Welcome to the world of digital fashion writing, where declaring the return of the Birkin bag is just another day in the office. The allure of these exorbitant purchases and the status that surrounds them has never waned, but the Birkin now seems to be making a resurgence in the world of celebrities. It’s no longer just for ascendant influencers.
On Instagram, the Birkin is showcased in pristine condition and aspirational settings, while in paparazzi shots, it’s a badge of authentic living, personalized with trinkets, charms, and even pet dogs by the likes of Dua Lipa, Anne Hathaway, and Irina Shayk. Kim Kardashian’s colossal iteration, big enough to fit a litter of purebreds, harks back to an era when Pharrell Williams flaunted his own colossal holdall.
Just like Jane Birkin’s life-long schlepper and Mary-Kate Olsen’s red wine-stained Birkin, these bags are a casual way for the uber-wealthy to flex their riches. If famous people can’t maintain distance from those who store their handbags in hermetically sealed vaults, they will do so with the most niche and hard-to-come-by Birkin known to man.

