From the riding department to the everyday wardrobe.
The Evelyne was made for a job long before it became a fashion favorite. Its original purpose was to carry the brushes, sponges and small tools used to care for horses. Even the perforated H had a practical reason: it allowed damp equipment to breathe.
Nearly fifty years after its introduction, the Evelyne still makes sense for the same reasons. It is light, uncomplicated and comfortable to wear across the body. Sometimes the most enduring designs are the ones that make daily life easier.
A few things worth knowing
Hermès dates the Evelyne to 1978 and describes its original purpose as caring for horses.
Its famous perforated H was designed for ventilation and was originally worn facing the body.
Classic sizes are 16, 29, 33 and 40, with a 23 introduced in 2025.
Several Evelyne models can appear on the Hermès website as well as in boutiques, depending on stock.
Prices today
Updated October 18, 2026, from public resale listings read every day.
What is a Evelyne actually listed for on the resale market? Choose a size and a condition: the figures and the chart follow.
Size
Condition
Median asking priceUS$3,500
Middle halfUS$2,800 to US$4,000
Listingsabout 740
Estimated sale priceUS$2,800 to US$3,200MyQuotaBag estimate: 10 to 20% below the median asking price
These are asking prices. They are what sellers ask on public listings, mostly in the United States, Europe and Asia, converted to US dollars. They include each seller's margin. Buyers often pay less: recent auction and resale reports put many bags between retail and about 30% below the asking prices seen here. The estimated sale price is a MyQuotaBag estimate, not a valuation of any bag.
Evelyne 16
Classic leather. The chart follows the size and condition chosen; each column is a US$2,000 step, tap a column for its figures. Condition levels follow each seller's own grading, grouped by MyQuotaBag; All counts every listing, including those marked only « used ». Snapshot of 2026-10-18.
Arriving November 16, 2026
Asking prices over time. A second chart here will show how Evelyne asking prices move week by week, for the size and condition chosen above.
Time on the market. How long a Evelyne listing stays online before it is withdrawn. A withdrawn listing does not necessarily mean the bag sold.
In 1978, Hermès created a simple shoulder bag for its equestrian world. Sotheby's and collector guides credit Évelyne Bertrand, then head of the riding department, with the design. Hermès' own descriptions confirm the date and purpose but do not name the designer, so that attribution comes from secondary accounts.
Riders needed something easy to carry while working. The bag had a broad opening, a practical strap and a flat body that didn't get in the way.
The H that was meant to stay hidden
The most recognizable detail is also the best part of the story. Grooming equipment can be damp and the little holes forming the H helped air circulate inside the bag. Hermès says those who knew its original purpose wore that perforated side toward the body.
Today, many owners wear the H facing outward. Both orientations are possible. One nods to the bag's working past and the other puts its signature detail on display.
Finding a new audience
The Evelyne remained associated with riding for years. Auction-house histories say it moved more fully into Hermès leather goods collections in the early 2000s, though the exact transition date is not consistently documented.
Its lightweight shape, hands-free strap and relative approachability helped it become an everyday favorite. The move from stables to city streets feels like a natural extension of the original idea.
Where the sources disagree
The designer: Sotheby's and collector guides credit Évelyne Bertrand, head of the riding department; Hermès confirms the 1978 date and purpose without naming her.
The Evelyne 23: collector press dates it to 2025; Hermès has not published a launch date we could find.
Why collectors love it
Nothing unnecessary
The classic Evelyne is unlined and opens wide. The canvas strap is comfortable for long walks, travel and busy days. It's a bag to use rather than one that demands constant attention.
An equestrian detail you can feel
The strap recalls a girth, the band used to secure a saddle around a horse. On the current Evelyne III, it is adjustable so the bag can sit higher on the shoulder or lower across the body.
The Evelyne also offers an approachable way to discover Hermès leather and workmanship without starting with one of the house's most difficult-to-obtain styles.
The design
The bag has a gently rounded rectangular shape and a leather tab with a snap closure at the top. Its interior is simple, with no elaborate compartments and usually no lining. The perforated H sits inside an oval on the front or back, depending on how you choose to wear it.
Collectors distinguish three generations. Evelyne I has no rear exterior pocket and a fixed strap. Evelyne II adds the pocket while keeping the fixed strap. Evelyne III retains the pocket and uses an adjustable canvas strap. These generations overlapped and the source material does not support precise start and end dates for each.
Sizes and versions
Hermès has traditionally used French size names alongside approximate widths:
TPM / Evelyne 16: The smallest classic everyday size, about 16 × 18 × 5 cm in a recent Hermès listing. Good for a phone, keys and a small wallet.
PM / Evelyne 29: The familiar medium model, approximately 29 × 30 × 7 cm in collector guides. A versatile daily bag.
GM / Evelyne 33: Roomier at roughly 33 × 31 × 8 cm, suited to carrying more.
TGM / Evelyne 40: A large, tote-like format, around 40 × 44 × 10 cm.
The Evelyne 23, introduced in 2025 according to PurseBop, sits between the 16 and 29. For anyone who finds one too small and the other too large, it fills an obvious gap.
Different interpretations
The Evelyne Sellier, introduced in 2016 according to collector sources, gives the bag sharper lines. Instead of the perforated H, it uses an embossed motif, often with firmer leathers such as Vache Hunter (cowhide) or Epsom.
The Neo Evelyne and seasonal editions have explored canvas, leather combinations, embroidery and contrasting straps. These variations retain the spirit of an easy-to-wear shoulder bag even when the materials change.
Leathers and hardware
Taurillon Clemence is closely associated with the Evelyne. It is supple, softly grained and becomes more relaxed over time. Epsom is lighter and more structured, while Maurice has a flatter grain and tends to keep its shape a little better. The Sellier has also appeared in firmer Vache Hunter leather. Other versions use suede, Barénia or canvas and leather combinations.
Color does much of the visual work. Noir, Gold and Étoupe are familiar neutrals, while seasonal shades keep the design fresh. There is little hardware beyond the strap fittings and snap, so the bag's character comes mainly from its leather, color and perforated detail.
How do you buy an Evelyne?
The Evelyne is widely considered a non-quota Hermès bag. Versions appear on the Hermès website in some markets and are also offered in boutiques. Stock can change very quickly, especially for popular sizes or colors.
A US Hermès listing observed in October 2026 showed an Evelyne 16 Amazone at US$2,700. Sotheby's published approximate 2026 US references of US$2,525 for the TPM, US$4,100 for the Evelyne 23 and US$4,025 for an Evelyne 29 in Clemence. These figures come from different listings and source dates, not from a single live price list.
Hermès does not publish allocation rules for individual bags. Collectors' shopping experiences are useful context, but none guarantees that a particular Evelyne will be available.
The resale market offers another perspective on the Evelyne. Some collectors turn to it for a particular color or size; others to find pieces no longer offered in boutiques. Prices vary widely, which is why a single price rarely tells the whole story.
Classic leather, by size
Median asking prices, October 18, 2026. US dollars, asking prices from public listings, not confirmed sale prices.
Size
Pristine, asking
Pre-owned, asking
Listings
Evelyne 16
US$4,200
US$3,300
about 740
Evelyne 29
US$6,000
US$3,000
about 440
Evelyne 33
too few
US$2,700
about 170
Versions and special editions
All sizes and conditions together. A version with fewer than 20 listings says less about the market than one with several thousand.
VersionMedian asking priceListings
SellierUS$5,400about 30
Sellier means the bag is sewn from the outside, with sharp edges and a rigid, structured shape, the way saddles are made. The softer alternative, Retourne, is sewn inside out and turned. On a Evelyne, Sellier is the rarer and more formal construction.
ShoulderUS$4,900about 120
The Birkin Shoulder has longer handles so it can be carried on the shoulder rather than in the hand. It is made in larger formats and in small numbers.
Classic leatherUS$3,900about 2,990
The reference: a Evelyne in one of the house's standard leathers, such as Togo, Epsom, Clemence or Swift, in a single color. Most listings fall here, which is why this median is the most reliable on the page.
Toile and canvasUS$3,200about 50
Canvas, often Toile H or Toile Goéland, paired with leather trim. Lighter and more casual than an all-leather Evelyne, it is often chosen for travel and summer.
Tap a version to see what it is.
Think of these figures as a snapshot of the market rather than a valuation of any particular bag.
Frequently asked questions
Who designed the Evelyne?
Sotheby's and collector guides credit Évelyne Bertrand. Hermès confirms the bag dates to 1978 but does not name a designer in the referenced descriptions.
Why does it have perforations?
The holes originally helped damp horse-grooming tools dry.
Which direction should the H face?
Either works. Facing inward echoes the original riding use, while outward shows the design.
What's the difference between Evelyne I, II and III?
The II added a rear pocket and the III added an adjustable strap.
Is the bag lined?
The classic Evelyne is unlined, although some seasonal models differ.
What sizes are available?
The classic range is 16, 29, 33 and 40, with a 23 introduced in 2025.
Is the Evelyne a non-quota style?
Collector guides generally describe it as a non-quota style. Availability still depends on the market, size and color.
Can I buy one on the Hermès website?
Sometimes, yes. Stock is not guaranteed.
References
Hermès, Evelyne and Neo Evelyne collection and product pages.
Sotheby's, “The Hermès Evelyne Bag: Casual, Functional Crossbody”.
PurseBop, “The Most Comprehensive Hermès Evelyne Bag Guide You'll Find Anywhere”.
PurseBop, “Hermès 101: The Evelyne Bag”.
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About this guide
An independent reference for curious collectors.
MyQuotaBag brings together the stories, craftsmanship and market information behind some of the world's most recognizable handbags, to make them easier to explore and understand.
Resale figures come from publicly available asking prices. They represent listings, not confirmed sales or guaranteed future values. MyQuotaBag is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Hermès.
How to cite: MyQuotaBag, « The Hermès Evelyne », Hermès Bag Profiles, resale snapshot of 2026-10-18. https://myquotabag.com/bags/evelyne/
