There's More to Hermès Than Birkins and Kellys—These Other Bag Styles Are the Definition of Luxury

The furore around the best Hermès bags has reached fever pitch. Whilst they’ve always been an object of many a fashion person’s affections, it appears that mainstream audiences now want to buy into the luxury bag obsession too. And whilst dupes will continue to crop up, as they always do when something reaches this grade of icon status, there's no denying that Hermès is inimitable.

"Buying an Hermès bag is akin to investing in your pension; they will never decrease in value and are a fail-safe addition to your wardrobe, surpassing all other bag fads," explains Amy Bannerman, eBay's pre-loved style director. According to the online resale platform, "Global eBay users have searched for 'Hermès' over 31 times a minute, on average, in 2025 so far,” demonstrating an insatiable appetite for the luxury leather goods crafted by the French designer. "These icons of style are having a real moment right now," Bannerman echoes. "Other top-searched styles so far this year include the Hermès Herbag, Lindy and Bolide. It’s not just the Birkins and Kellys getting love; styles like the Constance, Evelyne and Picotin are also becoming go-to favourites."

Of course, the Birkin and Kelly are both based on chic fashion icons of yore, and are certifiably Hermès' most well-known styles, but, as highlighted in the eBay search data, there’s so much more to the brand than these pieces.

As anyone who is familiar with the brand can attest, purchasing an Hermès bag can be arduous. It’s not the case that you can walk into your nearest boutique and pick one up off the shelf. With limited quantities produced each year, and every bag handcrafted by an expert artisan in the brand's atelier, these factors have only contributed to their exclusivity and appeal. Many, instead, turn to secondhand experts like celebrity fashion sourcer Gab Waller. "It may come as a surprise, but we don’t personally source Hermès Birkin or Kelly bags," she tells me.

Given that these sought-after bags fall out of her remit, meaning clients like Sofia Richie Grainge and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley have to turn elsewhere to get their hands on them, Waller explains that alternative designs are on the rise. "The Picotin, especially, is such a staple in any wardrobe. We receive requests for it constantly, and any time we offer one, it sells immediately." Her expert advice? Think pink. Blush, rose and bubblegum shades are proving the most popular.

If you’re looking to make your next investment, Waller says we should also be considering vintage styles as worthy ventures. "That draw to larger and vintage bags is something that clients are seeking," she says. "On that note, vintage Hermès bags in general are very in demand at present. The more worn, the better. That rugged look is what clients are looking for."

Purchasing an Hermès bag that isn’t in perfect condition or still in the box might seem blasphemous, but it's happening more and more. "It’s coming from the younger generation. Gen Z is gravitating towards [bags] that aren’t picture-perfect. They want something undone, relaxed and effortless. Think of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen with their very worn-in Birkin bags!" says Waller.

Indeed, there’s so much more to the best Hermès bags than meets the eye. Ready for a crash course? Ahead, the five leading styles that define luxury.

The 5 Best Hermès Bags That Exemplify Luxury

1. Birkin

Style Notes: As Samantha Jones once said, "It’s not a bag…it’s a Birkin." Indeed, the Hermès Birkin transcends the ordinary rules of luxury accessories. The purchasing process is the stuff of legend, as owners are rumoured to have endured long wait lists and be required to have maintained a regular purchase history with the brand to nab a bag of their own. Plus, I cannot overstate how often I'm asked, as a fashion editor, about the price of an Hermès Birkin. Those who manage to secure one join an exclusive group that shares a part of fashion history.

For the uninitiated, the Hermès Birkin was born in 1984 of a chance encounter between French-British actress and songstress Jane Birkin and then chairman of Hermès, Jean-Louis Dumas. Birkin boarded a flight from Paris to London carrying her wares in her signature basket bag, and as she entered the first-class cabin, the contents of her woven tote poured out. Whilst up in the air, the then 37-year-old lamented to her neighbour the struggles of finding a chic bag that could fit the essential items of a woman’s life to her neighbour. Her seat partner happened to be Dumas, and so, somewhere over continental Europe, the pair landed on the machinations of the Hermès Birkin. The rest, as they say, is history.

In 2022, the most expensive Birkin—a Birkin 30 made from speckled crocodile skin and encrusted with 18k diamond hardware—sold at auction for $450,000 (roughly $331,400). Now, following Birkin’s passing in 2023, her personal bag is set to go under the hammer. Her penchant for distressing the expensive accessory and littering it with talismans, tchotchkes and trinkets paved the way for the "Birkin-ification" of luxury goods, with the bag charm trend attributed to how she individualised her bag.

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2. Kelly

Style Notes: To the undiscerning eye, the Hermès Kelly can read as the Birkin’s baby sister. However, those in the know are aware of the rich history and fashion legacy that follows this classic designer handbag style in its own right. But first, the differences between the two. The main points of contrast lie in the handles. The Birkin boasts two handles, whilst the Kelly only features one, making it a true top-handle bag. The front flap is more structured and refined, too. The Kelly only got its name in 1977 after it earned a place in the spotlight when it was photographed on the arm of Old Hollywood starlet and the Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly. It’s said she used to carry it to help shield her baby bump from the flashing lights of paparazzi cameras.

However, the origins of the bag date back to the 1930s. When it was first released to market, the Kelly sold under the name Sac à Dépêches and was designed for the wife of former Hermès CEO, Émile-Maurice Hermès. These days, the bag is made by a single artisan and takes between 18 to 24 hours to complete. Recently, it appeared as one of the most bought handbags in the eBay Watchlist, an annual trend report reflecting sales data and pre-loved fashion appetite.

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3. Constance

Style Notes: The Constance is considered one of the "big three" Hermès bags. Unlike the logoless Kelly or Birkin, this style is defined by the singular H clasp that fastens the boxy shape. Sportier and more agile by design, the Constance is nifty, compact and designed for life on the move. The shape was conceived in 1967 under the helm of Dumas, who created the Birkin. Catherine Chaillet, who worked for Hermès as an in-house designer, conjured the shape when pregnant with her fifth child and named the style in honour of her newborn. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis often sported the bag, adding to its appeal. Nowadays, it’s seen on the shoulders of Emily Ratajkowski and Nicky Hilton. Whilst it’s not as "stealth wealth"-coded as Hermès' other two household-name styles, the Constance is as exclusive and a testament to the brand’s artistry.

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4. Picotin

Style Notes: Everything that Hermès crafts is rooted in odes to the equestrian world. The Picotin is no different, with the bag's bucket shape an homage to the basket horse feeders that would carry oats and hay. A sort of hybrid between the Saint Laurent Y Tote and the Loewe Pebble Bag—two of the most popular designer handbags— the Hermès Picotin features two soft leather handles and a pillowy pail-style body. It’s finished with a singular tie that secures with a gilded lock closure.

What makes the Picton unique is that the bag is completely unlined. Honouring leather as a canvas—specifically, the brand’s trademark Taurillon Clemence leather—the result is a textured grained finish that is supple on the outside and soft on the inside. Wear in the nook of your elbow or along your forearm for an elegant carry. According to eBay, the Picotin is "one of the fastest-growing Hermès handbags globally, with searches up over 20% year-over-year (May 2025 vs. May 2024)."

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5. Evelyne

Style Notes: Given that Hermès began as a boutique crafts workshop designing high-quality harnesses for the carriages of European aristocrats in 1837, it should come as no surprise that the house’s most emblematic designs are those rooted in equine themes. The Evelyn is one such style. Preserving the original shoulder strap and oval hoof print featured in the original design, the perforated H indented through the centre of the cross-body bag was intended as a drying mechanism for the grooming accessories housed in the very first iterations.

This symbol was never planned to be on display, but rather face towards the wearer. Instead, a practical pocket slip was purposefully planted. But as actress Kelly Rutherford displays below, doesn’t this small but overt acknowledgement of Hermés' continuing legacy make it all the more opulent?

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Celebrities Carryig the Best Hermès Bags

Style Notes: Jasmine Tookes carries an Hermès Birkin.

Style Notes: Victoria Beckham carrying an Hermès Birkin in Paris in 2020.

Style Notes: Kate Moss used her Hermès Birkin as a baby bag with her daughter, Lila Moss.

Style Notes: Lady Gaga might've been known for drawing Japanese characters on her custom Hermès, but this crocodile Birkin is my favourite from her collection.

Style Notes: Dua Lipa accessorises her Hermès Birkin 35 with a littering of ornaments, including a delicate twill scarf.

Style Notes: Here, Winnie Harlow showcases three of the decade's biggest trends: sheer dressing, Maison Margiela Tabis and the Hermès Birkin.

Style Notes: For the ultimate Upper East Side look, Emily Ratajkowski paired her Proenza Schouler waisted trench coat with an Hermés Birkin.

Style Notes: Pairing your pooch with your pochette is so Y2K, so trust Kim Kardashian to match her Pomeranian with a rare suede Hermès Birkin.

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