- The Observer, Sunday December 2 2007
Who bought all the Birkins? We counted 10 different shades of Hermès on Vicky Beckham's twig-like arm before our eyes started fizzing, and rumour has it she has 90 more squirreled away in her closets. With Birkins beginning at £2,500, she is believed to have spent over £100,000 of her own (hard-earned) cash at Hermès, and she's not the only one. Kate Moss used hers for nappies (it's denim, one of only three in the world), and Martha Stewart carried a brown one every day to court, against the advice of her attorneys. Posh favours the white calfskin version (see left). White Birkins must apparently be sent to Paris to be cleaned, a process which takes six months, and accounts for the pap shots of her with her Suede Kelly Pochette, her Kelly Lizard Pochette, her Baccara Clutch, and, when bored of Hermès, her Burberry Prorsum Beaton bag, her Jimmy Choo Foldover Calfskin Clutch, or her (lovely, hairy) Prada Fringe. Still, the Birkin remains Mrs B's number one - testament to the enduring allure of this very special bag.
As Tatler puts it: 'The truth is, women love Birkins because they make them feel rich and in the right circle. Not having one feeds on all their social insecurities.' Curiously, having 100 of them does exactly the same thing.
