I may blame today’s activity to the current boredom in my life. With the fiancee gone, I have nobody to waste time with and the usually desired alone time became a bit too much. I also partially blame the boredom on having just moved down to Florida not too long ago, most of my buddies are still up in Ohio.
While chatting with Megs over iChat (what would we do without the modern technology that is the Internet), she pointed out this interesting little gizmo that was going to break the chains of boredom off my neck and engulf me in pre-schoolish activity for the day. How sweet of her to think of me that way.
What Meaghan pointed me to was a new feature on the Hermes US web site, called Les Ailes d’Hermes, the wings of Hermes. The animated micro site allows you to discover and travel the world of Hermes. You learn about the origins of box calf, the complex coloring of their iconic scarves, you see a glove crafter work the smooth leather, there’s mini-games and much more. The part that transformed me back to being a 6 year old was the I want it, I’ll have it feature. It allows you to pick between 8 different Kelly motifs, download it as a PDF, print it at home and assemble your own mini-Kelly. How fun. If it only wasn’t for me being entirely finger challenged when it comes to fine crafting. Paper is quite delicate, which I learned the hard way. On my first attempt I miserably failed to follow the primitive instructions, folding where I was supposed to cut and vice versa. Eventually, I got her done and the result is displayed above. Click the thumb to enlarge the image. Good job me? A new sense of accomplishment fills my life.
Check it out for yourself, it’s a fun little time waster and a great way to bridge the time that you spend waiting for your own, real life Hermes Kelly bag.
Some say Victoria Beckham owns 10 Hermes Birkins. Whoever claimed this obviously has not been keeping up with Victoria and her outings because her Birkin collection exceeds 10 by far. And one of her newest editions, said to be a gift from husband David, is a 30 cm Hermes Ostrich Birkin in Violine. When I think her collection can not get more stunning, she stuns us with a pop of color against her dark dress (notice the deep purple Christian Louboutins that compliment the bag ever so perfectly). What was the occasion? David Beckham was celebrating his 100th soccer match for England with Victoria at the luxurious Baccarat restaurant in Paris. The crowd clapped for David and his accomplishment, but if I were there I would be clapping for Victoria and her outfit. The couple is one of the hottest couples in the world say many, and this past Wednesday night they showed once again what a fierce couple they are.
Victoria can not deny it, she loves the public eye. As she shopped on Rodeo Drive with pal Eva Longoria and son Romeo, the trio caused quite a stir. It is not as if Victoria tries to hide from the cameras, and really, her bright red dress was not toning it down at all. As they shopped in Versace, Dolce & Gabanna and Yves Saint Laurent, Victoria stayed true to her Hermes addiction and carried a Hermes Kelly Longue in Gold Swift leather. Her Hermes handbag collection seems endless; just as we spot her carrying one Birkin she pops out with a style we have never seen her with. The Kelly Longue was derived from the Hermes Kelly a couple seasons back. The bag is longer and thinner than the Kelly Pochette and more rare. Victoria’s Kelly Longue is made with Swift leather, but the Longue also is available in Box, Veau Doblis, Chevre Mysore, and Crocodile. Though, the exotic has only hit the runway and been seen on display, it is unsure if it will be sold. The price starts around $4,000. This handbag is a stunning classic, and while it is great for evening wear, it makes the perfect day clutch also. Victoria’s Hermes collection continues to take my breath away! I am not as keen on Eva Longoria’s Valentino Fleur Bag, but the Hermes bag makes up for it.
The Hermes Birkin is the holy grail of bags. While I feel lucky to own my Hermes Birkin in Blue Jean, it is evident that many are hugely ahead of me when it comes to collecting Hermes bags. As I dream of owning a croc Birkin someday, I find pleasure in drooling over others croc bags. Hermes does crocodile like no other designer, showing perfect attention to detail in every stitch and using the best exotics. A member of our forum, WhiteBirkin, has an astounding Hermes collection. Her two new editions have my heart. She picked up a 30cm Rouge Vif Nilo Birkin and 30cm Blue Jean Porosus Birkin. The Porosus crocodile comes from Australia while the Niloticus crocodile comes from Africa. These crocodiles meet Hermes standards and go on to make the most stunning bags. My only problem is deciding which of these bags I love more, I am stumped!
It has been said that Victoria Beckham owns over 100 Hermes bags. Well, I would not be surprised. No matter what outfit she is wearing, she loves to pair it with one of her many Hermes bags and always looks absolutely fierce. Sure, she may look like a plastic doll or a robot at times, but let me tell you, I would not mind being called a plastic doll or robot if I looked as good as her. On her way to her son’s birthday party, Victoria Beckham paired her Hermes 35 cm Birkin in Rouge Garance with the chic Marc Jacobs Abstract Floral Print Dress. Talk about stunning! This look is perfect from head to toe (check out the shoes too!). I would love to just sit in her closet for a few hours and drool over her collection.
While I appreciate coveted designer handbags, my true passion lies in cars. Don’t blame me, I am a dude like any other. Just happen to administer a Purse Blog on the Interweb. About a month ago, I reported on Hermès’ upcoming collaboration with the luxury car manufacturer Bugatti. Finally, the beast was revealed at this year’s Genova Car Show - and oh my, it is a gorgeous specimen. While the exquisite Bugatti Veyron Fbg par Hermès boasts the same 1001 hp quad-turbocharged 16 cylinder engine from the original Veyron, its distinct character manifests in the details.
The new Veyron derives its name from the historic Hermès headquarters on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, in the heart of Paris’ eighth arrondissement. It sports eight-spoked wheels in polished aluminum, central butterfly wheel locks branded with the prominent letter ‘H’, and air vents around the rims aim to reproduce the characteristic appearance of traidtional Hermès saddle-stitching. The horseshoe radiator grille, and the lateral ventilation grilles flanking it, are made from lightweight alloys with a design of interlocking H’s which evoke the Hermès signature. The inner surfaces of the Veyron Fbg are designed and sheathed in bull calfskin at the Hermès workshops in Paris by the same mastered hands that give us purse fetishists the coveted Birkin and Kelly bags.
The center console features a special compartment for the Hermès Globetrotter agenda, the leather-lined trunk holds a specially-fitted “Toile H” leather case. With a price tag of 1.55 million Euros (excluding taxes), the Veyron Fbg par Hermès will remain an unattainable subject of lust for most of us. The lucky, selected few will take their deliveries towards the end of this year. What an absolutely astonishing, most awesome and desirable vehicle, for car and bag fetishists alike.
1) 35cm Shiny Black pororus Croc Birkin with White Gold Hardware
2) 22cm Chocolate Togo So Kelly with PHW (it’s said that only Togo will be used in AW2008)
3) 35cm Etoupe Togo Birkin with PHW
Hermes tuned in to their subtle side; not offering anything on the runway that brought a new and wacky punch, but offering us a taste of refined style that they are known for. Coats and jackets took precedence on the Paris runway, which were pulled together with oversized belts pulled tight at the waist. The color palette was monochromatic yet timeless. There was a sense of stability during the show, as the models gracefully made their way down the runway accessorized with knit caps and scarves. The handbags stayed true to Hermes, but added an urban chic touch with the reinterpreted Hermes Kelly worn as a messenger bag at the hip, named the Hermes Jipsy. Many say Hermes played it safe, but it was more about being classic than safe to me. The Hermes Fall 2008 line is timeless, just as the brand itself.
4) Hermes Jipsy in Suede Crocodile ( it is unsure if this will make it in the actual production as it is not durable nor practical)
5) 37cm Graphite Clemence Jipsy with PHW
6) 34cm Parchmein Clemence Jipsy with PHW
7 ) 34cm Vert Olive Clemence Jipsy with PHW
8 ) Semi Matte Havanna Croc Porosus Hermes Kelly Pochette with PHW
9 ) 50cm Graphite Clemence Birkin with PHW
*A special thanks to MrsS and L for helping identify the bags!*
This video is both hilarious and educating. Birkin godmother Jane Birkin gifts two young Japanese cooks with signed Hermes Birkin bags and gives them a lesson on proper Birkin care. Since Megs got hers, she’s kept it in its sleeper bag, in a dry and cool location in the house. I am confident that many Birkin owners treat their insanely expensive treasures similarly.
Apparently though, that is not how Jane feels about treating an iconic bag. While French is rusty and my Japanese non-existent, her actions are luckily clearer than any language could communicate… leaving the show host completely devastated! Enjoy the show. It had me laughing, hard.
Exciting news for fans of exclusive bags and cars alike. In a similar move to Lamborghini’s previous collaboration with Versace, Bugatti plans to revive a relationship between Emile Hermes and Ettore Bugatti that was initiated as far back as the 1920s by creating a Limited Edition Veyron. The new super sports car is suspected to have a more over-the-top interior with a lot of delicate stitching and embossed logos. The new Veyron is scheduled to be revealed at the Salon International de l’Automobile in Geneva from March 3rd to March 16th 2008. Expect the new project to be sold out very swiftly - also expect a very steep and unattainable price. We can only hope for a special bag compartment for the complementary croc Birkin!
Katie Holmes has gone from the girl on the Creek, to the girl with the wacko husband, to the girl who dresses 10 years older than her age. I liked her on the Creek and I also love her chic style these days (though like I said she looks much older than she actually is). And now she is carrying a bag that literally weighs half her body weight, I kid you not.
Katie Holmes has been seen sporting a Hermes HAC around town, though not for travel, for day-to-day wear. The HAC, Haut a Courrois, was actually the original ‘Birkin’. The HAC and the Birkin are indeed different; the HAC is taller than the Birkin and the handles are shorter. The HAC comes in a 28, 32, and 36 cm size whereas the Birkin is available in 25, 30, 35, and 40. The debate is on as to the size of Katie’s HAC. I am sticking to my original assessment, it is a 50 cm HAC, but many members of our Purse Forum think it is a 40 cm. I am taking into account that Katie is very thin and 5′9, and since she and I are about the same height it looks very similar to the 50 cm I have tried on. The next debate is the leather and color. My guess, Fjord in Rouge VIF, but again, there are so many Hermes reds and I can be wrong. What many of us are in agreement on is that this bag is far too large for Katie. In my opinion this bag is meant for travel, not to carry to Good Morning America. What could she need to carry inside the show? Suri? Tom? A space ship? Anyhow, this bag will cost around $8,900, give or take, depending on the size and leather.
What Meaghan pointed me to was a new feature on the Hermes US web site, called Les Ailes d’Hermes, the wings of Hermes. The animated micro site allows you to discover and travel the world of Hermes. You learn about the origins of box calf, the complex coloring of their iconic scarves, you see a glove crafter work the smooth leather, there’s mini-games and much more. The part that transformed me back to being a 6 year old was the I want it, I’ll have it feature. It allows you to pick between 8 different Kelly motifs, download it as a PDF, print it at home and assemble your own mini-Kelly. How fun. If it only wasn’t for me being entirely finger challenged when it comes to fine crafting. Paper is quite delicate, which I learned the hard way. On my first attempt I miserably failed to follow the primitive instructions, folding where I was supposed to cut and vice versa. Eventually, I got her done and the result is displayed above. Click the thumb to enlarge the image. Good job me? A new sense of accomplishment fills my life. 
Katie Holmes has gone from the girl on the Creek, to the girl with the wacko husband, to the girl who dresses 10 years older than her age. I liked her on the Creek and I also love her chic style these days (though like I said she looks much older than she actually is). And now she is carrying a bag that literally weighs half her body weight, I kid you not.