Believe it or not, I get sick of looking at both Hermès Birkins and Kardashian-Jenners occasionally. Not because I dislike either of them–in fact, I quite like both, and I’m fascinated by both of their pop cultural significance–but simply because I spend a lot of time on the fashion Internet, which is a place both Birkins and Kardashians are somewhat ubiquitous. Today, though, I can’t stop looking at photos of Kendall Jenner and her itty bitty Birkin.
I have a somewhat extensive knowledge of all of the Kardashian-Jenners’ various handbag collections, so I can say with a decent bit of certainty that this bag is a new addition to Kendall’s wardrobe, although it doesn’t look new new. As I posited with Gigi Hadid’s sudden Birkin influx, maybe she’s borrowing from mom?
Even though I’ve never seen Kendall with this particular Birkin before, it wouldn’t be noteworthy if it weren’t for the bag’s size. It’s a 25cm, which is the smallest Birkin currently made, and it’s far more petite than the super-popular 35cm Birkins. The 35 (and occasionally the 30) is what we almost always see on celebrity arms, and the size of that bag and its signature finishes mean that you’re immediately bombarded with the fact that the person you’re looking at is carrying a $10,000 handbag, no matter where you look. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but like anything else, it gets repetitive.
That’s what makes this little 25 a breath of fresh air in a Birkin-saturated celebrity bag landscape. At this diminished size, it feels like an element of Kendall’s minimalist outfit instead of a crutch on which her look rests, and I find myself appreciating the bag’s structure and details a lot more. Kendall’s long been a superfan of designer bags’ shrunken counterparts, and I, for one, hope she keeps it up with the little Birkin.
