Hermès Prespend: Do These Categories Get You Closer to a Birkin or Kelly?

If you’ve ever tried to get a Birkin or Kelly from Hermès, you’ve probably heard the word “pre-spend” more times than anyone else.

And, naturally, the first question is usually: How much do I need to spend to get offered a quota bag?

But after years of shopping with Hermès, I’ve started to think that the answer may be a little more complicated than simply reaching a certain dollar amount.

Particularly, I’ve noticed that what you buy can matter too.

There are certain parts of the Hermès universe that, in my experience, seem to play a more interesting role in building a relationship with the House than others. And no, I’m not talking about finding some magical product that guarantees a Birkin or Kelly. I don’t think such item exists.

What I’m talking about is the bigger picture: how you shop with Hermès, what you’re genuinely interested in, and whether your purchases show that you’re a client of the house rather than simply someone trying to get a quota bag.

I’ve also noticed that some of the categories I think are worth paying attention to are not necessarily the ones that come up most often in online prespend discussions.

So, after years of shopping with Hermès, I wanted to share what I’ve noticed—and which categories I personally think deserve more attention if you’re hoping to eventually receive that coveted Birkin or Kelly offer.

Hermès Prespend: Does What You Buy Matter?

The traditional conversation around Hermès prespend tends to revolve around one question: How much do I need to spend before I can get a Birkin or Kelly?

You’ll find plenty of people online trying to calculate ratios and give you a precise number. But Hermès isn’t really that straightforward.

Two clients can spend similar amounts and have completely different experiences. Availability varies by boutique, the relationship with your SA matters, and there is certainly no guarantee that spending a particular amount will result in a quota bag offer.

This is why I think the type of purchases you make deserves more attention.

If you’re regularly buying bags, small leather goods and shoes simply because you’re trying to increase your spend, that tells a different story from someone who genuinely shops across the Hermès universe.

And that brings me to my first observation.

1. Hermès Fine Jewelry

Fine jewelry is one category I would pay attention to if you’re genuinely interested in building a relationship with Hermès.

And I don’t mean buying an expensive piece purely because you think it will get you closer to a Birkin. Frankly, that’s probably the wrong way to approach this entirely.

What I find interesting about the Hermès fine jewelry is that it is a completely different side of the House. You’re no longer just shopping for accessories to go with your handbag. You’re buying into another part of the Hermès aesthetic and heritage.

And if you already love the brand, this can be a very natural extension of your shopping.

Not to even mention that it also makes your purchases feel less like you’re simply ticking boxes on a hypothetical prespend list.

Personally, I would much rather buy one piece of Hermès jewelry that I genuinely love than accumulate a pile of things I wouldn’t otherwise buy just because someone online told me they “count” toward a Birkin.

2. Hermès Ready-to-Wear

Ready-to-Wear is another category that I think is worth exploring at Hermès.


I mean, I think we can all agree that there’s something quite different about actually wearing Hermès clothing compared with simply carrying an Hermès handbag.


You’re engaging with the House on a much broader level, and, in my experience, that can help demonstrate that you’re genuinely interested in Hermès as a brand rather than simply trying to get a Birkin or Kelly.


And let’s be honest: if you’re spending thousands of dollars on a handbag but have absolutely no interest in anything else Hermès makes, that’s a very different relationship with the brand.
Ready-to-Wear also gives you the opportunity to develop your own relationship with your SA beyond the occasional handbag conversation.


Maybe your SA knows that you love a particular collection. Maybe they know your size. Maybe they know the colors you tend to wear. Maybe they’ll think of you when something comes in that fits your style.


Those little interactions are important.


And while none of this guarantees a quota bag, this is what I mean when I talk about building a genuine relationship with Hermès rather than simply chasing a bag.

Read also: Your Most Asked Hermès Questions, Answered

3. Hermès Home Goods

This is probably the category that gets overlooked the most when people talk about Hermès prespend.

And that’s exactly why I think it’s worth mentioning.

Hermès has a huge home collection, from blankets and pillows to tableware, decorative objects and other pieces that have very little to do with handbags.

If you genuinely love Hermès, home goods can be a great way to engage with the brand beyond the usual categories. And from my perspective, that’s what makes it interesting in the context of prespend.

If you’re buying something for your home because you love it, rather than because you’ve been told it will somehow help you get a Birkin, the purchase feels much more natural. It also reinforces the idea that you’re interested in the whole Hermès world, not just their bags.

What About Hermès Shoes and Small Leather Goods?

Now, you may be wondering why I haven’t put shoes and small leather goods at the top of this list. After all, these are two of the categories most frequently mentioned in conversations about Hermès prespend.

And yes, they’re certainly part of the Hermès shopping experience.

But they’re also the categories that I think people are most likely to buy because they believe they need to buy them.

That’s where things can get a little strange.

If you genuinely love Oran sandals, great. If you actually use Hermès SLGs and enjoy them, even better.

But buying several pairs of shoes you don’t really want or filling your closet with SLGs you don’t need simply to increase your spending doesn’t strike me as a particularly sustainable strategy.

In fact, I think it can miss the bigger picture.

And if in the end of the day Hermès is looking at the relationship you’re building with the brand, wouldn’t it make more sense to genuinely enjoy different parts of the House? I think a SA is also more likely to offer a quota bag to somebody who enjoys everything: not just a few select categories.

My Approach to Hermès Prespend

So what’s my best advice for the prespend? Well, for me it has always been quite simple.

Buy what you love.

If that happens to include an Hermès scarf, a pair of shoes, a piece of Fine Jewelry, some Ready-to-Wear or something for your home, great.

But don’t build an artificial shopping list just because someone on the internet claims that certain purchases will get you closer to a Birkin.

I’ve always thought the most interesting Hermès clients are the ones who genuinely love the House.

They aren’t just waiting for the moment when they can finally buy a Birkin or a Kelly. They’re interested in the craftsmanship, the design, the history and all of the different categories Hermès offers. And perhaps that’s the real secret to the whole prespend conversation.

It’s not necessarily about spending more. It’s about becoming a genuine Hermès client.

Of course, that still doesn’t guarantee a Birkin or Kelly.

But if you’re going to spend your money with Hermès anyway, I’d much rather spend it on pieces I genuinely love—and build a relationship with the brand along the way.

And if a quota bag offer eventually comes with it?

Well, that’s certainly a nice bonus.

xoxo’s, Masha