Hermes Birkin and Kelly Chapter 1

Hermes Birkin

In 1981, Hermès chief executive Jean-Louis Dumas was seated next to Jane Birkin on a flight from Paris to London. She had just placed her straw bag in the overhead compartment of her seat, but the contents fell to the ground, leaving her to scramble to replace the contents. Birkin explained to Dumas that it had been difficult to find a leather weekend bag she liked. In 1984, he created a black supple leather bag for her, based on an 1892 design. She used the bag for herself then later changed her mind. Nevertheless, the bag has since become an icon.
(source from wikipedia)



Birkins come in sizes

·         25

·         30

·         35

·         30

·         45

The 45 is a travel Birkin with slightly longer straps. The similar bag with shorter straps but slightly taller named Haut au Courries(means High Belts in French). These come in

·         27

·         32

·         37

People still call this a Birkin.

For leather, there are textured and smooth varieties.

·         Togo

·         Clemence

·         Natural Barenia

·         Chevre

·         Box

·         Chamonix

·         Swift

·         Rodeo

The hardware. You can get 24K plated gold, silver palladium, a more burnished ruthenium (guilloche). This is palladium hardware with a diamond cut pattern on it. Very rare and FABULOUS!

Then the colors. Reds, greens, orange, blue, black, browns, yellow… most popular colors for a Birkin are Gold(rich tan) and Blue Jean(sky blue like the one Hillary Duff has).

Hermes Kelly 

The name may easily remind you of a famous actress, queen of Monaco, Kelly Grace. That’s right; the name of this bag was just named after Kelly Grace. In history, Kelly Grace can be said to be a huge fun of Hermes bags and for many times, the media had caught the shots of Kelly Grace carrying the famous Hermes bags. Afterwards, it turned out that the reason why Kelly carried the bag so often was that she used it to cover her pregnancy from the media. Because of media’s attention and report worldwide as well as the celebrity charm brought by Kelly Grace, the original Hermes bags began to pop into view of ordinary people and gradually became more and more popular. Until today, all women dream of owning one Hermes Kelly bag. 

Kelly bags come in sizes

·         20

·         25

·         28

·         32

·         35

The most popular sizes are 28 and 32. Same hardware and leather options as above. Kelly comes with a shoulder strap.

Date stamp on the bag represent:

years 1997-present are encased in a Square
years 1971-1996 are encased in a Circle
years 1945-1970 have no geometric shape

2011 O
2010 N
2009 M
2008 L
2007 K
2006 J
2005 I
2004 H
2003 G
2002 F
2001 E
2000 D
1999 C
1998 B
1997 A* letters began being encased in a Square
1996 Z

1995 Y
1994 X
1993 W
1992 V
1991 U
1990 T
1989 S
1988 R
1987 Q
1986 P
1985 O
1984 N
1983 M
1982 L
1981 K
1980 J
1979 I
1978 H
1977 G
1976 F
1975 E
1974 D
1973 C
1972 B
1971 A* letters began being encased in a Circle

These have no geometric shape
1970 Z
1969 Y
1968 X
1967 W
1966 V
1965 U
1964 T
1963 S
1962 R
1961 Q
1960 P
1959 O
1958 N
1957 M
1956 L
1955 K
1954 J
1953 I
1952 H
1951 G
1950 F
1949 E
1948 D
1947 C
1946 B
1945 A

Even though you are rich enough to buy dozens of Hermes bag, you may still not be qualified to own one. Before you, there are already thousands of celebrities or millionaires waiting in a long line. Only if you are rich or you are famous person, you can buy a Hermes bag or otherwise. After acquiring some basic knowledge about Hermes bags, you must understand why Hermes bags are so expensive and uncommon. The materials of one Hermes bag come from the skins of at least two crocodiles, or two alligators. Because of these rare and complex materials, it has to take a lot of time on the cleaning process of leather and final manufacture. With Superior materials and a large amount of labor force, no wonder Hermes bags marked with sky-high prices. On the other hand, the bag is completely exclusive and released in a limit quantity. So it is common for someone to wait in a line for almost one year to be able to get one Hermes bags. Even if you are a celebrity you have to wait to own one.

Victoria Beckham, who is rumoures to own more than 100 Hermes bags, in all sizes and colors...