The Best Time of the Year to Score a Hermès Birkin or Kelly in Paris

A woman dressed in a white top and floral skirt holding a brown and wicker Hermès Birkin bag with a silver lock. She is also wearing a large diamond ring and a luxurious diamond-encrusted Richard Mille watch.

photo courtesy @youmi.kh

Paris is one of the most popular and magical places to travel practically any time of the year. The city has so much to offer it is a good idea to plan your trip so you have time to visit the amazing sights, experience the delicious food, and of course shop at Hermès and beyond.

Nevertheless, the reality is that any handbag collector visiting Paris has hopes of being offered a Birkin or Kelly. But are there times of the year to avoid and other times when your chances are improved? You be the judge.

A collection of four luxury Hermès Pochettes, mini kellys, birkin handbags in crocodile leather—yellow, fuchsia, red, and beige—each adorned with colorful silk twilly scarves and bows. The bags are displayed on a dark wooden table with multiple iconic orange Hermès boxes in the background.

photo courtesy @rinkys

Consider Avoiding Paris During These Times of the Year

The summer months tend to get many tourists particularly from the US. And many Hermès SA’s and artisans take their extended holiday often during July and August. SA’s often say stock is very low during these times.

The holidays in December are also a popular time of year to visit Paris. It is even more beautiful with all the holiday lights and festivities. Tourists flock to Paris in mid to late December to enjoy the beauty and celebrate the holiday.

Close-up of two Hermès Kelly handbags—one in bright lime green and the other in pale blue—showcasing their gold hardware and elegant stitching. A third lime green Birkin bag is slightly blurred in the background, displayed in a luxury boutique setting.

photo courtesy @mrandmrs.j

Fashion week presents in Paris six times a year. The city is bustling with designers, models, influencers, and tourists. You may consider avoiding these times if scoring a quota bag is your desire.

The 2025/2026 dates are as follows:

September 29 – October 7, 2025 – Women’s Ready to Wear

January 20-25, 2026 – Men’s Ready to Wear

January 26-29, 2026 – Haute Couture

March 2-10, 2026 – Women’s Ready to Wear

June 20-25, 2026 – Men’s Ready to Wear

June 26-29, 2026 – Haute Couture

September 28 – October 6, 2026 – Women’s Ready to Wear

A display of luxury Hermès handbags in Hermes Paris FSH a variety of vibrant colors and exotic leathers, arranged on glass shelves in a high-end boutique. Each bag is elegantly lit, showcasing its unique texture, structure, and craftsmanship.

Hermès FSH

Quota Bag Inventory

Hermès inventory is stocked as it becomes available. We have no information when inventory is more plentiful than other times of the month or year. Since the Pandemic and the multiple shutdowns, inventory has been impacted. Hermès stock is notoriously less than the demand. Shipment allocations and restock dates are a mystery as well. Even the Sales Associates are not often aware when the next shipment will arrive. Several community members have shared that their Sales Associate in Paris informed them that shopping at the end of the month is not as favorable as at the beginning of the month.

photo courtesy @m.t.l1968

Our best advice is to plan a trip to Paris when it suits your schedule. Apply online for a leather appointment every day you are in Paris or try to obtain a walk-in appointment in person. Shop, see all of Paris, enjoy the food, the ambiance, the Eiffel Tower, Versailles, the parks, the Seine, the Louvre Museum, and all the amazing things Paris has to offer. Definitely try to get a leather appointment. If successful, request a Birkin or Kelly. But be realistic and keep your expectations low and your hopes high.

Most importantly, enjoy the entire city of Paris. Don’t let the pursuit of a quota bag control your trip.