How to bag a Hermès Birkin: 7 tips to help you score the iconic accessory popularised by the Kardashians and Sex and the City – from befriending a sales associate to flying to Paris

Apr 3 , 2024

It’s harder to own a Birkin bag than you think – here are some tips, from wooing the salespeople to a trip to Paris. Photo: AP

Named after the late Jane Birkin, the Hermès Birkin is the Holy Grail of style, the ultimate symbol of luxury, so how can you get your hands on one? We spoke to Birkin influencers and brand experts Charles Gross and Cristina Anghel

Hermès was recently hit with a proposed class-action antitrust lawsuit, with litigants claiming Birkin hopefuls had to first purchase ancillary products – but legal experts say it’ll be hard to prove

For those even vaguely familiar with designer items, the Hermès Birkin bag is an unmistakable symbol of luxury.

The structured, trapezoidal handbag has been made famous by The Kardashians, clueless Sex and the City character Samantha Jones (“It’s not a bag. It’s a Birkin.”), and myriad hip-hop lyrics – as the City Girls once famously proclaimed, “Big Birkin bag hold five, six figures.”

You can’t just order a Birkin bag online – your best bet would be a physical store. Photo: AFP

But purchasing a new one isn’t as simple as walking into your local boutique and selecting one from a cabinet. Waiting lists to buy the bag no longer exist, and stock is both limited and in high demand.

We spoke with Charles Gross and Cristina Anghel, Birkin influencers and Hermès experts, for tips on their strategies to secure the elusive bags, considered one of the best luxury investments on the market.

Hermès did not respond to a request for comment from us.

1. Find a friendly salesperson

A leather Hermès handbag called Kelly. Photo: Getty Images

Getting a Birkin or Kelly straight from Hermès is impossible online, according to the luxury retailer’s website, so locating a physical store is your first step.

Gross explained that Hermès emphasises the relationship between the customer and their sales associate. This sales associate will be the person who connects you to your first Birkin.

“It is imperative that you find yourself an associate and work with them exclusively,” Gross said.

One downside is that customers sometimes don’t click with their sales associate, and Gross has found it can be difficult to switch to another.