Do you wear your birkin more when casually dressed or dressed up?

[biorin]

Me too, totally agree with you. There is no simple formula, but I still think there are many let’s say frumpy outfits that no bag can rescue. It is more about a general aesthetic rather than any strict colour matching. Posting a few photos (taken from random places on the Internet) demonstrating, the good, the very good and the so ugly.

Agreed.

BTW I love all the Outfits shown in these pictures. And they pretty much sum up my aesthetic.

I think they were all nice as well, although sweatpants and Hangisis is an interesting combo... but I thought the bag worked for all. I will refrain from posting a picture of myself trying on bags while wearing pajama shorts and an oversized t-shirt (albeit at home!), because there was definitely no bag that could rescue that look

 

[Notorious Pink]

I wear dresses 95% of the time - and often it's super girly, like Zimmermann, so I'm not going to wait until the 2x a year I wear jeans to carry a Birkin. In NY, no one really cares, anyway, and TBH people are FAR too casual for most of this conversation to be a consideration where I am. I mean, people go to fine restaurants wearing ripped jeans and sneakers; a dress with a Birkin is a non-issue.

Although, lol, I do like to think I may be an exception to the rule, anyway (I get that comment a lot)....especially if I'm matching the bag to my hair.

Most of the time I carry my Bs and Ks interchangeably; it just depends on the size and color I want to match.

I did carry a Mini K to a wedding; there were plenty of large Chanel bags there. A few clutches, too, but my Mini was fine.

 

[louise_elouise]

I think I’ll be the odd one out here but I like the look of B and K being used in opposite outfits to what they were intended. So, I love the look of a K with ripped jeans and a T shirt. And I actually think a mini B with a gown is pretty chic. I don’t love the Kelly or B with a perfectly formed outfit. For me, it looks like it’s trying really hard and I like a more effortless look

 

[bisousx]

I love dressing up to the nines, but my neck of the woods + my lifestyle is so casual that I rarely get an opportunity to wear something ladylike and chic. So... usually my Bs are a part of an uber cas outfit.

 

[ladysarah]

Me too, totally agree with you. There is no simple formula, but I still think there are many let’s say frumpy outfits that no bag can rescue. It is more about a general aesthetic rather than any strict colour matching. Posting a few photos (taken from random places on the Internet) demonstrating, the good, the very good and the so ugly.

I love this outfit because it looks effortless, casual but still elegant. It is a good outfit to travel by train, or weekend activities or shopping.
The sweatpants outfit with wedding shoes is a tragic case of piling up expensive items together. Plus I really can’t imagine any occasion whatsoever, I’d wear ill fitting sweatpants with wedding shoes and a birkin…

 

[luckylove]

For me, the Birkin is a tote reserved for casual dress. When I dress up, I tend to wear a clutch, a small shoulder bag or an evening bag depending on the occasion. To me, a Kelly looks chic both with very casual looks and dressier ones as well. Overall, for me, neither is great for a truly formal event.

 

[canto bight]

I wear mine with whatever I want (though I probably wouldn't choose to wear it with formal clothing) because I don't believe the Birkin deserves any sort of reverence.

 

[ladysarah]

I adore the look of a birkin carried as an ‘extra’ tote rather than a main handbag. Here is the sister of the duchess of Cambridge- carrying it in my favourite way. Overnight stay or weekends away?

 

[pasdedeux1]

I spent a lot of time (wasted, imo) feeling like I had to dress worthy of my bag to make other people think I was “legit.”

Now I don’t give two hoots. I don’t wear sweatpants in public but my lifestyle and location is super casual so my jeans & t shirt uniform are worn with whatever bag I want. So far, I like it a lot better than trying to dress like someone I’m not or feeling like I need a stylist.

 

[jenayb]

I think that for me personally, the size of the B is what really matters - the larger the B, the more casual. I like to carry my B25s in the evening or when we go out, and 30s for just being casual during the daytime. 35s are strictly for travel for me.

 

[KittyKat65]

I don't give even the slightest hoot about what other people think and will wear my Birkins with what I like, including leggings. I carry them all of the time to everything. I don't go to too many formal events, but when I do I take a Chanel WOC. I would hate to live a life stressing about whether my handbag was appropriate for my outfit. Literally the last thing on my mind is whether or not my handbag has a "relationship" or "connection" to my outfit. I love my Birkins because they hold stuff and I have stuff that needs to be held.

 

[juicekeys]

What a fun thread to read! Loved reading everyone’s insight. I think it just comes down to our fashion preferences and lifestyle. I only have Bs because I tend to dress casually (lots of natural garments in neutral/muted colors) and found Ks to be too girly/serious for my liking (it looks fantastic on many ladies, of course!) But I have them in all three sizes and I can cover pretty much all occasions that happen in my life with these bags. It’s not like I’m attending a ball or gala so even if it’s a formal event, it tends to be pretty relaxed (e.g. beach wedding or going to a nice restaurant) and I have no problem in carrying my smaller Bs to them.

I also think colors/hardware/leather type can make our bags look more casual or formal. I have a B35 in blue jean with phw and the same in gold with ghw. I can easily carry the blue jean as a gym bag while using the gold as my work bag or carrying it to a more formal occasion.

Lastly, TPO rules probably differ depending on where you are in this world. I live in Asia and carrying Bs to formal events seems totally acceptable here (I see even celebrities carrying Bs/Ks to movie premiers/weddings/designer brand events etc.). So whatever floats your boat seems to be fine, as long as you are not intentionally breaking the rules of “fashion etiquettes”.

 

[ladysarah]

I don’t think there is a birkin police going to arrest us for ‘incorrect’ and slobbish outfits, ( though with Hermès one never knows) it’s just a lighthearted chat about how people like to wear them. Personally I love watching casual but well-dressed people- here is another favourite of mine…

 

[classybags4ever]

Casual chic Love many of the photos in this thread, they aren't formal or dressed up, but they are chic and relaxed. That's what I aim for when I carry by Birkin, though I am partial to dresses, but casual ones.

 

[ladysarah]

I like the way this outfit is put together … pink ostrich is not something I’d even consider - but this looks special.