Marissa Elman | Fashion & Photography

Marissa Elman is a lifelong lover of fashion and photography.

History of the Birkin Bag

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Jennifer Lopez, Eva Longoria, Alessandra Ambrosio, Kim Kardashian West and Sofia Vergara are just a few of the many celebrities who have been photographed carrying beautiful Birkin bags.

The iconic handbag is defined by its glamorous but humble beginnings when model Jane Birkin and Hermès chief executive Jean-Louis Dumas met by chance on an airplane ready for departure. The year was 1981, and Ms. Birkin’s overstuffed straw bag tumbled out of the overhead compartment spilling its contents on top of her.

Mr. Dumas saw it all and became inspired to “build” a better bag for women everywhere. In 1984, the stylish, practical, rectangular Hermès Birkin bag debuted at $2,000, and it was ideal for traveling, chic and came with plenty of room for storage. Word has it that the model drew her idea of the perfect handbag on a disposable airplane sickness bag for the designer.

Today, the Birkin bag is a wise and elegant investment for fashionable women. The handbag is a classic that gains in value each passing year. For example, Christie’s Auction in Hong Kong sold the most pricey handbag ever. The winning bid brought in a colossal $379,261 for the brand’s Himalayan bag.

Over the years, Hermès bags have been associated with the popular girls of society like actress Grace Kelly. That sophisticated handbag from the Hermès collection was nicknamed the Kelly because the former Monaco princess carried it everywhere. It achieved instant status due to Grace Kelly’s celebrity.

The Birkin bag, however, is constructed with a unique anatomy that gives it a spectacular following. The Birkin resembles a tote and comes with classy features like a lock and key to ensure all contents remain inside the bag. The design also enables the handbag to stand up on its own with four feet or clou at the bottom of the bag.

The Birkin bag provides a clouchette or leather cover for keys, and on the inside of the bag is one open pocket and a zipped pocket.

These days, Birkin bags aren’t cheap; they range in retail price from $11,900-$150,000 and come in a choice of gorgeous colors and six types of leather. Resale prices can reach up to $230,000 for one.

The Birkin bag has undeniable sex appeal and never gets old.

Want Free Makeup? Sign Up For These Rewards Programs

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Want Free Makeup- Sign Up For These Rewards Programs

Beauty products are very well known for coming in small packages with large price tags. With that in mind, like most people you probably would love any rewards program that can alleviate some of that financial burden. These programs offer many perks which include free products after a period of time. Take a look of some of the beauty store rewards programs you might want to sign up for.

 
Sephora: Sephora’s Beauty Insider

Sephora is one of the most popular beauty stores, and they have a wonderful multi-leveled rewards program that benefits its’ customers’ spending. At Level one requires a small amount of purchasing to reach and it rewards you with a free birthday gift and beauty classes that teach things about makeup and other beauty topics. As you continue up the levels such as VIB and VIB Rogue you will be able to enjoy perks such as free and exclusive gifts, seasonal discounts, promo codes, and one free custom makeover. Along with that, you can also expect to receive free two-day shipping, a private hotline to answer all your beauty questions, and invitations to private parties and product launches.

 

M.A.C: M.A.C Select (Back to M.A.C)

M.A.C is another popular store with a great program that has numerous benefits that are beyond the basic free shipping, free samples, and anniversary gift. They also have the Back to M.A.C program where you receive a free lipstick, or eyeshadow, or gloss if you join the M.A.C Select program by returning original packaging for six M.A.C products to your local store. Other rewards include a free 30-minute makeup application, first glimpse at new collections, and free two-day shipping on orders of $50 and more when you spend $150 within the year. Now if you decide to go all in and spend $500 in a year, you will receive two 60-minute makeup applications, early access to new collections, and an even better anniversary gift.

 

Ulta: Ulta’s Ultimate Rewards

Ulta’s Ultimate Rewards program has a great points system that allows you to be rewarded for each dollar your spend. For every dollar spent, whether in-store or online, you receive a point. These points can be saved and redeemed for virtually any product in the store. You will also receive email offers where you can earn the double, triple, and even quadruple the amounts of points you would normally earn. During your birthday month, you can earn double the points when you make a purchase as well as a free birthday gift. Also when you spend $450 in a year, you can go up to the Platinum level where you will earn 1.25 expiration proof points, along with a ten dollar coupon to go with your free birthday present.

 

Sally Beauty: Sally Beauty Club

This one might seem a bit unpopular as unlike most other beauty rewards programs which are free, Sally Beauty’s Sally Beauty Club has a five dollar fee. However, the upside to that is that as soon as you sign up, they spot you with five dollars, so it’s almost like signing up for free. They also offer many great perks such as a fifteen percent discount when you spend $25 in a month.