Over the holidays I acquired a new bag, the Hermès Picotin Lock 18 bag! It’s one I’ve gotten a lot of questions about ever since, so I thought I’d take this opportunity to write out a full review of it. Aside from a few cashmere scarves and the Oran sandals I’ve purchased, I wouldn’t say I’m a huge Hermès customer, and certainly don’t have a strong relationship with a particular sales associate. The Kelly and Birkin I have were purchases I made at ReBag and The Real Real, respectively! My sister, on the other hand, is a very big fan of the luxury label and has established a wonderful rapport with her sales associate at the Austin store over the last three years! If you’re new to shopping at Hermès, you may not know that in order to buy their coveted bags from Hermès directly, you really need to have an established history of shopping there and frankly, spending a lot money in store.
While my family was in the San Diego area last summer, we stopped in the Hermès location at the La Jolla Westfield UTC shopping center. I saw a very pretty pale blue Picotin in a larger size with gold hardware, and thought the shape was really chic! While it has some structure, it’s not as bulky as its Birkin and Kelly counterparts. It seemed to be more practical, at least for me, and I expressed an interest in maybe getting one at some point. Unbeknownst to me, my sister took it upon herself to reach out to her sales associate in Austin to source one for me! If there’s one thing you need to know about my sister, it’s that she’s a very good and very extravagant gift giver. The gift wasn’t a total surprise, as she asked me about my color + hardware preference, and I’m glad so she asked! For a gift this expensive, I want to make sure it’s something I absolutely LOVE and will get a lot of use out of. My other Hermès bags are in warmer neutrals, so black felt like a good choice. I’ve always been a fan of black + gold hardware, but lately I’ve been leaning more into silver and wanted a bag I could wear from day to night with ease. I’ve got a large Chanel tote in this color combo, but I just don’t wear big bags as much these days! I prefer something smaller and more lightweight. I also have the Savette Pouchette which has served me very well this season, but it’s not a great option for daytime. I decided on black with palladium (silver) hardware, and I’m thrilled to have a good go-to now that I can wear casually or dress up for dinner at night!
The Hermès Picotin comes in a few different sizes: the micro, the 18, the 22, the 26 and the 33. I’m pretty sure I saw the 26 in store, which seemed a little on the large side for me. I just don’t carry that much with me throughout the day, and prefer something more slight, minimal and lightweight. Also, the bigger you go, the more they lose their structure. I love a structured bag, but as I mentioned before with the Kelly and Birkin, I don’t love “bulk”. Something that sticks out so much you’re bumping it into things, or that’s super heavy or very stiff. The 18 is the perfect size for me! It fits all of my essentials – phone, card case, keys, sunglasses, mints, lipstick + lipgloss, hand sanitizer, etc. It could certainly fit a full size wallet, I just don’t use one! If you’re looking to fit more than that in a bag, you may want one of the larger sizes! Another reason I preferred the 18? The hardware jumps out at you more than on the larger bags – it looks a little more glam and elevated, where on the larger styles the hardware sort of gets lost.
The fabric is Hermès’ Taurillon Clemence leather, which is a pebbled, scratch-resistant skin that is also incredibly soft. As I mentioned before, this bag has structure but is also pliable and the leather will slouch a bit with wear over time. The bigger the bag, the less structure it’s going to have, and more likely it will begin to slouch. In terms of hardware, it features a wonderfully minimal lock, metal buckles across the top and four studs on the bottom. The only closure is a single strap that features the lock on one end (this weighs the strap down to keep the bag closed), and is secured by the metal buckles at the top. The interior sides of the bag are suede, while the base features leather – there are no interior pockets. While I do love to be hands-free and typically prefer some kind of shoulder strap, I actually haven’t been bothered by the shorter straps on this bag at all! I can still wear it on my arm up to my elbow – as long as I don’t physically have to carry it in my hand at all times, it works for me. Compared to the other Hermès bags I have, this one is lightweight and very comfortable for carrying around with me all day! The Kelly and the Birkin are so recognizable to everyone, even people who are not “in the know” about luxury fashion. I personally love the more understated, streamlined look of the Picotin – it’s less in your face, and more quiet luxury.
Truly my only complaint about this bag is that the metal buckles sometimes trap the lock! It’s not that bothersome, but if I’ve spread the sides of the bag open to get stuff out or put stuff in, the lock will get caught on the square toggle hardware. It just takes a little finagling to separate them again, but I thought it was worth mentioning! It doesn’t happen all the time, but it’s just a little annoying detail I’ve noticed. Otherwise, this bag is perfect! It’s been so so useful for me already, and I’ve only had it two months! Such a great everyday style, but super sleek and chic for dinners and nights out. Highly recommend the Hermès Picotin 18 if you’re in the market for a new designer bag!
PS: I’ve gotta hand it to my sister for this one. Best Christmas gift EVER! I feel it’s important to include she won’t be getting me another birthday or holiday gift for quite awhile. This one is going to carry over for a couple of years! Totally worth it.
