There was some recent chatting on the Ebay thread about the virtues of a HAC 32 and why some of us have found that it suits us better than a 35 Birkin so I thought to start a new thread on why the HAC 32 is better for me than a 35 Birkin. I know there is a good thread somewhere on HACs that is older which is also very helpful - maybe someone can find it and re-post it here in this thread (I can't seem to link it).
I only recently discovered the HAC 32 for myself earlier this year when I got a VN GHW HAC 32. I got it without ever trying one in hand but I was hopeful it would solve my issues with my 35 birkins....after investing a lot of money in a handful of 35 Birkins, I found over time that they felt a smidge too big overall for me personally - especially width-wise. I was forever banging their corners into doorways and people and I felt the bag wore me rather than me wearing the bag. Despite that, I still loved the look of the Birkin and the useful tote characteristics.
Enter the HAC 32. The overall look is still Birkin-esque. In fact, most people think my HAC 32 is a 35 Birkin since I wear mine bat-winged and casual. I am also 5'2" so proportionally the HAC on me probably looks like a 35 does on someone taller or bigger. Yes the handles are shorter than the Birkin's but to be honest - for me personally - this is not an issue at all. I can still get them over my wrists and forearms all the way to the crook of my arm almost. Regardless, I only hand carried or wore my 35s on my forearm anyway (not shoved to the crook of my arm) and that is how I wear my HAC. The HAC's silhouette is slightly taller than the 35 and of course, slightly less long in the base...all this adds up to a more flattering proportion on me and a slightly more refined look IMO. Just "neater", even wide open and bat-winged. That said, the biggest difference for me is the slightly less deep width of the bag - all of a sudden it feels "right" to me as a tote. Not too wide. No more banging around or swinging around and hitting things I didn't mean to hit
Carrying capacity is still good and I don't feel I've compromised into a much smaller bag compared to the 35 Birkin since I carry my HAC 32 open. FYI - I have a BBK 32 which, because of the shape of that bag and the fact that you must carry a Kelly closed most of the time, carries less than the HAC 32.
So - those are my reasons for loving the HAC 32. I am slowly converting my collection away from 35s and into more HAC 32s. I'm sure other more experienced TPF'rs will have lots more to add
I only recently discovered the HAC 32 for myself earlier this year when I got a VN GHW HAC 32. I got it without ever trying one in hand but I was hopeful it would solve my issues with my 35 birkins....after investing a lot of money in a handful of 35 Birkins, I found over time that they felt a smidge too big overall for me personally - especially width-wise. I was forever banging their corners into doorways and people and I felt the bag wore me rather than me wearing the bag. Despite that, I still loved the look of the Birkin and the useful tote characteristics.
Enter the HAC 32. The overall look is still Birkin-esque. In fact, most people think my HAC 32 is a 35 Birkin since I wear mine bat-winged and casual. I am also 5'2" so proportionally the HAC on me probably looks like a 35 does on someone taller or bigger. Yes the handles are shorter than the Birkin's but to be honest - for me personally - this is not an issue at all. I can still get them over my wrists and forearms all the way to the crook of my arm almost. Regardless, I only hand carried or wore my 35s on my forearm anyway (not shoved to the crook of my arm) and that is how I wear my HAC. The HAC's silhouette is slightly taller than the 35 and of course, slightly less long in the base...all this adds up to a more flattering proportion on me and a slightly more refined look IMO. Just "neater", even wide open and bat-winged. That said, the biggest difference for me is the slightly less deep width of the bag - all of a sudden it feels "right" to me as a tote. Not too wide. No more banging around or swinging around and hitting things I didn't mean to hit
Carrying capacity is still good and I don't feel I've compromised into a much smaller bag compared to the 35 Birkin since I carry my HAC 32 open. FYI - I have a BBK 32 which, because of the shape of that bag and the fact that you must carry a Kelly closed most of the time, carries less than the HAC 32.
So - those are my reasons for loving the HAC 32. I am slowly converting my collection away from 35s and into more HAC 32s. I'm sure other more experienced TPF'rs will have lots more to add
.. also in disbelief^
