New Bag Reveal: Hermes Kelly 32

PHOTO DETAILS: HERMES HANDBAG (HERMES DUPE) 

For the big 3-0 in June, my husband sweetly surprised me with a vintage Hermes Kelly 32 — the ultimate handbag for any bag lover. As someone who has been a bag collector for many years, I can finally say that I am good on the handbag front for a little bit now that I have a Kelly in my collection. I never thought I’d say that. 

I wanted to reveal the latest bag in my collection and provide my initial thoughts — whether you are considering a Hermes Kelly for yourself or are just a fellow handbag lover and love reading about bags.

INITIAL THOUGHTS ON THE HERMES KELLY 32

First, OMG. Second, the craftsmanship is incredible. Even on a vintage bag, the stitching is beautiful and the leather has maintained its structure. My Hermes Kelly 32 is in Courchevel leather, which was replaced by today’s Epsom leather. It’s a grained, structured leather that is meant to be more water and scratch-resistant.

It’s not the lightest bag, but this could be due to its size. The Kelly 32 is one of the larger handbag sizes but is often considered the “sweet spot” for day bag sizes. It makes a great multi-purpose bag for the daytime, work, or travel. Since it’s such an elegant bag you can even wear it for the evening.

With the detachable leather strap, the bag can be worn on your shoulder if you like to go hands-free. You can also wear it in the crook of your arm or by the top handle, which is my favorite. I love versatility when it comes to bags, which is why you won’t often see me carrying a clutch.

I’m a minimalist when it comes to what I carry inside my bags. For everyday use, I can fit my essentials into the tiniest of bags, but I’m enjoying the freedom I have with the Kelly 32. You could easily carry a full-size wallet, phone, umbrella or scarf, small makeup bag, sunglasses in the case, and an iPad. But I would try not to stuff it for daily use due to the heaviness of the bag when it’s empty…unless you want a good arm workout. I’m not one to judge!

Here’s what I carry in my handbag:

– Cardholder

– Keys

– Sunglasses (in the case — if you’re used to smaller bags this is quite the pleasant surprise)

– Makeup bag (hand sanitizer, tampon, hair tie, lip gloss, lipstick, rollerball perfume)

– Phone (I have the iPhone 13 Pro Max)

– A light scarf for the evening (optional)

…and I still have plenty of room.

DUPE ALERT: If you like the look, but not the price Lily & Bean makes the best Hermes Mini Kelly dupe on the market. I have the bag in classic black and glacier blue and will continue to wear them.

SHOP THE HERMES KELLY 32 (preloved)

I can’t wait to style the bag for you more! I am all about mixing high and low price points for a truly unique look, and this will be the ultimate testament to that philosophy. What are your thoughts on the Hermes Kelly 32? Are you more of a Birkin or Kelly girl? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below!