Dr. Vicki Belo, who has a penchant for designer bags, has been seen toting her new favorite: a customized Hermès Kelly bag.
What makes this particular arm candy rare is, it is one of a kind and uniquely her own.
"I found out that for every 10 Birkins that are made, there's only one Kelly made," Dr. Vicki tells Preview in an interview.
And when it becomes available and you want it, Dr. Vicki reveals you have to have to be accompanied by at least three people who are regular buyers at the Hermès store.
Hermès has a record of who buys what from their stores and keeps track of their regular customers.
Another tip from Dr. Vicki, if a Kelly bag is offered, whatever the color, buy it, stat.
"If they ever have a Kelly, it's very hard to get the color you want.
"Kung ano na lang yung available na color diyan.
"And if you don't buy it, parang feeling mo hindi ka na o-offer-an ulit. "
What is more, Dr. Vicki adds, "not everyone can customize it. You have to be on the list."
But despite being on the list, the celebrity doctor waited for years for her Kelly bag.
She says every time she traveled to Paris, she would always ask if one was available in the store.
"So, finally, the sales girl there, siguro sa kakulitan ko, said, 'Why don't you just order the bag?
"'Why do you keep coming here and taking your chances? It's really hard to get a Kelly.
"'You should really just order and design your own.'"
MAKING HER OWN KELLY BAG
Dr. Vicki says she could hardly believe that Hermès had a customization process.
She recounts, "I told the sales girl that I have never heard of [a customized Kelly bag]. Then she said that I could.
"So, the sales girl showed me different swatches of material. And the way they do it in Hermès, there's only one box.
"They’ll bring you to a secret room, away from people so they don't see. Then they have gloves [while handling the bag]. I mean it's not like other stores na you can ask what colors they have and they'll show you and then you can just buy.
"Dito hindi. Isang bag lang ang pwede mong makita."
What made the celebrity doctor's Kelly unique?
"I really like two-tone colored Birkin or Kelly kasi gusto ko yung unique, ayoko yung may kapareha ako.
"I mean, it’s harder to find a two-tone Birkin, kasi 'di ba there's usually just the solid color?
"So [my customized Kelly is] unique... I’m not naman the type of person who can afford to buy the [croc-skinned] one.
"Anyway, [Hermès also] makes you choose the material. They ask you what your lining inside is. They ask you what colors you like.
"You can do anything you want, but usually it comes in two to three colors.
"I was kind of surprised. But anyway, I chose raspberry and I thought [to add] grey because those colors go well together."
Dr. Vicki could also choose the type of leather.
"So there’s a soft Kelly that doesn’t have much structure in the bag, and there’s the one that’s structured—that's [more] popular.
"They also ask what kind of clasp you like. I like gold hardware and it turns out that you can choose the shiny iteration in almost all the bags—but I've never seen them in matte so I opted for that."
Still, Dr. Vicki relates a part of her did not believe it was that easy to order and customize your own Kelly.
"[The sales girl] goes, 'Maybe it’ll be ready in a year.' E, I forgot about it kasi actually I didn’t believe it... But I got my customized Kelly after a year.
"Actually, they deliver it in six months kaya lang hindi ko tinanong kasi nga nakalimutan ko na...
"Part of me talaga didn’t believe that you can do that. Parang, huh, talaga? They’ll make it for you? Wow."
How did she get her Kelly?
"Last February, I did the same thing again and asked, 'Do you have a Kelly?' And then this friend of Hayden who’s in sales, 'Vicki, your bag has been waiting for you for a year. You never came to pick it up.'
"When she brought it, it's so pretty. I'm so proud... not only did I get a Kelly, I got a Kelly that I designed so I feel it's probably the only Kelly of its kind kasi hindi naman nila kokopyahin yung design ko.
"Meron naman silang designer ng bag. So ayun, super kilig ako kasi I don’t really have a lot of Kellys. I think I only have one. So this is my second Kelly."
How much did the process cost?
"It has the same cost as a regular bag. And normally, like in Louis Vuitton, if you order a personalized bag, you put your name and everything—it’s very pricey. But in Hermès, there's no extra charge."
This story originally appeared on Preview.ph.
*Minor edits have been made by the PEP.ph editors.