Jennifer Lopez may want to be remembered for her days as a youth hanging in the streets of the Bronx, but these days she’s viewed as a luxury diva. Diva meaning she has no second thoughts of pairing a low-key lounge outfit with a $500,000 purse, which she was spotted doing in New York City recently.
The handbag seemed out of her seemingly extravagant collection of Hermès Birkin bags.
The $500K Birkin: Just the Tip of the Iceberg
J.Lo’s recent public appearance in NYC right before the debut of her new film “Atlas,” adorned with a rare Hermès Himalayan Niloticus Birkin bag estimated at a staggering $500,000, sparked widespread chitchat. It is merely one piece of her extensive collection, which experts estimate to be worth several million dollars, Page Six reported.
A Deep Dive into J.Lo’s Birkin Collection
Michael Tonello, a renowned fashion expert and author of the book of “Bringing Home the Birkin,” suggested to The New York Post that Lopez’s Birkin collection surpasses half a million dollars in value, and potentially several million dollars if ever auctioned.
“If J.Lo were to decide to sell her bags through a special auction at a major auction house I would guesstimate that you’d be looking at something in the area of several million dollars — minimum,” Tonello told The Post.
One other Birkin J.Lo has been spotted with — and she has been seen sporting many over the years — is a Cognac Crocodile Birkins, which, according to The New York Post, can run around $76,000.
In 2018, Lopez accessorized her outfit with a classic black Birkin to a taping of “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” A similar one was recently listed on a re-sale site for $32,000, The Post reported.
Hermès Birkin bags have been known to double in value in as little as five years.
Lopez’s collection boasts a variety of rare and classic Birkin styles, each with its own unique charm and hefty price tag.
The Hunt for Hermès
Acquiring a Birkin directly from Hermès is no easy feat, as the bags are notoriously difficult to come by and often reserved for VIP clientele.
“Acquiring any of these bags today at an Hermès store is quite complicated,” Tonello noted. “Not one of these bags would be out on the selling floor for you to purchase. These are all ‘back room’ bags, only available at the discretion of the sales associate or store manager.”
When the bag was launched in 1984, one could purchase a Birkin bag for an average of $2,000, but that price has skyrocketed over the years, showcasing a massive 500 percent increase. Today, the starting price of a new Hermès Birkin bag hovers around $8,500, according to Collectors Cage.
