Messy – an adjective never seen in luxury fashion, but in the case of Hermès, we can catch a glimpse of this through the Birkin bag.
Summary: The Birth of a Modern Icon: The Birkin Bag Celebrities’ Passion for the Messy Birkin Jane Birkin elevated an icon by making them look “messy” without losing the luxury appeal of the item. This style has inspired the Spring/Summer 2024 collections of Miu Miu and Balenciaga, which were recently showcased.
Scratches, faded leather in some areas, dangling keychains and straps on the handle make everything look disheveled, with even a photo attached to the front. If Jane Birkin treated men like her handbags, it’s no wonder her relationship with Serge Gainsbourg came to an end.
However, a $10,000 bag stuffed with items and making them look like a cheap accessory, Birkin’s bag still maintains its allure and charm. Hence, the “Birkin effect” has become the favorite style of many celebrities. They are not only popular on TikTok but also inspiring accessory designers for the Spring/Summer 2024 runway shows.
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The Birth of a Modern Icon: The Birkin Bag In 1984, a man observed Jane Birkin struggling to keep her belongings from spilling out of her wicker basket. The sophisticated man suggested she use a larger bag to hold all her belongings, but the actress replied: “What can you do, Hermès doesn’t make bags with pockets.”
After a chance encounter with Jean-Louis Dumas, they came up with the idea of the Birkin bag. At that time, she had no idea she was sitting next to the then CEO of Hermès, Jean-Louis Dumas, who even said “I am Hermès” when he greeted her. The two began conversing, and the actress sketched her design ideas on the back of a barf bag.
She desired something larger than the Kelly bag but much smaller than her Hermès suitcase. They had to be spacious enough to carry everything she needed, elegant enough to look sophisticated on the most delicate occasions, yet still humble.
The Birkin, the world’s most sought-after bag, was born by chance but never met all of Jane’s needs. Owning five Birkin bags, she used each until they were “scratched and worn out” and then sold them in auctions. All proceeds would be donated to charity.
Jane Birkin’s Passion for the Messy Birkin From Jane Birkin to the Olsen sisters, Lindsay Lohan, and Marc Jacobs, they seem to have an “obsessive love” for the “messy Birkin bag.” Thanks to a viral TikTok clip by Julia Fox, the new passion is found through the “effortlessly chic” style. Gen Z has brought the extravagant bag back into the fashion race. People are increasingly curious about the countless legends surrounding Hermès and its most iconic items.
The next famous face on this list is undoubtedly Marc Jacobs. When young, he often laid a beach towel on the Miami beach, with the Birkin bag nearby. They are expensive beach bags but he used them to carry towels and books. Even Lindsay Lohan, who carried the black Birkin 40 for years with a relaxed look, has joined the long list of women too rich to care about the condition of their old bags.
Just follow the Paris Fall/Winter Fashion Week to see the return of the “Birkin effect.” In the SS24 collection, both Balenciaga and Miu Miu designed extremely messy bags resembling those worn by Jane Birkin. And Balenciaga’s creative director, Demna, unveiled maxi shoulder bags filled with jewelry, chains, locks, and keys inspired by her story.
On the other hand, Miuccia Prada’s show presented feminine-looking bags, but they were filled with heavy items and seemed uncloseable. Inside were shoes, clothes, and all the things they could cram into the bag. Miu Miu also featured peculiar accessories hanging on the handles. It can be seen that this is not just a trend but also a bit of “artistic” reality in the fashion world.
Miu Miu Spring/Summer 2024 Collection
