Should I Match My Hermès Bag Hardware to My Shoes and Belt or to My Jewelry?

Dear PurseBop:

I am often torn on which color hardware to request for my next Hermès quota bag. Should I match the bag hardware to my shoes and belt or to my jewelry? I wear both gold and white gold jewelry at different times and sometimes together but most of my shoes have palladium hardware and some of my belts have gold hardware and others palladium.

Dear Color of my Bag Hardware:

A quota bag purchase is a big deal and deciding on the color hardware to choose can be confusing. Much depends on how many bags you have in your collection, what color jewelry you wear most often, whether you like to mix metals or prefer to focus on one color at a time, and overall preference. Bottom line is there is no wrong choice when matching the handbag hardware to your jewelry or shoes or belt. As long as you feel confident with your choice and ensemble, it will be reflected in your attitude and that is most important.

Number of Bags In Collection:

If you have one or two quota or non-quota bags in your collection our best advice is to choose the hardware color you favor. Many people are gold lovers or palladium lovers and their jewelry usually reflects this preference. Stick to what you gravitate toward most and already have in your wardrobe.

If you have numerous non-quota and quota bags in your collection and like both hardware colors, consider adding a few bags with the color hardware lacking in your collection. If you are a gold lover, having one or two bags with palladium hardware can be a refreshing change for some occasions. Surprisingly, tastes change over time and many collectors find their preference for hardware color change as well. Varying your collection will give you more options in the future.

Color of Jewelry:

Most people tend to match their handbag hardware to the jewelry they wear most often. If you wear only gold jewelry, stick with gold hardware on your handbags. If you wear mostly white gold, platinum, or silver jewelry, choose palladium hardware. And if you mix metal colors in your jewelry choose the hardware color that looks best with the color leather chosen.

Hermès is expert at pairing the color hardware that best suits the color leather. However, most neutral colors such as black, gold, etoupe, craie, nata, and many gray colors pair well with either gold or palladium hardware and are often produced in both hardware colors. Other colors such as pink almost always is produced with palladium hardware unless it is a special order.

photo courtesy @cocochaofficial

Mixing Hardware Color

Consider mixing metals either in your jewelry or with your shoes and belts. Many watches are offered in a two tone gold and white gold or stainless option. This opens the door to using any color hardware on your handbags. Even if you wear only one color jewelry paring a handbag, belt, and/or shoe if a different hardware color often adds dimension, interest, and individuality to your outfit.

The popularity of mixing metal color is evidenced further by Hermès’ recent introduction of it Electrum hardware. The handbag hardware is both palladium and gold hardware. The turn lock and nails are in gold, while the rest of the hardware metal is in palladium. It is an innovative approach to mixing metals.