Birkin's No Longer The 'It' Bag

Back in junior high when all the cool, rich girls were carrying “A” bags from Etienne Aigner, I carried a Bermuda bag. With their wooden handles and detachable canvas covers, these bags were the epitome of preppy. And preppy, with all of the whales and strawberries and alligators, was the epitome of nerdy. That’s me: a nerd with classic taste.

So even though I’ve just discovered that the Birkin is so last year, I still want one. Apparently understated elegance, classic design and long-lasting quality have become downright retro. It makes sense. We live in a fast-paced, celebrity-crazed, striving culture and we want bigger, better, blingier.

The newest “It” bag will be on display in the U.K. during London Jewelry Week from June 11-15. Retailing for a mere $1.63 million, it is crafted from pure platinum and encrusted with more than 2,000 diamonds. That’s approximately 208 carats. Move over Hermes. There’s a new bag in town!

The bag was created by a Japanese designer, Ginza Tanaka, the same company that brought us other basics like the 24 karat bathing suit and a diamond encrusted Hello Kitty that stands just over one inch tall.

The Tanaka bag is much too flashy for me. That means I won’t waste time lying awake at night wondering how I can afford it. Instead I’ll use that time to dream about my future Birkin. And in the meantime, I will still carry my Bermuda bag – but only in the summer and only on Cape Cod.

Being a nerd has its benefits.

~ Liz O’Donnell