I don’t know about you but, when I go on holiday, I have very strict rules about which packed items I’ll wear to the beach and which I’ll reserve for other, more elevated endeavours. Why? Sand. I hate the fact it gets everywhere, can make your clothes mucky in seconds and is sometimes rough enough to scuff soft sandals. As such, I wear only very lived in pieces to the beach, opting for bags with discernible holes so as not to take half the coastline back with me to my apartment or hotel. However, Kate Moss doesn’t appear to share the same concerns as I, especially in the bag department, as her latest look proves.
Taking a break from it all on the stunning Spanish island of Formentera, Moss was seen enjoying a day on a golden beach alongside daughter Lila and actress Jamie Winstone. A girl’s trip—so far, relatable. Then I noticed the bag on her arm.
Instead of opting for a mesh or net tote, Moss selected a Hermès Kelly bag to carry her essentials in for her day at the beach. Let me repeat that: she used one of the most exclusive handbags in the world as a beach bag. In fact, all of the brands bags are considered to be some of the hardest to get your hands on, with people willing to pay for the pleasure of owning one.
Last month, actress Jane Birkin’s, who the bag is named after, Hermès Birkin bag sold at auction for a cool £7 million, while new styles in classic colourways of black and tan just like Moss’s cost circa £30-35k. However, you can't just wander into any Hermès store and buy a Birkin or a Kelly, even if it is cash in hand. Unless you've got a healthy record of previous Hermès purchases and are open to taking any Kelly or Birkin offered to you (you might want a tan bag but the sales representative may only present you with pink as an option), chances are you won't make it past the brass threshold very far. That said, you can get your hands on a preloved style online for anything between £9k and £20k, depending on its condition and materials used.
Needless to say, while the supermodel has sparked many an iconic fashion moment in her time, this might top the lot.
Although many of us could only dream of owning a Hermès bag, for someone like Moss, who is and has been at fashion’s epicentre for decades, I can understand that, just like anything else that any of us become accustomed to, the novelty can wear off. If anything, it’s nice to see her not save her best arm candy for best, getting use of a bag that many would be too scared to remove from the safety of its dust bag and signature orange box.
However you feel about Kate Moss’s Hermès beach bag, one thing’s for sure—no one creates a fashion moment for the ages quite like her. If you're lucky enough 1) to be heading to an exotic beach anytime soon and 2) are in the market for a Hermès Kelly or Birkin bag, scroll below to shop my edit of preloved styles below.
Shop Preloved Hermès Kelly and Birkin Bags
The combination of suede and leather sets this style apart from the rest, making it all the more covetable.
Truly a specimen.
The combination of silver and charcoal will never date.
This style is especially rare as it's never, ever been used.
The addition of the scarf gives this Birkin a Riviera (dare I say beachy?) feel.
I'm shocked to find a black Kelly available at this price, in this condition.
Make every outfit a moment with a bright red Birkin.
A classic that surely won't hang around for long.
Another excellent preloved option.
This taupe colour is one of the most versatile hues you can own a handbag in.
