Once you go Hermès, you never go back. Nothing else compares when it comes to craftsmanship, quality and style, so it makes sense that, when you’re looking for a bag for your office commute and business meetings, you’ll want to make it Hermès. Carrying a bag every day, however, subjects it to plenty of wear and tear, so you’ll want to pick your bag carefully, taking into account the model, size, leather and color. This blog covers all the considerations to help you choose the best option for your needs.
Alternatively, watch our YouTube video on Unexpectedly Commuter-Friendly Hermès Handbags here
To a lot of people, the idea of carrying their precious Birkin bag to the office is one that makes them flinch in horror. It takes a brave soul indeed to put this bag through the wear and tear of the daily commute, but if you do opt for a Birkin, carefully consider the size you opt for. A Birkin 25 is too small for those that need to carry a laptop with them, but if you travel with a notebook, a wallet, a phone and a few other bits and pieces, this small size may be adequate. A Birkin 30 is only just large enough to carry a laptop and documents, but doing so may accelerate the leather’s wear and tear. A larger Birkin than this starts to get quite heavy for everyday use, so a Birkin is best-suited to commuters who don’t carry a laptop.
Shop Hermès Birkin handbags here.
Similarly, Kelly is too much of an investment piece for most people to consider subjecting it to the wear and tear of everyday use. However, if you do opt for a Kelly for your commute, it might be more practical to choose a Sellier. The protruding edges of a Retourne may make it more susceptible to scratches. Additionally, the sleeker and chicer style of the Sellier lends itself well to workwear, perhaps more so than the slouchiness of a Retourne.
Kelly has far more size options than Birkin, but perhaps the upper limit you should consider is 32 centimeters because the bag starts to get very heavy beyond that. It’s still too small to carry most laptops but can hold other essentials, such as a notebook, wallet, a bit of makeup, phone, sunglasses and a lightweight top.
Shop Hermès Kelly handbags here.
Bolide’s minimalist design, high quality and practical details, like its shoulder strap, faff-free zip opening and curved shape that makes accessing everything inside easy make it an excellent choice for a commuter bag. Its curved shape also means you may need to size up a bit more than you expect to get the capacity you want. A 31-centimeter bag is an excellent option that can fit a notebook, wallet, business card holder, coin purse, lipstick, hand cream and space for a light shawl too.
Shop Hermès Bolide handbags here.
Garden Party is one of the most affordable Hermès handbags. It’s a great option for commuting, with its tote design providing easy access to all your belongings. Garden Party looks best when it’s packed full, otherwise, it can collapse in on itself and appear a little misshapen. Adding a Twilly to the handle of a Garden Party gives it a little Hermès luxury.
The 30-centimeter size, when the side fastenings are open, is large enough to hold a laptop, wallet, phone, and a few other essentials. The 36 cm size can easily hold a 15” laptop and A4 documents, however, this size is already fairly heavy when it’s empty, so may not be ideal for everyday use.
Shop Hermès Garden Party handbags here.
Unbeknownst to many Hermès aficionados, Plume was created in 1967, making it one of the brand’s oldest designs. Its neat, squared-off shape offers a large capacity and its handles, much longer than those of the Birkin or Kelly give the option to hold it in your hand, the crook of your elbow or on your shoulder.
The 28 size is ideal for work. It’s lightweight and has the capacity to fit a notebook, wallet and essentials such as hand cream, makeup, sunglasses and a light jumper.
The price to performance ratio of the Plume is excellent, especially if you buy it on the second-hand market, where it tends to be very cheap. This affordability and practicality make it a great choice for everyday use.
Shop Hermès Plume handbags here.
No material is indestructible, especially with heavy use, but some will stand up better to daily use than others. Aside from durability, it’s worth considering the weight of the material. If the empty bag is heavy, it won’t make a practical commuter bag. Similarly, light-colored materials that are prone to picking up other colors aren’t a practical choice. For the best results, rotate through a few durable bags to minimize the wear and tear of frequent use.
Exotics are certainly not the best suited to everyday or heavy use. However, if you want to add an exotic bag into your rotation, perhaps for important work events and meetings, ostrich is the best choice. This lightweight skin is more resistant to wear and tear than other exotics and is somewhat waterproof. While it should never be for everyday use, it will elevate your style on days you need to dress to impress.
Avoid delicate leathers like Box leather and, instead, opt for durable varieties. Togo is supple but holds its shape well and won’t become overly slouchy with use. This leather is scratch-resistant and lightweight, making it a good choice for commuting.
Epsom is low-maintenance and high-performing leather, making it a dream for commuters. It’s rigid, scratch-resistant leather that holds the shape of the bag well and is lightweight, easy to clean and can stand up to some rain.
Taurillon Clemence leather is one of Hermès’ most popular leathers. This leather is soft, slouchy and very durable and scratch-resistant. Clémence is durable, but won’t stand up well to water, so perhaps isn’t as practical an option as Epsom.
Canvas and leather mix bags are relatively common in the Hermès cannon and make an excellent option when the weight of your handbag is a factor. Opting for canvas may allow you to choose a larger bag to fit your laptop inside, without compromising on weight.
Amazonia is a great material for commuting. It’s 100 percent water-resistant rubber-coated canvas, so any spills can be easily wiped off without leaving a stain. It’s typically paired with hard-wearing leather, which gives it a retro but elegant look. Amazonia scratches daily easily, but that only adds to its vintage appeal. The material is discontinued, but you can find it on the second-hand market.
