Part One: Hermes Special Orders: The Reference Guide
Part Two: Special Order Testimonials
Part Three: PurseBop Gets The Call
Part Four: Couples That Special Order Together Stay Together
Part Five: Mr. PurseBop Measures Up!
The Call: Invitation to Create a Special Order Hermes Handbag
Really, me? Me, as in PurseBop? I can custom create my very own Hermes bag? I will soon have a Birkin or a Kelly with that small marking of a horseshoe but larger than life in every way? The sounds coming over the airwaves from my sales associate registered only like the adults in Charlie Brown comics – waah, waah waah.. waah waah wah waah. . I was so ecstatic I don’t think I asked any questions except WHEN? When can I do this?
My sales associate suggested I make an appointment to walk me through the process. We scheduled and hung up the phone. I was flooded by childhood memories. Allow me to digress…
Handbags are not a new passion to me… for as long as I can remember I have carried a pouch of some kind in my palm. My 3rd birthday pictures have a hand sewn pink and white ruffle sac hanging from my fingers at a time when I presume my toddler peers held blankies. I distinctly remember an entire childhood spent holding my mama’s hand, walking into the fabric store next to the school where she taught to select fabric for my next dress and, more important to me, the little sac she would make to match. Mom, if you’re reading, these memories are the most precious to me. We may not have had money to buy the equivalent of today’s American Doll, but I felt like the luckiest and richest girl in the world. I watched you at the sewing machine focusing on the rhythm of the needle speeding up and slowing down… watching the pieces of my pretty dress come together. I sat beside you and played with the leftover scraps anticipating my own little matching purse.
My first call, after speaking to my sales associate was, not surprisingly, to my mom. I teared up as I picked up the phone to dial her. She might be the only person in the whole wide world to truly understand what this Hermes Special Order was going to mean to me… the sheer joy it would bring. I had no idea of the colors or the process but she and I reminisced about my long-standing purse obsession. She reminded me that even my Canadian winter snowmen were fashionably outfitted with some sort of sac dangling from branch arms. I guess life truly has come full circle now that my name is PurseBop.
My Special Order study session with my sales associate. My Diorever was my bag of the day.
The Hermes Special Order Study Session
Ok back to topic…
I visited with my sales associate a couple of days later. I did not want to rush the process. I planned to luxuriate in the process and experience, committing every detail to memory. My sales associate and I sat at a desk near the watches and fine jewelry, next to the window with bright sunny light. This was mid-April, a true fresh spring day. He brought binders, big black leather cased binders, reams of leather swatches on rings, some loose papers, pencils. My eyes shimmered deep brown and I know I was smiling ear to ear, I had to have been. Just typing has brought back that smile all over again. In Hermes, I behaved like the perfect eager student, ready to learn.
I needed to understand every detail of the process, every option available to me. And a process it is.
Hermes pre-determines the available handbag styles, leather types and the colors available for that particular round of Special Orders. We talk about this extensively in Part I: The SO Reference Guide.
We began to review each detail. I carefully analyzed each illustration of the Birkin and Kelly on each page of the binder. At this time, the Constance also was an obtainable option, but it was not on my list, so I focused on B/K choices. The illustrations showed the variations of how one could create a bi-colored handbag. Sadly at least for now, the tri- colored options are discontinued from Hermes. Hermes’s detailed illustrations explain how you can create a mix of colors. Variable parts include full panels or, as you have often seen, just interior , piping and handles, etc.
During this ‘study session’ as I like to call it, my SA periodically left to attend to other business which gave me time to absorb everything. Fortunately I also understand enough French to decipher descriptions and directions (my Canadian schooling).
My SA and I then examined the leather types. Certain leathers are specified for the exterior of the handbag and some for the interior. There are so many permutations and combinations between leather and color. I was fairly clear about my leather selection – chèvre. Chèvre is goat leather, very lightweight compared to togo and clemence, and it holds color beautifully with a royal sheen. It also is rarely available except as a special order nowadays. Ironically though, I proved to have the exception: my chèvre bubble gum pink Birkin 25 purchased in New Delhi two years ago. At the time Miss Kohinoor joined the family, I had no inkling about the rarity of the color and leather (let’s call this the evolution of a collector). Knowing that I was going to stick to chèvre narrowed down my choices considerably – but maybe too much.
One desire I have is to build a collection with a variety of all Hermes leathers over time. Staying true to this objective meant I should consider swift as an option, as til this point – I did not have any bags in swift (but that was 10 months ago – things have changed since –hint)!
I took lots of notes, jotted down all my thoughts as I played with the samples, matching leathers and colors. The task was much more complicated than I had anticipated; especially because, at this point, I was still considering both Birkin and Kelly and I vascillated between everyday sizes (Birkin 30 or Kelly 32/28) and the adorable mini novelty size 25’s. With all of this to ponder, there also was the epic battle of neutral versus pop color superimposed with my preference for chèvre.
Studying the various types of Hermes leathers with my sales associate. Here we have Swift leather in Blue Paon (top) and Blue Hydra (below).
The Contemplation Phase
Ultimately, my choices were as follows:
Birkin or Kelly
Size:
- Daily Use: Birkin 30, Kelly 32/28 (I already have two 32’s so 28 offers variety)
- Novelty/ Evenings: Birkin 25, Kelly 25 (I have one Birkin 25 so Kelly 25 is a better option to diversify)
Leather: Chèvre for the daily use sizes, possibly swift for 25’s
Color: Chèvre options limited to the following:
- rouge tomato
- feu
- raisin
- blue sapphire
- blue paon
- blue hydra
- etoupe
- moutarde
- noir – love
All this had to be carefully contemplated. Long term strategy vs. short term gratification, forever classic vs. statement piece…
I studied my options as though a SO was a final exam. I researched pictures on Instagram, google, anywhere and everywhere. I checked ebay, auction houses, and reseller companies. I re-read every Boptalk Celebrity interview and testimonial. I carefully made out a list of the pieces currently in my Hermes collection. I made another list of styles, colors and leathers I knew I would want to add over time. I tried to eliminate what was inevitable and what was unlikely.
Comparing different leather types, Blue Hydra and Blue Paon in Swift and Clemence.
My original notes made at Hermes of color choices for Swift leather.
I consulted my favorite Hermes mentors and advisors (my comrades in this handbag journey – you know who you are, thank you… luv u!)
My mom who knows nor cares about anything Hermes except that it is her eldest daughter’s obsession, listened to endless hours of my banter on colors. My sister, the middle one that thinks I am so over the top, diligently offered her advice – I’m sure all the while rolling her eyes with my excessiveness. My youngest brainy sister who between high powered legal depositions and diaper changes never fails to read my PurseBop articles and my loving supportive and so patient husband (#mrpursebop), both of whom likely pretended to listen through it all.
Oh the patience of those around me, now it’s your turn to be patient until the reveal…
Leaving Hermes Chicago with my Special Order handbag.
Read Related Articles:
Hermes enthusiasts I highly encourage you to read- Is Hermes Still Playing Hard To Get?
The Hermès Horseshoe ~ Special Order
Hermes Special Orders: The Exclusive Horseshoe Club
PurseBop’s Indian Hermes Surprise
PurseBop Joins the Birkin 25 Club
Hermes Special Order Story from BopTalk Celebrity StylishSheba
Part V: Hermes Special Orders
Love PurseBop
XO
Updated: May 19th, 2017
Comments
3 Responses to “Part Three: PurseBop Gets The Call”
What a great article! You are an excellent writer Pursebop! I was speaking with my SA yesterday and mentioned to her that I think I was ready to buy my first Birkin and she told me to just let her know when the times come. While I own two Kelly bags, I purchased them pre-loved, so the thought of spending so much more money on a spanking new B scares me a little! However, after reading this article, I am suddenly giddy at just the thought of walking out of the store with my very first B. Thanks again for sharing this experience. I cannot wait to see the reveal. Congrats!
So happy to have shared a bit of the journey with you ❤
This is wayyyy to exciting????! I felt like I was there with you ☺️ Now I’m biting my fingers off with anxiety to see your new treasure ???????? I’m sure it’s simply perfect! Can’t wait to see it! And super congrats, love! I’m out of this world happy for you ❤????