Is the Hermès Della Cavalleria Making Your Wishlist?

We know, the mere mention of Hermès conjures up thoughts of holy grail handbags, scarves, and nowadays home decor. However, let’s take a look further back, to the Maison’s more humble beginnings.

Long and famously known for its equestrian saddlery, Hermès began as a harness workshop. Founded in 1837 in Paris, it catered to European noblemen. Over time, it evolved into one of the most renowned saddlery retailers. Even today, Hermès offers a wide range of equestrian products, including saddles, bags for horse feed, and accessories such as boots, whips, and riding hats.

So, you’re probably wondering why all this talk of horses, when the real topic is, of course, handbags. Well, inspiration is inspiration and the Della Cavalleria comes from that equestrian heritage.

Introduced in the Fall-Winter collection of 2020, this bag showcases a distinctive buckle design taken from its iconic motifs, in this case a horse bit. Moreover, as discussed below, this bag received a 2023 refresh, keeping the hardware but changing the shape.

Image courtesy: Vogue

Image courtesy: Vogue

Characterized by a minimalistic, understated yet unique design, the Della Cavalleria bag offers a clean and sophisticated look. This flap style bag is crafted in leather inside and out. Its versatility is a highlight. The bag features an adjustable strap (with three length options) allowing both shoulder and crossbody carry.

But the star of the show – that is bag – is the clasp. Resembling the shape of half of a Verdun horse bit, its rounded shape gently curves to hug the leather bag. A bit (pun intended) oversized as compared to the bag itself, one cannot miss its effect, whether in palladium or gold tone.

Image courtesy: Hermès

The Mini Della Cavalleria is a small bag, accentuating the clasp’s prominence. It measures 7″x 6″ – almost a square. The bag has a convenient back slip pocket for easy access to cards and notes, as well as a spacious interior slip pocket. This popular mini version in Epsom leather is priced at $6,050 in the US and €5,300 in Europe.

There is also a larger PM (small) size from the same Fall-Winter collection of 2020.

Style	Size (inches)	USD ($)	Euro (€)
Mini Della Cavalleria Epsom	7" x 6"	$6,550	€5,300
Mini Della Cavalleria Tadelakt			€5,650

Della Cavalleria Elan Epsom	8.5" x 6"	$7,150	€5,400

Della Cavalleria Elan

Image courtesy @karenzpurses

For Spring-Summer 2023, Hermès introduced a new addition to this line: the Della Cavalleria Elan version.

Image courtesy: Harper’s Bazaar Taiwan

Hermès transformed the original boxy shape into a longer, more elegant, slender silhouette with smooth curves. The familiar design has otherwise remained the same – including the curved undersides, a statement buckle, and carefully curated proportions.

The Elan shape has made a resurgence lately with the return of the Constance Elan and Kelly Elan.

The Re-released Hermès Kelly Elan: The Bag that Every Collector Wants

Like the original silhouette, the Della Cavalleria also comes with a shoulder strap that can be adjusted for both shoulder and crossbody carry. It also has a back pocket and one interior card pocket.

It was most recently seen being carried by Morgan Riddle, girlfriend of tennis player Taylor Fritz. She attended the recent Hermès Men’s Winter 2023 collection, supporting his fashion show debut.

The Hermès Della Cavalleria Élan and Mini are available in both Tadelakt and Epsom leather. Whereas the latter has a casual vide, the Tadelakt reads elegant. For those unfamiliar, Tadelakt leather has a smooth finish that is both structured and durable.

As you might expect, the Elan – aka elongated – version is slightly more spacious than the original. Expect to see it soon in boutiques and you might be able to snag one online.