Ever since I made the blog post on my entire bag collection, I’ve had severeal requests to reveal how exactly I got my Birkin. Read more to find out!
The Birkin Bag
The Birkin is one of the world’s most coveted handbags, if not THE most coveted. Lauded by bag lovers and fashionistas as the ultimate bag to have, owning one however is not so easy. One can’t just walk into a store and purchase a Birkin – you need to have a relationship with a great SA (Sales Associate) and a genuine love for the brand. And after having some purchase history, the SA might just offer you a bag – and even then you may not have a say in the colour, size, or leather type.
I love this bag so much – it’s one of the favourites in my collection. I tend to bring this out for special occasions too – such as for my 13th Wedding Anniversary lunch.
(The other Holy Grail bag is the Hermes Kelly – for the story on that bag, read about it here instead).
I am one of the lucky ones who not only snagged a Birkin, but got it in my dream colour, size, and leather. How to get a Birkin? You may ask.
This is my story.
Hermes: the Beginning
I remembered how my Hermes addiction started. Ironically, it was over a pair of shoes. Soft leather that comfortably moulded to my feet – i got hooked instantly.
Hermes Amica Sandal in Blanc/Naturel
And then, the Kelly belt…. with an adjustable length (free size – I could use them while pregnant!!!), these were plainly awesome. So much so that i bought two of them. My first one was in Black with Rosegold hardware, and the second in Gold with Silver Hardware.
Hermes Kelly Belt in Black and Rosegold Hardware
And then I got my first Hermes bag for my birthday earlier this year: a Garden Party Tote 36 in the colour Bougainvillea. I loved this bag. While heavy, it had the most luxurious leather I had ever felt compared to any other bag at that point. This… was where the slippery slope began to truly fuel my addiction with Hermes.
Hermes Garden Party 36 in Bougainvillea
Of course I had to dress the bag up. So i bought a couple of twillies to go with it.
And I got a bag insert as well – I do love bag organizers by the way, they aren’t just for organizing. Bag inserts really do help to (i) protect the shape of the bag, and (ii) keep the interior clean in case of stains/spills.
Bag inserts – these are from Samorga
For bag inserts – I’ve had people ask “Should I buy from Samorga or Zoomoni or _________” (insert other famous brand from Korea/elsewhere). And my answer would be, it depends.
I do love Samorga’s bag inserts, but they ARE very pricey – think in the price range of USD 50-90 for most of their items. The only justification I can think for the price is that Samorga makes the inserts to fit the inside of a SPECIFIC bag to the EXACT size. Meaning: it is litearlly CUSTOMIZED for ONE type of bag. It is NOT a GENERAL bag insert to be used for multiple bags.
Bag inserts – these are from Samorga
There are cheaper alternatives available – especially if you’ve got multiple bags and wish to use the same inserts in all bags, I would recommend a standard bag organizer. Depending on which part of the world you’re from, there are plenty of options on Amazon, Ebay, Shopee, and other online shopping channels.
Samorga bag organizer for my Garden Party 36
Anyway, I digress – apologies as I really am a crazy bag lady 🙂
Going back to the Hermes story – When a promotion from work came in and I received the biggest bonus ever in my entire career, i completely blew it on rewarded myself with the Kelly bracelet.
The best things come in Orange Boxes. Gift for myself for reaching a major milestone at work
Kelly Bracelet in Rose Gold, set with 61 diamonds
How to get a Birkin: the Sales Associate (SA)
Throughout this time, I stuck to the same Sales Associate (SA). Folks, this is VERY IMPORTANT. You literally have to treat your SA like a best friend – good SAs are worth their weight in gold.
I did not find my current SA immediately – it took about three separate trips to the Hermes store, just simply browsing, before I met mine. But once we met – the magic happened. I felt incredibly lucky – we connected on a more personal level. Both of us had a daughter the same age. Both of us are full time working moms. Both of us faced similar worklife balance challenges with balancing work and family when COVID-19 kicked in and the country went into lockdown/circuit-breaker mode, and everyone had to work from home.
I even introduced a few of my own friends to her – who bought things with her help. So while I don’t know how commission structures work at Hermes, she was always super happy to have other reliable Hermes fans/buyers introduced to her.
I love bringing this bag out, especially to hotels and places such as these – Tower Club. It’s an exclusive members-only club for holders of the American Express Platinum Charge card.
Throughout COVID and non-COVID times, she texted me on and off – sometimes to let me know what Hermes was up to during lockdown, sometimes to let me know of new releases and lauches. I responded gracefully – always thanking her for updates, and tried to visit the store when opportunities arises (But hey, any excuse to visit Hermes, so why not?)
Requesting for a Birkin
Backstory: I got pregnant. Some of my initial Hermes shopping was done in the early stages of my pregnancy as well.
By now, I already had brought it up to my SA that I wanted a Birkin at some point. She happily said she would look out for me, but it was the non-commital sort. Along the way, as I got more visibly pregnant, I decided to try again.
(After all, people are less likely to Say No to a pregnant woman, right???)
Close up of the Palladium hardware
I dropped hints that I wanted a Very Special push/pregnancy gift. Told the SA – it would be SO VERY AWESOME to have something to remember the pregnany by… and wouldn’t she like it – if she could sell me something – that everytime I looked at my Special Gift, it’s a lovely reminder that I got it while pregnant?
The SA asked for my preferences (Yay!) – and I gave her my ultimate wishlist: A Birkin 30, in Rose Extreme, with Palladium Hardware, and preferably Epsom leather. (However, I emphsized that I am open to other colours or hardware, and gave her a few other colours that I’ll happily accept – namely, Gold, Blues, Pinks, Reds). Of course, she said there were no promises (the staff rarely commit to such a major decision lol), but she would look out for me.
And then, I got THE text message literally in two or three days after.
Her offer: Birkin 30, in Rose Extreme, with Palladium Hardware, and Epsom leather.
My jaw literally dropped. HOLY THAT WAS THE EXACT DREAM COMBINATION I HAD REQUESTED FOR!
I was about 6 months pregnant then.
Best push/pregnancy gift ever.
Let the unboxing begin!
It’s a wonderful memory that I did shopping at Hermes while visibly pregnant she was willing to make my Hermes dream come true.
Perhaps it is indeed hard to say ‘No’ to a pregnant woman, hahaha.
Orange Box and Dustbag
My Very Own Birkin 30
The colour, Rose Extreme, is hard to capture on pictures. It is a light bright red, with very strong pink undertones.
TA DAH~
In the store and at home, where the lighting is slightly yellow, the bag’s colour lies between pink and red.
Store Lighting – Birking 30 in Rose Extreme, Epsom leather. with Palladium Hardware.
In daylight, sunny outdoors, or very bright lighting – the bag looks more pinkish, kind of like a shade lighter than raspberry. The palladium hardare contrasts more prominently as well.
Bright Daylight – Birking 30 in Rose Extreme, Epsom leather. with Palladium Hardware.
However, under really dim lighting, the bag looks completely red. Almost like a bright tomato. This is common especially when I take it out for evening dinners and romantic settings.
Dim Light – Birking 30 in Rose Extreme, Epsom leather. with Palladium Hardware.
(I do have more pictures in this other post where I took this bag out for our 13th Wedding Anniversary lunch – so do check that out too.)
I cannot say enough wonderful things about this colour. While not a neutral – it is a pop of colour – it is a chameleon pop of colour that changes depending on the lighting.
In the world of bags – some reds are too red, and some pinks are too pink. Rose Extreme, is JUST RIGHT 🙂 🙂 :).
Getting a Birkin (or other Hermes’ coveted bags): Tips and Tricks
Folks, this is my own personal experience and I can’t speak for others, but generally, this is a pattern I have observed during my Hermes journey.
1. Be Mentally Prepared. You have to play the Hermes game (i.e. Hit a spending quota or be a regular customer before getting offered a quota bag). Granted, some places like the Paris flagship store or shops in Japan are known to offer bags to people without buying history, but that’s an exception rather than the norm.
I’m talking about buying from most local stores. If you hate the idea of the game – then these tips are not for you. Instead, consider going straight to reputable resellers. It’s more direct and you can choose what you want more easily.
How do you know if you are ‘mentally prepared’? One suggestion is to go to Hermes and try their NON COVETED items. In other words, even if you do eventually want a Birkin/Kelly/Constance, with the first visit, avoid going in with the goal of getting a highly coveted bag. Just visit the store and explore – see how you feel about their home and office products, shoes, belts, fine and costume jewellery, watches, etc.
It is much easier to interact with the brand if you can enjoy their things in general.
In my case, the shoes and kelly belts actually got my attention first before I even considered a coveted bag.
With my Birkin 30 at the lobby of St. Regis Singapore
2. Invest some time in finding a great SA.
A lot of Hermes newbies typically ask this question – ‘I want to start building my profile at Hermes, what’s a good entry level item to buy?’
You know what? BEFORE even buying anything. Find an SA that you can click and connect with. A suggestion is to explore something small like a scarf, twilly, or shoes – something that requires a bit of trying and testing – this way you can gauge how patient or nice the SA is. It’s almost like dating really – I personally visited the same store about three times before I met an SA whose interactions were truly enjoyable. Only then, I decided that I would like to build a profile with Hermes, through her.
Remember if you feel uncomfortable or disconnected, you can always walk away without buying anything, there is no obligation. Don’t settle.
Once you have a good relationship with an SA, buy what you (i) love and (ii) WILL use, because i would recommend….
Tip: show that you love multiple things from Hermes. Decorating your bag with charms or twillies is one way (and these decorations are so cute anyway so why not???)
3) Demonstrating your love for the items you bought.
By using them. In front of your SA.
In my case, when I got my Kelly bracelet, I actually wore it almost daily, and my SA would happily notice it everytime i walked into the store with it. I would also occasionally bring in my Garden Party 36, all dressed up in the twillies I bought from the store.
Remember that SAs are human – when they see a client enjoying a product they sold to you, it gives them joy and satisfaction in their work (for good SAs at least). Given a choice – an SA would much rather offer a coveted bag to someone who loves Hermes as a designer house, rather than someone who just wants a coveted bag – and experienced SAs can sense your intentions a mile away.
This is why point #1 is important – you HAVE to love the other products first so that using them will be easy, effortless, and you won’t have to make a special effort to use them just to give an impression. For me, every trip to the Hermes store was a bit of a joy / adventure – you’ll have more fun if you enjoy the journey rather than focus on the destination.
(Which is also why, honestly, if you resent playing the Hermes game… just save your energy, and go for a reseller. While resellers do mark up the price of coveted bags compared to store price, it’s probably cheaper overall and you’ll get the instant gratification of owning your dream bag much sooner.)
Try and buy from the physical store and not the online one 🙂
4) Avoid buying from the Hermes website. Buy in person. Every online purchase kills a chance to interact with your SA in person. If you see something from the website you truly love, text your SA and ask if it’s available in store.
5) Special occasion factor. Got a birthday, anniversary, or other special occasions coming up? Let your SA know! I got my Birkin while pregnant with my second child. Remember that great SAs really want you to have a good experience with the brand, and if they could let you have an item that reminds you of your special occasion, it makes them really happy as well.
I have also heard stories of men who are able to gift their ladies with a special bag by mentioning that they’ve got their ladies’ birthdays or anniversaries coming up. So if you’ve got a significant other, bringing in that person may help in some cases.
So folks, that’s the story of how I got my Birkin. Does anyone else here have Birkin stories to share? Let me know!
Also – do check out the reviews of these other holy grail bags:
2) Hermes Constance 18 – in Rose Confetti
Note: If you love bags, feel free to follow me on Social Media. Especially on instagram; i post lots of bag pictures there and would love for you to join me on my bag journeys.
Of course, I had to get a bag insert for my Birkin 30 as well 🙂
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