Birkin Bag

In the world of fashion, there are few names that when mentioned, send the style-obsessed into a frenzy. One such name is the Birkin Bag, made by legendary French fashion house Hermes. The Birkin is one of those rare bags with both a storied history and a following that has only increased with time.

Model and actress Jane Birkin rarely was seen without her coveted Hermes Kelly Bag. While taking a flight, her bag popped open, spilling the starlet's personal belongings all over the cabin.

As luck would have it, a fellow passenger overheard Birkin complaining about the impracticality of her Kelly Bag. It was then that Jean Louis Dumas, the president of Hermes, and Birkin decided to create a larger bag that could hold more of a woman's belongings. The Birkin Bag was born.

Celebrities all over the world have had a love affair with the Birkin Bag ever since it was introduced in 1984.

Recently, the Birkin made headline news when tabloid-darling Lindsay Lohan had her bag stolen from an airport in London. The bag was later recovered, and the actress was able to resume her daily life.

Gwenyth Paltrow, Nicole Richie, Victoria Beckham, and Kate Moss are all fans of the Birkin. They have taken this designer bag, which until recently has been reserved for ladies who lunch, and turned it into something that is as appropriate for everyday wear as a pair of sneakers. Ashley Olsen is frequently spotted jetting around town in cut off jean shorts, a t-shirt, and her five-figure Birkin Bag in tow.

Like other classic bags of our time, the Birkin was designed with a timelessness that has transcended fads and is eternally trendy. The Birkin Bag can be made to order for the high profile clients that desire it, allowing the wearer to truly make it their own.

The bag is available in five sizes- 25 cm, 30 cm, 35 cm, 40 cm, and 45 cm. There are a variety of leathers that are available, including a scratch-resistant textured calf leather that is one of the most popular finishes at the moment. In addition to the goat leathers, exotic leathers, and bovine leathers that are available, Hermes has introduced two new leathers called Swift and Rodeo for this season.

There are dozens upon dozens of color choices that the Birkin is available in. Some hot color choices are:

• Ink, a very, very dark blue, and
• Potiron, an orange that gets brighter or deeper depending on the choice of leather.

You also have your choice of precious metals for the hardware on your Birkin Bag. Choices that you have for the metal that will serve as the clasp on your bag include:

• Silver palladium
• Ruthenium
• Guilloche
• 24 karat gold

Birkin Bags are known as some of the most expensive handbags in the world. Each bag is done by hand and that handmade quality is reflected in the price. A 30 cm Birkin starts at around $6200, while a 35 cm begins at roughly $7000.

On April 20, 2005 a black-crocodile Birkin Bag that had been customized with 14 karats of pave diamonds on the clasp went for $64,800 at auction. A royal blue ostrich bag sold for $15,600.

If you have the trust fund, winning lottery ticket, or wealthy husband required to obtain your own Birkin Bag, expect to wait roughly two years after putting your name on a waiting list until you can carry your own Birkin.

For the lucky few that are able to afford a Birkin, they can be found at Hermes boutiques. Another alternative is to check out a quality vintage shop that specializes in designer handbags and accessories. You may be able to find a previously owned Birkin in good condition.

Although you may run across many websites claiming to sell Hermes, they are most likely fake, as the company has not authorized sales of their bags online.

If your ship has yet to come in, and you still want a Birkin Bag, you can rent one for a weekly or monthly fee from BagBorroworSteal.com.

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