Are you as obsessed with the Picotin bag as much as I am? Then, let's talk about a few things before you start your hunt for it!
Picotin is a bucket bag with two top handles that features the iconic Hermès lock & key. The bag consists of one big compartment with no additional pockets or zippers. The interior is suede, but the exterior is commonly made from Clemence leather, which gives a slouchy and casual look to the bag.
Even though, Picotin has recently become one of the most popular Hermès bags because of the "affordable" price point & accessibility (compared to a Birkin or a Kelly bag), it has actually been around since early 2000s. You might know that Hermès has a long history for producing equestrian products. Although this bag is not included in the equestrian line, it's inspired by the design of a nosebag, which is a bag attached to the nose of the horse in order to help him feed.
I have recently got my hands on the limited edition black Picotin 18 bag with black hardware (known as "so black") and I am very happy to be sharing about it with you today. I am calling this bag limited edition because of the black hardware. This type of hardware is not considered one of the two classic hardwares Hermès bags come in. The black hardware was first introduced in the Jean Paul Gaultier era in 2010. A few different Hermès bags like Birkin, Kelly and Constance also do come in black hardware but it's not something you can find at the store often.
Now, let's dig into what you came here for: price, quality, functionality & more...
𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭:
Picotin 18 currently retails for $2,750 plus tax.
However, the so black Picotin 18 retails for around $3,150 plus tax.
The cost of Picotin will vary depending on leather, size & hardware.
𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲:
Yes, I admit. It's not the most functional bag in a sense, as you have to hold it while using it (at least for size 18) but you are able to add a cross body or shoulder strap to the bag where the hardware is. Regardless of having the strap or not, I find myself reaching for this bag quite often. Because the black hardware adds a more chic look, I am able to wear this bag not only during the day, but also during the night.
𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫:
Picotin comes in various colors depending on the season. Classic colors like Noir, Gold, Nata etc can be found any season.
In terms of leather, Picotin can come in leather, wool, canvas or exotic skins such as lizard.
The hardware can be either Gold or Palladium but limited edition versions will match the bag's color.
𝐒𝐢𝐳𝐞:
Picotin comes in sizes 18 (PM), 22 (MM) or 26 (GM). However, Picotin has come in sizes 14 (mini) and 31 (TGM) in the past.
I find18 to be enough for my daily essentials such as phone, wallet, keys, sunglasses and hand sanitizer.
𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐫:
I have not had Picotin long enough to comment on wear yet. However, since the interior is suede and the shape is not structured, getting an organizer/insert would be recommended. Especially, since keys or sharp objects can scratch the interior. In terms of storing, I use the air pillow the bag originally came with when storing.
𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲:
Prior to the pandemic, Picotin was easily available and no purchase history was needed for it. However, since stock is quite limited these days it has become more difficult to locate one from the store but if you're patient or at the right place at the right time, you will find one!
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞:
You can directly purchase from a Hermès boutique or if you don't have a boutique near you, you can purchase it from the online store. Keep in mind that, to purchase it directly from the website you need to be there at the right time. When the bag does restock, there's only a handful available so they sell out pretty quickly.
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧:
Picotin is a beautifully crafted bucket bag that is getting more and more popular each day.
There are many pros to this bag. It is a simple, elegant and timeless design that does not show huge logos making it very "low-key". It does fit quite a lot. And let's not forget that the price point is great for an Hermès bag (but it is still a lot of money!! i would not recommend anyone to get it just to add it to their purchase history).
The only cons I can think of is the fact that the bag does not come with shoulder or cross body strap and that there are no zippers to secure the opening. Clearly, these are not enough deal breakers for me as I truly love the design of this bag.
What are your thoughts on the Picotin bag? Would you add one to your collection?
As always, if you have questions, feel free to leave a comment below or reach out to me via IG. ✨
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