Birkin or Birkin style?
Birkin or Birkin style? Many rumors, Many opinions, let's get down to business!
WE ALL WANT A BIRKIN! Don't we? Of course we do! Why don't we all own one? Well, until they are priced reasonably and are available to all, like all designer bags, we can only dream of that. Fact is - most of us will never own one, not even touch one. But we have all seen one. If not in real life, then of course, carried around by our favorite celebrities, just pick one: Kim Kardashian, of course, J. Lo - check! Shall I go on?
Hermes even came up with its own industry of silk scarves produced just for this precious bags - called the Twilly - a thin long silk scarf to wrap around the handles of the bag, so we can keep it free of body oils and stains.
Check please? Sure! Birkin bag around - 15000$, add a pair of twillies, 400$. Total about 16000$ plus taxes.
Now let's say we have almost 16000$ to spare, don't think you can just go and buy one. No, no, no you are to naive - speaking in Birkin lingo. There is a wait list of years. Not only that, you need to be registered with the brand to have bought at least one Birkin before. Not done yet! You also need to show a track record of buying other Hermes items as well, to show you Love the Hermes Brand, not just the Birkin. You see - they won't just sell it to you, until you prove to them that you are worthy of carrying a Birkin, Hermes bag.
If you can't beat them join them!
Riding on the trend above, many high end Fashion houses, and other mass production main stream brands, joined in the party. They figured if we cannot beat them - Join them!
You can call them imitation I call them inspiration!
This is the reason why Dior, Fendi and Saint Laurent bags are so popular these days! They have all gone Birkin style at a fifth of the price of a birkin. What am I talking about you ask? Here we go!
Peekaboo - FENDI
Meet the Fendi Peekaboo, like its inspiration the Birkin, comes with its own line of twillies, and can be pre-wrapped at the Fendi boutiques. Comes in all colors of the rainbow almost, and in 4 sizes, to fit any budget. From about 1500$ to 4000$.
DIOR - Diorever
Meet the Diorever, or should I say The birkin style bag, from the Dior Fashion house. Ranging from about 3000$ to 3900$, comes in 3 sizes. Gorgeous, featuring 2 handles, a flap, a main buckle and two side circular magnets. Reminds you of something?
SAINT LAURENT - Sac Du Jour
Meet SAINT LAURENT's Sac Du Jour. The closest design to the Birkin, in my opinion, and at the best price. If this doesn't scream Birkin, then I will! At about 3000$ for the largest size, and now, get ready for this, comes pre-wrapped in, especially made ,Saint Laurent twillies... Did you scream Birkin yet?
Other brands
Just looking around at all the fashion houses, you can see they are all making Birkin style inspired bags ranging from the hundred's of dollars (For example Coach) to the thousands (For example Louis Vuitton).
The Louis Vuitton City steamer, coming from one of the biggest houses of fashion, comes to prove this is not a copy or an imitation, but truly a trend set to inspire all fashion houses to do the same.
I guess the Birkin bag is not just a bag, but one of the biggest inspiring trends for this season!
I say - enjoy the ride, go Birkin style at your own budget!
Yours Truly,
Lorena Shiff
