Ladies...Any RUDE/CATTY/SNIDE/NASTY Remarks about your Birkins or ANY Hermès Purchase
- Thread starter Sambina
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I was at a MiuMiu store the other day with my Birkin, a lady with a TATA bag passed by and told her mom: "See, I told you! Mine looks exactly like the real one! Why bother to get a real one anyway if mine costs much less?" Then her mom looked at my bag and started nodding and laughing.
Like I said earlier, let ignorant, arrogant and probabably jealous people wallow in their own stupidity.
They were probably at MiuMiu to compare their Steve Madden (copied) shoes to the real thing and laughing at how much money they saved by having fake leather (shoes and bags), I mean, who can tell, right?
I really don't appreciate people giving rude comments when looking at other's designer handbags; and its just not the Birkins only. I often would get nasty looks from other women when I carry my designer handbags out. These type pf people are judgemental and insecure and sometimes jealous too. I just don't get it! Whenever I see someone carry a designer purse, I admire their bag and would want one for my own! There's no need for rude comments and such. It's so unclassy.
Intriguing post and I agree with a couple of your thoughts. First and foremost, nobody should have to put up with rudeness. I also think that there is a large percentage of individuals out there who are not envious one bit but rather simply think we are morons for spending what we do on bags, regardless if they have the money to buy Hermes bags or not. I hope that your life continues to be as charmed as it is now and that you never have to worry about how you’re going to pay for your next Hermes bag.
Now this one is a really funny one: A friend of mine had her brique birkin at an event when some lady walks up to her and asks her in a very aggressive manner where she got her bag! Astounded she told her the H location where she'd bought it. The lady then went on to say,"Because I have ALL the birkin colours except this one which I've been looking out for".
Can you beat that??? ALL the H colours?! Are you kidding me?!
I told my friend this poor lady really does NOT know Hermes! I hope she hasn't been sold oodles of fake H birkins in her pursuit of ALL Hermes birkin colours.
(P.S There's no H store in my country so we tend to buy our H on trips abroad)
Can you beat that??? ALL the H colours?! Are you kidding me?!
I told my friend this poor lady really does NOT know Hermes! I hope she hasn't been sold oodles of fake H birkins in her pursuit of ALL Hermes birkin colours.
(P.S There's no H store in my country so we tend to buy our H on trips abroad)
Very good thought...
There is also one more important aspect:
People who make negative bag-related comments are not initiating the dialog, they in fact are responding to a communicative signal already given (unadvertedly or deliberately) by the bag wearer.
The whole point of owning/showing those bags is their exclusivity, huge value and status symbol nature. Nobody would buy a Birkin to wear on a desert island. It is the reactions of other people that make the H. bags so desirable. They make the owner come across as well off, successful, dominant, lucky etc.
Therefore we must realise that by wearing such a hugely expensive bag, unthinkable to have for most people, a person is in fact giving out a loud non-verbal massage.
Humans are very tuned-in to non-verbal communications, and wearing a bag is actually a form of a non-verbal statement.
Whether the bag-wearer wanted to make such a statement or not, does not matter, the statement is still given out : "I am holier than thou, I am rich, I am cool, I can splash £10K on a bag to carry my umbrella in, you poor guys must envy me, you will never be so lucky as I am", bla-bla-bla.
Many people react to such non-verbal statements by disgust, and respond to it by some negative (or implied-negative) comments.
This is nothing to do with jealosy, envy, etc. Many people believe that having so much "extra" disposable money makes a person able to do something worthwhile: help a school, or pay for someone's life saving surgery... They believe (rightly or wrongly) that it is selfish and unreasonable to spend all this powerful money on a bag.
Those people see that the person shows off their wealth/status/demands attention - so they give that person this attention, in the negative form.
If our wealth is nobody's business, why do we show it off. If we choose to demonstrate that we can spend on such a bag, it is a statement that we are happy to proclaim in public. Therefore it is only fair if people respond to this non-verbal proclamations by stares (non-verbal disapproval) or verbal comments.
If one looks at the comments from this point of view, these comments cease to be offensive, but become a conversation which can be ignored or respected.
Of course, a true friend would never make a negative comment about a bag. But by the same token, a true friend would not turn up to a meeting with a friend who does not approve extremely expensive bags, with a Birkin.
No point of view justifies rudeness or insults. Ever. I'm sure there are people out there who feel exactly as you do when you see a woman wearing a Birkin, but unless you actually hear a Birkin carrying woman state out loud "I have more money than you, I am holier than thou", then any interpretation of her body language is a vague guess at best.
^^^ absolutely agree! People who simply assume all expensive bag wearers have only one purpose of showing-off is simply narrow minded, judgmental and ignorant.
WHAT?!
Please tell me you're kidding...
This is a wild-ass assertion and completely without merit as a blanket statement.
Korzinka,
How does your statement explain women who buy almost unknown Hermes bags, like the massai? I hardly think of myself as the show off or holier than thou type - just as someone who likes nice, quality, well made things. Your statement is a bit harsh, don't you think?
How does your statement explain women who buy almost unknown Hermes bags, like the massai? I hardly think of myself as the show off or holier than thou type - just as someone who likes nice, quality, well made things. Your statement is a bit harsh, don't you think?
to me buying Brand name is not showing off...we just love the quality...and buying H is same as buying other brand (Gucci / LV etc)...at least H doesn't have the logo or Monogram printed all over their bag to show off (sorry to offend those brand, but those brand would be Show off brand)...we just love the bag and keep it to ourselves or to people who appraaciated!!
No-no,
I myself do not think like those people. But the message is nonetheless read in this way by many, this is what i worked out from remarks of very many people who are not into a designer bag thing.
Birkin is specifically made into exclusivity symbol, it is not just a nice, well-crafted object. It is designed to make people pay attention/covet/envy, that's the whole point of $$$$$ cost.
I actually see it quite reasonable to spend on Hermes - it holds its value brilliantly and can be a better investment than shares.
But I would be careful where to wear such an item, and would not be offended by remarks, because many people will misread the message.
Of course, rudeness is always unacceptable.
But a woman who wears her birkin to a hospice, for example, can be seen as acting rude herself, so some reramks could be "fair enough".
True actually...I see your point.
I myself love beautiful things, but am a little bit beware - what if this wealth display could be offensive, some friends I would never visit wearing a designer bag. (they are nice people, btw). I am afraid of giving out a wrong message.My husband just said that most people could never recognise a Birkin, so there is no show off in carrying such a bag, in the eyes of most of the public.
But those who DO spot this bag - and who comment on it - it is they who try to show off.
He said it is entirely normal at some level of income/wealth to wear a Birkin everyday... His opinion entirely corresponds to your post.
Logoed bags (Chanel, Gucci...) could be recognised and seen in shops. Hermes Birkin is rarely on display, so not many people should recognise it...
Birkin bags are not almost unknown. very many "common" people know what a Birkin is, believe me. Whether from rap music, stupid mtv lifestyle shows, or fashion magazines... The guy at the counter of my Walmart photo processing place knew what one was and could identify it by shape alone. I have to admit he was slightly confused as he did call it a "Birkenstock" bag, but you get my point.
It would be interesting to see how many of the people who put Hermes quality as the first reason they buy H could list one or more additional makers of (arguably) higher quality goods than H (small french makers or otherwise) ????
not a provocation
just sayin' 
As all actions have a reaction, all reactions also have to have an action. I would just use common sense when deciding what to carry/wear. For instance, I'd not tote an H along to work at a regular (50-75k annual) job unless I wanted everyone to secretly hate me - plain and simple.
EDIT: sorry, I figure I should add in an actual answer to the thread to not disrespect the OP
- So far all I have got from H is scarf, and yes I have gotten some nasty comments on it! are you stupid for paying so much, whats the point etc etc, more nasty comments than admiration actually, but i like my scarf I am quite careful now to where I will wear it out, or at least how I tie it (to make it more discreet)
Birkin bags are not almost unknown. very many "common" people know what a Birkin is, believe me. Whether from rap music, stupid mtv lifestyle shows, or fashion magazines... The guy at the counter of my Walmart photo processing place knew what one was and could identify it by shape alone. I have to admit he was slightly confused as he did call it a "Birkenstock" bag, but you get my point.
It would be interesting to see how many of the people who put Hermes quality as the first reason they buy H could list one or more additional makers of (arguably) higher quality goods than H (small french makers or otherwise) ????
not a provocation
As all actions have a reaction, all reactions also have to have an action. I would just use common sense when deciding what to carry/wear. For instance, I'd not tote an H along to work at a regular (50-75k annual) job unless I wanted everyone to secretly hate me - plain and simple.
EDIT: sorry, I figure I should add in an actual answer to the thread to not disrespect the OP
Just want to clarify CocoB's Comment...the almost unkown style is referring to other H styles other than Birkin and Kelly...H do release other style...such as Massai (CocoB referring) / Evenlyn / Victoria / Garden party etc.