The Princess has always adored the Birkin. Besides its tastefully clean lines, its single most appealing design element is the one that is missing. This would be the logo. There is no logo on this treasure, launching it into the Land ‘O NoLogo (all one word) and that is truly a beautiful thing. After all, why would there be? Why detract from its elegant lines and uberchic profile, let alone its overall wonderfulness. It’s beyond Prepalicious but as we haven’t come up with a word describing that state of mind or status, we’ll just leave it at that and pray our fabulous readers will send us some ideas. You know, TP has always hoped Santa might put a Birkin under the tree. She is still hoping. Sigh. Probably the best she can hope for in the immediate future is what looks like a “must read” this summer: “Bringing Home the Birkin: My Life in Hot Pursuit of the World’s Most Coveted Handbag” by Michael Tonello. If you feel this is like a three-alarmer and you simply must have this book before anyone else on in Laguna Beach or Palm Beach or Pebble Beach, let alone someone from the UES, as in now-now-now, then pre-order prior to its April 22nd release date from publisher William Morrow. BHTB is “The one-step, one-stop shop guide to buying a Birkin” according to The Huffington Post. There is more praise from Publisher’s Weekly; they say BHTB is “Both a hilarious raid on fashion’s strongholds and a memoir that satisfies like a novel. Fashion die-hards, and many others, will be delighted from beginning to end.”
If you want still more info, the book’s back cover offers this: “For more than twenty years, the Hermès Birkin bag has been the iconic symbol of fashion, luxury, and wealth. Though the bag is often seen dangling from the arms of celebrities, there is a fabled waiting list of more than two years to buy one from Hermès, and the average fashionista has a better chance of climbing Mount Everest in Prada pumps than of possessing one of these coveted carryalls. Unless, of course, she happens to know Michael Tonello . . .” BTW, we also found this on Amazon at a lower price, $17.13.
If you missed “Handbag of the Fabulous” when it came out in 2006, it’s also on the same topic. (Imagine that!) This one is a tad more, well, textbooky-backgrounderish, if that makes sense. But author Roslynn Gaiter Matthew also made it a great read. You can get it from publisher, Early Rise Publications, or go the more conventional route and try your local independent bookseller, always a wonderful approach! If you are still thinking big-box seller, Barnes and Noble is out. Amazon does have two copies as of this writing. As described on the back cover: Enter any room wearing an Hermes birkin and heads will turn. It is perhaps the only leather handbag in the entire world that millionaires will dish out over $13,000 to buy one bag.
Ooooohh..one more thing. While stumbling about online we did find this site, Créateurs de luxe, saying they are sellers of two items: the Kelly Bag and the Birkin Bag. Upon checking their eBay store it appears they have quite the selection, so you may want to toddle on over and take a peek!
Photo CREDITS: #1) William Morrow/Harper Collins, 2) Early Rise Publications
Tags: "Bringing home the Birkin", handbag, Hermes, Hermes bag, Hermes bags on eBay, Hermes Birkin, Hermes Birkin bag, preppy purse
