Why the Hermes Birkin Bag Costs So Much Money

I was recently reading an article about Victoria Beckham's style, and one of the things mentioned was her Hermes collection. The article also stated that she pays tens of thousands of dollars for each bag! I guess that's like pocket change for posh spice, but it made me think about the obscene price of these bags and why this is so.

If you look through eBay, the average Hermes Birkin bag costs between $7,000 and $12,000. And this is without any custom-made features! How can this be? It all comes down to craftmanship. Birkin bags are made out of the finest and most exotic leather and precious metal, and they are hand made by craftsmen in France. It actually takes around 48 hours just to make one, so this is why the waiting list is years long.

Typically, the exterior features of a Birkin bag are made out of leather or crocodile skin, but crocodile skin tends to cost way more because the saltwater crocodiles they use aren't easy to come by. The interior lining is manufactured from goat skin that is specially tanned to match the color of the exterior. The signature lock, keys, buckle, and feet studs that adorn the bags are also made with precious metals such as gold or palladium.

Despite the fact that an Hermes Birkin bag is expensive, I would still highly recommend purchasing one because it is one of the few bags that actually appreciates in value over time. Usually, a bag only retains resale value as long as it is considered to be an "it" bag. In this case, you can spend $5,000 on a brand new birkin and expect to resell it for a hefty profit.

Gisele Bundchen Has Literally Put Brazil on the Map

This Brazilian beauty is one of the most famous faces in the world, and she came from almost nothing to become a multi-millionaire mostly thanks to those looks. She was born Gisele Caroline Nonnenmacher Bündchen (but just Gisele is alright these days), in Tres de Maio, Brazil, and grew up in Horizontina, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. She has five sisters, including a fraternal twin named Patricia. Gisele originally intended to become a volleyball player, and even considered playing for the Brazilian national team. However, she enrolled in a modeling class at the age of 13 along with her sisters Gabriela and Patricia.

A year later, Gisele was discovered in a shopping mall by a modeling agent. She went on to compete in multiple modeling contests until 1996, when she ultimately moved to New York City and made her Fashion Week debut. Her first magazine cover was in the July 1999 issue of Vogue, and she proceeded to grace the cover of Vogue two more times, equaling three consecutive covers. This was just the tip of the iceberg. Gisele has been on the covers of more magazines than I could even begin to mention (as of now the grand total is over 500 worldwide covers).

All of this success has led to one thing...money, money, and more money. At an estimated net worth of over $150 million, Gisele Bündchen is the world's highest paid model. Aside from modeling, Gisele has been featured in two films. She was Serena in The Devil Wears Prada, and she played one of the main characters (Vanessa) in the film Taxi which co-starred Jimmy Fallon and Queen Latifah. She's also become a staple on the television show TMZ due to her relationship with New England Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady, as well as her previous relationships with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kelly Slater.

Thankfully though, it seems like all of the fame and fortune hasn't gotten to her head because here she is in NYC, hailing a cab just like the rest of us (although I'm sure she only had to wait for about a millisecond). The messenger bag she's carrying is the Besace by Yves Saint Laurent.

$1,995.00

Here we have the lovely couple out and about in Paris. Gisele looks très chic in a comfy beige sweater, gray skinny jeans, vintage leather boots, and a Christian Dior Gaucho tote.

$1,613.00

One of Gisele's best features in my opinion has got to be her facial bone structure. The Dolce & Gabbana shades she's wearing only highlight this fact.
$185.00

Half (actually most) of a supermodel's job is to look good in a pricey dress...and Gisele never disappoints. I'm pretty sure that jaws fell to the ground when everyone saw her in this body-hugging Versace gown at the 2008 Met's Costume Institute Gala.

...And here she is doing her thing at a Christian Dior couture runway show.

Anne Hathaway is the Face of Regal Elegance

It seems like destiny that Anne Hathaway has had such an amazing acting career because she was aptly named after William Shakespeare's wife! Well...destiny and talent. She was born in Millburn, New Jersey on November 12, 1982 to a lawyer and an actress, which probably explains why she's so good. It's in her genes. However, Anne also possesses another quality that a lot of Hollywood stars don't...intelligence. Anne Hathaway has attended Vassar and New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study, which is probably why she's so eloquent and well-spoken during all of her interviews.

Besides acting, Anne is also a well-trained soprano vocalist. In fact, she famously had to turn down the starring role in the Phantom of the Opera movie (which ultimately went to Emmy Rossum) because of contract disputes with Disney. Anyway, Hathaway landed her first big break in the acting world when she was cast in the TV series Get Real. The show ended up getting cancelled, but she went on to star in the movie The Other Side of Heaven along with Christopher Gorham. After that, she earned the role of Mia Thermopolis in The Pricess Diaries, which is the role that made her a star.

She then went on to star in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, Havoc, Brokeback Mountain, The Devil Wears Prada, Becoming Jane, and Get Smart. Although I loved her in all of these films, my personal favorite was The Devil Wears Prada. The funny thing is that I remember her talking about how she thinks she lacks personal style, so the movie was a bit of a learning experience for her. I have to disagree with her because I think her "lack of personal style" is actually the best kind of style because it allows her to dress more freely and really express herself through her fashion.

For example, here she is at an event celebrating Valentino, wearing none other than Valentino. Each of the three dresses does an excellent job of drawing attention to her porcelain complexion.

Here she is, in a pair of funky sunglasses by Jee Vice. This look reminds me of a modern Audrey Hepburn mixed with a bit of Edie Sedgwick.

$225.00

Anne Hathaway looked beyond stunning in a red Marchesa gown at the 2008 Oscars. Again, the combination of the bright red dress and her jet black hair really makes her clear skin pop.

Of course I couldn't discuss Anne Hathaway and fashion without mentioning her looks in The Devil Wears Prada. Here's a picture snapped of the actress while she was in character as Andrea "Andy" Sachs. She's wearing a Kristina Ti tweed miniskirt, Chanel jacket, and Chanel thigh-high boots. ...And here another shot of Anne ("Andy") in a DKNY turtleneck, a leather jacket by Vince, darkwash jeans from Japanese Fabric, and suede stiletto boots by Calvin Klein.

The Daytime Emmys...Who Were the Real Winners?

Well it's that time of year again...not just Emmy season, but DAYTIME Emmy season! If you're like me and you revel in the drama and intrigue of afternoon TV, then last night was a pretty big deal. Ellen won her 9878th Emmy, Tyra won her first, and Regis got a hilarious Lifetime Achievement award presented by Jimmy Kimmel. The night's hosts were All My Children and Dancing with the Stars' Cameron Mathison and The View's Sherri Shepherd. They were pretty funny, too.

All in all it was a very good night, but of course the best part was the fashion. It's customary to pick a best dressed female, then male, and then worst dressed female, then male. However, I'm not very good at picking just one, so I'll try to keep it short and sweet.

Let me start with everyone's favorite couple: Ellen DeGeneres and Portia DeRossi. I've seen these two on more red carpets than I care to remember, and their fashion formula still remains the same. Ellen wears something very masculine and semi-formal, while Portia wears a stunning and flowing gown that gets her on everyone's best dressed list. This time however, Portia chose a very bland green dress that wasn't at all up to her standard.

Next, we have miss Tyra Banks, who gave one of the most memorable acceptance speeches of all time. I was so happy she won that I forgave her blond hair and oversized gown.
Guiding Light's Marcy Rylan (Lizzie) wore one of my favorite gowns of the night. The way it's white on top and then suddenly splashes in blue color on the bottom kinda reminds me of Gwen Stefani's wedding dress. Compare for yourself.

Although there were lots of fantastic looks throughout the night, I have to say that my top dresses were worn by All My Children's Susan Lucci and The Young and the Restless' Adrienne Frantz.

Honorary mention goes to Reno 911's Niecy Nash for wearing a bold yellow gown that was slimming, flattering, and stunning, and The Young and the Restless' Greg Rikaart for wearing a scarf in the scalding Los Angeles heat!

Miley Cyrus is the Most Famous Teenager in the Universe

Miley Cyrus's real name is Destiny Hope Cyrus, but her parents famously changed it to 'Miley' because she smiled a lot as a child. Get it? Smiley - "S" = Miley. Anyway, Miley Cyrus is a singer, actress, and songwriter, but she didn't officially reach teen phenom status until the start of her hit show Hannah Montana. In the show, she plays a teenager creatively named Miley Stewart, who lives a double life as a superstar pop singer named Hannah Montana. It's a bit contrived, but hey, Disney tweens aren't exactly an astute bunch.

However, I suppose Miley deserves a little bit of credit for her acting chops because she's guest starred on her father's (that's Billy Ray Cyrus just in case you're living on the moon) TV series Doc, and she played Ruthie in Tim Burton's Big Fish. But thanks to her role on Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus has been firmly established as a powerhouse in the pop industry. She's released two albums (Hannah Montana and Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus), and her Best of Both Worlds tour with the Jonas Brothers was so popular, a ticket could've easily set you back thousands of dollars!

Miley and her family are such good role models that it's hard not to be happy for all of their success. The "good girl" image that has made Miley rich also transcends into her fashion. She's very well dressed, but she doesn't try to look like an exotic dancer on the red carpet like Paris Hilton.

For example, check her out in a white Dorothy Perkins top, darkwash skinny jeans, and a pair of suede Uggs.

Here she is imitating one of the Olsen twins with an eclectic mixture of patterns and colors all worn at once with a pair of Azzedine Alaia gladiator sandals.

$1,124.00

Despite the fact that she's only 15 years old, Miley Cyrus has become an expert at the art of getting glamorous for a swanky event and making herself look waaaayyy older than she really is. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. Anyway, she absolutely dazzled at the 2008 Oscars in a red Valentino gown, Neil Lane jewelry, and a clutch by Mary Norton.

...And again at the 2008 Grammys in a vintage-looking white dress by Celine and shoes by Sergio Rossi.

Madonna is a Fashion Pioneer for the Ages

She needs only one name... Madonna. Actually, it's Madonna Louise Ciccone Ritchie. She has as many names as she has things going on in her hectic schedule! She's a musician, dancer, record producer, writer, actress, and mother. Madonna was born in Detroit, but she relocated to New York City to become a ballet dancer. It was there where Madonna found her true passion of singing and dancing on stage. In 1983, she released her self-titled debut album, and the rest is history.

She went on to have three consecutive number one albums on the Billboard 100, and then to sell over 200 million albums worldwide. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) named her the Best Selling Female Rock Artist of the Twentieth Century, and Guiness World Records has her as the world’s most successful female recording artist of all time, with a net worth of over $400 million.

Although her musical career has brought her many accolades, I most remember her for single-handedly starting an entire fashion movement in the 80s. Phase I of the Madonna Movement involved wearing layers of bracelets, fishnet gloves, miniskirt over leggings, head bands, and bleach blonde hair with dark roots. Phase II is more commonly known as the Like a Virgin look, and it involved wearing huge crucifix jewelry, lace gloves, boy toy belts, tulle skirts, corsets worn as outerwear, and LOTS of makeup. You can still see traces of this look in today's fashion since head bands and leggings are back, but the intensity of the 80s fad has thankfully passed.

Phase I

Phase II

These days, Madonna is all over the news because of her rumored divorce from hubby Guy Ritchie. Oh well, they had a nice run. They have a son together, Rocco, Madonna adopted second son Mwale from Malawi, and Madonna already had daughter Lourdes from a previous relationship with trainer Carlos Leon. Check out this photo of Madonna with her three kids.

Madonna recently teamed up with the retail store H&M to create a line of clothing aptly named M by Madonna. Below is a sample of some handbags from the collection, which are reasonably priced at less than $200.00.Here she is sporting a chic pair of Christian Dior sunglasses.

$350.00

...And she looked absolutely flawless at the 2007 Vanity Fair Oscars After Party in a sleek and elegant black gown.

RIP Yves Sait Laurent

Yves Henri Donat Mathieu Saint Laurent, aka Yves Saint Laurent was a French fashion designer who I personally consider to be one of the greatest visionaries in high fashion. I use past tense because he just recently passed away on June 1, 2008 from brain cancer. Yves Saint Laurent was born in Oran, Algeria, where he acquired a fashion sense from his mother and friends. He first studied at the Chambre Syndicale, and then he went to work for French designer Christian Dior at the age of 17.

When Saint Laurent was only 21 years old however, Christian Dior passed away and left Saint Laurent in charge of saving the House of Dior from going bankrupt. It wasn't until 1962 when he was finally released from Christian Dior, and he and his lover (Pierre Bergé) began their very own fashion house. During the 60s and 70s, the couple brought many fashion trends into the mainstream, including safari jackets, the beatnik look, thigh-high boots, tight pants, and women's tuxedos. Saint Laurent was the first to popularize the idea of wearing silhouettes from the 20s, 30s, and 40s (which we still do today). He also introduced ready-to-wear clothing lines, with Rive Gauche. But above all, Yves Saint Laurent was the very first to employ black models in his runway shows.

In 1999, Gucci bought the Saint-Laurent brand, and designer Tom Ford was asked to design the ready-to-wear collection, while Yves Saint Laurent designed the haute couture line himself. After Ford left in 2004, Stefano Pilati was left to design the prêt-à-porter (ready-to-wear) line.

As I've already mentioned, YSL is one of my absolute favorite designers, and I get inspired everytime I look at one of his pieces. Let's start with the YSL Tribute shoe and handbag. Here are Halle Berry and Drew Barrymore, sporting black patent leather Tribute bags. I'm not gonna lie, I paid more attention to the bag than who was carrying it. That's how spectacular it is.

$1,395.00

...And then there's the YSL Tribute shoe. I almost shed a tear when I first saw these because they're that gorgeous. Jessica Alba, Paula Abdul, UK singer Jamelia, and Victoria Beckham seem to agree with me.

$660.00

Here is an image from the Yves Saint Laurent Fall 2008 New York City runway show by designer Stefano Pilati.

And this is an image from the YSL Spring/Summer 2004 Rive Gauche collection. This would be Tom Ford's final spring/summer show for Yves Saint Laurent.

Although the House of Yves Saint Laurent is no more, the label still lives on thanks to celebrities and red carpet events where the designer's brilliant work will eternally be showcased. Check out two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank in a stunning white YSL dress at the P.S. I Love You premiere. And who could forget Nicole Kidman in the flapper-style YSL dress at the 2004 Golden Globes?