This is a major reason for me.
Can someone explain the Birkin/Kelly obsession to me?
- Thread starter tashinto
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This is a major reason for me.
I agree with this too.
Plus the quality of the materials and work, which you can see, feel and smell. Especially after 10, 20 or more years. I have bags from various designers. Including LV, Prada, Chanel and Goyard. LV can keep up in terms or quality, but the others don't come close with the same wear. They will look their age while H won't.
Also the "investment value". I don't want to sell anything, but if I ever had to I know my Bs and K hold their value better than any other bag.
Thank you! I know a lot of people love H for the amazing quality (which I hope to experience, I have to work my nerve up to go in first
) but I hoped people weren’t offended that I talked about the type of woman in my mind that carries this bag or that it sounded like I want it only for the status. Glad to see the point got across! 
LV will also repair their products for life, according to my personal experience. I have birkins, kellys, LV capucines and Chanel flaps and I must say that I do get very good customer services at all these boutiques. I don’t even have fix SAs.
Haha... my husband wanted to keep the original invoice when he surprised me with a kelly for my birthday. He’s afraid I would sell it in future
There is a difference between enthusiasm and obsession.
The obsession comes from the desire to swank with what is assumed to be an expensive and difficult to acquire status symbol. None of the qualities or virtues of Hermes that attract the enthusiasts are important.
The obsession comes from the desire to swank with what is assumed to be an expensive and difficult to acquire status symbol. None of the qualities or virtues of Hermes that attract the enthusiasts are important.
Blind Post, and I truly hope no-one gets offended by the below (because the B is beautiful on it's face.)
I do want a Birkin ONE DAY partly because, yes, I do think the bag is striking while still utilitarian. BUT to me the bag will signify I've 'made it.' When I see the B, I auto associate it with Martha Stewart - whom has become a real hero of mine. The first time I ever saw or paid attention to a Birkin was when she brought one to trial and all the pundits were talking about whether it was a wise choice for her to do so (and thinking it was incroyable a bag could cost $6K USD!) To me, the B represents hard work, career success, and 'making it.'
Realistically: I need to get out of my current department before I even start THINKING about this; and I really don't have the money to drop it on a Birkin (I have other things I should be doing with $15K) at this point in my life. (I also think I'd look silly carrying a Birkin at this point in my day to day) But one day.... I will own one.
I'd also love a B in some ridiculous, slightly garish, pop colour - so maybe one day it will be a reality if I am that person who gets lucky and wants the colour no one else cares for. (I wear a lot of black/camel and can't see that changing; I live in skinny jeans, black sweaters, camel sweaters, black and white teeshirts, and flats or ankle boots in my day-to-day.)
I think the C/C to G is more my 'speed' right now but I'm really, really, really scared to even go into H and buy stuff. Too much impostor syndrome feels.
Well to touch base on this, Personally, I really wish people would get out their head a "Certain status of a woman" can carry a birkin. I'll use myself as an example. I chose to live in a moderately lower middle income neighborhood because paying $4k rent in is crazy to me when I can pay $1400 for a pre war. I don't wear exclusively designer clothing, I shop anywhere from high-end to super cheap if I like the clothes. With that being said, no one knows what I or DH makes. We don't look like your typical "Hermes shoppers" I don't think of myself as "I made it because of my bag" I like the craftsmanship and history behind the brand. I enjoy how sweet my SA is. I don't walk around with my bag like "OHH look at me I'm a powerful rich woman"
I carry a bag as "It matched my outfit and I love it !" If I care so much about my life matching my bag I would have never stepped foot into Hermes. I would never own my Current Birkin or any ones I plan to get in the future. Not even Jane Birkin herself takes the bag seriously. She beats hers up for the heck of it because at the end of the day it is just a bag. Be it a very expensive bag but still a bag. No one knows what you make and if they go based on your job that's petty. People can have different values on how they spend the money they make. People have multiple streams of income.
I'm Jamaican and we call it pocket-watching. What you spend your cash on has no bearing on others unless they buying it for you. If you can afford it and have the money buy it. Money always comes. Happiness is what you make of your time. Imposter-Syndrome is just some classist ******** stuck up people came up because they hated the fact a person they perceived to poor to sit with them could. Most Hermes SA makes a bit over Mini Wage. I doubt they care what your bank account says if your card accepts the charge.
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I own both but will likely not purchase any additional Chanel bags. I have been fortunate to have had good luck with their quality over the years but have recently noticed it has gone downhill. Most of my Chanel bags are also the reissue style which I think until recently, has traditionally been less popular as most like the CC logo. I don’t care for logos so I like that style better along with Hermes (no logo) and Celine. Hermès quality is far superior to Chanel these days in my view and the price difference is less now than it’s ever been. I like the craftsmanship and history of Hermes. Hermès will restore a bag many, many years old while Chanel no longer does. Because I like Hermes scarves and belts, I have been offered Kelly and Birkin bags without spending anymore than what I would have normally spent anyway. I don’t buy things I don’t wear. I agree it’s a matter of personal style , and I just happen to like both and both fit my style.
My first was the Jyspiere too and I still love it ! Agree with your comments that they’ll last forever and H products are timeless and high quality.
I love my Lindy more than B and K. B and K are not practical bags for me.
I think we all joined an orange cult and now believe Bs and Ks are the pinnacle of handbags. The best money can buy, the crowned Queens of all bags.
Because I for one fool myself my into thinking they’re worth the $10k+ price tag due to quality, durability, longevity. But the truth is a lot of other bags have those things at much lower price points.
We like the mystique of Hermès and having to “work” for a B/K. It’s a very effective psychological marketing strategy. Look at Lululemon, similar scarcity model that conditions buyers to anticipate new releases and buy it immediately or risk missing out. Crazy reseller market, a sense of being part of a specific community, etc.
Because I for one fool myself my into thinking they’re worth the $10k+ price tag due to quality, durability, longevity. But the truth is a lot of other bags have those things at much lower price points.
We like the mystique of Hermès and having to “work” for a B/K. It’s a very effective psychological marketing strategy. Look at Lululemon, similar scarcity model that conditions buyers to anticipate new releases and buy it immediately or risk missing out. Crazy reseller market, a sense of being part of a specific community, etc.
Maybe that’s why I don’t get the Lululemon thing either....lots of better made leggings and sports bras for half the money. I was an elite obstacle course runner so I would know. Saw lots of their leggings in the trash post-race with the butts torn out.
Not too pull off topic too much but if you get a verrou chain I would love to hear how you like it! I LOVED the look of that bag in person. I have a very casual, slightly rock/punk/casual goth aesthetic most days so I felt like I stuck out like an absolute sore thumb in the boutique but my SA is so incredibly kind and never made me feel like I didn't belong there. But now I'm trying to decide if a Kelly would be too fancy for me. The verrou is SO COOL but so expensive and for a couple thousand or less extra, there's the kelly. ^_^