Hermès Kelly Cut Clutch Review

Clutch bags have been getting a lot of love lately. The long rectangular East-West silhouette in particular is being hailed as among the hottest bag shapes of the moment, with every big name label wanting to capitalise on the style’s surging popularity. And all this has gotten me thinking of an Hermès bag that has a notoriously ‘Love or Hate’ reputation. The Hermès Kelly Cut Clutch is one of the most criminally underrated pieces in my bag collection. With an exaggeratedly elongated silhouette that makes a statement, plus all of the classic Hermès design features that I adore about the original Kelly bag, it’s worthy of any Hermès collector’s attention. 

This unique design presents a timeless take on fashion’s cult obsession with the East-West bag shape and comes with all of the hand-held elegance that we expect from Hermès clutch bags. Ergo, the Hermès Kelly Cut has definitely proved itself in need of a look under my handbag microscope. Expect everything from a design details breakdown to comparisons with other house favourites, plus some of the hottest East-West designs and clutches of the moment. We better get started!

Elongated rectangular clutch design

Flat top handle

Curved base

Flap opening with classic sangles across top

secured by touret turnlock closure 

Interior slip pocket 

Wax finished trim 

Crafted in France 

Accordian-style sides

Dimensions: 31cm length x 13cm height x 3cm depth

A lot of iconic fashion pieces came from Jean Paul Gaultier’s time as Creative Director of Hermès. Most notably the JPG Shoulder Birkin (which is now the latest cult accessory swirling in fashion circles, and I’ve been lucky enough to bag myself one). Plus the So Black Collection that’s become the stuff of collectors’ dreams, and, of course, the Kelly Pochette, a now timeless take of the beloved Hermès Kelly design. But there’s another gem from this era of Hermès history which I think gets overlooked. Gaultier first released the Hermès Kelly Cut Clutch in 2008 and the statement elongated rectangular design has enjoyed a steadfast position as an Hermès clutch bag favourite ever since. 

The Kelly Cut’s design showcases the same features we all love about the original Kelly bag. The flap opening, classic sangles across the top secured by a touret turnlock closure, expandable accordion-style sides and top handle. Except the Cut Clutch is shaped to an elongated silhouette. The result? Chic, elegant, and most notably it feels like a unique twist on the original while still paying homage to the iconic Hermès Kelly design and its status as a house icon.

There are so many iterations of the famous Kelly bag in Hermès’ arsenal, making it hard not to compare the Kelly Cut with its predecessors and contemporaries. The Kelly Cut’s design is a clear expansion on other Hermès clutches like the Kelly Lounge, another creation of Gaultier’s that was discontinued in 2008, the same year of the Kelly Cut’s release. However, the Kelly Lounge, along with designs like the vintage Kelly Crutch and the Kelly Elan fail to showcase the Kelly Cut’s dramatic proportions that make the design such a memorable collector’s piece. The Birkin Shadow Clutch is a favourite Hermès clutch of mine and among the designs most similar in proportion to the Kelly Cut. However, I feel that the Kelly Cut’s top handle and hardware give it a more traditional and statement look. 

The Kelly Cut is most frequently compared to the Mini Kelly and Kelly Pochette. Although these fellow smaller Kelly bag options undoubtedly enjoy greater popularity, they have their downsides. They’re more commonplace to see and garner a considerably higher price if you choose to buy pre-loved. Crucially for me, these bags are just so different from the Kelly Cut Clutch. The base of the Kelly Cut is curved to give the bag a flat instead of boxy shape like both the Mini Kelly and Kelly Pochette. Also, the Kelly Cut’s exaggeratedly elongated silhouette is unique and I feel it actually makes it a lot more practical than many other smaller options of the Hermès Kelly. 

If you’re looking to venture outside of the Hermès family, it’s most useful to compare the Kelly Cut with bags and clutches sporting similarly dramatic proportions, like Bottega Veneta’s Andiamo Clutch and the Alaïa Le Teckel. I have (and love) both of these designs. The Andiamo Clutch is a more affordable (relatively speaking, of course) version of the Hermès Kelly Cut. And elongated styles like Alaïa’s Le Teckel, along with the wave of East-West shaped designs currently enthralling the luxury handbag market, are testament to the allure of the Kelly Cut’s eye-catching proportions.

The Kelly Cut is most common in Swift, Epsom, Box and Tadelakt leathers but I find myself crushing on exotic variations the most. I adore my deep khaki version in Shiny Alligator. Plus, there are some other seriously cool rare versions of the Kelly Cut that I enjoy admiring from afar, like a Black Crocodile option with Diamond and 18K white gold hardware (this was among the most expensive Hermès Kelly Cut bags sold at auction). And the Kelly Cut even has versions in Hermès’ famous So Black and Shadow collections which is very high praise for the design.

To round up, the Hermès Kelly Cut Clutch is among the house’s most unique, intriguing and collectable designs. If you want many of the Kelly bag’s classic design elements but with a bold, playful twist in clutch bag form – the Kelly Cut is the style for you. It feels a little rarer than many of the more famous Hermès bags which is great if you love the idea of owning a design that you feel few others have. I took it with me to the recent Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week – which is just about the biggest vote of confidence I can give to a bag of mine.

Explore more bag content: 

My Most Worn Bags Of 2024

Gucci Blondie Maxi Bag

Loro Piana Extra Bag Review

My Most Worn HERMÈS Bags Of All Time

BOTTEGA VENETA ANDIAMO BAG REVIEW

THE ROW Half Moon Bag Review