If you would’ve asked me only a few years ago if I’d ever be willing to spend thousands of dollars on a bunch of designer handbags, I would’ve told you, “Yeah, totally, if I had the money!”

But if you had asked me if I’d ever be willing to spend thousands and thousands of dollars on one bag, I probably would’ve thought you were crazy for even asking.

In my mind, even considering making that kind of purchase was something reserved for celebrities, 1 percenters, or those that didn’t have their financial priorities straight. Unless I woke up the next day and found out I’d secretly been a princess all along, the thought of having a bag that costs as much as a small car was too ridiculous to even entertain.

Now here I am in 2022 with egg on my face because I finally started saving for my first Birkin.

The whole Hermès journey seems both exciting and a bit daunting, but I guess that’s kind of the appeal.

A Journey to the Birkin

I can admit that I haven’t always had the best attitude towards Hermès. Of course, I liked the brand, but the cold indifference I felt the first time I went to the flagship store didn’t make me want to pursue it.

My feelings began to change sometime around January after I was gifted my very first Hermès scarf.

It’s just so colorful, well-made, and elegant-looking. What’s not to love?

More importantly, being gifted that scarf somehow felt like a turning point in my luxury fashion collecting. It meant more to me than some other items and made me put the whole “dream bag” thing into perspective.

The Birkin is supposed to be hard to get. To those of us who aren’t a part of the high-society favored few, it’s a symbol of our hard work and perseverance. Obtaining one should mark a milestone worthy of celebration. So I’m willing to work for it.

Following advice from those on PurseForum and Angela’s post, “How I Saved & Purchased My Holy Grail Bag, The Hermès Birkin,” I’ve come up with a plan to finally get my hands on the mother of all IT bags.

Hermes Birkin 30 Etoupe

Decisions, Decisions…

At my current savings rate, I’ll be able to buy a modest one in 2024; However, I’ll still need to take into account which buying options are available to me.

Getting a brand new one from a store has to remain a fantasy because I don’t live anywhere near an Hermès store. Going through the whole rigmarole of building a relationship with an SA isn’t possible for me, so I’ll either have to buy preloved from a reputable site, hit up a high-end vintage store in Paris, or test my luck at an auction house.

Currently, I’m willing to be flexible on either the color or size but not both. I’d go for a 30cm in a less popular color, but a 35cm must be within my accepted range of colors. The hardware color is inconsequential, but who knows how I’ll feel in two years.

Hermes Birkin 25

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

That’s what I hope for, at least.

As someone who has become accustomed to buying a new bag every year, waiting for both the funds and the opportunity to buy the bag feels almost torturous (first-world problems, am I right?)

But the time will pass anyway, so I might as well enjoy myself along the way, even if it means I’ll have to kiss Sephora shopping trips goodbye.

Help me out! Tell me: How long did it take you to save for your first Birkin? Did you get it first or second hand? Was it the exact color and size you wanted? Does it represent anything particularly special to you?

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Kelleypuppy
Kelleypuppy
1 year ago

OK, here comes the unpopular opinion. I think Birkins are ugly. The photo at the top is the perfect example-flopped open, straps undone, folds askew, sides bulging out and …lumpy. I do not understand all the appeal.

Cari
Cari
1 year ago
Reply to  Kelleypuppy

Preach sister

valerie
valerie
1 year ago
Reply to  Kelleypuppy

Same. I think they are incredibly dowdy and unappealing. I wouldn’t use it, even if I was given one.

N R
N R
1 year ago
Reply to  Kelleypuppy

I don’t get it either! Kelly’s look so much better IMHO but that fussy opening is just not for me. Good luck to all those who are chasing one. May your bag dreams come true!

Braeden
Braeden
1 year ago

I was born into wealth, and when I was 19 I inherited a ton of money from my grandmother.

tara
tara
1 month ago
Reply to  Braeden

ok so what does that have to do with this handbag?

Julia
Julia
1 year ago
Reply to  Braeden

The most honest answer ever.
If anyone has a “I worked for it” story when it comes to a birkin, I either
dont believe you
and would Need to see the slew of articles and awards and work citing your accomplishments and achievements in your industry.

valerie
valerie
1 year ago
Reply to  Braeden

Whoopie!

JetQueen
JetQueen
1 year ago
Reply to  Braeden

Hmmm…With all due respect, those TRULY fortunate enough to be born with advantages never, ever divulge like you just did. Sorry, no sale~

bluevalentine
bluevalentine
1 year ago
Reply to  JetQueen

You sound like someone who hasn’t spent much time around trust fund kids. Plenty of them DO flaunt their wealth, there’s nothing unusual or unexpected about it.

tara
tara
1 month ago
Reply to  bluevalentine

they flaunt it because they are trying to be accepted; 1 that has things go un speak -able.

JetQueen
JetQueen
1 year ago
Reply to  bluevalentine

And I hope never to do so. (What a gross concept.) Anyone who would choose to behave this way is utterly lacking in class, period. Privileged people with any true breeding never, ever even associate with braggarts.
(We’re still not buying your hallucinations, btw.)

tara
tara
1 month ago
Reply to  JetQueen

true!

tara
tara
1 month ago
Reply to  JetQueen

exactly.

Anna
Anna
1 year ago
Reply to  Braeden

I earned my money the old fashion way; I worked. I was born and raised in poverty, but I appreciate the value of hard work.

tara
tara
1 month ago
Reply to  Anna

I been working since i was 15 years old; born with goodness but still was raised on learning to work and the value of a dollar.

Braeden
Braeden
1 year ago
Reply to  Anna

Good job! You did what my great-great grandfather did. And your great great grandchildren will be in the same place as I am. My family’s fortune was just luck to be honest.

Laura W
Laura W
1 year ago
Reply to  Braeden

Trolling. How quaint.

Braeden
Braeden
1 year ago
Reply to  Laura W

It’s not trolling. It’s flaunting. As a good friend of mine says.

tara
tara
1 month ago
Reply to  Braeden

so true; Thats a great 1.

Nan
Nan
1 year ago
Reply to  Braeden

Why do you feel the need to flaunt your wealth?

tara
tara
1 month ago
Reply to  Nan

Doing it to make the have nots feel bad.

JetQueen
JetQueen
1 year ago
Reply to  Nan

When one really has family means, one never, ever draws attention to it. Mic 🎤 drop.

Braeden
Braeden
1 year ago
Reply to  Nan

Because I’m insecure and my only good qualities are my bank accounts and my two pet cats.

Nan
Nan
1 year ago
Reply to  Braeden

This doesn’t read as authentic. If you have money you don’t flaunt your wealth because it’s childish and immature. Surely, you have something else of significance in your life besides money and cats. I’m not buying your story.

tara
tara
1 month ago
Reply to  Nan

Exactly I so agree.

Julia
Julia
1 year ago
Reply to  Nan

How is it flaunting when no one actually Knows this Braeden character?

Nan
Nan
1 year ago
Reply to  Julia

Do I have to “know this Braeden character” to believe “she” is flaunting? No. She has posted many times re: her exotic expensive bags and now she is declaring her wealth like it’s a badge of honor. If that isn’t “flaunting” please tell me what is? Of course, this “character” could be lying to create some type of drama for herself given that she’s admittedly “insecure”, but if someone posts I tend to rely on their word to be credible.

Aspen
Aspen
1 year ago
Reply to  Nan

I was gonna comment and say where’s that person that gives me second hand embarrassment and low and behold.

Braeden
Braeden
1 year ago
Reply to  Aspen

You are hilarious! Your “second hand embarrassment” is so idiotic. But keep doing it. My friends and I love laughing at your comments.

Braeden
Braeden
1 year ago
Reply to  Aspen

Do you have a problem with the fact that I can afford to indulge in luxury?

tara
tara
1 month ago
Reply to  Braeden

I’m sure we all are who’s on this site; so, you’re not the only 1 ok.

valerie
valerie
1 year ago
Reply to  Braeden

Dear, you are on a site about purses. Dial it back..this ain’t exactly the big time.

Braeden
Braeden
1 year ago
Reply to  valerie

Do you have a problem with the fact that I can buy whatever I want?

JetQueen
JetQueen
1 year ago
Reply to  Braeden

The issue is that you represent yourself as not well bred or educated in any way. You’re a fraud and the mere fact that you continue to double down on your fairy tale is even further proof.

Julia
Julia
1 year ago
Reply to  JetQueen

The way you just wrote that sounds like you’ve been watching bridgerton. Rich people are tacky, they flaunt, they show it in your face, it just depends on the one you run into wasn’t taught to keep it hush hush…

J B
J B
1 year ago

Would never pay that for a bag! I don’t get all the hype over this bag. Overprice it and everyone wants one.

tara
tara
1 month ago
Reply to  J B

And really ugly; to be honest; but i guess it just makes a person feel like they have arrived after finally getting 1.

Lisa
Lisa
1 year ago

Before I purchased my first Birkin, I didn’t know the “game”, but I quickly caught on. After buying a watch, scarf, bracelet and 3 other bags, I was “offered” a gray Birkin. That wasn’t one of my “colors” and I found it ugly and declined. Soon after, I was offered a Gold Birkin and purchased it. However, if I did it all over again I would purchase a new bag, but in the second hand market. The amount of money that I had to spend on items that I didn’t want, in order to purchase my Birkin from Hermes, was insane!

Rosendo Garcia JR
Rosendo Garcia JR
1 year ago

I have a crazy Birkin story, well around pandemic you know how it claimed many retailers, well there was a story called bealls, (and at the time it was going out of business and was already doing its fire closing sale, ) and inside they had a store called LXR they sold pre-loved handbags, they well they had a Birkin 35 with palladium hardware in black togo. they had it listed for $18,500 (my math might be wrong). at 50% off, I told myself at that price I will never get it,! it’s insane, well I hunted down the manager, and tried to negotiate since it was already closing I figured, just get the sale, well he told me next week it’s gonna be at 60% off and an additional 10% buying 6 items or more if you wait 2 weeks and if it’s still here it will be at 70% off, well I didn’t risk it, I went back the following week, stood in line, I called out of work and said, I will get that Birkin!!, well I went back, the stores opened and I rushed to the handbag cabinet and I yelled: ” Ma’Am I need that bag! that bag is mine, hold it!”

well, I got my 6 items, mostly already hugely discounted body soaps, just to get the extra 10%, I got rung up and paid literally with all the extra discounts, $3,704.19. I saved $15,608.52 dollars.

was it really a save? we all know that Hermes Birkin doesn’t retail for that much, but having no huge money capital, and no way to go into Hermes and buy a brand new one, i think i got an amazing deal on one. I tried to resale it and Fashionphile wanted to give me $10,000 for it, but I couldn’t bring myself to let it go.

and that’s how I got my first Birking 35. (below is a picture of me holding my 1st Birkin.

me birkin.jpg
tara
tara
1 month ago

awww nice story.

jxk.xiong@gmail.com
jxk.xiong@gmail.com
1 year ago

That’s some story! You did the right thing! I don’t normally see bags as investments but with yours it is!

HotSundae
HotSundae
1 year ago

Don’t buy a Birkin resale. There’s an article this week in New York Magazine all about how sophisticated rep factories have become, and how authenticators at consignments shops can be easily fooled by near-perfectly copied details. I would be crushed if I saved up thousands of dollars for a purchase like this only to unwittingly buy a fake. The SA song and dance at Hermes might be annoying, but it’s not worth the risk at this price point.

Nelia Kanakubo
Nelia Kanakubo
1 year ago
Reply to  HotSundae

I doubt it’ll happen here in Japan.

psny15
psny15
1 year ago

If you have to save for months to purchase something it is not worth it – rather put the money in stocks and bonds

Rachel
Rachel
1 year ago
Reply to  psny15

I would say the same thing about luxury cars, but so many people seem to drive them and they don’t get half the crap that people with Birkins do. If you get a Birkin, at least it holds its value, and if you care for it (it isn’t getting dragged across the road every day or worse dented like a car) your Birkin resale value percentage is much higher than a luxury car. Also, depending on the Birkin color/leather/size the resale value might increase from purchase price. A luxury car drops value irrespective of condition the minute you drive it off the lot.

The price difference between a good quality basic model car and a luxury car is basically the price of a Birkin. I’ll take the basic car with better gas mileage and cheaper repairs/replacement parts any day and buy a bonus Birkin any day. However, the general public seems to find this option less acceptable.

I think people give Birkins crap because women like to buy it. I’d like to see the same shaming on every Mercades/BMW/Lexus/Audi out there 😤

tara
tara
1 month ago
Reply to  Rachel

How about have it all; a nice handbag; a nice car and a beautiful home with equity; that turns while you’re peacefully sleeping and dreaming of your next luxury gift to yourself; how so much fun.

Tamara
Tamara
1 year ago
Reply to  psny15

You’re kidding right. Most people save for months to put down money on a house. I saved to purchase a car. At least they’re saving for it instead of putting it on a credit card.

tara
tara
1 month ago
Reply to  Tamara

exactly, credit card for such a high cost is such a no no! Look up and will be triple for it. Think smart.

Gayle
Gayle
1 year ago

Ive wanted to buy the birkin since college 15yrs ago (gosh im old). I know i will buy it someday just didnt take it too seriously because i was naive during my younger years i wanted 1 designer bag from every major designer (that didnt happen). In 2019 i became so obsessed with hermes right after i finally bought my pink chanel flap which was also high on my wish list. Im the save the best for last kind of girl (example: i eat chicken skin last because that’s my fave and i eat noodles last too i drink the soup first haha). I was gifted 2 hermes bags (evelyne tpm and herbag) already by my mom for Christmas and my birthday. So finally last year i finally bought my birkin. Price was amazing and orange was the color ive always wanted. I wasnt particular with the size hardware and leather. My budget was on the lower end so going preloved was the only route for me and my wishlist couldnt be so specific to adjust to my budget. Im sure if chanel didnt get in the way i could have bought it earlier. So now currently doing the same thing again sacrifice (remember those 1 bag for every designer? I sold plenty of old bags) and discipline to save save save for my kelly. Hopefully will purchase it in 2024. Hope it will be a lucky year for us. Cheers!

Paula
Paula
1 year ago

I am not a fan of Hermes Birkin bag and would not buy one, that is just my opinion. I am a Chanel girl, always have been and always will be. If you like the bag and can afford it, good for you.

Snitramt
Snitramt
1 year ago

I was ignorant and lucky in getting my Birkin. I worked for a London law firm, and had just left because I was being horribly bullied. Anyway, I walked into the Hermes shop just to console myself by looking at beautiful things. I started talking to the two SA’s there while drooling over the beautiful scarves. Suddenly, I was asked if I’d like a bag. They brought out a chocolate togo Birkin 35 with gold hardwear, and a tiny Kelly in green (don’t remember the size, leather or hardware). I immediately loved the Birkin as I felt it was a practical size and colour. However, I knew my credit card limit wouldn’t cover the price. So I asked the SA’s if they wouldn’t mind waiting a few minutes while I called my bank and transferred money from my savings account into my current account. After a few minutes, I paid for the Birkin on my debit card. Suddenly I was the owner of a Birkin. The reason I said I was ‘ignorant’ is because at the time I actually didn’t appreciate how difficult it is to be offered a Hermès bag. I’d never thought of buying one because to me they were just expensive. So that’s how I got my Birkin; no saving for it, no waiting for it. Now, to recoup the price back into my savings account probably took me a couple of years.

Rachel
Rachel
1 year ago
Reply to  Snitramt

Yes, but if you bought it in store with no purchase history, you profit more than double in resale value if you ever decided to let it go. Awesome.

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