Melania Trump loves her Hermès Birkin so much it started a meme – how many of the coveted luxury handbags does she own, and worth how much?
Lady Gaga and Rihanna were among the millions who saw the funny side when the US first lady chose clutching her Hermès close rather than holding hands with husband Donald Trump – so how much does she really love them? We trawled the archives to count every Birkin bag Melania has taken out in public – and worked out what each piece is worth ...
If there’s one luxury item that marks the pinnacle of fashion accessories, Hermès’ Birkin bag unquestionably sits atop the ladder. It’s an item the rich and famous swear to possess – but it is not necessarily attainable with just mere money.
There is an infamous waiting list for the status symbol and now the French brand has made it even more exclusive, only open for VIPs to purchase. There’s also a minimum previous spend before one can get their hands on the upper echelon product.
Recently, Melania inadvertently caused a viral storm when footage emerged on Instagram of the first lady clutching a beloved Birkin close while disembarking from Air Force One in Morristown, New Jersey, on Sunday (August 16) – despite repeated attempts from her husband for a cute hand-hold photo op.
So how much does Melania really love her Hermès? It’s hard to determine how many Birkins the first lady has collected, but a glimpse of some of her diplomatic trips with her husband Donald Trump reveals one or two – or a dozen.
One of her most desirable Birkin handbags is the black crocodile edition Melania brought to the UK when accompanying her husband to meet the former British Prime Minister Theresa May at 10 Downing Street last year. The shiny Niloticus crocodile Birkin 25cm with platinum hardware is estimated at US$65,000 on the resale market.
June 12, 2017, marked one of the most important days for Melania Trump when she finally moved into the White House. It came six months after her husband’s immediate relocation from New York City following his inauguration, a time she spent allegedly renegotiating her prenup.
