leather choice for wishlist Birkin

[maxroxxherhandbags]

I've said it before but I wouldn't buy heritage leathers new as a first choice unless 1) it was a unicorn (Box mini Kelly, K25 Barenia) or 2) I wanted it perfect. Box especially doesn't hold value at resale and I kind of think Sombrero is the same.

Are you ok with a very soft bag? Swift in a B35 will puddle. I have a TB26 in Swift and it's completely puddly, which I love, but you must be ok with that.

I think you should go ahead and request a bag, but as others have said the bag may come fast. Your SA was very specific and let's be honest, this is not the most popular size nor the most popular colors and leathers. This makes me suspect your SA knows one of these will come in. Can you ask for a bag that you KNOW you will want and be willing to pay for?

If you really don't think you'll bite the bullet (and I can't blame you, these are huge purchases), I would look at preloved. It is a GREAT time to buy a B35 at resale.....and you can even look for noir Barenia. If I saw a noir Barenia B35 at a price close to what I could get for my noir B35 Togo, I would be swapping out in a heartbeat.
Note: I was talking to a consignment director at TheRealReal yesterday and she told me Birkins are NOT selling well, especially 35s. So....again....take the moment. It will not last

I really want a very soft bag -at least in a Birkin.
I see so many in my job (luxury fashion retail) on a daily basis and they all look very stiff and structured and 'new' to be honest its become such a common sighting that I cant tell which are real and which are fake!
I love the look of a slouchy 'used' Birkin.
I've never been a fan of grained leather in Birkin's but like it a lot in a more 'hobo' style like the Gao,Evelyn (though even in that I actually prefer the Sellier version)and Jypsiere.
Funnily enough my SA kept suggesting a 30cm though my heart actually loves the 40 (which I believe is the original 'Jane' Birkin)
the only reason I wouldn't wish for a 40 is the weight factor because he did keep telling me its a very heavy bag.
I did try a 30cm in the store back in August and I felt it just wasn't 'me' it looked too stiff and formal somehow.
although I'm 60 I wear a lot of Japanese designers, Belgian, Old Celine or vintage 70's stuff , Old french workwear or jeans with a grandad shirt or a vintage Chanel or YSL jacket on a day off.
I suppose I'm a bit of a bohemian and therefore I love the way Jane Birkin wears her bag!
I've seen some pretty well priced Birkins on consignment sites but they all seems to be in the US or Japan so once I factor in shipping, customs etc they're actually only £1000 or so less than new!.
I'm getting in far too much of a tizzy over this -I haven't yet saved my target sum yet or submitted the wish-(we're in Lockdown in UK) First world problems huh?!
Thing is..wether preloved or new the leather for me is EVERYTHING!

 

[maxroxxherhandbags]

Swift, for tactile qualities (which you seem to like) it's smooth even though it still has grain. Easily spa'd.

Evorcolor would be the most durable (stamped leather) but then you like the smooth and heritage leathers

I have no experience with Sombrero though, I'd actually have to read.

Thanks for this info-I never realised Evercolour was stamped. Thats actually put me off of it.
As you mention smooth and Heritage leathers are a real passion for me when it comes to B,K or C

 

[maxroxxherhandbags]

I would totally go for a swift B35 in any of th colors. It’s an amazing leather, very resilient and resistant and it tends to show less corner wear than Togo IMHO.
One of these days I’ve spilt a fair amount of hand sanitizer on the front panel of my Rouge H Swift B and didn’t have a wipe, only my hand and sleeves to wipe it off. Anyway, absolutely nothing happened and my bag is perfectly fine
I have orange, Azalee and Rouge H bags in swift and they are my most well preserved bags by far.

This is what I like to hear! Having spent the last weekend cleaning and polishing my beloved vintage (and not so vintage) box bags and seeing how scratched and bubbled they've become over the years compared to my less favoured grained calfskins I really need to find a smooth skin that doesn't get trashed for such a big investment (be it new or pre-loved)

 

[Nefeli Georgiou]

I love the look of swift leather, and vert cypress is an amazing color

 

[Rockerchic]

Max, just reading your posts, I think you would super happy with a well priced preloved versus a new bag...Keep your eyes out for one in your area. I'm sure one will come along.
Is there another hard to find bag that you might want (other than a B) that you could put on your list instead?

 

[maxroxxherhandbags]

Max, just reading your posts, I think you would super happy with a well priced preloved versus a new bag...Keep your eyes out for one in your area. I'm sure one will come along.
Is there another hard to find bag that you might want (other than a B) that you could put on your list instead?

Hi Rockerchic..I think you're right!
Funnily enough the other H bag that I'd love isn't made any more and thats a HAC size 32 or 36....in fact I'd much prefer that to a Birkin.
I was committed to the idea of buying a Hac on the pre-loved market but then my SA saying about the list and with me still being in the selling stuff and saving up for the bag stage of things (ie; not being able to pull the trigger immediately on the perfect pre-loved bag mainly because of pandemic induced uncertainty about the future as regards my job) made me think that going on the list buys me time (I was thinking 6 months to a year)to save a bit more, and hopefully feel more secure about the future so if/when I get an offer I'll have either pulled the trigger on a preloved dream bag (HAC) or I'll be in a position to have raised two thirds of the new bag cost from reselling and feel secure enough to put the rest on a CC.
I'm thinking it'll be around £10.000 for the new bag (approx) and hope to raise around £6000 from selling stuff.
But pre-loved or new...my biggest quandary is getting the right leather!!!

 

[Rockerchic]

Hi Rockerchic..I think you're right!
Funnily enough the other H bag that I'd love isn't made any more and thats a HAC size 32 or 36....in fact I'd much prefer that to a Birkin.
I was committed to the idea of buying a Hac on the pre-loved market but then my SA saying about the list and with me still being in the selling stuff and saving up for the bag stage of things (ie; not being able to pull the trigger immediately on the perfect pre-loved bag mainly because of pandemic induced uncertainty about the future as regards my job) made me think that going on the list buys me time (I was thinking 6 months to a year)to save a bit more, and hopefully feel more secure about the future so if/when I get an offer I'll have either pulled the trigger on a preloved dream bag (HAC) or I'll be in a position to have raised two thirds of the new bag cost from reselling and feel secure enough to put the rest on a CC.
I'm thinking it'll be around £10.000 for the new bag (approx) and hope to raise around £6000 from selling stuff.
But pre-loved or new...my biggest quandary is getting the right leather!!!

It's great you are doing your homework on leather. Once you decide you can keep your eye on the preloved market. It's good that you are open to colors. I know something will come your way! And you'll feel like you got the bargain of the century when the 35 popularity and price starts to increase.
Oh and the HAC is a great bag and the prices are generally even better for those!

 

[papertiger]

I love the look of swift leather, and vert cypress is an amazing color

That would be my choice

 

[QuelleFromage]

I really want a very soft bag -at least in a Birkin.
I see so many in my job (luxury fashion retail) on a daily basis and they all look very stiff and structured and 'new' to be honest its become such a common sighting that I cant tell which are real and which are fake!
I love the look of a slouchy 'used' Birkin.
I've never been a fan of grained leather in Birkin's but like it a lot in a more 'hobo' style like the Gao,Evelyn (though even in that I actually prefer the Sellier version)and Jypsiere.
Funnily enough my SA kept suggesting a 30cm though my heart actually loves the 40 (which I believe is the original 'Jane' Birkin)
the only reason I wouldn't wish for a 40 is the weight factor because he did keep telling me its a very heavy bag.
I did try a 30cm in the store back in August and I felt it just wasn't 'me' it looked too stiff and formal somehow.
although I'm 60 I wear a lot of Japanese designers, Belgian, Old Celine or vintage 70's stuff , Old french workwear or jeans with a grandad shirt or a vintage Chanel or YSL jacket on a day off.
I suppose I'm a bit of a bohemian and therefore I love the way Jane Birkin wears her bag!
I've seen some pretty well priced Birkins on consignment sites but they all seems to be in the US or Japan so once I factor in shipping, customs etc they're actually only £1000 or so less than new!.
I'm getting in far too much of a tizzy over this -I haven't yet saved my target sum yet or submitted the wish-(we're in Lockdown in UK) First world problems huh?!
Thing is..wether preloved or new the leather for me is EVERYTHING!

Given your style I'd say look for black Barenia at resale, but all the colors you mention in Swift are incredible. Vert Cypres is the color I personally most want and do not have.
The B40 is gorgeous but it's quite large....depending on your height I would definitely say try it on first. I know people say it's heavy but I'm under 100 pounds and my DH's HAC 40s aren't that heavy to me. I think the weight issue is very personal,

 

[maxroxxherhandbags]

Given your style I'd say look for black Barenia at resale, but all the colors you mention in Swift are incredible. Vert Cypres is the color I personally most want and do not have.
The B40 is gorgeous but it's quite large....depending on your height I would definitely say try it on first. I know people say it's heavy but I'm under 100 pounds and my DH's HAC 40s aren't that heavy to me. I think the weight issue is very personal,

I'm 5'3" and a US size 6.
Yes I think Black Barenia would be the dream..
At least this quandary is taking my mind off of more pressing matters!

 

[Lilikay]

This is what I like to hear! Having spent the last weekend cleaning and polishing my beloved vintage (and not so vintage) box bags and seeing how scratched and bubbled they've become over the years compared to my less favoured grained calfskins I really need to find a smooth skin that doesn't get trashed for such a big investment (be it new or pre-loved)

I say go for it and be happy!!!

 

[gettinpurseonal]

I have no experience with Sombrero though, I'd actually have to read.

I have a sombrero K32. The leather is very smooth but quite stiff, like Epsom. I don’t know how it would spa. It “patinas” easily, meaning scratches will show like barenia, but can be buffed. I love the way sombrero leather glows. But it’s definitely not a puddly squishy leather.