Earlier this year I was scrolling through Instagram reels. It was way past my bedtime and I was delirious. Somewhere between a reel giving a play by play of a day in the life of a spoiled Frenchie, a GRWM and a what I eat in a day was a video of a creator chronicling the story of how she got a Birkin in Paris with no purchase history.
In my overtired state of delirium, I thought I was imagining things, but I did store that tidbit of information away in a tiny corner of my brain. Weeks later, after booking flights for my Spring trip to Paris, I came across another reel which jogged my memory.
This one was published by a fashion creator who also heard that same bit of Hermès folklore that I did. Suddenly I realized that I did, in fact, see that last video, which honestly felt like a fever dream because we all know how hard it is to get a Birkin or a Kelly with a purchase history, let alone without.
So has it been done? Is it actually possible?
The Hermès Game
In many ways Hermès is strictly a game of numbers. Whether it’s nailing the art of pre-spend or being in the right place at the right time to score your holy grail in the exact size, color, leather and hardware; there’s a reason why purchasing Hermès is an entirely different beast. It’s also why so many shoppers skip the game entirely in favor of the resale market.
But what if all it took to snag an Hermès bag—in Paris no less—was a stroke of luck (or two) and a bit of persistence?
In order to get a leather appointment at Hermès Paris, you have to fill out an online form a day in advance and pray to the gods that you’re granted an appointment. The appointment system is rumored to receive thousands of entries per day, so in many cases you’re more likely to get mugged during your trip to Paris than snag a leather appointment (sorry, I had to).
Still, one google search of ‘Hermès Appointment Lottery’ yields pages on pages of internet threads and videos of first-hand accounts dedicated to the saga, and I for one, am intrigued. Should I try it?
I have no business purchasing a Birkin right now. However, my love affair with the Picotin continues, and if I were offered one, given the savings of shopping internationally I certainly would figure out how to make it work.
After all, you cannot argue with fate when luck is on your side. Have you ever won the H game and snagged a leather appointment in Paris?
