Apologies for the very long, somewhat OT post. TLDR: this is why I think Lydia's Kelly bags are fake.
A relationship with Hermés is a time consuming process, as everyone knows by now. It's annoying, elitist and frankly gross how they can get you to feel like you're not good enough at first, and then maybe there will be a switch, you're in favour (if indeed one is that lucky), so you then feel compelled to spend thousands upon thousands just to have the caché of Hermés hanging off your arm.
The only thing that will fast track you to get a favoured bag (Birkin or Kelly), at least here in the US, is a fuckup on the part of the boutique. That is what happened to me. I'd only purchased a few scarves (maybe about 5 & 1 cashmere shawl), and some Sterling jewelry. Not much, really. Certainly not thousands of dollars worth of goods. Then I changed gears and started looking at their time pieces. I was sick of my Rolex not keeping time. I'm a basic bitch, give me a Quartz movement!
Hermés sold me a dodgy watch. Battery was dead, no big deal, although I should have checked it was keeping time when I purchased it, right? LOL I returned it to the boutique the following day. I was flying out that evening, so they couriered the watch with the replaced battery to my home, which was a long way away with the dreadful traffic in LA. I thought that was a nice touch of service. Frankly, it's not like I NEEDED to have the watch for my trip, but they were falling over themselves at that point to make it right.
Off we went that evening, we were spending Christmas in Italy. Two days later, the Hermés watch wasn't working. Completely dead. My husband emailed the SA at Hermés, not unkindly, but not that friendly either. Husband was major peeved at the quality of the timepiece, and likely had had one too many vinos, bored, waiting for me to get dressed, when he sent off the curt email. The SA apologized profusely and told us to return the watch at our convenience for a full refund.
Anyhoo, long story short, 3 or so weeks later, I was invited to drop into the boutique. The same SA offered me a black 35cm Birkin, togo leather with Palladium hardware. I bought it on the spot. After that, I was offered an SO (special order), and various other Kellys and Birkins. Including exotic skins, which I never went for as they're so delicate it does my head in. I continued to be an avid Hermés fan for a few years, scoring bags from my boutique, from Hermés boutiques in Europe, and from local resellers. Once, I even found a black Kelly 28 from 1973 in an antique shop. It was inside a huge chest of drawers! I paid a ridiculously cheap price for it and brought it into the boutique to have them do their magic "spa treatment", thereby verifying its authenticity. The resident craftsperson was mesmerized by that Kelly. Box leather patina is truly a special thing when given the time to age beautifully. They cleaned it up, most of the scratches were buffed out, and returned it to me looking perfect. More importantly, without the horrible moth ball smell it had when I "found it" in that chest of drawers. That spa treatment was a mere $150, a total bargain when you think about it.
I've since passed on from Hermés, as I've previously posted about, specifically because I prefer lightweight, slouchy bags, and I just can't be arsed to care about having 10K "sacks" to carry my shit around in. I cashed out all of my Hermés bags, didn't lose money on any of them, and have never regretted it. I'd much rather have that money in the market working away, multiplying itself into a carefree retirement.
Do I think Lydia's Kelly bags are real? Nope. The Kellys don't look right to me. Plus, her behavior regarding them is so freakin' contrary to everything we know about her character. The Birkin is possibly authentic, but the Kellys don't have the right "presence". And no way would Lydia leave the monetized coin on the table that would come from elaborate Hermés unboxing videos. Plus, if Hermés had screwed up in some way with her and then felt they needed to make it up to her and offer her elusive bags, she'd be shouting that from the rafters as well. Lydia never fails to brag about how special Lydia is. Her chilling silence on the provenance of not one, but 2 sought after Kelly bags, tells me everything I need to know. Black Hermés bags are the most desirable, followed by what they call "Gold" leather, which is the tan tone you see often. The pastel coloured bags are far easier to get once you're in the game with a boutique, and far less desirable to most.
She may have gone the reseller route, but again, resellers wouldn't be giving her bargains, and I doubt her accountant would let her claim 2 Kelly bags as a business expense just so she can keep up appearances. If her "rich Daddy dearest" had gifted them to her, again, she'd be bragging about that. So I think they're faux, just like her boobs.
There still needs to be much more awareness being done.
). They are so supportive and open there.
Seriously.
