First off, lemme just say, “cheap” and “Hermes” rarely hang out in the same sentence. But there are definitely ways to be a savvy shopper and not completely bankrupt yourself. And hey, I’m all about that!
Now, about Paris… The obvious answer is hitting up the Hermes stores themselves. Duh. But listen up, that’s not necessarily where you’re going to find a *deal*, per se. Prices are pretty consistent, I’ve found, compared to the US. Sometimes, maybe, *maybe* you’ll get a slightly better exchange rate working in your favor, especially if your bank doesn’t rip you off on the conversion fees. But don’t go betting the farm on that.
Okay, but here’s a nugget of gold I stumbled across, and it’s SUPER important: Apparently, Hermes, get this, *actually has sales*. Like, actual, real-life, discounted prices sales. I know, I nearly choked on my croissant when I heard that. The thing is, they’re hush-hush. Think secret society vibes.
I saw something about a big sale in Paris, happening like, Jan 16-20 at Salle Gaveau (45 rue la Boetie). But here’s the catch: they don’t hold it in their regular store! Sneaky, right? If you’re planning a trip around that time, you’d be a fool to miss it! Like, imagine the bragging rights! I’m picturing myself elbowing little old ladies to get to that perfect “Brides de Gala” in a color I don’t even have yet… Okay, maybe not elbowing. But you get the picture. GO. (If it’s still happening, obvs. Double check before you book that flight, okay?).
Then, there’s the whole pre-owned route. Now, I know some people get squicked out about pre-owned, but I’m a firm believer in giving beautiful things a second life. Plus, you can score some serious vintage gems that you’d *never* find in a store anymore. Places like Vestiaire Collective or even consignment shops in Paris (if you know where to look – that’s a whole other quest!) can be treasure troves. BUT. Big BUT here. You gotta be CAREFUL. Like, really, really careful.
Which brings me to my next point: authentication. There are fakes FLOATING around, people. And they’re getting good. I saw a blog post about authenticating Hermes scarves, and honestly, it’s scary how close the fakes can be. We’re talking subtle things like the hem, the silk quality, even the font used for the signature. So do your research! Don’t just go throwing money at the first “Hermes scarf” you see on eBay.
I mean, think about it. You’re potentially dropping hundreds (or even thousands!) of dollars. A little detective work is worth it, right?
