A Review: The 35cm Clemence Leather Hermès Birkin

Many of you have been asking for me to do another Purseonal and trust me, I have WANTED TO. But with a lovely vacation, Fashion Week and hiring a new member to the team, I’ve been a little swamped. This Purseonals entry is a treat for you and me, as its subject is considered one of the most iconic bags of all time (and in one of the most classic combinations leather and hardware combinations possible). Not to mention that this is one of my absolute favorite bags in my collection.

That’s right, I’m talking about the 35 cm Hermes Black Birkin in Clemence leather with palladium hardware. This bag was my holy grail for many years, it was the bag I kept telling everyone I dreamed of owning, and it was the bag I was lucky enough to get a few years ago. The first year I owned this bag I wore it sparingly – I was almost afraid of it. But now it has become one of my go-to choices. I am not scared of it, I adore it and use it often. This bag has lived up to many of my expectations.

Here is how my Hermes Birkin scores in our PurseBlog Purseonals ratings:

Aesthetics

I feel like you either love the aesthetic of the Birkin or you don’t. Most people feel very strongly one way or the other, and I absolutely adore it. In high school my girlfriend and I were browsing a luxury lifestyle magazine and it was the first time I learned about the Hermes Birkin. She and I sat on her bed and dreamed of a future life where we would own one. This was my dream bag, this was the bag I saved up for, this was the bag I coveted.

The design is extremely iconic; any fashionista can spot a Birkin from a mile away. The boxy shape, double handles, and leather pull closures are what makes this bag. Of course the hardware stands out as well. The fact is, the Birkin is one of the three most iconic handbags EVER and I am a true lover of the bag. The aesthetic is what drew me in.

Usability + Functionality

Let’s just be honest. The functionality of this bag is not great. If you close the bag up properly it would take you a few momemnts to get in and out of it every single time you need something that’s inside. When you do not close the bag properly, you leave the bag’s contents easily accessible to anyone and everyone. This has just the Birkin norm. It is meant to carry a bunch of things, but it isn’t designed for ultimate usability.

The outside does not feature any additional storage, in fact all it has is the double leather pull handles that scrunch the bag and then close it via the clasp. This is very iconic to the brand and the bag, but it is hardly used by anyone.

The inside has a small pouch pocket, but the pocket is so slim not much fits inside. There is no other design aspect to this bag that aids in usability and functionality. In fact, it makes it all seem so simple when you really look at it. Other than that, the 35 cm version is great for everyday use because of its size and ability to carry tons.

Quality + Construction

The Birkin gets an easy 5/5. My bag is a few years old and the leather still smells brand new. It’s weird, but every time I take the bag out of its box I get excited. Hermes is known for the craftsman and the work done on the Birkin is impeccable. Every stitch was placed with care and every material is high quality.

This score for the Hermes Birkin was the easiest to make.

Price + Value

And now to the category that is the hardest for me to score, value. The ongoing debate and constant question I hear is, “Is the Birkin really worth the price?” The answer varies from bag lover to bag lover for many reasons. Quality is synonymous with the brand, and I can tell you my Birkins have withstood the test of time and then some.

What is important to note is that the Hermes Birkin retains its value. A debate on resellers could follow, but it all comes down to the fact that the Hermes Birkin is one of the most iconic bags of all time.

Staying Power

The Birkin is not trendy, it is timeless. Extremely timeless. In fact, this is the bag that many dream of owning and while it is easily recognizable it is equally as iconic. Year after year, season after season, this bag will not go out of style. And that gives it a major 5 out of 5 in my book.

Overall Rating

The Hermes Birkin scores high in my Purseonals ratings. I have learned to love to wear this bag and it only gets better with time. Truth is, it is not only one of my holy grails, but also it is absolutely superb.