this design. What I like most about it is that it “flies under the radar.” Women who know Hermes immediately recognize this handbag, yet one can feel perfectly safe carrying it in places and situations where one doesn’t want to shout the fact that they are carrying an expensive handbag. What I don’t like about it is that my 31 clemency bolide in blue agate cost almost as much as a Kelly or Birkin, but it does not hold its value as well as either of those two styles when it comes to re-selling the on the secondary market. For a bolide that is in equally fine condition and just as covetable a color as one of the other two styles, it will only get you HALF of what you paid for it… that’s if you’re lucky. I feel, therefore, that it is no where near as good an investment as putting that same money towards a Kelly or Birkin.
Hi, I would like to know where to buy a decent second hand Boilde Hermas bag in size 31 . In mustered or Royale Blue Celmance or Togo Leather .
Thanks