Can someone explain the Birkin/Kelly obsession to me?
- Thread starter tashinto
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I have been waiting for someone to say this. LOL. Finally !!! Thank YOU ☺️
It's funny you say this because I've been still actively shopping H although not shopping for fashion things otherwise in 2020 (H has just been making me happy while home - and this year, whatever works right)....BUT I have been buying things I can use (except for Wild Singapore, that was for the art!)
So I have gotten sweaters, cashmere scarves, earrings (stuff I can wear while home on video calls) and a TPM because it's a good form factor for the pandemic.
But if I can't use it right now during Pandemic times, and I admit I'm a one of those OCD people erring on the safer side of things...so really not getting out much, I'm not buying it.I told my SA in a year or so, when we have a vaccine and I can travel again, I have things I want, but for now I will buy things I can immediately use and enjoy.
Are there other brands that you are currently into? (As you stated you are currently not really into Chanel, Dior and Hermes). Just curious
. Lately I have been purchasing some “old bottega” bags (Tomas Maier designs) as all the Tomas Maier designs have been phased out at Bottega Veneta (which made me want them more before they were really gone) I am sometimes just a bit tired of the same Chanel, Dior and even Hermes bags I see on influencers on instagram, youtube and also in real life. And currently trying to look into other brands which are also amazing quality and design but less popular so to say.
I’ve just started on the luxury bags slippery slope two years ago and being 60 I have made up for the last 40 years of being sensible. Now I’m exploring the idea of finishing my collection with a Hermes bag. Hence I’m reading a variety of postings on the bag and getting illuminated. I like many am interested in what people are saying about the quality of the bag. I love my Chanel classic flaps and my Lady Dior bag. LV is my go to for practical luxury. Hermès bags don't seem that attractive in terms of looks but I’m thinking of a Bolide 27 to start with. I’m hoping it will be similar to my Alma BB in terms of practical use. At some point I’d like to explore getting the Hermès Kelly. I have two daughters who started buying luxury bags before me so I’m sure they would love to have them later.
As someone who works a lot with luxury fashion I have to say hands down Hermes quality is exquisite.
once you've held a Hermes bag it puts you off of spending thousands on most other brands handbags (I used to love early Marc Jacobs,Phoebe era Celine and still rate Loewe and Moynat is also exquisite quality) I brought my first 'proper' Hermes bag when I turned 60 last year (I say proper because I brought a very battered Kelly bag 20 years previously because it was an icon I just wanted to own though it was super cheap and beat up) and now I cant really consider buying anything else.
Perhaps look into some of the discontinued bags to start your journey and buy pre-loved do try and find one that you find attractive because its an investment so dont buy a bag because its Hermes and you feel its about time you owned one, buy buy one because you love the design too and will feel excited wearing it-have a read through the 'ode to' Bolide thread and others too.
and when you purchase please share images and your story
I keep my bags in the same shelf with the same well cares but last year I had to sell some of my Chanel and YSL bags (that I just bought a year earlier) because I feel the leather surface had changed too fast than it should be. Comparing to Birkin bag from Hermes, the leather still looks good like the day I bought it from H store.
I personally feel it worth for investment on Hermes bag. I used to think Chanel classic flap bag is enough for me but now I turn to Hermes. I feel the style of Birkin/Kelly bags are more appealing to almost every outfit looks too.
For Hermes jewelry products, I used to not understand why some people buy it because the price is so high. Many of my friends own a jewelry and diamond product stores, they sold a bracelet and rings to me with a lot lower price comparing to Hermes but the style and design are completely different. When I scored my first B bag, I looked at some gold and silver jewelry products in H website and I thought to myself, will it be fitted on me? But when I try them on at H store, it completely looks amazing.
I very appreciated H product quality and their SA that treat customers very well too.
I personally feel it worth for investment on Hermes bag. I used to think Chanel classic flap bag is enough for me but now I turn to Hermes. I feel the style of Birkin/Kelly bags are more appealing to almost every outfit looks too.
For Hermes jewelry products, I used to not understand why some people buy it because the price is so high. Many of my friends own a jewelry and diamond product stores, they sold a bracelet and rings to me with a lot lower price comparing to Hermes but the style and design are completely different. When I scored my first B bag, I looked at some gold and silver jewelry products in H website and I thought to myself, will it be fitted on me? But when I try them on at H store, it completely looks amazing.
I very appreciated H product quality and their SA that treat customers very well too.
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Thanks so much for your advice. I will positively look into going preloved. The only problem is preloved is so expensive I feel I may as well spend that money in the Hermès store. In any case, with the lockdowns i intend to wait until I can go into an actual store. I did see a Moynat bag in NYC and I agree it was beautiful. I just bought a Loewe puzzle and a Celine 16 so you are right. I shouldn’t really buy an Hermès bag unless I love it.
Definitely check your nearest store before buying. I was in my H store 2 weeks ago and they had a brand new black Picotin 18 on the shelf selling for $1000 LESS than what resellers are selling them for. And new SLGs like the Calvi for half what I have seen them for on the preloved market. The resale/preloved market for H goods is ridiculous!!!!
Buying 'pre-loved' is not the same as being 'new' and at a premium from a reseller.
There are many bargains to be had if you are prepared to consider a ten-year-old 'pre-loved' bag.
Remember two of the reasons we justify the cost of Hermes are the quality of the materials and workmanship that can make an older bag still be like new.
Don't think that you are missing the experience of shopping in boutique either, because if you buy at a premium from a reseller you are not getting that.
The title of the thread is specifically about the Birkin and the Kelly; two specific Hermes styles.
Athough they have now developed a cudos from rarity and celebrity, originally Grace Kelly was attracted to the style that now bears her name when sent on a shopping expedition for a film in which she was to feature. In spite of its complicated closure method, it is a special variant of a classic flap style which is timeless.
A timeless classic style is more difficult to argue for the Birkin. From a design point of view it is more difficult to understand how a tote, with an even more complicated closure method that causes many people to tuck the flap down the back (rendering it pointless) has become popular in sizes much smaller that it was envisaged.
Even if 'cudos from rarity and celebrity' is easy to argue at this time with the influence of social media, it does not mean that a lot of people don't just buy because they like the styles and become seduced by all the Hermes qualities and want to have more.
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Brilliantly steered back on topic and thank you for pointing out the difference between pre-loved and re-seller BNIB bags which I would never encourage purchasing.