egyy There are some brands that are just synonymous with luxury – and Hermès is absolutely one of them. However, although luxury – and Hermès – are often understood to indicate expensive, in reality they doesn’t necessarily have to be. certainly Hermès items are expensive, but as I touched on in my recent holiday gift guide, Hermès does produce a huge variety of products at a large range of price points. I was recently asked to write an post on “dipping your toe into Hermès” at a relatively affordable cost, so here is a deeper dive with five great ways to experience the world of Hermès when you are on a budget. the best part: lots of of the items that are quintessentially Hermès aren’t the most expensive.
Interested in Silk? try a Twilly or a Pochette.
Just as much as Birkins and Kellys, Hermès is known for its silk scarves and cashmere shawls. When I started getting Hermès’ 90cm silk scarves (um…over 22 years ago….) they cost about $275. At one point, Hermès even dropped the price to $250. Unfortunately, 90cm silk prices have soared past $400 and now can cost as much as $450 or even higher, depending upon where you live. Of course, in 1997, Hermès didn’t make twillys*. These 33” x 2” (approximately) colorful strips of silk are fun for tying onto your bag, your hair, your wrist – anywhere – and feature adaptations of the famous seasonal Hermès scarf designs. Some twillys themselves become very in-demand due to the particular design or colorway, and in some cases Hermès has produced special heart-shaped boxes for some of their love-themed twillys.
Hermès also makes a smaller version of the 90cm silk square, called a pochette. At 45cm, there are less tying options, but you still get a full scarf design and the size is absolutely functional as a scarf.
Somewhat less functional, but even smaller and a lot more adorable, is the newly-introduced Nano. You can’t beat the price, but at 20cm it is quite small, and as a new item this season it is only available in two designs and a few colorways of each. SAs are showing these tied simply on a bag or around the wrist, either with or without a scarf ring.
Hermès Twilly: $175
Jungle love Love Twilly in Blue. photo courtesy of @The_Notorious_Pink
For ideas on how to tie a twilly on your bag, check out my previous PurseBlog article.
Hermès Pochette (also called scarf 45): $195
Savana dance Pochette. photo courtesy of @The_Notorious_Pink.
Hermès Nano Scarf: $100
Brides de Gala Nano Scarf. photo courtesy of Hermes.com
Wallet alternatives that won’t bust your wallet
Hermes wallets in general are very expensive, but they do produce other, very popular options to the standard budget that are well worth considering – and I say this as someone who owns and uses the following recommendations on a daily basis. In my opinion, Hermès designs its small leather goods remarkably well, with both appearance and purpose in mind, and as a result most, if not all, of their wares in this department genuinely hold their own.
-Calvi/Bastia
The Calvi and Bastia are each a separate, worthwhile small leather item which, when utilized together, can generally carry as much as a small wallet. The Calvi presents like any other double-sided card holder, simply and well-made, which one could also use to carry bills (which I do, as well as band-aids). The Bastia is a coin holder which is small enough to fit into any pocket, but expansive enough to hold just about any other of your normal small odds and ends. Taken together, you have enough space for a lot of of whatever you would carry in your regular wallet.
Calvi, $335 (Epsom) – $380 (Chevre)
Calvi in rose Azalee Epsom. photo courtesy of @The_Notorious_Pink
Bastia, $230 (Epsom) – $235 (Chevre)
Bastia in Feu Chevre, fully packed but with plenty of room left inside.
The Bastia fits quite a lot a lot more than change!
-Small Silk’In Wallet
If you do like an actual budget – or, like me, you just have to carry everything – I cannot recommend this item highly enough. In fact, if I had to pick one Hermès item which I would recommend the most for its usefulness, this is the item. Honestly, I love the sophisticated and beautiful Kelly and Constance wallets very much and I own both – and I nearly never use them. My Silk’In, Calvi and Bastia opt for me every day.
The design on this item is both beautiful – lovely, long lasting Epsom leather lined with what is nearly always a joyful, contrasting silk scarf design – and exceptionally efficient – six pockets for cards (3 per side), which, quite frankly, in my case will carry 12 doubled up. Zippered coin pocket in the middle, which I use for receipts (not coins – a lot more of my weirdness, I know, but to me the one thing that will age or dirty a budget a lot more swiftly than anything else is carrying coins in the coin section). between the card slots on the sides and the zippered pocket in the middle is empty space which can hold a fair number of cards and bills (and yes, even coins if need be). I have stuffed and overstuffed my poor Silk’In and it’s still holding up well. My zipper never jams and the lining has worn exceptionally well, despite the very-heavy-duty use I have given it over the years.
When I purchased my Silk’In I dithered over it – while somewhat inexpensive for an Hermès wallet, it is by no indicates cheap – and another customer, who had been standing next to me while I considered it, told me straight up: “Buy this. You will not regret it!” So lots of times when I look at my Silk’In, I think of her and how ideal she was.
Small Silk’In Wallet: $770
My small Silk’In budget when I purchased it four years ago. rose Confetti Epsom with Della Cavalleria lining. photo courtesy of @The_Notorious_Pink
My very used Silk’In budget in rose Confetti Epsom. used daily for four years.
3. wrap yourself Up with a Constance Belt Kit
The Constance Belt kit – the one with the “H” buckle – is absolutely an famous Hermès item. I would not have considered this for any “budget” list, were it not for my 13-year-old son, who is somewhat into fashion labels, specifically Gucci (which is unusual for a kid who mostly wears sports shorts and t-shirts year round, including the winter). We were in a mall and he wanted to look at belts by Gucci and Burberry. I figured that they couldn’t be too expensive – and wow, was I wrong. Belts are often considered to be an entry-level item for fashion houses, because the cost is somewhat low and it’s a piece that can get a lot of wear and is long lasting, but in this case entry was to the tune of $450, $500 – and higher. For certain, Hermes belts are even a lot more expensive, but unlike a lot of other fashion belts, besides the very basic iconography of the Constance “H” design, which is not limiting style-wise and will go from jeans to dresses, you also get a two-fer in that each belt strap is double sided, normally with a contrasting color in a different leather. The buckle itself is removable, indicating if you choose to invest in a lot more than one belt kit you can use the straps interchangeably with other Hermes buckles in different hardware and designs. I am admittedly not a belt person, but over the years I have acquired three buckles and four straps and these are pretty much the only belts I wear (in fact, I’m wearing one ideal now as I type this).
Constance Belt kit, prices vary due to buckle, strap and width.
Typical 32mm width in regular leather with buckle: $645-$900
Constance belt kits in Etain/Jaune de Naples with rose Gold CDC Buckle, Blue Nuit/Rose Sakura with Yellow Gold Guilloche Buckele, and rose Tyrien/Blanc with Palladium Guilloche Buckle. photo courtesy of @The_Notorious_Pink
The buckle and the strap are separate and easily put together.
I recommend, if possible, getting a textured buckle such as the guilloche because scratches don’t show as much.
If you’re into shoes, try the Oran or Oasis Sandals
Hermès has really upped its shoe game over the last few years. In 2016 it acquired a minority stake in Pierre Hardy (they also gotten the shoe company John Lobb in the 1970s), and the past few years in particular have seen a well-thought-out variety of shoes to suit every style and occasion while still producing the classics they are known for. A great, simple, everyday sandal, the Oran (if you like your sandals flat) and the Oasis (with a short stacked block heel) are another good way to literally dip your toes into the world of Hermès shoes (sorry, I had to do that ??♀️). reliable and always available in a good variety of colors, they are really just a basic slide-style sandal, but their simplicity is sophisticated and the price point is within the range of shoes by other high-end designers. I have a pair of these and I tend to wear them all spring.**
Oran Sandals: $630
Oran sandals in Blue Littoral Epsom. photo courtesy of Hermes.com
Oasis Sandals: $730
Oasis sandals in Blue Littoral Epsom. photo courtesy of Hermes.com
Twinning with a friend!
Addictive like chips: fashion Bracelets
There are so lots of good options in the fashion jewelry department. If you’d like a classic Hermès look, the enamel bracelets are fun and very addictive. The Clic H (a/k/a Clic Clac, which used to refer to a now-discontinued item***) is an enamel bracelet on a metal base (palladium, gold or rose gold hardware) with an H clasp, comes in a range of colors (new for this season are a few prints) and can be worn on its own or stacked. It is slightly oval-shaped. (By the way, if you purchase a Clic H, it’s crucial to know how to open and close it properly. Ask your Sales associate to show you – generally you have to hold the sides together for both opening and closing it – it’s not difficult, just be aware, because opening or closing the clasp improperly will damage it.) The regular enamel bangle bracelets are also on a metal base but are normally printed with an adaptation of a scarf design. These are round and cannot be stacked evenly with the Clic H bracelets. Both styles of bracelet come in several widths. Please note that a lot of bracelets are also available in multiple sizes for different-sized wrists.
Enamel H Bracelets: $620 (narrow/”Clic H”) $ 690 (medium/”Clic Clac”). There is also often a broader version available.
Narrow/Clic H Bracelet. photo courtesy of Hermes.com
Medium/Clic Clac Bracelet. photo courtesy of Hermes.com
Enamel Bangle Bracelets: $440 (narrow) $550 (medium) $690 (wide)
Tree of song Bangle, narrow. photo courtesy of Hermes.com
Tree of song Bangle, medium. photo courtesy of Hermes.com
Tree of song Bangle, wide. photo courtesy of Hermes.com
If you’d like an edgier Hermès look, there are a good variety of leather bracelets that you can start with. The Behapi double Tour, a basic strap-style, wraps around the wrist twice and is available in a double-sided option. other double-wrap options include the Kelly and Rivale double excursion bracelets, but one of the newer designs I really like is the Mors. If you’re a fan of the classic Collier de Chien bracelet, Hermès uses a taste of that dog-collar style with the tiny pet dog Clous Ronds.
Behapi double Tour, $330
Behapi double excursion bracelet in Deep Blue/Rose Azalee. photo courtesy of Hermes.com
Kelly double Tour, $510
Kelly double excursion bracelet in Bleu Encre/Ambre. photo courtesy of Hermes.com
Rivale double Tour, $540
Rivale double excursion bracelet in rose Sakura. photo courtesy of Hermes.com
Mini pet dog Clous Ronds, $520
Mini pet dog Clous Ronds bracelet in Gris Perle. photo courtesy of Hermes.com
So while these items may not be as exciting or jaw dropping as the big ticket purchases, they are absolutely good items and “smart choices” for those who would like to get a taste of Hermès without the huge financial commitment that is often involved. These are all reliable items that Hermès is known for and each is a worthwhile consideration for those who want to give this fashion house a try.
Hey, I’ve got some footnotes this time:
* I really want to spell the plural “twillies”, but Hermès says it’s twillys.
** I didn’t want to interrupt my light post here, but you all must probably know that the very first time I wore my new Oasis sandals I absolutely fell down the stairs. It could have been the sandals, but it was probably me. Anyway, just be careful when wearing any new shoes.
*** I’m going to go out on a limb here and go over the confusing names of the enamel bracelets. despite what the web site says about current bracelet names, the Clic Clac was originally an enamel bracelet with an interlocking clasp which is no longer produced, and the Clic Hs were the bracelets with the H clasp. now it seems like the name is different based on width. To me this is a little confusing, but I don’t make the rules. While I’m at it, while doing a little checking for this post my SA informed me that the hinged clasp (“Charniere”) bracelets are going to be discontinued – replaced by the Clic H bracelets made with designs on them – which is why I have not included them here in this article.