You know you’ve made it in life when you have an Hermes
Birkin babe.
Seen on all the who’s who of fashion, this bag is the
ultimate Queen of bags.
These elecrutive bags start from $30k upwards, and have a
six year waiting list (yes, SIX).
So if you think that you will win the lotto in six years
time, keep reading.
The Birkin, named after actress Jane Birkin is a signature
item in the Hermes family.
Available in an abundance of colours, sizes, and finishes – how do you know
which one is for you?
Firstly, colour
This is certainly a bag that you don’t want to be getting over in a hurry.
Choosing a neutral colour, that suits your wardrobe, and is practical for your
use (eg. if you are going to be carrying your Birkin everyday, a white bag is
going to show every little scratch, and spill that you make). You also get a
choice of either gold and silver hardware. To me, the quintessential Birkin bag
is big, black and with gold hardware.
Secondly, size
The Birkin is available in 4 different sizes:
Birkin 25, Birkin 30, Birkin 35 (most commonly seen on the A-list celebrities),
and Birkin 40.
Thirdly, material
This is where the ‘sensible’ you comes out to play. Did you know that the
Birkin is available in 28 finishes?
These include:
Non –exotic leather
- Box calf
Calf leather. Original Birkin leather, and the most popular. Smooth leather
with a glossy finish. Cons – susceptible to scratches, leather can blister due
to rain (if the water droplets are not wiped off immediately).
- Chamonix
Matte version of the Box calf. Leather handles scratches better than the Box
calf. Cons – handles rain, worse than the Box calf, with blistering guaranteed
in the rain.
- Barenia
Natural
Saddle leather. Due to the mix of
vergetable dyes and oils used, scratches are said to be able to be wiped off. Cons
– the leather ages, and its appearance will signficantly differ from when first
purchased.
- Peau Porc
Durable, lightweight leather. One of the
original leathers used on Birkins. Cons – recently retired, and the blistering
caused by rain is said to worse than Chamomix.
- Vache
Natural
Mature cow hide. Again, another classic
Birkin leather. Smooth finish. Cons – as the leather is untreated the colour,
especially in the handles, will fade. This leather is also prone to marking in
the rain.
- Chevre de
Coromandel
Goathide. Lightweight and scratch resistant.
- Chevre
Mysore
Goathide. The grain is more refined than the Chevre de Coromandel. Lightweight,
and scratch resistant. As the leather absorbs colour well, it makes the dye
look brighter, than other leathers.
- Vache
Liegee
Adult cowhide. Leather is rigidity in appearance, however is as durable as the
Box Calf. As the leather has been dyed twice, it gives the bag a two-toned
appearance. The leather is not as suseptible to scratches, however a con is,
that if the leather does get scratched, the two-toned effect could be lossed.
- Togo
Baby calf leather. Soft leather. When refurbished, this bag looks brand
new. Cons – this type of leather makes
the bag heavy.
- Clemence
(Veau Taurillon Clemence)
Baby bull. Classic leather. This leather, has the most slouch to it. Cons - Heavy.
If water droplets from the rain, are not wiped down immediately, this leather
will blister. The resin around the bag cracks, due to the grain in the leather
being broader and flatter.
- Epsom
Embossed leather. This bag has a laminated
appearance, making it easy to clean. The leather is also lightweight.
- Courchevel
Embossed leather (similar to Epsom). Lightweight,
and easy to clean. Shinier in appearance, and the colours appear darker with
this leather. This leather is commonly
used in Hermes small accessories range.
- Agneau
Lambskin. Very soft leather. This leather is commonly used for Hermes gloves.
Cons – proned to scratching, and the leather does age.
- Gulliver/Swift
Gulliver leather was retired a number of years ago, and then brought back and
renamed to Swift. Soft leather. This leather absorbes dyes quite well, making
the colours brighter than those of other leathers. Cons – scratches quite
easily, however can be refurbished to look brand new.
- Evergrain
Embossed evercalf. Soft leather. Cons – as the grains are not so coarse,
scratches are visible.
- Veau
Grain Lisse (VGL)
Embossed leather. The dyes used in this leather, make colours appear darker,
than they would in other leathers.
- Fjord
Adult cowhide. Repels water. Cons – this
type of leather makes the bag heavy.
- Veau Grain Long
Baby cowhide. Has now been retired.
- Evercalf
Soft leather. Cons – leather scratches easily, and cannot be refurbished.
Exotic skins (note all exotic skins do come with
certification)
- Ostrich
Farmed in South Africa. Is available in a matte finish. The skin will darken
from contact with skin, and will lighten when exposed to sun. Effective in
rain. Cons – this leather will age overtime.
- Crocodylus
Niloticus Matte
Farmed in Zimbabwe. Is available in matte finish. Cons – if wet, the stains
will remain permanently.
- Crocodylus
Porosus Shiny
Farmed in Australia. Considered as a ‘premier’ Hermes finish. Cons – as this
bag is not treated, the rain will effect the finish.
- Crocodylus
Niloticus Shiny
Farmed in Zimbabwe. Larger scale pattern than the Australian crocodile. Cons –
as this bag is not treated, the rain will effect the finish.
- Alligator
Farmed in Florida. Alligator can be differentiated from crocodile by the lack
of the ‘pore’ found in crocodile. Cons – as this bag is not treated, the rain
will effect the finish.
Non-leather options
- Etoile/Toile
Linen finish.
- Canvas
Combined with leather.
- Vibrato
This pattern is created by gluing alternating layers of leather in different
colors under high pressure. It is usually used in combination with another leather,
most commonly Box calf. Vibrato is often used in Hermes small accessories.
- Crinoline
A woven material used in conjunction with leather in bags. Crinoline is a
ribbed weave of horsehair and linen.
Thank you to the Luxlover Birkinista for the details
on the finishes.
So now that you know about the colours, the sizes and the
finishes, which Birkin is for you?
