From Fashionlines.com
By Margaret Pluvinage, Editor at Large
There is no doubt that the highly coveted Birkin Bag comes with great status. It is one of the ultimate status symbols for a fashion fanatic, but with this great reward of status comes risk. I had no idea how risky it would be to schlep a beautiful Hermes orange Birkin bag, until about 6 weeks into flaunting it out and about town.
As a proud owner of a tricolor Kelly bag, my dream was now complete; in my closet there were two of the most sought after handbags in the world. I have thoroughly enjoyed my Kelly bag, after each use I place the classic gem down on my nightstand and admire its royal status.
When I became the proud owner of the Birkin I was equally as delighted, I received the bag while visiting NYC. I immediately took to the grey streets of NYC with my orange Birkin. I found out the way to get immediate service in the Madison Avenue shops is to tote the ultimate status symbol. At the Hermes store I was treated as a major stockholder in a public company, I was part of a very special elite club. As I continued to enjoy the reaction of my bag all around town I had no idea of what was to lie ahead in just 6 weeks time.
At home I continued to flaunt my beautiful bag, on the sunny streets of California. I was feeling very comfortable using my bag for every occasion, including grocery shopping. When I was unexpectedly called back to NY on family business I wasted no time gathering my things and taking off, with my Birkin in tow.
The content of my Birkin grew. It was perfect for carrying everything I needed from 10 am to 10 pm, extra layers of clothing (scarves, gloves, hats), make- up, files, breakfast, water bottles, etc. I was running around from one appointment to the next and along the way being complimented on my "great" orange handbag.
Upon returning home to California, I resumed my regular exercise routine. I noticed that my right forearm was very sore; I assumed it must be my muscles reacting to my greatly missed weight routine. I was a little confused how this would only affect one arm, and then I thought I must have slept on my arm the wrong way. When the pain in my right forearm persisted, I couldnt help but try to find the source of my pain, when it hit me, it was the weight of my Birkin bag and its contents. I am no novice to the fashion pain. I have endured the pain of wearing Manolos all day, a too tight waistband, headache pain due to tight sunglasses, and a sore shoulder due to a heavy shoulder bag. These are the risks I am willing to assume for the sake of looking good or for giving into status. But I must say I never expected a Birkin to be the cause of such pain. I have changed handbags, I am now sporting a black furry Italian bag and I have placed my Birkin on my nightstand and I admire it everyday passively as my pain has not yet gone away.
I have found out the hard way that there is something more special about a bag with royal status as compared to a bag with actor status; royalty has others to schlep their stuff, and therefore does not have the same risk or need to get their status from a bag!
By Margaret Pluvinage, Editor at Large
There is no doubt that the highly coveted Birkin Bag comes with great status. It is one of the ultimate status symbols for a fashion fanatic, but with this great reward of status comes risk. I had no idea how risky it would be to schlep a beautiful Hermes orange Birkin bag, until about 6 weeks into flaunting it out and about town.
As a proud owner of a tricolor Kelly bag, my dream was now complete; in my closet there were two of the most sought after handbags in the world. I have thoroughly enjoyed my Kelly bag, after each use I place the classic gem down on my nightstand and admire its royal status.
When I became the proud owner of the Birkin I was equally as delighted, I received the bag while visiting NYC. I immediately took to the grey streets of NYC with my orange Birkin. I found out the way to get immediate service in the Madison Avenue shops is to tote the ultimate status symbol. At the Hermes store I was treated as a major stockholder in a public company, I was part of a very special elite club. As I continued to enjoy the reaction of my bag all around town I had no idea of what was to lie ahead in just 6 weeks time.
At home I continued to flaunt my beautiful bag, on the sunny streets of California. I was feeling very comfortable using my bag for every occasion, including grocery shopping. When I was unexpectedly called back to NY on family business I wasted no time gathering my things and taking off, with my Birkin in tow.
The content of my Birkin grew. It was perfect for carrying everything I needed from 10 am to 10 pm, extra layers of clothing (scarves, gloves, hats), make- up, files, breakfast, water bottles, etc. I was running around from one appointment to the next and along the way being complimented on my "great" orange handbag.
Upon returning home to California, I resumed my regular exercise routine. I noticed that my right forearm was very sore; I assumed it must be my muscles reacting to my greatly missed weight routine. I was a little confused how this would only affect one arm, and then I thought I must have slept on my arm the wrong way. When the pain in my right forearm persisted, I couldnt help but try to find the source of my pain, when it hit me, it was the weight of my Birkin bag and its contents. I am no novice to the fashion pain. I have endured the pain of wearing Manolos all day, a too tight waistband, headache pain due to tight sunglasses, and a sore shoulder due to a heavy shoulder bag. These are the risks I am willing to assume for the sake of looking good or for giving into status. But I must say I never expected a Birkin to be the cause of such pain. I have changed handbags, I am now sporting a black furry Italian bag and I have placed my Birkin on my nightstand and I admire it everyday passively as my pain has not yet gone away.
I have found out the hard way that there is something more special about a bag with royal status as compared to a bag with actor status; royalty has others to schlep their stuff, and therefore does not have the same risk or need to get their status from a bag!
Great article & I'm drooling at these bags!!!! 
