While everyone's obsessing over Birkins and Kellys, there's another Hermès bag that deserves attention. Not because it's harder to get (thankfully, it's actually available). But because the Hermès Steeple bag might be the most wearable thing Hermès has made in years, and you can actually walk in and buy it.
Then you see the price. Obviously, we should know better by now; it's Hermès, it's expensive, that's the deal. But when you're looking at a canvas tote, even one with leather trim and adorable equestrian details, that £4,800 price tag hits differently. The Hermès Steeple 28 bag costs more than some people's monthly rent, for canvas.
So here we are, genuinely torn between loving this bag and questioning whether canvas, however beautifully executed, really justifies Hermès prices. Let's break it down properly.
What Actually Is the Hermès Steeple Bag?
The Hermès Steeple bag is what happens when Hermès makes something you can actually buy without an SA relationship, purchase history, or selling your soul. Blending leather and canvas, it's both practical and playful, with details that pay homage to the rich equestrian heritage of Hermès. The handles look like riding crops. There's a stirrup charm dangling off the side. It's horse girl energy meets luxury tote, and somehow it absolutely works.
Behind the Steeple lies a single piece of canvas that transforms into a chic tote through an innovative folding technique. So there's actual engineering involved, which makes the price slightly more palatable.
Slightly.
What makes the Hermès Steeple tote genuinely interesting is how it sits. This bag is unique and straightforward for a daily tote, standing apart from the usual bags we see being toted around. It's not competing with the Birkin. It's not trying to be a Kelly alternative. It's just doing its own thing, being the practical, surprisingly functional tote that you could actually use without constant paranoia.
The sac Steeple (because everything sounds better in French) combines H canvas, Hermès' signature canvas that's definitely nicer than regular canvas, but let's be honest, still canvas, with Swift calfskin trim. Details include a large interior back pocket, an interior D-ring to attach your keychain, and a removable bag bottom for additional shape and structure.
The equestrian references are everywhere and surprisingly charming. The handles play off a rider's whip. The removable stirrup charm is adorable. It's Hermès reminding you they started making saddles in 1837, except it doesn't feel heavy-handed.
It just feels... playful.
Which isn't a word we typically associate with Hermès.
Hermès Steeple 25 vs Hermès Steeple 28: The Size Question
To get the Hermès Steeple 25 or the Hermès Steeple 28 bag? Because apparently even canvas totes require strategic life choices now.
The Hermès Steeple 25 is the more compact option. It's lighter, slightly more structured, perfect if you're the type who swears you "don't carry much" but somehow still needs seventeen things just to leave the house. The Steeple Bag is available in 2 sizes: the Steeple 25 and 28, made from canvas and Swift leather.
The Hermès Steeple 28 bag is properly spacious. Dimensions are 11" L x 11.2" H and 6.7" D, which translates to "yes, your laptop fits, and so does your water bottle, makeup bag, snacks, that book you're definitely going to read on the train, and probably half your life."
The Hermès Steeple 25 works brilliantly if you're a minimalist or using it for evening and weekend situations where you need less stuff. The 28 is your everyday workhorse, the bag that handles your commute, laptop, and general life chaos while still looking polished at dinner.
Choose based on how much you refuse to leave home without it. If you're a "phone, wallet, keys" person, the 25 works. If you're a "what if I need three different chargers and emergency snacks" person, go for the 28.
We're not here to judge; we're all carrying too much stuff.
What Makes the Hermès Steeple Tote Different?
So why does the Hermès Steeple tote deserve consideration when there are approximately seventeen thousand other designer totes available for significantly less money?
The construction, honestly.
A single piece of canvas transforms into a chic tote through an innovative folding technique, a stylish metamorphosis that leaves a lasting impression. It's not just canvas slapped onto a frame. There's genuine engineering happening, which is the kind of detail Hermès excels at (and charges accordingly for).
The handles resemble riding crops, and the stirrup-shaped clochette adds sophistication while paying homage to Hermès' equestrian heritage. These references feel thoughtful rather than forced, which isn't always easy to pull off.
The best part is that the Hermès Steeple canvas horse tote is available. You don't need to build a relationship with an SA over six months. You don't need strategic scarf purchases. You just need money and the willingness to spend it on canvas. For Hermès, that's practically accessible.
Plus, it's genuinely functional in ways quota bags often aren't. Compared to other designer totes, it's so much lighter and less bulky, making it actually practical for daily laptop carrying. This is a bag you'll use, not one that sits in your closet because you're terrified to take it anywhere.
The different motifs give you options, too. The Quadrige print is classic and unmistakably Hermès. The Maillons & Co motif adds visual interest. Solid colours work if you prefer your luxury understated. There's something for different aesthetics, which isn't always the case with Hermès bags.
How to Actually Style Your Hermès Steeple Bag
The beauty of the Hermès Steeple bag is its surprising versatility.
For Work
The Hermès Steeple 28 bag genuinely works as a laptop bag. Pair it with tailored trousers and a crisp shirt, and the bag adds personality without being too casual. The equestrian details read as quirky-chic rather than costume when styled with polished pieces. It's the rare luxury bag that works in professional settings without feeling like you're trying too hard.
For Weekends
The Hermès Steeple 25 is perfect for casual situations. Jeans, a simple t-shirt, and suddenly you look like you have your life together. The canvas keeps it relaxed; the leather trim keeps it elevated. It's that Goldilocks zone between too casual and too precious.
For Travel
Both sizes work for short trips. The 28 can legitimately function as a carry-on personal item. The lightweight canvas means you're not lugging around extra weight before you've even packed anything. That matters more than people realize.
For Everyday
This is where the Hermès Steeple tote truly earns its keep. It's the rare luxury bag that doesn't make you paranoid. Canvas is forgiving. It doesn't scratch if you look at it wrong. You can set it down without having a minor panic attack. These practical considerations matter when you're actually living your life rather than just photographing your bag.
The various colourways and prints add styling flexibility. Neutral tones work with everything. The printed versions make more of a statement. Choose based on how much attention you want your bag to attract versus how much versatility you need.
We NEED to Discuss the Price of this Tote
Let's address what we're all thinking: the Hermès Steeple bag price is brutal. We're talking $5,050 to $6,100 USD (roughly £4,000-£4,800) depending on size and design.
For a canvas bag.
A canvas bag with leather trim, yes. With beautiful construction, absolutely. With Hermès craftsmanship and that orange box, of course.
But still. Canvas.
Here's how to think about it if you're trying to justify this to yourself (we've all been there): you're paying for Hermès design, Hermès quality control, Hermès materials, and frankly, the Hermès name. You're also paying for accessibility; this is an Hermès bag you can actually buy without groveling. In the Hermès ecosystem, that convenience has monetary value.
Is it worth it?
That entirely depends on your personal relationship with luxury purchases and how you feel about canvas at premium prices. Some people see a beautifully designed, well-constructed tote that'll last decades. Others see £4,800 that could've funded a really nice holiday.
Both perspectives are completely valid. Only you know which camp you're in, and there's no wrong answer.
Well, maybe there is if you're trying to justify it to your partner, but that's between you and them.
So, Is the Hermès Steeple Bag Worth It?
Here's our honest take: the Hermès Steeple bag is worth it if you want a genuinely functional Hermès piece you'll actually use without constant anxiety. It's worth it if you appreciate clever design and subtle equestrian references. It's worth it if you're tired of the quota bag game and just want to buy something beautiful without jumping through hoops.
It's not worth it if you're expecting Birkin-level investment returns or appreciation. It's not worth it if canvas at luxury prices makes you irrationally angry (understandable). It's not worth it if you're buying purely for status; there are flashier ways to spend your Hermès budget.
What the sac Steeple offers is something surprisingly rare in luxury: genuine practicality with proper pedigree. It's for people who want Hermès quality and design but also need to carry actual stuff. Who want beautiful craftsmanship but don't want constant stress about setting their bag down. Who appreciate heritage references but still need laptop space.
The Hermès Steeple canvas horse tote isn't trying to be the bag everyone fights over. It's trying to be the bag you reach for every day because it actually works with your life. In a brand famous for bags requiring strategic planning to acquire, that straightforwardness is genuinely refreshing.
If you've been circling the Steeple, wondering if it's "Hermès enough" or justifiable or worth the investment, the answer probably is yes, if you're asking these questions. You clearly want it. The bag is well-made, functional, and beautiful. Life's too short to deny yourself an excellent tote just because it's mostly canvas.
If you’re still not convinced, don’t fret! Love Luxury has got plenty of Birkins and Kellys in stock for you to explore!
