After months of waiting, I got the dream bag I didn’t know I was looking for – an Hermès Kelly 28 retourne in the vert mangrove color. The bag is in Togo leather with palladium hardware, giving it a silver color.
I have decided that a Kelly 28 retourne is a perfect everyday bag, especially for someone not looking to be precious with their belongings. I use my bags, and I need to not be worried about scuffing or damaging them. I am a mom and carry mom stuff in my bag. The Hermes Kelly bag doesn’t necessarily scream mom bag, and I won’t take it everywhere with me, but it hits most of the right notes for me.
Hermès Kelly 28 in Vert Mangrove
The retourne style of bag has softer edges than the sellier style, which makes it feel more casual and appropriate for daily use. The 28 cm size holds more than the 25 cm (obviously), which makes it feel like it can be a daily use bag as opposed to an evening-only bag. Yet the 28 is still small enough that I like the look with a dress.
Because the bag is retourne, it uses a more durable leather, in my case, Togo. This gives me reassurance that it won’t scratch as easily as a more delicate leather like Box, which is beautiful in sellier but wouldn’t be as impressive in retourne.
What I didn’t know about Togo before getting this bag is that it often has graining in the leather. Graining is natural streaking that occurs in the leather, which look like subtle lines marking the bag. Mine has graining on the back of the bag. I don’t mind it, and some people love graining, but it is something to know if you are considering Togo.
The color is Vert Mangrove, which is a new color for 2025. It’s a coveted “chameleon” color, which looks different in different lights. Vert mangrove is a dark green with lots of grey undertones. In some light, it looks fully grey, while in other light, it looks clearly green. It looks good in both palladium and gold hardware, but I slightly prefer palladium. The color-changing nature of this green makes it feel a lot like a neutral, and I am finding no issue pairing it with lots of different outfits.
The only thing I don’t like about this bag is that it is fussy to close it. I knew this before I got it, but it is still annoying. It is a multi-step process to tighten the sangles enough to close the top over the hardware. I don’t want to carry it just by its handle or shoulder strap because I don’t want to damage the bag, which I know is how most people carry it. Maybe over time I will loosen up about this, but for now, I’m carrying it closed.
Because of the repeated opening and closing, I have already scuffed the hardware. I removed the plastic from the twist clasp because it was already peeling off from the first wear, but I have left the other plastic on for now.
Lastly, I love that the Kelly is one of Hermès’s shoulder bags, and that was a major reason I wanted a Kelly over a Birkin. I wish the strap was long enough to wear it cross body, but it is really only for the shoulder. My SA said we could special order a longer strap to make it crossbody, which I may do at some point for added versatility.
Why Hermès? The Brand, Heritage & Quiet Luxury
I’ve been an Hermès fan since my husband randomly walked in one day with two gorgeous non-quota bags. Since then, I’ve learned a lot about the brand and made a number of other purchases, which eventually led to the offer for my first Kelly.
Hermès is built on a clear promise of exceptional quality and exclusivity. The house began as a harness and saddle maker in 1837 in Paris. That equestrian DNA still guides everything from leather selection to hardware engineering. Pieces are meant to work hard, age beautifully, and remain relevant for decades rather than seasons. The logos are understated, but the equestrian motifs and chain design patterns are distinctive in a “IYKYK” kind of way.
Craftsmanship at Hermès is intensely personal. A single artisan constructs each bag from start to finish using the saddle stitch, a hand technique known for strength and longevity. Edges are sanded and dyed by hand. Hardware is fitted to avoid stress on the leather. Quality control is strict, and lifetime service through the Hermès spa sustains the piece over time. The leather palette spans durable grains like Togo and Clemence to crisp Epsom and glossy Box, each chosen for specific structure and wear patterns.
If you’re interested in diving deep into the history of the brand, I highly recommend a listen to the Acquired podcast episode on Hermès. It’s fascinating and will interest any fans of the brand.
Birkin vs Kelly: The History
The Kelly began as the Sac à dépêches in the 1930s. It became iconic in 1956 when Grace Kelly was photographed shielding her pregnancy with the bag, and Hermès officially adopted the name “Kelly” in 1977.
The Birkin bag arrived in 1984 after a chance flight conversation between Jane Birkin and Hermès executive Jean-Louis Dumas about the need for a chic carryall with real capacity. The Kelly is a structured, top-handle bag with a secure turn lock and an elegant, slightly formal profile. It comes with a detachable shoulder strap, giving it versatility. The Birkin is an open-topped tote with double handles and a more relaxed design that favors quick access and everyday carry. It can be closed, but it’s quite a process to do so, and most people carry theirs open with the flap tucked inside.
Hermès Journey
When people mention the “Hermès journey,” they are usually referencing the process of getting an offer to buy a quota bag. Hermès is unique among most retailers in that you must be invited to purchase their Kelly and Birkin bags. You can’t simply walk into a store and buy one. In fact, you often can’t buy any bag. For more on why this works for them, listen to the Acquired podcast.
Weirdly though, my husband did walk in and buy not one but two non-quota bags with no prior purchase history. One is even a touch bag, which is where they use exotic skins on part of the bag. I don’t know how this was possible, and it definitely isn’t possible now. But that started things off, and over the past 5 years, we’ve bought more.
To play “the game,” customers plan to spend between 1x and 3x the price of the bag they want on other items in the hopes of being offered the bag they want. The reason this works is partly because you’re playing a game you’re trying to win, but also because the resale value of a used bag is often 1.5-2x the retail cost of it.
After about a year and a half of semi-regular purchases, my husband approached our SA about buying me a Kelly for my birthday. Not long after, we were offered the most beautiful bag I’ve ever seen…and I turned it down.
That bag was a Kelly 25 sellier in shiny crocodile in bleu marine, a deep blue color, with gold hardware. It was stunning. Perfection. But it was absolutely not a bag I would use regularly, and that was ultimately what I wanted. Exotic materials are not supposed to get wet, and I live in the northwest, after all. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to use it much without the fear of it getting rained on. After turning it down, we waited a few more months before we were offered the Kelly 28. I’ve never been happier for waiting!
Want to see the unboxing? Watch the magic here.
How I Style my Kelly 28
It has been super easy to style my bag already, and I plan to wear it in fall, winter, and early spring. Here are some of the ways I have already worn it.
Wondering how to pair your bag while on vacation? See my packing lists for Santorini, Mexico, and how to dress for wine tasting and afternoon tea.
Shop the Look
If you’re looking for a dark green bag, these are some of my favorites. I have the Strathberry mosaic nano in bottle green and love it. The quality is so so good and the price is a lot more manageable than one of the top fashion houses.
What do you think of the Kelly 28 now that you’ve seen it? I’m so happy with it and while I’ll be taking a break from “the game” for a bit, I can’t wait to use this bag daily.
