The Birkin Bag
A status symbol. The 'bag of the elites’. The Hermès Birkin bag is a beautifully handcrafted accessory that silently whispers exclusivity; its words only audible to the upper class or fashion-minded. Although created for practicality with its internal pockets and functional-yet-stylish look, the bag remains, arguably, the most exclusive bag in the world.
It surpasses the general shopping experience. You cannot simply ask to purchase a Birkin bag - it has to be offered to you by sales associates based on your purchase history with Hermès, along with numerous other unknown factors. In addition to this, boutiques are only able to order a limited number of the bags twice a year, with the design of them being a mystery until they arrive in the store.
Sex And The City (2001)
The Design
The muse behind the accessory was Jane Birkin. Aboard the famous plane ride she took from Paris to London, the young mother spilled the contents of her tote bag in front of a current chief executive of Hermès, Jean-Louis Dumas, expressing her need for a more practical yet chic bag. And from there, the Birkin bag was born, said to have been first sketched on a plane sick bag.
Its similarities to the ‘Kelly’ are undeniably uncanny, clearly being designed in its image. However, the Birkin - with its ‘function first’ foundations - features two rolled handles, a lock closure, and four clou “feet”, along with a unique flap closure. It comes in four standard sizes: Birkin 25, Birkin 30, Birkin 35, and Birkin 40, and is either crafted with 18-karat gold plated or palladium hardware.
Black Box Birkin 30 Palladium Hardware
It truly is an investment piece, with prices being anywhere between $10k and $200+k compared to $2000 in 1984. It’s an asset seen on the arm of a multitude of celebrities such as Victoria Beckham, Alessandra Ambrosio, Heidi Klum, Melania Trump, and Kris Jenner, each exhibiting the timeless design in its many different colours, leathers, patterns, and sizes.
Kris Jenner with her Red Braise crocodile Birkin 35 Gold Hardware
On Screen
The famous bag makes a cameo on numerous TV shows including Sex And The City, Gossip Girl, and Gilmore Girls, with iconic characters owning a Birkin - or in Lily Van Der Woodsen’s case: a plethora of them, brought on set from Kelly Rutherford’s own collection. Although Gossip Girl probably showed the highest number of the bag on screen from these three, my favourite Birkin cameo is in Gilmore Girls when Rory is gifted the most beautiful pink Birkin by her boyfriend (talk about showing commitment!).
Gilmore Girls (2005) - S6 Ep.6
Logan buys Rory the most beautiful pink Ostrich Birkin 35 Rose Tyrien with Palladium Hardware - a perfect choice for her as it is a true fashion statement, and the perfect size for all the books she likes to carry around. A Birkin 25 would have been way too small, and nepo-baby Logan knew that.
Pink Ostrich Birkin 35 Rose Tyrien Palladium Hardware
Birkin or kelly?
Upon first glance, the Kelly and the Birkin are almost identical. They hold similar shapes, sizes, and hardware - after all, the Birkin was inspired by the Kelly. Both are an extremely timeless and classic accessory and choosing between the two should ultimately come down to practicality and design. As previously mentioned, the Birkin was designed to be a practical bag and this is amplified when compared to the Kelly; the two rolled handles create a bag that is, and looks, extremely usable.
That’s not to say that the Kelly isn’t wearable for everyday. My favourite Kelly is the Kelly Picnic: a perfect bag for any summer look.
Hermès Kelly Picnic
Wearing a Birkin
Despite its steep price and high-class, elite aura, the bag must be used devoid of preciousness in order to both fulfil its true purpose and be used ‘properly’. Above all, its a practical bag that is designed with the modern woman in mind (although Jeffrey Star has an extensive collection) and ultimately should be used everyday and not saved for a special occasion.
Fauve Barenia and Ecru Crinoline Retourne Birkin 35 Palladium Hardware