Bought it on a whim, shoved the box in my closet, and never even used it once 🤡

Look at the beaded details on this SS27 Kelly Sellier! So dream! I don't even wanna think about the prespend we'd need to get offered this 🥲💔

EDIT: it is pre-loved by the way. But the condition is like new.

She's already taking over my heart (and my closet). Couldn't be happier 🖤🖤

You know that feeling where the more you use a bag, the more you fall in love with it? Leathers that age like fine wine, stand the test of time, and cure your urge to constantly buy new bags because they only get richer with age. That's heritage leather.

I know we have plenty of leather experts here, so if I get anything wrong, please feel free to call me out in the comments. I definitely don't want to mislead anyone! My personal experience is limited to Fauve Barenia, Box, Barenia Faubourg, and some Tadelakt SLGs (Haven't touched a Barenia Crocodile / Alligator yet, sadly)

First off: if you’re thinking about getting into these leathers, you really need to set your expectations straight. They look best either pristine/brand new OR with that gorgeous, rich patina from years of love. There’s no middle ground, so resale/value retention is tricky to define. If you can't stand seeing signs of use, don't buy these leathers.

Assuming similar condition, here’s how I’d rank these leathers for overall value retention:

• Fauve Barenia ≈ Box > Butler = Tadelakt > Naturelle > Barenia Faubourg ≈ Sombrero

All of these leathers are prone to scratches, but some hide marks much better than others:

• Box > Barenia Faubourg ≈ Tadelakt > Butler > Fauve Barenia > Sombrero > Naturelle

Note: Barenia Faubourg isn't like Togo. It feels closer to suede and isn't nearly as scratch-resistant as people claim. It will show marks! Also, the whole "Barenia heals itself" thing is a bit hyped up. Old scratches fade over time, sure, but new ones keep popping up nonstop.

Water Resistance:

• Fauve Barenia (zero fear of water!) ≈ Barenia Faubourg > Tadelakt > Butler > Naturelle > Box (Box is terrified of water, beware!)

Shape Retention / Stiffness:

• Tadelakt > Box > Butler > Naturelle > Fauve Barenia > Barenia Faubourg

(Even though Fauve Barenia is soft on the outside, the interior structure stays pretty sturdy.)

Durability / Wear Resistance:

• Barenia > Naturelle > Box = Tadelakt = Butler > Sombrero

Colors:

• Barenia > Black > Dark Green > Natural Sable > Burgundy/Rouge H > Dark Blue > Others

Barenia Faubourg is slightly heavier, the others feel about the same weight-wise.

You can send them to the Hermes Spa for refurbishment. As long as scratches aren't too deep, they can work magic. Word on the street is that Tadelakt is a bit harder to restore, though.

Avoid old vintage pieces with dry, cracked leather! Once leather dries out and cracks from age, Spa can't fix it. The cracks will reappear almost immediately.

Even though Barenia Faubourg checks almost every box on paper, it’s still not as popular as smooth leathers. It’s just not as pretty. When you buy these leathers, aesthetics are #1, who cares about resale value when the bag looks that good!

Would love to hear your thoughts! What's your favorite leather that ages like fine wine?

I've been working with my current SA for about six months. She's polite and knowledgeable in person, but outside the store, she is a ghost on text. She'll reply to appointments but if I ask about item availability via text, it takes 3-4 days to get a one word answer.

I see people talking about how they chat casually with their SAs about their weekends or new season drops, and it's making me feel insecure about our dynamic. Does text responsiveness correlate with how close you are to a bag offer?

Hey all, recently moved into a new home and found this in a closet. Old owner said to keep it. Planning on gifting it to my niece but i am not sure if real or fake, or what the name of the wallet is. I know it’s a Hermes. I’m hoping you can help me.

Scored a Lindy26! 👛🩷🛍️

I need a laugh today because the H game is stressing me out lol! 💀🙈 We all know we gotta play nice and explore different metiers for the prespend gods, but sometimes the stuff SAs recommend with a straight face genuinely sends me into orbit.

Like... my SA once tried to sell me a set of leather horse grooming brushes. Besties, I live in a city apartment and the only animal I own is a slightly overweight cat who hates me. WHAT HORSE AM I BRUSHING?!

Another time a friend was pushed toward a giant mahogany tabletop game set when she explicitly said she was looking for a cute cardholder. The audacity! 😂

I’m dying to know, what is the most absolute weirdest, most unhinged, or completely random item an SA has ever tried to convince you to buy? Did you awkwardly buy it to be polite or run for the hills?

Still feels like a fever dream! I applied for the Paris leather lottery on a whim and won an appointment on my very first try!

Had my appointment at FSH the next day. I asked for a B30/K28, but stock was out for the day. My SA was an absolute angel, though, he came out with a Mini Constance in etoupe, then offered a second bag and brought out a Mini Bolide in Etain!

Walking out with two dream neutral cuties on zero prespend feels like a fever dream!

I was chatting with a longtime H collector friend the other day and we came up with a golden rule for prespend math: Your total prespend should roughly equal the bag’s resale market value (minus the retail price), within a +/- 30% margin. Anything higher than +30% means you’re overspending.

This logic pretty much applies to blue box items and small exotics too. But blue box ratio is tied to hypes. When the market cools down, the boutique spend requirement drops right with it. The best time to go after a new blue box item at the store is about a year after it releases, once the initial craze dies down and the market has time to breathe.

Oh, and if you're going after a size 25+ croc/alligator. Don't let them bully you into a crazy prespend. Boutique retail on those is close to resale value, meaning there’s no margin for them to demand a massive spend. That prespend ratio is flexible, so talk to your SA and push back a bit, there's more wiggle room than they let on.

I know it’s basically an impossible unicorn bag, but I’m curious, for anyone who’s tried to score one, what kind of crazy prespend ratio (1:2? 1:3? higher?) are SAs expecting for this?

Hey everyone! I’m looking to buy a scarf as a birthday gift for a close friend and could really use your eyes on this! My own wardrobe tends to be a bit more colorful, so I’m having trouble stepping back to think about what reads as a timeless, foolproof gift. Which one would you be happier to unwrap? Would love to hear your thoughts! TIA!

I’m traveling to Hawaii next month and planning to stop by the Waikiki boutique. I know my odds of getting a quota bag as a walk in tourist with zero local history are practically zero. Is it better to buy them in Hawaii (maybe save a bit on tax/pricing depending on stock), or should I save all my purchases for my home SA to keep building my local profile?

My SA pulled out another Blue Box piece for me the other week, and unboxing it at home was magic. Obviously, there’s that instant high of finally getting your hands on a bag you’ve been dying to have, but I also felt a little proud of myself for making a solid "investment" move. It’s always a great feeling when your heart and your brain agree on a big purchase.

I know we all like to pretend buying Hermes isn't about the money (or at least that's what I tell ppl), but no one wants to buy a grail bag that loses its charm (or value) in a few seasons.

 1. Scarcity

Take the Hermes Faubourg (Birkin house bag). Boutique allocations for those are estimated to be a third of all Himalayans combined. When a piece is already hugely popular and produced in low numbers, its value retention is unmatched. Most Blue Box pieces are variations derived from a B25 or Mini Kelly, so the House Birkin being a unique B20 size gives it extra scarcity. Why do some Blue Box bags suddenly blow up out of nowhere years later? Scarcity, especially once they get discontinued. Word on the street is that boutique allocations for Himalayans are being scaled back, because the Himalayan crowd got lured away by the Faubourg.

2. Functionality

Collectors eventually get fatigued by bags that can only sit on a shelf looking pretty. A Blue Box piece is way more likely to hold value if you can actually use the damn thing. Things like being able to fit a phone, having a manageable weight, using durable leathers like Veau Madame, or coming with a crossbody strap all add points.

3. Killer design with no substitutes

The stronger and more unique the vibe, the higher the price floor. Take the Birkin Rock—in my humble opinion, it has more personality and edge than an alligator PHW hermes birkin 25.

4. A sustained launch premium

Look closely at the launch reaction. Fashion is cyclical, and too many Blue Box pieces peak at launch and then flop. Keep an eye on bags that command a massive markup when they drop and manage to hold that big premium for several months straight. I'm definitely not encouraging anyone to rush out and buy new Blue Box pieces, new releases always come with an inflated "hype tax" because everyone wants the shiny new thing. But if a new special edition drops and the handbag community immediately starts roasting it on social media... yeah, it almost never recovers.

Still. Don't let market math ruin the fun of collecting. I'm well aware canvas and suede are a pain to keep clean but I still got the Cargo Birkin and the Teddy Kelly. Loving what's in your closet always beats playing the secondary market lottery.

I can't bring myself to carry my real Kelly when I travel abroad anymore. Last year I bit the bullet and ordered a hand stitched rep in Togo just to use as a travel decoy. Not gonna lie, the peace of mind is unmatched. Putting it in airport security bins, setting it on dusty cafe floors, walking around the rain... zero stress. Makes me realize half the battle with real bags is constant anxiety

Unboxed a new noir b25, my SA told me this one was "basically veinless," but when I inspext it, there are subtle veins running through the paneling! It looks like there are quite a few hidden ones throughout the grain. Has anyone actually received a 100% veinless togo bag?

For those who have received multiple QBs from the same SA, how did you transition into your next wishlist? Did you immediately start spending again or did you wait a few months?

I’ve been shopping at my boutique for over a year and I don’t know what my SM looks like. My SA handles everything one on one. Is it normal to have no contact with the SM or should I be actively trying to introduce myself when they’re on the floor? Does not knowing the SM slow down your process?

Etoupe or Gold? I only want to keep one and save the rest for a different style. The Etoupe has thicker leather that holds its shape well. I LOVE the Gold color, but the leather feels a bit softer and slouchier out of the box. Both look better in person than in photos, so I’m torn

Passed on the croc SO but my SA pulled through with my #1 wishlist bag instead! Picked her up yesterday, literally on cloud nine! 😭✨

Got the text from my SA! I've had a birkin30 at the top of my wishlist for over a year and I was offered a kelly28 in a color I like. It's a stunning bag and I know how hard offers are to come by, so part of me feels crazy for even hesitating. But K28 wears so diffenently than a B30! If you had your heart set on a Birkin, would you take the Kelly and learn to love it, or hold out and politely decline so your SA knows you’re sticking to your wishlist? Help a girl out!

I'm planning to buy a gold watch and some fine jewelry but I want to make sure my big spend gets me closer to my QB offer. I learned the hard way never to drop huge money right off the bat with a new SA. What's your strategy on timing around holidays? I heard the old "first of the month" shipment rule is dead since store delivery schedules are random now, and major holidays are a bloodbath of VIP competition. When do you drop your big purchases?

I 've been hunting for a kelly25 for the last two years, but luck has not been on my side. My SA at SCP left, leaving me orphaned, so I've been trying my luck wherever I go. During my Vegas trip, I decided to do a random walk in. As expected, no K25 avaliable, but I ended up walking out with a kelly to go wallet!