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Can someone explain the appeal of expensive Hermès bags to me

303 replies

KellyK2026 · 05/08/2026 13:26

I don’t know how, but I recently got sucked into watching a bunch of Love Luxury videos on YouTube which features rich people buying expensive Hermes bags. Can someone please explain the obsession with Hermes bags? To me, they look very basic or just plain ugly. I cannot fathom why someone would pay £20,000-200k on a bag which costs a fraction of that price to produce and was mostly made in China. I’d rather get a good quality bag which has been handcrafted locally for £200 or less. Someone please explain it to me?!

OP posts:
KellyK2026 · 05/08/2026 20:38

Cluelessfirstimer · 05/08/2026 20:36

I have also seen that a lot of people, after buying all the crap they have to in order to be invited, end up being offered and purchasing a bag they dont even like!

I’ve seen that too. In fact there was a recent lawsuit about that very thing. Customers being forced to buy things like scarfs and belts (things they don’t want) just for the chance to be offered a bag. It’s outrageous.

OP posts:
Dragonscaledaisy · 05/08/2026 20:38

KellyK2026 · 05/08/2026 20:29

And perhaps there’s a better place for a discussion about Nestle on a different forum too.

There are numerous threads about Nestle on MN - as you would expect on a parenting forum.

KellyK2026 · 05/08/2026 20:39

loveawineloveacrisp · 05/08/2026 20:35

Was trying to quote @WhatToWearMilan but has been deleted, which is ironic given all the other nastiness. Suggest we just stop feeding the fire.

Then stop commenting??

OP posts:
KellyK2026 · 05/08/2026 20:39

Dragonscaledaisy · 05/08/2026 20:38

There are numerous threads about Nestle on MN - as you would expect on a parenting forum.

That’s good. Please join them then 😊

OP posts:
Cluelessfirstimer · 05/08/2026 20:41

Shloopie · 05/08/2026 20:38

Birkins don't appeal to me on an aesthetic level. But they seem to be a pretty good investment piece, appreciating significantly in value. And I suppose it's the strategy of limiting who can buy them new that fuels this.

Oh 100%. The Not everyone can have one club.

Now I get an investment piece.. in a way.. but you then have to find a buyer. I doubt they hover on Facebook marketplace or vinted

KellyK2026 · 05/08/2026 20:41

Shloopie · 05/08/2026 20:38

Birkins don't appeal to me on an aesthetic level. But they seem to be a pretty good investment piece, appreciating significantly in value. And I suppose it's the strategy of limiting who can buy them new that fuels this.

Yes, I think a lot of their worth is tied up in how limited they are perceived to be. I mean Hermes could easily mass produce these bags if they wanted to. It’s definitely strategic and people like the exclusivity.

OP posts:
Dragonscaledaisy · 05/08/2026 20:43

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Well it is about other brands because essentially, what you want to know is what drives the choice of a bag from Hermes versus one from any other luxury or non-luxury brand. That's a broad discussion.

Dragonscaledaisy · 05/08/2026 20:45

KellyK2026 · 05/08/2026 20:39

That’s good. Please join them then 😊

I'll decline but thank you for the suggestion.

IStillHearTheWaves · 05/08/2026 20:46

Not really my thing. People are swayed by the label though. Like those hideous nylon Longchamp bags. You could find something similar on a market stall for £5. Slap a brand on it and somehow itssupposedly 'chic'. Absolutely awful!

KellyK2026 · 05/08/2026 20:51

Dragonscaledaisy · 05/08/2026 20:43

Well it is about other brands because essentially, what you want to know is what drives the choice of a bag from Hermes versus one from any other luxury or non-luxury brand. That's a broad discussion.

Oh come on. You must see how ridiculous it is to compare Nestle to Hermes. You’ve got a luxury handbag company vs a food company aimed at the general public. It’s not just me, plenty of people in the comments have said it’s ridiculous and distracts from the actual conversation. You’ve said there’s plenty of threads about Nestle so join them. This conversation has moved on from that.

OP posts:
KellyK2026 · 05/08/2026 20:52

IStillHearTheWaves · 05/08/2026 20:46

Not really my thing. People are swayed by the label though. Like those hideous nylon Longchamp bags. You could find something similar on a market stall for £5. Slap a brand on it and somehow itssupposedly 'chic'. Absolutely awful!

I’ve just looked up Longchamp bags. Christ alive!

OP posts:
EmpressStorm · 05/08/2026 20:54

Gosh you seem really upset about how people other people spend their money . How very odd. Normally that’s people who can’t afford something and are envious.

people have all different kinds of wealth and for some buying a 200k bag is like buying a 200 pound one for someone with less money

you could say the same for everything. Houses. Cars, clothes.shoes. Why have a Ferrari when you can ger from a to b in a ford fiesta. Why buy a big house in an expensive area when you can get a small starter home in a run down area that will keep you warm and dry. Why pay for a meal at an expensive restaurant, when you can knock up something at home.

because we are human, we like different things, and we have different income levels.

its worth it to the person as they like it, they want it and they can afford it. So they buy it.

i like me and em clothes (among many), i wear them a lot. There was a recent comical thread where clueless people were going on about fabrics and how you got better down primark.

who gives a shit, I like them, they fit my body perfectly , I like the quality, so the fact someone else doesn’t value them and doesn’t understand it, who cares, not me, same as your bags, you don’t need to understand it. Which you don’t wish to, you just resent it,

Didimum · 05/08/2026 20:55

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

KellyK2026 · 05/08/2026 20:56

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Okay, I couldn’t care less.

OP posts:
KellyK2026 · 05/08/2026 20:58

EmpressStorm · 05/08/2026 20:54

Gosh you seem really upset about how people other people spend their money . How very odd. Normally that’s people who can’t afford something and are envious.

people have all different kinds of wealth and for some buying a 200k bag is like buying a 200 pound one for someone with less money

you could say the same for everything. Houses. Cars, clothes.shoes. Why have a Ferrari when you can ger from a to b in a ford fiesta. Why buy a big house in an expensive area when you can get a small starter home in a run down area that will keep you warm and dry. Why pay for a meal at an expensive restaurant, when you can knock up something at home.

because we are human, we like different things, and we have different income levels.

its worth it to the person as they like it, they want it and they can afford it. So they buy it.

i like me and em clothes (among many), i wear them a lot. There was a recent comical thread where clueless people were going on about fabrics and how you got better down primark.

who gives a shit, I like them, they fit my body perfectly , I like the quality, so the fact someone else doesn’t value them and doesn’t understand it, who cares, not me, same as your bags, you don’t need to understand it. Which you don’t wish to, you just resent it,

Well I certainly don’t shop at Primark. One of the many reasons is their use of contemporary slavery but the quality isn’t there either. Oh I can afford several Birkin bags, as previously stated, I just chose not to as I think they are overpriced and not that attractive.

OP posts:
Cluelessfirstimer · 05/08/2026 20:59

Now im sure ive seen this very bag being sold on the beach at Blackpool for £7

www.google.com/search?q=ugly+birkins&client=ms-android-vf-gb-rvc3&hs=lziV&sca_esv=96de9828adab30a7&biw=360&bih=603&udm=28&sxsrf=APpeQnt08sw7n_bDsHl19kANVtysZuPHZA%3A1785959803423&ei=e5VzaoiwGdLrhbIPk7OnkQ8&oq=ugly+birkins&gs_lp=Ehxtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLW1vZGVsZXNzLXNob3BwaW5nIgx1Z2x5IGJpcmtpbnNI8CNQzwdY0CBwAngBkAEAmAGIAaABtQqqAQQxMy40uAEDyAEA-AEBmAIMoAL6BqgCB8ICChAAGLADGNYEGEfCAg0QABiABBiwAxhDGIoFwgIHECMYtAQYJ8ICChAAGIAEGEMYigXCAgcQABiABBgKwgIFEAAYgATCAgoQIxi0BBgnGOoCwgIGEAAYFhgemAMF8QU_7-LR_jZgtYgGAZAGEZIHAzkuM6AH2DayBwM3LjO4B-YGwgcEOS0xMsgHxtkGgAgA&sclient=mobile-gws-modeless-shopping#piu=ps:44&sv=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_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

DramaAlpaca · 05/08/2026 21:00

I do love a designer bag, mid-range only as I don't have Hermes sort of money, nowhere near and never will. But I do have a gorgeous copy of a bright yellow Birkin, made in an artisan shop in Marrakech from beautifully soft leather. It only cost €70 and I adore it.

KellyK2026 · 05/08/2026 21:03

DramaAlpaca · 05/08/2026 21:00

I do love a designer bag, mid-range only as I don't have Hermes sort of money, nowhere near and never will. But I do have a gorgeous copy of a bright yellow Birkin, made in an artisan shop in Marrakech from beautifully soft leather. It only cost €70 and I adore it.

From what I can see, a lot of the fakes are pretty good replicas nowadays. I don’t think anyone would be able to tell when you’re out and about.

OP posts:
Cluelessfirstimer · 05/08/2026 21:04

DramaAlpaca · 05/08/2026 21:00

I do love a designer bag, mid-range only as I don't have Hermes sort of money, nowhere near and never will. But I do have a gorgeous copy of a bright yellow Birkin, made in an artisan shop in Marrakech from beautifully soft leather. It only cost €70 and I adore it.

Nothing wrong with liking designer bags. I am with OP though on the ridiculous "club" of having to buy your way to be invited.

To me its a level of ridiculous. And I really dont think most of them are even nice.

But each to their own. Im definitely not their target market

Didimum · 05/08/2026 21:08

KellyK2026 · 05/08/2026 20:51

Oh come on. You must see how ridiculous it is to compare Nestle to Hermes. You’ve got a luxury handbag company vs a food company aimed at the general public. It’s not just me, plenty of people in the comments have said it’s ridiculous and distracts from the actual conversation. You’ve said there’s plenty of threads about Nestle so join them. This conversation has moved on from that.

Not one commenter ridiculed the comparison to Nestle or any other brand mentioned. Wishful thinking, perhaps.

KellyK2026 · 05/08/2026 21:09

Cluelessfirstimer · 05/08/2026 21:04

Nothing wrong with liking designer bags. I am with OP though on the ridiculous "club" of having to buy your way to be invited.

To me its a level of ridiculous. And I really dont think most of them are even nice.

But each to their own. Im definitely not their target market

I’m the same. I have the money but I really just don’t understand the appeal. I laugh at people who say it’s resentful. I used to model in my youth and I had some really wealthy men ask to buy me things like bags, I never took advantage because it’s not something that appeals to me at all. I think companies take the piss. I’d actually be angry if my DH came home with a Birkin because I’d think there was far better use for the money. But there you go, I also enjoy sitting down with a good book over shopping, so I’m clearly not their intended market.

OP posts:
KellyK2026 · 05/08/2026 21:10

Didimum · 05/08/2026 21:08

Not one commenter ridiculed the comparison to Nestle or any other brand mentioned. Wishful thinking, perhaps.

you still here?

OP posts:
PrimaniTu · 05/08/2026 21:16

@KellyK2026to answer your question they don’t have to be worth it. The Ecclestone & Kardashian sisters have practically every colour Birkin/Kelly under the sun. They’re not bothered about the price and are not pondering whether they’re worth the money.

You may think they’re expensive but there’s a whole host of billionaires/millionaires who like them all lined up on the shelves of their walk in wardrobe. Probably buy them just to look at them because they can.

You see to be giving them far too much head space: unless you’re in the market for one. Grin

KellyK2026 · 05/08/2026 21:21

PrimaniTu · 05/08/2026 21:16

@KellyK2026to answer your question they don’t have to be worth it. The Ecclestone & Kardashian sisters have practically every colour Birkin/Kelly under the sun. They’re not bothered about the price and are not pondering whether they’re worth the money.

You may think they’re expensive but there’s a whole host of billionaires/millionaires who like them all lined up on the shelves of their walk in wardrobe. Probably buy them just to look at them because they can.

You see to be giving them far too much head space: unless you’re in the market for one. Grin

I don’t doubt that the Kardashian’s have many Hermes bags. I saw an article the other day that said that the bags are being devalued because they are being bought by influencers, whereas before they were seen as bags for old money. I don’t know if that’s true but it’s interesting. Definitely not in the market for one. I genuinely don’t think they are nice looking bags even if I thought they were worth the cash.

OP posts:
EmpressStorm · 05/08/2026 21:22

wow. You find it crucial to tell people how yoire of a wealth bracket you can afford these bags, now about 6 times I think about how you’re in the financial category of people who could blow thousands on a bag.

it does read a bit try hard.

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