When explaining to others my love for handbags, I often think of explaining it this way: "If you have to ask, you’ll never know. If you know, you need only ask".
- Quote from Harry Potter
- Quote from Harry Potter
Can someone explain the Birkin/Kelly obsession to me?
- Thread starter tashinto
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After you find out, let me know! It may be a primal obsession, like chasing the hunt, but neither bags interest me....
I don’t find them to be practical. The Kelly has to be sat down to open and close it without the bag flapping open all over. The Birkin flap does not smoothly slide over the handles and has to be manipulated/placed over the handles. Or you have to wear the flap tucked in the bag for smooth, easy access, which offers no protection for the contents. Don’t even get me started about the strap/lock thing.
Yes, they are beautiful. Yes, they are great quality. But unless you are always going to wear it closed, they are a pain in the ass and not practical for everyday. And if I am going to spend that much for a bag, I need to be able to USE it and LIKE using it.
Too much money for something that is that much of a hassle, no matter how good it looks, “exclusive” it is and how many hoops you have to go to in order to prove you are “worthy” of one. I will stick with my liveable, practical, functional LVs.
Yes, they are beautiful. Yes, they are great quality. But unless you are always going to wear it closed, they are a pain in the ass and not practical for everyday. And if I am going to spend that much for a bag, I need to be able to USE it and LIKE using it.
Too much money for something that is that much of a hassle, no matter how good it looks, “exclusive” it is and how many hoops you have to go to in order to prove you are “worthy” of one. I will stick with my liveable, practical, functional LVs.
I used to only buy Chanel bags and didn't look twice at Hermes. and I too thought it was silly to build a relationship just for a handbag. but as an avid handbag lover, I eventually decided I wanted to buy a casual bag from Hermes just because I was curious. I decided on an Everlyne 29 in Etain and gold hardware. when I received my Evelyne, I was blown away by the difference in craftsmanship and quality. and that was the beginning of my Hermes journey. I fell in love with the brand and never looked back.
I was always a crossbody bag girl as well. But I think the love for Birkin and Kelly is such that you love using them even when there are more "practical" options.
I was always a crossbody bag girl as well. But I think the love for Birkin and Kelly is such that you love using them even when there are more "practical" options.
I think the word I was really looking for is functional. User friendly. Maybe if I chauffeured from place to place and never really had to open my bag to actually get anything out of it...but it is an act of Congress to quickly and conveniently get in and out of those bags. If I’m in line at the grocery store, I don’t want to have to unstrap, put down, pick up, and tuck flaps to get my wallet. And neither does anyone in line behind me. If I spend that much for a bag, I want to be able to use it everyday. It is not enough for a bag to look pretty. I want my value/cost per wear. I can buy a pretty bag simply for looks for much less because quality doesn’t really matter if all you are going to do is basically look at it. I do not buy a bag to beat it to heck, I take very good care of my bags, but to truly utilize my resources that I work hard for. Maybe I just live too ordinary of a life for a Kelly or Birkin....
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We all have various challenges on various bag for various reasons.
I'm a Kelly gal for a very long time. While I do understand what your thought process is about the Kelly
perhaps I'm just used to the bag & don't find getting in or out a big deal.. I use my Kelly as often as I can
& fully enjoy her.
And whatever bag we purchase it should be as user friendly as it can be & fulfill our needs
Honestly, good for you for being practical and realistic about your lifestyle. If you ever want an Hermes bag, there are plenty of easier-to-use options. For what it's worth, I have been alternating between two Evelyne TPMs (very small cross-shoulder bags that are just one compartment) during the pandemic, and I have been very happy with them. You can't pay me about to use my Kelly right now.
I am sure there is a Hermes bag that would be the right one for me and maybe I will get one. Just not a Birkin or Kelly....
I love the quality, craftsmanship and equestrian heritage of Hermes. I went off Chanel bags a while back because of the quality and lack of aftercare. I have stopped buying LV bags too as they are high fashion and date quickly. I ended up selling them on at heavy loss. Although LV customer service and aftercare takes some beating for me. I do find going into Hermes stores I don't know a turn off, but enjoy shopping at my regular store where I receive great customer service and the staff are lovely.
Hermès bags only started to appeal to me in my late 30s. To be honest when bigger birkins and Kellys were popular in the past they didn’t appeal to me too as they looked like work totes, and I used to lug documents around in a tote so I don’t need 2 heavy work totes to make me look sillier. In my 20s it was all Chanel and Dior. I turned to Hermès after my Chanel classic and Dior bags started giving me issues (quality and durability issues). I wanted good quality and simplicity, and Hermès bags are very practical and versatile to me. Personally I like the smaller sizes of birkin and kelly much more, and I prefer the birkin to the kelly in terms of ease of usage.
I only started to fall in love with H bags after actually using them. They don’t look that exceptional but they are exceptionally classic, classy, practical and highly versatile. I can wear jeans or a work suit or a girly dress and a birkin or kelly suits all. I use a b/k for many occasions too, except on occasions where carrying a luxury bag is not appropriate (applies to Chanel, LV, Dior too not just Hermès).
You can try out a Bolide, lindy, picotin too if the aesthetics of a birkin or kelly doesn’t appeal to you, or you dislike the efforts needed to acquire one. Also, bags are readily available at resellers, so no one really needs wait for 6 months or eternity for a bag.
I agree that the ‘relationship’ and quota building thing can be toxic and unpleasant. I hear many people talking about how wonderful their Sas are but my Sa is only wonderful when I spend continuously spend $$$. At first I was very upset with this ‘system’ or game to get a birkin or kelly and my husband hates it too. But I’m used to it already now because to me this is a business relationship and not a friendship - we don’t get these bags for free. If I don’t like the system I’m free to get out of it anytime and I have done so before, when I was fed up and went to a reseller to buy something I really wanted on the spot in the exact color and specs and no drama, no ‘work’ and no waiting needed. It was so hugely satisfying. I don’t need any Sa ‘relationship’ to make me feel good.
I get way much better and dare I say sincere service at Chanel and Dior but unfortunately I am no longer into their bags much these days.
I only started to fall in love with H bags after actually using them. They don’t look that exceptional but they are exceptionally classic, classy, practical and highly versatile. I can wear jeans or a work suit or a girly dress and a birkin or kelly suits all. I use a b/k for many occasions too, except on occasions where carrying a luxury bag is not appropriate (applies to Chanel, LV, Dior too not just Hermès).
You can try out a Bolide, lindy, picotin too if the aesthetics of a birkin or kelly doesn’t appeal to you, or you dislike the efforts needed to acquire one. Also, bags are readily available at resellers, so no one really needs wait for 6 months or eternity for a bag.
I agree that the ‘relationship’ and quota building thing can be toxic and unpleasant. I hear many people talking about how wonderful their Sas are but my Sa is only wonderful when I spend continuously spend $$$. At first I was very upset with this ‘system’ or game to get a birkin or kelly and my husband hates it too. But I’m used to it already now because to me this is a business relationship and not a friendship - we don’t get these bags for free. If I don’t like the system I’m free to get out of it anytime and I have done so before, when I was fed up and went to a reseller to buy something I really wanted on the spot in the exact color and specs and no drama, no ‘work’ and no waiting needed. It was so hugely satisfying. I don’t need any Sa ‘relationship’ to make me feel good.
I get way much better and dare I say sincere service at Chanel and Dior but unfortunately I am no longer into their bags much these days.
I’ll just add a piece that hasn’t been mentioned yet. As the husband that buys them for the wife, I really appreciate the quality of the bags and ability to have them backed by the company for anything that may go wrong on it. It’s rare to find companies that back their wares like Hermes does. Also, from a financial perspective, yes, they’re expensive. But I know if God forbid something happened and we needed money, we could sell them for little or no loss. This is rare with consumer goods in general. Good camera lenses, B’s and K’s, and some great watches are the only things I can think of. I have boxes of Marc Jacobs, Chanel, Prada, Gucci. Etc. bags sitting in my basement that wouldn’t get a third of what I paid for them if I tried to sell them.
I agree at an everyday level, but sometime aesthetics ***** comfort and usefulness, occasionally it's worth it to suffer for beauty.
If the beauty isn't there for someone, I see no point either.
Some people also find either (or both) really useful and easy, so it also depends on one's knack/lifestyle too.
Don’t force yourself to like a brand just because others do! If Hermès is not for you then there are amazing other brands out there! For me, Hermès has always been more than just their iconic bags! I fell in love with shawls before I transitioned to their bags! Over time you learn to appreciate the history, legacy, amazing craftsmanship that the brand is known for. We are all so different. It is only natural to have different tastes and likes. And that is OKAY!
I do find my sellier kelly fussy to use so it’s not a daily/regular bag for me. But now I gladly accept the little ‘suffering‘ to enjoy its great beauty whenever I use it
Lol girl no shade but—- actually nah, a bit of shade. You’re a Chanel lover, so whatever makes some people buy a black Chanel Reissue that everyone has is understandable to you. Then so should B/K?
You might say “oh but there’s no games to buy Chanel” - even if you’re doing no special RTW/pieces and that’s true, think of it this way: yes some people spend even 40k to get a specific Birkin or Kelly. But these people can *usually*, well, pay that. I’ve known a lot of young girls spend every dime they have and go into thousands of debt to buy a Chanel Jumbo that may or may not fit their style, but by god, they’ll wear it. Which one is “more sensible”? Answer: neither LOL. Just do what you want, let other people do what they want. Why are Ugg boots considered “sexy college girl attire” still? There are so many mysteries in this universe...
Sorry if I sound bitter: I have nothing against Chanel and if anything, I think reissue is a much more practical bag than a Birkin - a bag you couldn’t pay me to carry.
You might say “oh but there’s no games to buy Chanel” - even if you’re doing no special RTW/pieces and that’s true, think of it this way: yes some people spend even 40k to get a specific Birkin or Kelly. But these people can *usually*, well, pay that. I’ve known a lot of young girls spend every dime they have and go into thousands of debt to buy a Chanel Jumbo that may or may not fit their style, but by god, they’ll wear it. Which one is “more sensible”? Answer: neither LOL. Just do what you want, let other people do what they want. Why are Ugg boots considered “sexy college girl attire” still? There are so many mysteries in this universe...
Sorry if I sound bitter: I have nothing against Chanel and if anything, I think reissue is a much more practical bag than a Birkin - a bag you couldn’t pay me to carry.