Birkin style isn't just for women — now, swanky guys are grabbing the pricey haute bag

New York Post

3 days ago

Whether chillin' or workin', Jacob Godfrey's got his Birkin.
Much like the Hollywood hunks and A-list athletes who elevate their swag with the Hermès handbag, he's leading the charge in the 'Man Birkin' movement — a fashion-forward fad for the fellas.
'It complements my outfits, and it's really practical,' Godfrey, 33, of Fort Greene, told The Post, gushing over the $12,000, black box leather number he shares with wife, Sarah, 32, on days his looks need a splash of luxe.
Advertisement
15 Jacob Godfrey is among the men pairing bougie Birkin bags with their everyday attire.
Stefano Giovannini
'I dress more traditionally masculine,' said the digital marketing executive, 'and I carry a very beautiful bag.'
It's hard-to-get garniture that's no stranger to the spotlight — especially since the original Birkin sold for a historic $8 million at auction earlier this month.
Advertisement
Female fashionistas have fawned over the finery for decades, partly due to its show-stopping cameo on 'Sex and the City' in the early 2000s, crystallized by the echoing line 'It's not a bag, it's a Birkin.'
Diehard divas have even jet-setted overseas to snag the must-have directly from the Hermès flagship in France — which can cost an eye-watering $500,000.
15 An anonymous bidder from Japan paid a total $10 million for Jane Birkin's original bag, making it the most expensive handbag auction in history.
Getty Images
But now, the haute commodity is ascending as the accessory of the gods as macho men, from Gotham to Los Angeles and beyond, are toting the totes with neither shame nor fear of folks questioning their masculinity.
Advertisement
It's a sign of the times, says NYC stylist Turner Allen.
'Men have been embracing designer handbags over the past few years, partly for practical purposes, but mostly because they look really cool,' the pro, citing VIP bag boys like Jacob Elordi and Harry Styles, told The Post.
'They hold your s–t,' Allen added of the voguish sacks. 'You can put your wallet, car keys, water bottle in a Birkin and not your pants pockets.
Advertisement
'Pairing the bag with some vintage denim jeans, a T-shirt an oversized blazer offers a nice combination of smart-casual and formality.'
15 Godfrey, a marketing executive, exudes confidence while out and about with the bag.
Stefano Giovannini
Allen, the mastermind behind Style Turner, a premium men's styling consultancy, hailed the classy carryall for its subtle, yet unmistakable, panache.
He attributes its popularity amongst the gents, in part, to its understated chicness.
'Men are interested in signaling who they are and what they've accomplished through fashion,' the expert noted. 'What's more prestigious, expensive and rarified than a Birkin?'
And he's right on the money.
Musicians, such as Rihanna's beau, A$AP Rocky, known for unabashed rocking his black Hermès Kelly, and Travis Scott, a huge lover of the Haut à Courroies (HAC) bag, bring their Birkins out to play on any given day.
Grammy-nominated emcee Gunna was even gifted the coveted accoutrement for his 32nd birthday this summer.
Advertisement
15 A$AP Rocky boasts an ever-expanding fleet of snappy pocketbooks, including the Hermès Kelly.
jiujitsu / BACKGRID
15 Travis Scott is one of the many male bigwigs who like making bold style statements with their flashy bags.
GC Images
15 Floyd Mayweather has freely spent thousands on glamorous goodies from the French label.
Instagram
Boxing champ Floyd Mayweather recently dropped a reported $80,000 in 10 minutes on four bags — three 35-centimeter Birkins, one in yellow, two in different shades of green, and a 30-centimeter prize piece in black — as additions to his already impressive Hermès collection.
Advertisement
Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers, as well as Cardi B's New England Patriots-playing hun, Stefon Diggs, proudly sport their look-at-me masterpieces at major sporting events.
NBA ballers like Karl-Anthony Towns and Kyle Kuzma have been known to follow swank suit.
15 San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey gripped his $68,000 Birkin while walking into the stadium ahead of the 2024 Super Bowl.
Getty Images
15 Stefon Diggs and a number of top-tier sports figures frequently exhibit their love of Hermès holdalls.for Hermes
Advertisement
Steve Harvey, of 'Family Feud' fame, turned heads last month, finishing his outfit with a black Crocodile HAC Haut à Courroies — said to retail for approximately $100,000 — during Men's Fashion Week in Paris.
And Gay Paree is where Godfrey and Sarah nabbed their bag, a Birkin Sellier 30.
It was a celebratory purchase the newlyweds made while touring The City of Lights on their mini-honeymoon last fall.
15 A model struts the runway with a Birkin bag in tow during an Hermès fashion show in Paris.
Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
Advertisement
15 Game show icon Steve Harvey rocked the iconic bag while visiting France with wife, Marjorie, last month.
Aissaoui Nacer / SplashNews.com
15 Pro basketballer Kyle Kuzma is seen with his Birkin in Hudson Yards.
GC Images
15 Millennials Jacob and Sarah Godfrey bought the Birkin as a toast to their recent nuptials. As fashion enthusiasts, the couple regularly shares clothes, add-ons and outerwear.
Stefano Giovannini
15 Unlike other Birkin buffs, who keep their pricey purses under glass, they take their precious carryall everywhere, including on the subway.
Stefano Giovannini
And while Sarah's always dreamed of having a Birkin of her very own, she says splitting custody of the purse with her hubby, who takes it everywhere — from the subway to the park to after-work drinks with the guys — makes owning one a sweet experience.
'The Birkin is an item that a lot of people just sit on the shelf and look at,' she told The Post. 'But I want ours to be used and worn as much as possible, and I love seeing Jacob take part in that.'
Sarah, a fine-art specialist, is grateful that the once-distinct lines of gender norms in fashion are now blurred.
'We're losing the bifurcation of dressing,' she said. 'So, it seems natural that the men are now coming into our closet to grab the great things, like a Birkin, in the same way I borrow his ties, cufflinks, coats and jackets.
'It's only fair that the sharing goes both ways.'
15 Sarah tells The Post she's happy to share the timeless toggery with her honey.
Stefano Giovannini
15 Godfrey is often showered with praise for his unashamed, exquisite taste in accessories.
Stefano Giovannini
And Godfrey appreciates the freedom to grab the bag whenever.
'I get nothing but compliments, online and in-person, anytime I wear the Birkin,' he said. 'New York City is the epicenter of culture, style and ingenuity.
'And I'm glad that I can fully express myself through my style.'