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The Hermès Bags Every Collection Should Have — As Inspired By Kelly Chen
Taking notes from Hong Kong singer and actress Kelly Chen’s discerning style, we look at the Hermès bags that are the cornerstones to any collection.
H ong Kong pop icon, wife and mother of two, Kelly Chen is a household name for many millennials growing up in the 1990s with her music, movies and concerts. Dubbed “Diva of Asia”, Chen’s stardom exceeds her achievements in entertainment, her taste in fashion is equally adored and splashed across media — including her well-known love for Hermès. In the Hong Kong stop and finale of the exhibition “Bags: Inside Out” (co-hosted by Swire Properties and the Victoria & Albert Museum, London) in 2023, 13 of her bags made a public appearance.
Chen’s bag collection is swoon-worthy for any collector of Hermès — a masterclass in amassing Hermès bags that form the ideal combination of sought-after holy grails, staples that match well with everyday outfits, and statement-making creations. This season, Sotheby’s Handbags & Accessories will offer 10 Hermès bags from Chen’s collection, a rare opportunity to own one-of-a-kind pieces including the HSS Medor Rockstud Birkin 30, a unique creation made-to-order for Chen. Part of the proceeds from the sale of her collection will be donated to the Kelly Chen Children Education Fund.
The Kelly Chen Collection
Holy Grails
A holy grail to any collection, the Hermès Himalaya — where Niloticus crocodile skin features a seamless gradation from white to light brown taking after the remarkable snowcapped peaks of the Himalaya mountains — has garnered iconic status within the Hermès world. But Himalaya Birkins are not the only coveted design.
Other designs to be graced with the holy grail status include the Hermès Shearling “Teddy” Kelly and the Faubourg Birkin. A unique take on a Kelly making it the ultimate winter accessory with its rich, earthy tones the Teddy Kelly is made with suede leather and edged with shearling for that extra cozy touch. Meanwhile, the Faubourg Birkin now has cult status owing to its rarity and demand. Revered amongst collectors since its first release in 2019, the design depicts the arched windows and other architectural elements of the storefront at Hermès’ iconic flagship store on 24 Rue de Faubourg Saint-Honoré, in Paris.
Precious Metals
A design sparked by the spectacular window designs that artist Leïla Menchari created for the Maison’s flagship store on 24 Rue de Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris, a metallic Birkin or Kelly is an extraordinarily rare find. These bags are highly sought after by collectors since Hermès only made metallic bags in 2004 and 2005 in limited quantities.
Opulent and elegant in its finish, Hermès Metallic Birkins and Kellys are a showcase of Hermès’ craftmanship — demonstrating the perfection in the technique of hand-dyeing chèvre (goat) leather in a glistening metallic hue.
From Chen’s collection is a Limited Edition Bronze Chèvre Metallic Birkin 30 Gold Hardware from 2004, purchased by Chen as a gift to herself before her wedding in celebration of becoming a wife.
Rockstar Touch
Of the bags on offer from Chen’s collection, the Black Box Clou Medor Rockstud HSS Birkin 35 from 2011 perhaps tops the list as it was made-to-order for Chen, making it unique in the world. The acronym “HSS” denotes that the Birkin has a small horseshoe stamp besides the brand stamp, an addition used by the Maison for its customised creations. A HSS bag is reserved for special clients, making the ownership of one almost akin to a membership card into a rarefied circle, and this Birkin is made from smooth black box leather and palladium hardware, with the flap accentuated with Medor Rockstuds.
Hermès’ Medor Rockstud is recognisable for its smooth, pyramid-like shape and have been used to add an edgy, yet still elegant, element to the brand’s bags, watches and jewellery.
Quiet Luxury
Every Hermès collection should have a few bags in elegant, user-friendly shades of brown, grey and black that pair well with the ongoing popularity of quiet luxury outfits in creamy, neutral hues. These are bags that will spend more time on a credenza for easy reach then securely stored in the Hermès dustbag for the right occasion.
Kelly’s collection includes another customised Birkin 30 with palladium hardware and made with graphite matte Niloticus crocodile leather — with the leather taking on a rich brown-black hue that makes it a sophisticated option to pair with a sharp suit.
Those wanting to opt for lighter shades can reach for Pachemin — a light caramel shade that enhances the textural patterns of the crocodile leather.
And just as every woman needs various black dresses as staples in their wardrobe, every Hermès collector needs at least one bag in black.
Colour Pop
Staple neutrals are not the only colours that completes the everyday wardrobe. A Hermès bag in one of the Maison’s intriguing hues can add a great pop of colour to an outfit and rounds out any great collection. From the jewelled green tone of Malachite to the pearly grey shade of Gris Perle, and the many shades of pinks, blues, oranges, and more — there’s definitely no shortage of colours at Hermès.
