The Timeless Hermès Birkin Bag

The iconic Hermès Birkin has been a long-standing darling of fashion. It has a highly recognizable aesthetic paired with quality materials and a roomy interior that makes it functional and beautiful. This beloved bag is the perfect investment to level up your wardrobe and show the world your dedication to the pinnacle of style.

The Hermès Birkin: A Style Icon Inspired by a Style Icon

The Hermès Birkin bag was originally released in 1984. It has become one of the most coveted style items for its incredible craftsmanship, striking design and perfect marriage of form and functionality.

The Birkin is named after film and fashion icon Jane Birkin, who met Hermès CEO and artistic director Jean-Louis Dumas on an airplane. She challenged him to design a handbag to hold all the day-to-day items a busy mother needed. The Birkin was released, and the fashion world was forever changed.

What Makes the Birkin Bag So Coveted?

The Hermès Birkin is so beloved that getting ahold of one can be a years-long quest. Hermès retailers get only a few of the highly limited bags per year. Stores rarely know what sizes, colors or styles they’ll receive until they arrive. This makes finding a specific Birkin style nearly impossible without scouring several stores—even then, you may be out of luck with the most popular options.

What makes the bag so desirable is its quality materials, beautiful aesthetic and meticulous hand construction, like many other Hermès bags. Every Birkin is hand-sewn over an astonishing 18 hours per bag. The style is known for its lock-and-key closure and extra-roomy interior, but what really makes the Hermès Birkin stand out is its scarcity. Owning a Birkin is a status symbol. It declares to the world that you are dedicated to style and luxury.

Why Should You Invest in a Birkin Bag?

When it comes to fashion, a Birkin is one of the best investments you can make. The bag is versatile enough to accent any outfit. It has the space to hold everything you might need throughout your day. A Birkin bag is fit for a working woman on a mission or, like Jane Birkin herself, a busy mother who needs a quality bag to hold everything that title entails.

Birkins are a versatile addition to your wardrobe and a financial investment. Although the initial price tag can be steep, Birkins are known to increase in value over time, especially if you can get the most desirable colors or designs. Finding particular pieces is incredibly difficult, so even pre-owned Birkin bags can go for a pretty penny, especially for limited edition pieces.

Popular Styles of Hermès Birkin Bag

Over the years, Hermès has offered the Birkin in various limited edition materials and colors, as well as some that have been added to the regular Birkin lineup. Some of the most popular materials include Hermès Novillo, Porosus, Togo and Epsom. Each of these leathers offers the unmatched luxury and quality characteristic of Hermès.

Signature Birkin Colors

Hermès offers bags in a wide variety of colors, but some are more popular than others. The bags that are most wanted are Hermès Gold and Hermès Noir. These colors are rich, bold shades that pair well with most wardrobes. Other popular signature Hermès colors include Craie, a blushy off-white; Etain, a smoky gray with brown undertones; and Rose Azalee, an almost bubblegum-bright pink. However, if you’re looking for a Birkin in a bold blue, a soft purple or any other unique shade, rest assured there’s likely a bag for you.

The Novillo Birkin

Hermès Novillo leather is smooth, supple, fine-grain leather. This bull leather is more resistant to scuffing and scratches, so Birkins made from it look like new for many years. Birkins in this leather only grow softer over time.

The Porosus Birkin

This luxurious leather is made from Australian saltwater crocodile skin. The delicate scales can be polished to a shine using an agate stone or made matte by treating the leather with wool. Porosus leather’s rarity makes it highly exclusive. Owning a Porosus Birkin is a level above the brand’s usual status symbol.

The Togo Birkin

Birkins made from Hermès Togo leather are among the most popular. This calfskin leather is somehow both exceptionally durable and incredibly soft. Togo is a thick leather with a matte pebbled grain. Togo Birkin bags are some of the most accessible Birkins. In particular, quality pre-owned Togo Birkins are easy to find because the leather is easy to maintain. Even gently-loved Togo bags can look practically brand new.

The Epsom Birkin

Hermès Epsom leather is a heat-embossed calf leather most loved for the vibrancy of its color. Fans of Epsom Birkins say the colors of this leather are brighter and bolder than Birkins made from other materials for an even more striking look. Because of its embossing, Epsom leather is also waterproof and scratch-resistant.

The Hermès Birkin in Popular Media

As a status symbol and a style icon, Birkin has been seen throughout many media channels. Birkins have appeared in movies and TV shows, and the Hermès Birkin is the bag of choice for many favorite celebrities.

Television and Film

Fans of the fall-favorite drama Gilmore Girls will recognize the pink Birkin given to Rory and envied by her grandmother. The Birkin also appears in Will & Grace when  Grace receives one. Will is immediately envious and claims he’s been on the waiting list for two years. One of the most famous Birkin plotlines is featured in Sex & the City, where Samantha lies about attaining a Birkin for a famous client to try and move up a five-year waiting list.

Other notable Birkin appearances include TV shows How I Met Your Mother, Gossip Girl and The Good Fight and Woody Allen film Blue Jasmine.

Famous Faces With Birkins

Many celebrity collectors have managed to get their hands on a Birkin. Victoria Beckham is a noted Hermès collector who names the Birkin as her favorite. Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian are all vocal Birkin fans, with several iconic bags each. Eva Longoria, a designer herself, and Jennifer Lopez, a long-standing fashion influencer, have also been photographed with their beloved bags.

Find Your Birkin at The RealReal

Shop the top pre-owned Birkin bags at The RealReal to snap up one of these glorious creations. Our members have access to genuine Birkins in pristine condition, thoroughly authenticated by our experts. Check out our selection of Hermès Birkin bags in some of the most coveted styles.