Can someone explain the Birkin/Kelly obsession to me?

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#61
Lejic said:
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.
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If you’re talking to me, no, I am not a Chanel lover. Don’t own one, don’t plan to. I am a vintage LV girl, particularly the canvas. I also love Lancel for leather. So you are throwing shade at the wrong place. I’ll take that $40k, buy a pre-loved LV I can sell for more than I paid for it (can do that with all of my bags) and invest $39k in something that truly makes money while having a high quality bag I am very happy with and proud to carry that I can easily and functionally use every day for decades.
If that’s something to throw shade at, then throw...I am an ordinary woman who lives an ordinary life. And happily so.
 
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#65
I wasn’t an H person for the longest time and I view the B, K, and C too proper for me, but after a wonderful first visit to the boutique, I’ve fallen in love with H.

H is a known entity for me in regards to quality. Just as I’ve come to expect a certain level of quality from Coach and a higher level from LV, H is the level beyond that. There are other brands in each tier, but they’re the stalwarts of their levels to me. I love them all, but having a full collection of contemporary and premier designers, it’s nice to have somewhere to which I can branch out.

Additionally, I love learning about different leathers, such as the softness of villandry, how supple swift becomes with use, or how they take on color differently. And the colors. A green too blue for me or pink too red? Chances are there is or will be the right shade around the corner. It’s so fun to see the new colors for the season as well, comparing them to previous ones, figuring out if it works better for me or to include it in my wardrobe.

I’ve also fallen for their other goods, so it’s easy to maintain a spend, even if I’ve declined my offers so far. I appreciate that my SA is content to sell me scarves, jewelry, and SLGs without feeling the need to make a large bag purchase to help her bottom line. I’ve experienced SAs at other houses where unless one’s buying a $5000 permanent collection bag every quarter, it’s nearly impossible to get their attention to order something for $1000, which I view as far more toxic. Sure, some H SAs may take advantage, but I stick to things I truly love, so it really doesn’t matter to me.

Anyway, a quota bag may never be right for my lifestyle and that’s alright (though I’ve come to terms that I should never say never), but I get it now.
 
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#66
BowieFan1971 said:
If you’re talking to me, no, I am not a Chanel lover. Don’t own one, don’t plan to. I am a vintage LV girl, particularly the canvas. I also love Lancel for leather. So you are throwing shade at the wrong place. I’ll take that $40k, buy a pre-loved LV I can sell for more than I paid for it (can do that with all of my bags) and invest $39k in something that truly makes money while having a high quality bag I am very happy with and proud to carry that I can easily and functionally use every day for decades.
If that’s something to throw shade at, then throw...I am an ordinary woman who lives an ordinary life. And happily so.
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I was talking to OP :smile: Not even sure why you thought I was talking to you, my post wasn’t right after yours or anything... sorry for any confusion
 
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#67
I’ve purchased many brands on my way to finding lasting love with Hermes and I never understood the lure until I tried H bags in person. Now I am a complete convert and have “drunk the kool aid”. But it’s not for everyone. That’s why there are so many brands to choose from. I personally have never understood the obsession with Chanel classic flaps from those that are huge Chanel fans. It just doesn’t speak to me. The world would be boring if we all loved the same things.
 
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#69
DH sometimes says to people he meets, I’m likely more liberal than you are and I see no need to try to convince you of anything. Same might apply to bags. . . In other words, an answer to the OP is no, people cannot explain a visceral draw to a style, brand philosophy or aesthetic if they themselves are completely drawn to its polar opposite. JMO

@iamberrytastic, sometimes I think I am still scarred by formative middle school years! But what we all share is a love of certain luxury aesthetics. Just not the same ones.
 
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#70
tashinto said:
I own luxury bags but I've never been interested in the Birkin/Kelly or pretty much anything Hermes. A brand's look needs to match your style and that just isn't Hermes for me. I have a friend who has been trying to get her hand on a Birkin/Kelly for a while now and has probably spent about $15K+ at Hermes over the past year in the hopes that she gets one. That alone has turned me off from Hermes as a brand. Seems like a toxic relationship with a guy you like who just won't commit LOL My friend tells me that one day I will understand and will want a Birkin/Kelly as well. I own Chanel and that is THRILLING for me haha can someone explain to me what the big deal with Birkin/Kelly is? *not trying to offend anybody's love for Hermes
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The psychology is simple. Make it hard for moneyed people to buy an item that is supposed to be easy to buy for them or deny them the chance to buy it totally---then it becomes a challenge for many of them.....which eventually becomes a quest.
 
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#71
Where do I even start... hmm we'll personally I do prefer Chanel over LV and Hermes over Chanel. The quality of leather that they use also differs so that is one thing that I really take into consideration. Plus, I feel like it's also that satisfaction that you feel of having such bags as it is more common to see someone having a Chanel or LV bag rather than a Hermes bag.
 
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#72
RT1 said:
I'll put my .02 cents in here.
First, I bought a preloved B 35 and discovered how well made these bags were.
Just real handcrafted quality in every respect.

That brought me to the conclusion that I wanted another Hermes bag, so I made an appointment with a wonderful SA and purchased a Blue Evelyne after asking so many questions here of this forum about that bag.
So many helpful people here sent me pictures of them modeling their bags and provided me with info regarding that particular bag.

My relationship with my SA has blossomed into a true friendship and next I bought a Garden Party and some twillys for the handles.

My SA knew of my love for the Birkins and that I wanted another in a different color, so I was visiting her one day a few weeks ago and tried on a Toolbox. She steered me away from the Toolbox and said it wasn't the bag for me, but that she had some different bags coming in soon and would call me as soon as they arrived.

About three days later, she called me and told me to come in because she had a bag for me to look at.

Lo and behold, it was a Gold Togo Birkin that she knew I'd be in love with.
I only expressed that I eventually wanted another Birkin and she was able to get me my dream bag.

Which proves that developing a great relationship with a great SA can and truly make you feel that you are at home in that boutique

I find this type of superior customer service to be lacking in every other boutique I have ever visited...BV, Chanel, LV, NM, you name it.

I know every one of the employees in my H boutique by name, thanks to my wonderful SA, and she treats me like royalty when I come in, if just for a chat.

There is a difference, believe me.

I've gone to Chanel Boutiques where I have people ignore me and don't seem to care if I shop or not.
The same way with LV and NM stores.

Try the Hermes experience, you may just find that you'll be pleasantly surprised.
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RT1 said:
Yes, try walking into a Chanel Boutique with jeans and a Tee and see how much attention the SA's pay to you.
I've had the same experience at NM....they won't even bother to help you.
To "judge a book by it's cover" really doesn't apply.
I could afford to spend the $$$ with Chanel, but their "snooty" attitudes simply do not cut it with me.
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#73
BowieFan1971 said:
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

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.
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#74
Lejic said:
Just do what you want, let other people do what they want. Why are Ugg boots considered “sexy college girl attire” still?
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I didnt think you sounded bitter! I think you are right! The heart wants what it wants. ( full disclosure, I still have a pair of black patent ugg boots with black lining - kind of the so black version of Ugg’s :D
 
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#75
880 said:
DH sometimes says to people he meets, I’m likely more liberal than you are and I see no need to try to convince you of anything. Same might apply to bags. . . In other words, an answer to the OP is no, people cannot explain a visceral draw to a style, brand philosophy or aesthetic if they themselves are completely drawn to its polar opposite. JMO

@iamberrytastic, sometimes I think I am still scarred by formative middle school years! But what we all share is a love of certain luxury aesthetics. Just not the same ones.
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WOW, this hits close to home for me.
Two of the very worst years of my life...puberty sucks. :tdown:
And, ALL the teachers we had back then were OLD, not like today. :wtf:
 
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