Birkins & A-List Moments: Celebrities Who Made HERMÈS History

Birkins & A-List Moments: Celebrities Who Made HERMÈS History

Style Companion

Birkins & A-List Moments: Celebrities Who Made HERMÈS History

by Thea Elle | Jan., 8, 2025 | Style Guide

The HERMÈS Birkin is more than a handbag—it’s a symbol of status, luxury, and unparalleled craftsmanship. This iconic accessory has graced the arms of countless A-listers, making unforgettable appearances in pop culture and on the world’s most exclusive red carpets.

From its inception in the 1980s, inspired by actress and singer Jane Birkin, the bag has become a coveted item for celebrities and collectors alike. Its exclusivity, marked by lengthy waitlists and staggering price tags, has only fueled its allure.

In the world of Hollywood, the Birkin has transcended fashion to become a statement piece that speaks volumes about the wearer’s taste and influence. Let’s explore some of the most memorable celebrity moments with this luxurious bag, proving why it continues to reign supreme in the realm of luxury handbags.

Irina Shayk spotted in NYC carrying her dog inside her Birkin bag.

The Red Carpet and the Birkin Bag

VICTORIA BECKHAM’s relationship with the Birkin is legendary. Owning an estimated 100+ Birkins, her collection includes rare, custom designs worth millions. One of her most iconic moments was pairing a vibrant red Birkin with a sleek black dress at a fashion event, showcasing her impeccable style.

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KIM KARDASHIAN made headlines when she debuted her custom HERMÈS Birkin, hand-painted by artist George Condo. This unique bag became a statement piece that blurred the lines between fashion and art, proving that the Birkin could be more than just an accessory—it’s a canvas for creativity.

JENNIFER LOPEZ epitomized effortless luxury when spotted with a classic white Birkin during a casual outing. Paired with relaxed denim and oversized sunglasses, she demonstrated how the Birkin elevates even the simplest of looks into high fashion.

The Birkin as a Travel Companion

When it comes to traveling in style, the HERMÈS Birkin has become the ultimate jet-setter’s essential. Its perfect blend of practicality and luxury makes it a favorite among high-profile travelers. KENDALL JENNER, for instance, has often been photographed with her classic black Togo Birkin while navigating airport terminals, transforming even the most mundane moments into effortlessly chic fashion statements.

Far from being just another accessory, the Birkin proves its worth as a functional carry-all for travel essentials. Its spacious interior is perfect for organizing everything from beauty products to tech gadgets, all while exuding timeless elegance. Whether paired with casual athleisure or sophisticated travel ensembles, the Birkin elevates every journey, making it a symbol of both convenience and refined taste for the modern traveler.

The Birkin as a Style Essential

The HERMÈS Birkin isn’t just a handbag; it’s a statement of timeless elegance. Celebrities like DUA LIPA have showcased its duality as both a luxury symbol and a practical accessory. In her feature with Vogue’s In The Bag series, Dua Lipa offered a glimpse inside her Birkin, revealing it as a trusted companion filled with beauty essentials and personal keepsakes.

This peek into Dua’s everyday life underscores the Birkin’s unique appeal—it’s not just about prestige but also about functionality and individuality. With its structured design and spacious interior, the Birkin blends opulence with utility, making it a favorite for those who demand both style and substance in their everyday essentials.

 Dua Lipa photographed with her black HERMÈS Birkin bag while out and about, exuding effortless chic.

Dua Lipa effortlessly combines luxury and style as she steps out with her black HERMÈS Birkin, a perfect accessory for her laid-back yet glamorous look.

The Birkin as an Investment

When the temperature drops, it’s time to turn up the drama. Winter bags are all about luxurious materials like velvet and patent leather, with rich, moody colors to match. Your bag should be the perfect plus-one to your winter wardrobe, shining through all those layers. Think deep emeralds, sleek blacks, and  chic patent finishes. Bonus points if your bag looks fabulous next to a hot chocolate (or champagne).

Why the Birkin Will Always Reign Supreme

The HERMÈS Birkin isn’t just a bag—it’s a symbol of luxury that has stood the test of time. Whether it’s seen on the red carpet or in the hands of celebrities casually strolling through the streets, it remains the epitome of sophistication and success. The Birkin is more than just an accessory; it’s a statement of style that never goes out of fashion.

And while not everyone may be able to afford the astronomical price tag, the essence of the Birkin is still within reach. From high-quality alternatives to inspired designs, embracing the Birkin spirit is about more than ownership—it’s about exuding confidence and making an unforgettable statement with your style.

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The Five Most Classic Luxury Handbags in History

The Five Most Classic Luxury Handbags in History

You can be sure these timeless luxury icons will never go out of style.

The luxury handbag world is vast, with both new handbag brands and new designs from storied luxury houses popping up season after season. Each year, there are countless silhouettes on the market, and consumers are blessed with more options than ever.

While consumers often pay attention to what’s new and trendy, demand will always remain for the tried and true classics – the ones that have stood the test of time. It’s those classics that have helped to shape fashion history contributing to the luxury accessory world we know (and love) today.

So whether you’re new to the world of designer bags and looking to purchase your first one, or are making it your goal to collect all of the classics, today we thought it would be fun to break day the 5 most luxury classic handbags in all of modern handbag history.

The HERMÈS Birkin

We’re kicking it off with one of the most elusive bags of handbag history, the unmistakeable HERMÈS Birkin.

If you love luxury handbags, you likely know the story of the Birkin’s creation, whether you own one or not. In the early 1980s, HERMÈS CEO Jean-Louis Dumas sat next to Jane Birkin on an airplane. In-flight, the duo discussed what would make a good carry-on bag after Jane Birkin was seen fumbling with hers.

One sketch on an airplane sick bag, and in 1984, the HERMÈS Birkin was born. To this day, it spawns waitlists and sells at a premium on the secondary market. It is still widely considered the world’s ultimate luxury bag.

LOUIS VUITTON Speedy

Like it or not, the LOUIS VUITTON Speedy will forever be classified as one of the most classic bags in handbag history, as well as one of the most recognisable. Dating back to the 1930s, the Speedy was conceptualized as LOUIS VUITTON’s first daily hauler and was largely based on another one of the brand’s classics: The Keepall. First introduced in the 30 size, the Speedy 25 was later added in 1959 at the request of none other than Audrey Hepburn. The actress was then photographed carrying her Speedy time and time again.

The Speedy’s range is vast, offering multiple sizes from ultra-petite to extra-large and a wide array of materials and colors. Of course, the brand’s monogram is ubiquitous and has an important history. The LOUIS VUITTON Monogram was already copyrighted in 1896 when it was invented by Louis Vuitton’s son Georges.

Combining Louis Vuitton’s initials with abstract floral shapes, the creation of LV Monogram was a radical move, as prior to this creation any initials typically seen on a trunk were usually the carrier’s own.

The Lady DIOR

The youngest handbag on our list, few other new handbag designs of the last 30 years have been able to stand the test of time in the way that the Lady DIOR has. However, it was basically destined to become handbag royalty since it was named after British royalty herself, the late Lady Diana, Princess of Wales. Few bags boast the versatility of the Lady DIOR, and its classic shape makes it an ageless icon.

Unmistakably DIOR, the Lady DIOR pays homage to the history of the House. While the bag’s charms are an ode to the lucky charms Christian Dior always kept with him, the staple Cannage motif traces back to the Napoleon III seats the House used to set up for guests at fashion shows. Reinvented season after season and forever a beloved choice for handbag lovers of any age, the Lady DIOR has cemented its place among other revered bags of its caliber.

CHANEL’s Classic Flap Bag

If you thought we’d leave out the CHANEL Classic Flap, you thought wrong.

Known by most as the CHANEL Classic Flap, the bag also goes by the CHANEL 11.12 and is one of the most widely recognizable handbags of all time. The name 11.12 comes from the original style code given by CHANEL to the Medium Classic Flap (A01112), the OG of the Classic Flap family. The original was derived from the CHANEL 2.55 bag and came to be what we know it as today in 1983, when Karl Lagerfeld added the now-signature interwoven CC turn lock to the bag.

Despite hefty price increases, the demand for the CHANEL Classic Flap shows no signs of slowing down. It has remained one of the handbag world’s most sought-after shapes thanks to its status, reinvented repeatedly.

GUCCI Bamboo

While not a specific bag exactly, GUCCI Bamboo deserves a place on this list as few elements of handbag history are as recognizable and inventive as the curved handles of Gucci Bamboo.

The patented method of creation was developed in 1947 by GUCCI craftsmen who realized there was a specific process to heat and bend bamboo in such a way that it would retain its shape once cooled.

The process is detailed and thorough, and you can be sure that each and every Bamboo piece used for a handbag has been hand-chosen by a specially trained artisan who will then mold the bamboo over a fire to bend it into shape. As the bamboo heats up, it softens, making it malleable.

Artisans have meticulously crafted GUCCI’s Bamboo Handles this way for generations. And while GUCCI Bamboo is easily one of the House’s most emblematic symbols, it also happens to be one of the handbag world’s most classic bags, remaining a mainstay for the House since the 1940s. A GUCCI Bamboo bag is one of the most timeless bags a handbag lover can buy.