The difference between the Hermès Alizé 31 and the Alizé 35 comes down to size: both are the same design, and the number refers to the bag's width in centimeters. The Alizé 31 measures about 31 cm across and is the compact, lighter option, while the Alizé 35 measures about 35 cm and gives you more room, more weight, and a slightly larger silhouette on the body.

One design, two scales

Hermès uses centimeter measurements as names across many of its styles, so a 31 and a 35 in the same line are not different bags with different features. They share the same shape, the same closure, the same leather trim, and the same shoulder strap concept. What changes is proportion: the 35 is scaled up in width, height, and depth, so every panel is a little bigger and the bag reads larger against the body.

The Alizé itself is built around a lightweight fabric body with leather trim, which is why both sizes stay easy to carry compared with an all-leather bag of similar dimensions. That fabric construction matters when you compare sizes, because the size jump adds less weight than it would in a heavier material.

Side-by-side comparison

• Width: about 31 cm for the 31, about 35 cm for the 35.
• Height and depth: the 35 scales up with the width, so it stands taller and sits deeper.
• Empty weight: the 35 is heavier, though both stay light for their size because of the fabric body.
• Capacity: the 31 takes essentials plus a small tablet; the 35 takes a full daily kit and often a small laptop or a larger tablet.
• Strap drop: the same strap design, but the larger body hangs lower and looks longer on the shoulder.
• Look on the body: the 31 reads neat and compact, the 35 reads relaxed and roomy.

What actually fits inside each one

The 31 handles a phone, a cardholder or small wallet, keys, sunglasses in a soft case, a slim pouch, and a small tablet. Once you add a water bottle or a full-size planner, it gets tight. The 35 takes the same list with room to spare and generally accepts a 13-inch laptop or a larger tablet, plus a scarf or a light layer.

If you carry a laptop daily, the 35 is the size that makes sense. If your day is phone, wallet, keys, and a notebook, the 31 keeps the load small and the bag close to the body.

Comfort and wear

Weight is the trade-off. The 35 is not heavy when empty, but a full 35 weighs noticeably more than a full 31, and that difference shows up at the end of a long day. The 31 sits higher and moves less when you walk, which makes it the better pick for crowded transit or long stretches on foot. The 35 works better when you set the bag down often, such as at an office desk, in a car, or on a flight.

How each size styles

The 31 leans casual and clean. It works with a coat and sneakers, with knitwear, and with anything where you want the bag to stay out of the way. Because it is small, it also reads a little more formal when the fabric is dark.

The 35 has a travel and weekend feel. It looks right with denim, with a long coat, and with an outfit built around volume. On shorter frames, the 35 can look oversized, which some people want and others do not.

Which size to pick

• Choose the 31 if: you want an everyday bag, you walk or commute a lot, you carry essentials only, or you are petite and prefer a proportional look.
• Choose the 35 if: you carry a laptop or tablet, you travel with it, you want one bag for work and weekends, or you like an oversized silhouette.
• Choose both if: you already own one and want the other for a different routine.

What to check when you compare them in person

Put both on with your actual daily items inside, not with the paper stuffing. Check where the strap sits on your shoulder and whether the top edge digs in when the bag is full. Fold the strap and look at the hardware finish, the evenness of the stitching along the trim, and the crispness of the fabric edge, since these details separate a well-made version from a rushed one. On replica or pre-owned examples, compare the fabric weave and the leather trim color against photos of the same size, because trim and hardware can vary between production runs of the 31 and the 35.

Finally, measure the space you actually use: a desk drawer, a car seat, a carry-on slot. The 4 cm difference in width sounds small, but it is often the reason one size fits where the other does not.