Kelly vs Hermes because of recognition and ubiquity

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fashion16

fashion16

O.G.
Apr 15, 2007
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#1
I have been bitten hard by the Hermes bug. I just got a Kelly 32 and I love it but I would like to get a birkin because:
1) I like to wear a bag open and I wouldn’t do that to a Kelly and risk damage
2) I like the 2 straps.


The thing that holds me back on the birkin is that they are a bit over saturated on social media. Even non designer people can recognize a birkin in my area. The attention that garners makes me uncomfortable and I want a bag that is a bit more subtle. Everything I want is in the birkin except for the flash and almost stigma it represents in the area I live in.

Trying to decide if I bite the bullet and buy a black birkin on the resale market (follow my heart) or follow the gut and go with the black kelly I am also looking at on the preloved market.

Thoughts?
 
#3
What difference does it make as to what is being saturated on social media?
Hermes, Chanel , VCA, & the list goes on. It's all over the place & for the most part it's not subtle either
Buy what you love & wear what you love, that's what's important!
And agree with TC1 , your thread title should be Kelly vs Birkin.. ( and perhaps the subtleness of Hermes, JMO)
The stigma? At the end of the day people may notice but they soon forget
 
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#4
I see where you’re coming from.

When I carried my Kelly, no one said anything. Then my Birkin arrived and in the same places, suddenly, I get compliments on my 'nice' bag. It did make me a bit uncomfortable at first but I decide to embrace it. I don’t want whatever people think (which is outside my control) to distract me from the joy of getting and using the bag that I've lusted for 20 years. HTH :flowers:
 
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#5
If you are not completely sure, i would personally would wait and see how you feel. Your feelings may crystalize one way over the other once you spend more time with your Kelly. A Birkin 30 in black can be very under the radar if worn open, back facing out. It is simply a black tote. During snd post Covid, I carried my black 30B barenia everywhere. No one noticed. I agree with those that posted that it really doesn’t matter what people on social media do. Buy what you love.

ETA: Few can tell that I’m carrying a kelly if I strap it under the flap. I can still slide my hand inside for a phone or card case in the inside front pocket.

IMG_6014.jpeg
 
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#6
880 said:
If you are not completely sure, i would personally would wait and see how you feel. Your feelings may crystalize one way over the other once you spend more time with your Kelly. A Birkin 30 in black can be very under the radar if worn open, back facing out. It is simply a black tote. During snd post Covid, I carried my black 30B barenia everywhere. No one noticed. I agree with those that posted that it really doesn’t matter what people on social media do. Buy what you love.

ETA: Few can tell that I’m carrying a kelly if I strap it under the flap. I can still slide my hand inside for a phone or card case in the inside front pocket.

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Thank you for sharing!
 
#7
fashion16 said:
I have been bitten hard by the Hermes bug. I just got a Kelly 32 and I love it but I would like to get a birkin because:
1) I like to wear a bag open and I wouldn’t do that to a Kelly and risk damage
2) I like the 2 straps.


The thing that holds me back on the birkin is that they are a bit over saturated on social media. Even non designer people can recognize a birkin in my area. The attention that garners makes me uncomfortable and I want a bag that is a bit more subtle. Everything I want is in the birkin except for the flash and almost stigma it represents in the area I live in.

Trying to decide if I bite the bullet and buy a black birkin on the resale market (follow my heart) or follow the gut and go with the black kelly I am also looking at on the preloved market.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
I was initially self conscious when I wore my Birkin in public. I got over that self-consciousness very, VERY quckly because the Birkin is really my perfect tote. It is sturdy, big enough to jam groceries, water bottles, baby wipes, sandwiches, cookies, et Al, inside. Fasten it up and it guards your valuables from pickpockets. Turn the front of the bag towards your body, wear it on your elbow and most people won’t know or care what it is.
 
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#13
fashion16 said:
I have been bitten hard by the Hermes bug. I just got a Kelly 32 and I love it but I would like to get a birkin because:
1) I like to wear a bag open and I wouldn’t do that to a Kelly and risk damage
2) I like the 2 straps.


The thing that holds me back on the birkin is that they are a bit over saturated on social media. Even non designer people can recognize a birkin in my area. The attention that garners makes me uncomfortable and I want a bag that is a bit more subtle. Everything I want is in the birkin except for the flash and almost stigma it represents in the area I live in.

Trying to decide if I bite the bullet and buy a black birkin on the resale market (follow my heart) or follow the gut and go with the black kelly I am also looking at on the preloved market.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Buy what you want and will love. Don't give a damn what others think.
 
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#14
Helventara said:
I see where you’re coming from.

When I carried my Kelly, no one said anything. Then my Birkin arrived and in the same places, suddenly, I get compliments on my 'nice' bag. It did make me a bit uncomfortable at first but I decide to embrace it. I don’t want whatever people think (which is outside my control) to distract me from the joy of getting and using the bag that I've lusted for 20 years. HTH :flowers:
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Funny, because I think both are equally recognized.
fashion16 said:
A bit of both.

Same reason why I stopped wearing my louboutins. The constant comments just became too much
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What kind of comments? Are they just noticing them, or are the comments somehow derogatory?
 
#15
Go with your gut and buy what you love. I see the Kelly just as much as the Birkin (if not more) where I live. They are both recognizable, but I’ve never witnessed anyone making comments/remarks.
 
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