I'm finally getting around to posting my review of this beautiful Hermès Picotin 18 in Gold from 2023. I've had this bag for almost a year now. At the time when I made the decision to buy this bag, I really wanted to have one Hermès bag in my collection. I tried the Evelyne TPM and it was just too small for me and I ended up selling it. I loved the leather and the color so wanted to give it another shot with a different Hermès bag. I decided on the Picotin 18 for its bucket style and for an Hermès bag, it still flies under the radar. It's gaining popularity, but it's not nearly as popular as the Evelyne.
(Check out my video to see what fits and how I use the bag)
This bag does not come with a strap, although I have seen some people add a strap to the handles to make it into a crossbody or shoulder carry. I looked through all my straps and could not find one that would fit around the handles. Personally I think it would make the bag look a little too busy and I prefer a clean, minimalist look. That said, there's only two ways to carry this bag, by the top handle or crook of the arm.
Thankfully, this bag is really lightweight. it only weighs a smidge over one pound. I can carry this bag with no issues even with all my stuff in it. It is not a heavy bag at all.
Let's take a closer look at the details.
This is such a beautiful looking bag. It's made out of Hermès' Clemence leather which is bull calfskin. It has a matte grained texture. It does feel a bit on the dry side, this leather doesn't have that buttery feel. But it is soft and pliable. I gravitated towards this one because of the slouchy leather. Most of the ones I saw on Fashionphile have the straight trapezoid shape. I wanted one that would puddle. I'm guessing eventually it would happen after some use, but I prefer my bags to be broken in.
I added an Hermès charm I bought from TheRealReal.
The inside of the bag is suede and it's the softest suede I have ever felt. Silky soft is the only way I can describe it. The strap closure is weighed down by the lock, which is the heaviest part of the bag. Because of the strap being in the middle of the bag opening, it can be a little tricky getting your things in and out of the bag. I did find a way to make this a little easier and I demonstrate it in my video.
The bottom of the bag has a hard leather base and there are little gold feet. I still have the plastic stickers on the bottom of the bag and I will eventually remove them as they come off. That's my asian side of me that's coming out! I try to keep the protective coverings on as long as possible. Otherwise the feet will show scratches.
Now, is it worth the price? At the time when I bought the bag I really wanted to experience the Hermès leather craft. I wanted to see what the quality and hype was all about. I bought my bag from Fashionphile for $4000 which is about the retail price. It's in excellent condition with hardly any wear on the bag, but the leather was starting to relax. Fashionphile called it structure wear. When the bag is brand new, it looks like the photo below. The bag below does nothing for me, and for the longest time I was not interested in this style at all, until I saw my bag.
Do people consider the slouchy leather a flaw? I would hope not. I think it looks so much more interesting with the relaxed leather. That said, if I wasn't a bag collector, I would not buy this bag as an everyday carry. This is strictly an occasional bag for me. Dinners and date nights is when this bag tends to come out. If I know I'm going to be walking around a lot, I would want a crossbody bag. I'm not a fan of the closure strap as it's not the easiest to get things in and out of the bag, especially if it's a large or bulky item. Perhaps the larger size 22, might be a better option for bigger items, but I like the look of this size on my petite frame. Would I buy the bag today? The answer would be a definite no. I'd rather spend the money looking for a hard to find vintage bag.
I used to want a Birkin, but given how the luxury sector keeps raising its prices, sometimes multiple times a year, it's been a turnoff lately with declining quality and customer service. Hermès bags still has the quality locked down, but I'm not crazy about how they treat clients given you have to play their game to get offered a bag to buy is ridiculous. It is why I would rather just buy the bag I want from a resale site, even if it is marked up.
That is it for me, I hope you liked this review. Do you have an Hermès bag? Are they on your wishlist? Would love to know what you think about this bag. Have a great start to the last week of April!
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