Home to the state’s wealthiest portion of the population, many of the southeast’s most sought-after estates, and the premier shopping centers of not just Georgia but its neighboring states as well, Buckhead, a commercial district in the northern portion of Atlanta’s city limits, has made a name for itself by dealing in luxury.
Luxury car dealerships, luxury high-rises, luxury dining, luxury hotels, and of course, luxury shopping all make Buckhead one of the most desired zip codes to eat, work, play, stay, and shop.
And with its proximity to the world’s busiest international airport and a booming entertainment and sports industry, consumers from around the globe flock to this luxury hub to see what is in store for them.
About the Shopping…
Though not as world-renowned as more universally recognized cities where wealth, fame, status, and luxury collide (like Los Angeles, New York City, Tokyo, Paris, and London), with not one, not two, but three luxury shopping centers, each just a stone’s throw away, Buckhead’s retail scene is nothing to scoff at.
To name just a few, Buckhead is home to the likes of Dior, Fendi, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton, Neiman Marcus, Prada, Saks, Givenchy, and the southeast’s only Hermès brick and mortar location (aside from South Florida).
Arguably the crown jewel of the Atlanta retail scene (proof in its impending 2024 departure from one shopping center for another, attaining Nobu Hotel proximity and a larger space, making headlines), Hermès has flooded the Buckhead luxury bag market.
About the Bags…
Step into Midtown or the suburbs of Atlanta, and a Birkin will be almost impossible to spot. They just aren’t there. But one stroll through the streets of Buckhead, especially those weaving through and between their luxury retail centers like Buckhead Village, Lenox Mall, and Phipps Plaza, and Birkins, Kellys, Picotins, and Evelynes, will flood your sightlines.
From bright red Birkin 30s to light blue mini Kellys and ostrich Picotins, the Hermès bags of Buckhead come with as much diversity as do their respective caretakers.
“I wouldn’t say there’s a specific demographic by any means,” says Ford Chapman, local Hermès-lover and manager of Buckhead Village’s luxury-consignment store, SacDeLux, on who he sees carrying Birkins the most. He sees “people of all ages and races carrying Hermès bags in different sizes, colors, and styles depending on their personal taste.”
Unlike the monotonous barrage of Chanel flaps and Louis Vuitton logo-coated bags that often accompany Birkins and other various Hermès offerings through the streets of Buckhead, the Hermès bags almost always scream whimsy, personal taste, and a true love for the brand being carried.
Why Hermès?
Often special orders are accompanied by adorable little charms or wrapped in colorful scarves. More often than not, the individuals carrying these bags do so for the love of the brand’s heritage and quality, the ease with which they move throughout the world and the sparkle they add to even the simplest of looks.
Of course, as with any luxury brand, some do seem to carry for the sake of carrying, for the sense of status they feel the item will bring, but for people like Chapman, the love for Hermès runs so much deeper.
Chapman cites iconic pop culture moments in Gilmore Girls, Sex and the City, and hip hop as reasons why his love for these bags began to take hold. He also notes their “fairly simple look, which lends to a very versatile style,” allowing them “to be used in any event from a quick grocery store run to a formal black tie event.”
Though the price tag may make some feel otherwise, the Hermès bag truly is an everyday bag.
“It’s just really easy to take with you,” says our ostrich Picotin holder seen below. “I have everything I need in it. I don’t have to overstuff it. It’s a perfect bag for everyday use.”
Whether Birkin carriers, Kelly toters, Picotin or Evelyne haulers, the streets of Buckhead will present Hermès lovers headed to lunch with the girls, out shopping away the weekend or getting dinner to celebrate an important birthday or anniversary, and they will all be toting their favorite Hermès bag.
Some may have gotten their bag second-hand, some may have gone through a rigorous purchasing process assisted by a personal Hermès Sales Associate (as described by PurseBlog’s go-to Hermès expert, the Notorious Pink), some may have been gifted their go-to Hermès by a beloved mother or grandmother, or, let’s face it, some may have bought a fake just for the hell of it (more on that here).
Regardless, the Birkin effect on Buckhead is real. They’re everywhere, and like Hermès as a brand, which has seen the Birkin’s investment value rise by more than 500% in the last 35 years and has no shortage of waitlisted fashionistas eager to land their dream bags (“Birkin!” or “Kelly!” are the usual response to my asking what a bag lover’s dream bag is no matter which city I’m in), they aren’t going anywhere.
And unless opting for a larger space in a more prime location indicates anything other than raging success in the Buckhead market, neither is the Buckhead storefront. Long live the Birkins of Buckhead.
Photos via @bykylemark for PurseBlog
