For many a fashion girlie, there’s a holy grail of must-have handbags: the Birkin Bag. Launched by Hermès in 1984 and inspired by actress Jane Birkin‘s cool girl style, the logo-free bag was an OG emblem of quiet luxury, slowly but surely becoming the purse everyone wanted to get their hands on. Unlike some luxury bags, Birkin owners have long been encouraged to truly live with their bags the way Birkin herself did (read: not be too precious with them). Today, the Birkin is iconic. And now, it has some competition. Forty years after the Birkin was first released, a modern icon is here and some are calling it the next Birkin. Meet The Row Margaux bag.
It might surprise some that the Margaux is the brainchild of tween stars and fashion icons Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen who founded The Row in 2006. The duo were some of the first millennial A-listers to wear luxury handbags in their daily lives, becoming infamous for being photographed with a well-loved Hermès Kelly in one hand and a ginormous Starbucks in the other.
As fan faves of roomy designer satchels, it makes sense that the pair would create their own modern version of it. And to say their own iteration of a luxury tote is popular is an understatement. The Row Margaux is consistently sold out online, burning up re-sale sites, and taking over TikTok. Below, everything you need to know about thee bag of our generation — including how you can get your hands on one.
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When did The Row’s Margaux bag launch?
Like the origin story of many It bags, chances are that when Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s brand first released the Margaux, they didn’t expect it to take off like it did. Launched in 2018, the bag has become a staple of The Row’s accessory collection, released every season in four sizes — 10, 12, 15, and 17 inches — and a variety of colour ways that sound as delectable as carrying the bag must feel, including black, mocha and cognac. The Margaux comes in everything from suede and leather to a canvas-leather combo.
The Margaux is spacious without being ludicrously capacious, structured but with an effortless slouch and just looks like a lived-in heirloom, even if you’ve just stepped out of the store. Like a Birkin, the Margaux has that effortless, achingly cool aesthetic that many spend a lot of money to attain. We just want to be like Jane!!! (And MK and Ashley, evidently.)
How much does The Margaux cost?
Money doesn’t buy happiness, but it can buy you a gorgeous bag. And when it comes to The Row Margaux, you’re going to need to spend a pretty penny. Depending on the size and textile, the bags start at around $4,000, with the Soft Margaux 10 Bag in leather (the smallest size) retailing for $4,720 CAD on The Row’s site. Comparatively, the Soft Margaux 17 in leather in the same colour-way is currently listed for $7,960 CAD.
But that’s only the start of it. Given how exclusive the handbag is (more on that below), the Margaux is also unsurprisingly elusive, making it a hot ticket item on fashion resale sites, sometimes selling for at least double the original price at upwards of $11,000 dollars. (If you feel like spending like a Kardashian today, the Soft Margaux 10 Bag in leather is available for a cool $11,691 CAD on Farfetch, with the suede version going for a very chill $15,315).
Who has carried the The Row Margaux Bag?
The Margaux has been spotted on the forearms of pretty much every fashion girlie and A-list celeb as of late; worn by celebs like Kendall Jenner, Zoë Kravitz (a fan and often walking poster girl for The Row), Elle Fanning, Harry Styles and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Most notably, the bag — alongside other staples of the luxe, minimalist brand — have been key to actress Jennifer Lawrence’s 2023 style rebrand, with the No Hard Feelings actress spotted toting it around NYC paired with her quiet luxury uniform of relaxed denim, supple cashmere knits and neutral trenches. And, according to Vogue, the Margaux’s elite fanbase is only growing.
OK, so how can I get one?
Just like the Birkin, The Row Margaux bag is elusive — or *ahem* exclusive. As mentioned, the bag is regularly sold out at most retailers, with its astronomical resale value making it the hottest product of the moment. In Canada, the bag is stocked at Ssense and Holt Renfrew, or can be purchased through The Row directly. The Margaux is currently sold out in all sizes across these sites, meaning your best bet it to keep your eyes peeled and keep checking resale sites like it’s your day job (and maybe befriend your local sales associate?).
But the fact that we can’t get our hands on the bag is kind of the point, right? It wouldn’t be an It bag if everyone carried it.
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The post Have the Olsen Twins Created the Next Birkin? appeared first on FASHION Magazine.
