I know people will rip me for this and before anyone says how crude I am, I'm being a realist. Holy crap somebody has to be. No sugar coating either. Just straight forward. If you are having expense issues and need things for yourself and your home, buying a Birkin will not be a good idea. Yes, it's her birthday but priorities first. Personal Example for you -- I used to have a '96 Birkin 35cm black chèvre with GHW that was my "baby." When my Mr. got laid off from work in 2001, I sold it. My choice, not his. He wanted me to keep it. I actually sold my entire bag collection which I worked very hard to build and was proud of especially since I was a designer in the fashion industry. It came down to them sitting in a closet or money we could use and not dip into our savings until he found another job which thankfully didn't take long at all. He never forgot and a few times over the years mentioned how bad he still felt. I told him they were just bags and wonderful investments that came in handy when the time came to sell. (That's what I had to tell myself too.) I never let him see how upset I was about selling my Birkin since I bought that as a milestone accomplishment in my profession. Like I said, that Birkin was my baby. Never mentioned anything about Hermes or any other luxury label again. In 2015, he surprised me with a vintage '59 Kelly 28cm directly from the Côte d'Azur (French Riviera) for our anniversary after he got a raise. He got me a 1960 Kelly 35cm this past summer from Paris as a 30th Anniversary gift. Both needed spa dates with Hermes. This last one has been there since July due to going back to the Paris spa (I told Hermes to take their time, no rush). He felt the time and the price(s) were right. Plus I absolutely adore vintage. I'm not one that needs brand spanking new even though my '96 B35 was new. He was also picking up some massive overtime throughout the year and for my birthday last month, he surprised me with a '95 Birkin 30cm in Marron D'Inde with white stitching and GHW which could do with a nice cleaning/conditioning at the spa. He told me about it before it arrived as the box needed a signature and he wasn't going to be home that day but wanted me to wait to open it. I said it wasn't in the budget and that's when he said it was a special birthday/Christmas gift for me giving up my Birkin all those years ago. Obviously I don't mind pre-loved and especially those bags that need a little extra TLC from the spa. If you haven't already guessed, I'm very big on keeping leathers/skins healthy and well cared for. However, since we just bought a house last year that needed/needs renovations and close to 10 acres of pipe and cable fencing as well as a barn, I questioned his decision on the bag. But he was looking hard for a Birkin for me since he knew these other two bags would only be used for very special occasions/events and the B30 would be used a lot.
MORAL OF MY STORY -- If you can sit down and put pen to paper of everything that needs to be done vs a new Birkin and you feel spending money for a new Birkin and to hell with other priorities, then get a new one if that is the only bag she will accept. If you think you are going to look at that bag, like you do at all her other Hermes items and wonder what that money could have been used for at home or yourself, then step back and think of another gift. Honestly, if there is a financial issue where you need the money for other things, you should sit down and discuss this with her as well to make sure she is on board and understands that there are other priorities that must come first. Trust me when I say Hermes is not going anywhere. We don't all have to keep up with The Real Housewives/celebs ETC clique or strut around like a peacock showing off luxury while important things are put on hold indefinitely. I'm not saying it's not a wonderful gift, it is and I think you are a fabulous husband to want to get her one. Your huge loving heart is definitely in the right place, but the bag might have to wait as a surprise for another time.
