Now that we are all back to our crazy post-COVID schedules, our bags are returning to heavy rotation. Of course, the Birkin (or Kelly or Roulis) isn’t always your best option when you’re on the run. Many of us need a few alternate options; bags that, relatively speaking, you don’t have to worry about and which are easy enough to just throw in a few necessities and run out the door.
We all need at least one of what I call a grab-and-go bag: it’s nice, it’s small, it’s very functional, and you don’t have to worry about it quite so much when you’re stuffing it into a boot camp locker or hiding it under the veggies in your shopping cart.
What Makes a Good Grab-and-Go Bag?
The attributes of what makes a good little bag when you’re running around vary to some extent from person to person, but for the purposes of this article, I think some important features are:
- It fits an average cell phone, with at least two cards and a few folded bills, lipstick, and/or small hand sanitizer, and there is someplace to put a key.
- There is some amount of interior organization. While ideally, there should be several slots and/or sections for keeping your items easy to find, there should be, at the very least, a credit card slot so that it stays somewhere securely.
- It has a strap or handle. Despite any official Hermès classification (Handbags or Small Leather Goods), it’s not really a bag without a specific part by which to hold it. Since the main key here is ease, it should be easy to carry, whether as a wristlet or completely hands-free as a crossbody bag.
- Additional beneficial features include: a formal closure, a removable and/or adjustable strap or handle, and more than one section.
- Although not every good grab-and-go bag has these additional features, they can be helpful.
Five Great Hermès Grab-and-Go Options
1.Understated Crossbody: Nouveau To Go $3,050 (Epsom and Swift) 20cm L x 11cm H x 3cm D
The Nouveau to Go is a new item for this season, and, like most of the bags in this article, Hermès considers it an SLG, not a bag. However, it’s a very understated, well-thought-out option if you need to bring a bunch of your necessities with you for a day of errands.
The Nouveau to Go is what we used to call a “twofer”: you get two for the price of one. That’s true here – literally. The bag looks like Hermès fused a Azap or Silk’In wallet with a pouch, creating a versatile option that includes aspects of both without becoming too heavy or bulky.
It’s crafted of two different leathers: Epsom for the larger (rear) compartment and Swift for the smaller (front) one. The Hermès website states that technical silk is also utilized. The long compartment features four card slots, a slip pocket, and a central storage area; the compact compartment contains a change pocket, one card slot, and a smaller storage area. Each compartment closes with a zipper. The back of the Nouveau has 2 loops for the strap, which are both adjustable and removable.
The Nouveau To Go makes a great little bag that will fit an iPhone 13 (easily without the case), some cards, bills, change, receipts, and small keys. The strap is long enough for crossbody wear. Hermès is producing them in some fun color options.
2. Day To Night Versatility: Kelly Dépêches 25 Pouch $8,450 (Togo); $8,750 (Evergrain) 25.2cm L x 19.5cm H x 4cm D
I have written about the Kelly Dépêches 25 Pouch previously when it was first released in 2021, and since that time I have been a big fan of this bag.
Possibly the most underrated and understated bag of the Kelly line, the Dépêches 25 Pouch is found in the men’s department, but due to its size and design, it’s a good option for anyone. Resembling the Kelly Dépêches Briefcase in proportion, it has a reasonably-sized interior – definitely sufficient for a wallet, cell phone, and all of the essentials – a slide pocket immediately behind the turn-lock closure running the width of the front side of the bag, and a strap. While this is on the larger end of a grab-and-go bag, the Dépêches 25 has a very elegant design and is truly a bag, whereas some other recommendations on this list are either strictly casual, very small, or both.
3. For the Minimalist: Cadenas Clutch $6,500 (Tadelakt) 17cm L x 3cm H x 2cm D
This is essentially a glorified pouch in the shape of an Hermès Cadena (Lock), yet this new bag is very useable due to the design. The exterior is visually appealing, turning the bag into a conversation piece; the handle is tall enough for wrist/arm carry if needed; the length is sufficient for your phone, cards, cash, and keys; there is a slide pocket along the rear interior of the bag; and the narrow height-vs-width plus full-side zipper means that nothing is getting “lost” in there.
4.Totally Handsfree: Hermèsway Phone Case Approximately $2,300 (Epsom) 8.7cm L x 16.5cm H x 2.2cm D
The Hermèsway Phone Case is as easy as it gets: a neck (or crossbody) pouch for your phone, with storage details along the side and front for your most basic necessities. The card slot, flat against the side, could probably expand enough to let you slide in your driver’s license and a bill or three as well; the AirPods case could be appropriated for a small bottle of hand sanitizer or some other small items; the lipstick holder, which mimics the multicolored banding of a Rouge Hermès lipstick tube, is of course meant for that (if you prefer a different brand, Hermès lipsticks are about 2.8”/7.2cm tall x .9”/2.2cm wide). A key ring could easily be attached to the loops where the adjustable strap connects or clipped onto the strap’s clasp.
5.Classic Hermès Style: Kelly To Go/Constance To Go
Hermès’ beloved Wallet-On-A-Chain style versions are exemplified in the Kelly To Go (KTG) and the Constance To Go (CTG). Both were initially released a few seasons ago, taking the Kelly Long and Constance Wallet styles, enlarging them just a touch, removing some of the card slots, and adding interior connectors and a removable strap. As with the original versions of these wallets, the KTG and CTG are essentially the same, with minor design differences and distinctive closures.
Kelly To Go: $5,500 (Epsom); $5,550 (Chevre); $7,600 (Box) 19.7cm L x 11.5cm H x 1.5cm D
The Kelly To Go (KTG) is similar to the Kelly Wallet (long version) in appearance. It is slightly larger than the Kelly Wallet and features 2 compartments separated by a zip section (with a mini Cadena on the zipper) in the middle. Each compartment has 2 card slots. The removable strap is long enough to wear the KTG crossbody. PurseForum owners of the KTG report that it will fit an iPhone 14 ProMax with the case, key fobs, a passport – most of the necessities – and does elegant day-to-night duty worn as a bag or carried as a clutch.
More photos of the Kelly To Go:
Constance To Go: $5,600 (Evercolor); $5,850+ (Epsom) Length 20.5cm x Height 13 cm x Depth 2 cm
The CTG is slightly larger than the KTG, and many people say it holds a good amount of items for an elegant, grab-and-go bag. The CTG features a long pocket against both the front (under the flap) and the back side of the wallet and two sections separated by a long zip section in the middle. The front section is an open compartment; the back section features another long pocket perfect for bills and 6 card slots. There is also a slip pocket on the rear of the bag. PurseForum fans of the CTG state that the compartments will hold everything from an iPhone 13 Pro Max with the case, to a pair of glasses and a lipstick, to a card holder, a Bastia, and a phone (but not all of these things at once!). A key will also fit, or you could loop the key ring onto the strap.
More photos of the Constance To Go:
People buying these bags are paying for imaginary value. Hermès’ marketing team is genius.
Love your moniker!
OP: how hard is it to get a Kelly to go?
That is a great question that I will have to follow up on. I know that at first they were not easy to get, but it does seem that production on the KTG and CTG have both increased. It’s in an interesting spot in Hermès leather department – not inexpensive by any means but a lot less than many of their bags, recognizable and very versatile. I will keep you updated on this.
Nouveau To Go…what a pop of color!
A friend of mine carries Kelly Dépêches 25 Pouch with a custom made shoulder strap- such a good idea.
I do the same. I added a small sterling silver bracelet to each side through the loop and attach a clip-on strap. Makes a great travel bag!
And ps my Garden Party 30 is my favorite no-fuss grab and go: holds more than the minimum so I can add sunglasses or a paperback and I don’t have to fiddle with sangles, etc.
Loooooove!!!
Some of the Easter-egg color combos are hard to take seriously, especially at these price points. Just nope.
There are always neutral options available, I try to include a variety of color options throughout the article.
This is a good and pretty-looking article, but the title made me laugh.
Right now in the US, only VIPs or other lucky people seem to be “grabbing and going” any bags from Hermes. I’ve tried multiple SAs to get items that used to be crazy easy to get (shoes, small size RTW, carre pouches, dining set for 2 slowly or fast, etc etc) and the inventory for us “normal folk” is abysmal. I’m not a rude banshee or anything, and multiple SAs seemed genuinely sorry that they couldn’t supply me with anything at all despite all my attempts, brought me different sizes in case that fit etc. I don’t think they were holding back too much. It would blow my mind if I could “grab” a bag from Hermes in the US.
Thankfully I have a Europe trip coming up in 2 months so I can actually shop again for anything other than scarves that an SA has to order (so even that can’t get in store, I have to get it shipped and wait).
Sorry I’m a LITTLE bitter lol it should not be this hard to spend money. I don’t want a friggin Birkin I just want a few pretty things!
No, no, no !
Only to let us spend ´useless´ money… ugly and not needed !
Not a comment worthy..
Ditto
Tell us how you really feel LOL!
Great post on the perfect Hermes bags for grabbing and going! I especially love the Evelyne and the Picotin, which are both practical and stylish options for everyday use.Thanks for sharing your expert knowledge on Hermes bags! Looking forward to reading about some stylish and durable backpacks in your next post.
I’m glad you liked this! I personally have found myself needing something easier a lot more often now (sometimes I just enable myself and bring readers along on the journey, lol). Backpacks are a great idea, Although Hermès does not make very many…I will have to look into this further. 🙂
Functionally, plays a big part. I need to have my cell phone fit inside, period!
Finding one for a Samsung is especially hard, they are on the taller side!
Mini Roulis is an amazing grab and go. It’s super easy to get in/out of the bag and can be worn crossbody or not.