Basic Chic: Strappy and Twisted

Good morning! It’s been quite the crazy week (not only with me but also with the entire world, apparently!) so I do apologize for the erratic schedule in the updates here.

Did you hear yesterday’s big fashion news about one of the most covetable handbags? Jane Birkin – the British actress who’s the muse behind the iconic Hermès Birkin bag – has asked the Hermès to remove (or according to her words, verbatim, “debaptise”) her name from the handbags – specifically the crocodile-skin ones – after learning a recent PETA discovery of disturbingly cruel practices used in the Birkin production at an alligator farm in Texas, including slaughtering the reptiles while they’re still conscious and able to feel pain (by the way, it takes two to three crocodiles to make just one handbag).

A quick refresher course on the Birkin: The Birkin bag is considered the epitome of Hermès exclusivity and a clear marker of one’s wealthy status. To acquire a Birkin bag, customers must be invited by the French luxury house, and the waiting list can extend for months – even years. The design was first conceived in 1984 when Jane Birkin sat next to then-Hermès chairman Jean-Louis Dumas on a plane and complained about not being able to find a bag that suited her. Not long afterwards, the Birkin bag became an instant classic, vied by celebrities, wealthy women, and hopeful fashionistas alike. Recently in Hong Kong, a fuschia diamond-studded Birkin bag crafted from (surprise, surprise) crocodile skin set the record for the most expensive bag sold at auction, ringing up a price of nearly $222,000.

I’ve been lucky enough to play around with a couple of Birkin bags, and to be completely honest, I didn’t find them at all too impressive. In terms of sensibility and function, it just doesn’t cut it for me. It’s not the most attractive bag in terms of design, and it lends a bulky feel on the arms. My biggest gripe with it is perhaps the closure – it presents way too much of a hassle, especially for that price tag! As much as I love fashion, I see it as an art mixed with functionality, and I’m a big believer that being “fashionable” goes beyond the price tag of the clothes and accessories on your body. Sometimes, simplicity is best, and when worn correctly, the simple items can look like a million dollars on you.  Today’s look, for example, consists of basics – denim jacket, white top, jeans, sneakers – but it’s sensible and comfortable enough (without sacrificing on style!) to lounge in every day. Little details like a peekaboo strappy bralette and twisted draping from my Wearall blouse provide that extra polish, making sure that an outfit from head to toe that totals less than $100 is neither boring nor aesthetically cheap.

As always, thank  you so much for reading! Have a great rest of your week!

Top: c/o Wearall
Jeans: American Eagle
Jacket: Forever 21
Bralette: Victoria’s Secret (love this and this!)
Shoes: Kurt Geiger (love this and this!)
Bag: 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target (similar)