The Beyonce of Bags

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?