An Overview of the Essential Collection

Think Hermès and maybe the Birkin, Kelly or Constance come to mind. While these three collections are certainly the best-known, they’re not the beginning and end of Hermès’ offerings. In fact, with more than 120 years of bag-making history, including one-off special orders, limited editions, and discontinued designs there is an overwhelming back-catalog to explore. In fact, there are more than 80 different Hermès bag models in circulation. Get to know the basics here with this Hermès introduction, including the latest 2021 releases.

Birkin

It’s not a bag, it’s a Birkin. The Hermès Birkin is the epitome of exclusivity. Serendipity brought this bag to fruition when a chance meeting between British actor Jane Birkin and the Executive Chairman of Hermès revealed her frustration with the lack of suitable bags for a mother. Thus was born this sleek, multi-pocketed and practical legend of a bag. This story is one of the most retold stories of Hermès’ rich mythology. Birkins are available in 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 centimeters.

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Kelly

The distinctive Hermès Kelly bag was originally named Sac à dépêches. It was catapulted to fame when Hollywood star and Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly, carried the bag across her stomach to conceal her unannounced pregnancy. The bag was subsequently renamed and has been synonymous with effortless chic ever since. Kelly is, by far, the biggest family of Hermès bags. You can find Kelly’s in 25, 28, 32, 35, 50 and 50 centimeters, and the mini Kelly Pochette and a ‘cropped’ version, Kelly Cut.

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“The Kelly was catapulted to fame when Grace Kelly carried it across her stomach to conceal her unannounced pregnancy”

Constance

The Hermès Constance, together with the Birkin and Kelly, make up the holy trinity, also known as the BKC trifecta, being the fashion house’s most desirable bags. Easy elegance and a bold silhouette define Constance, a distinctive shoulder bag with a flap top and large H buckle fastening. Over the years, the H buckle has been reinvented with leather and exotic inlays, diamonds, enamel and Guilloche diamond cut. Besides updates to the buckle, Constance remains otherwise unchanged from its inception. This timeless classic was beloved by the former first lady of the US Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and remains a popular favorite today. Constance can be bought in various sizes. Vintage styles can be found in 23, 25 and 29 centimeters. Today, mini (18cm) and Constance 24 are the most commonly seen. There are also Micro (14cm), Elan and Cartable (29cm).

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Kelly Family

The Kelly is the Hermès bag with the most reinventions. Its turnlock and shape have been the inspiration for clutches like the Kelly Pochette or Kelly Cut. More sporty versions include the Kelly Sport, Kelly Ado Kelly Danse or the Kelly Lakis, a Kelly with zips. No matter what kind of bag style you are looking for, the Kelly Family has you covered.

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Garden Party

Simple and elegant, the Hermès Garden Party is a casual, durable tote with practical Clou de Selle snap fasteners to provide a structured silhouette and maximize the bag's space. The bag is sold at a much more accessible price point than the Birkin, Kelly and Constance. Garden Party is available in 30, 36 and 39 centimeters.

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Lindy

The Hermès Lindy bag is a slouchy design, made to hug the contours of the body and be incredibly comfortable to carry. The positioning of its handles, perpendicular to most bags, makes it possible to carry by sliding your arm through, keeping your arms in a more natural position and the bag close to the body. It also has a shoulder strap, making it one of Hermès’ most practical bags. Named after 1920s swing dance, the Lindy Hop, this bag is made for movement. Lindy is available in a mini 20-centimeter and sizes 26, 30, 34 and 45.

“Lindy is a slouchy design, made to hug the contours of the body”

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HAC

Hermès' oldest bag design harks back to the house's equestrian roots. The Hermès Haut à courroies (HAC) was designed to transport saddles and riding boots. A practical, sturdy bag, the HAC is a testament to the craftsmanship of Hermès. The bag is similar in style to the Birkin, but there are several differences. Most noticeably, the HAC is taller, has longer handles, a different turnlock (the Birkin has a rounded one) and has a wider belt.

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Bolide

The Hermès Bolide has been the go-to companion for globetrotters for more than 100 years. Its claim to fame is that it was the first bag to feature a zipper. Its sturdy structure makes it durable enough to travel with and its rounded shape makes it accessible enough to find your essentials when you're on the go.

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Picotin

The Hermès Picotin is a lightweight bucket bag inspired by horse feedbags, harking back to the brand’s equestrian roots. Its simplicity is striking, with a natural leather lining and a charming Hermès padlock to fasten.

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Herbag

Hermès Herbag is a popular ‘entry level’ bag at an accessible price point. Herbag is a canvas and leather bag, similar in style to the Kelly, with the same shape, handle, strap, clochette and padlock. Another fun USP of the Herbag is that the body of the bag can be detached and replaced, so you can mix and match if you have a few different Herbags. The bag is available in different colors and sizes, and also as a backpack.

Herbag was discontinued and reintroduced as the Hermès Herbag Zip, with a removable pouch inside and a zipped-up pocket on the outside.

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Evelyne

This crossbody bag is one of Hermès identifiable models, featuring a thick shoulder strap and a perforated H logo on the front. It was first released in 1978 as a solution for transporting horse grooming equipment, with the tiny holes served as ventilation to dry brushes faster. But, as so often is the way with Hermès’ equestrian designs, the bag was a hit for its easy, slouchy style, too. Evelyne is available in sizes from 16 to 40 centimeters in durable Toile canvas as well as Togo, Epsom and various other leathers.

Shop Evelyne here

2021 Newcomers - Perspective Cavalièr, Mors de Brides and Hermèsway

Images courtesy of Vogue

The Hermès Spring Summer 2021 show introduced two new bags. The first, Mors de Bride, takes its name from a leather horse’s bridle. This equestrian theme has already been explored in an Hermès jewelry series of the same name. The bridle influence of this structured bag can be seen in its leather strap and hooped silver hardware.

The second new bag of the season is the Perspective Cavalièr, an asymmetric open-top shoulder bag available in both a small and large size. The bag is named after the drawing style developed by French cartographers to bring three-dimensional shapes alive on a flat page. The Hermès Autumn Winter 2021 collection saw an update on the Birkin, with a removable pochette, and the introduction of the Hermèsway, which takes the mini bag trend a step further. This functional bag is shaped with compartments to hold your phone, AirPods, credit cards, lipstick and no more. If the pandemic has made you scale back your essentials, this minimalist design will fit perfectly into your lifestyle. It comes with an adjustable strap so you can wear it on your shoulder, across your body or as a necklace. The bag comes in black, Bordeaux, and saffron leather.

Ultimate List of Other Bag Styles

Dive a little deeper into Hermès’ bag designs and you’ll certainly find one to suit your every mood. We have put together a list of all Hermès bag styles that we know of. Think we’ve missed one? Let us know!

A Guide to Hermès Bags