I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Victoria Beckham is as well known for her handsome husband as she is for her extravagant taste in fashion. But last night the UK’s Daily Mail reported that Posh owns 100 Hermès Birkin bags.

Sure I am envious. My dream is to own ONE Hermes Kelly or Birkin and the struggle to actually find one is as hard as forking over the cash to purchase the bag itself. The Birkin bag, named after actress Jane Birkin and designed by French fashion house Hermes, is iconic. The bag starts around $7,500 for a basic style and can go much higher for exotic skins. The wait list for the coveted bag has been closed by Hermes since demand has gotten so out of control, but a friend at a luxury goods company told me that the only way to purchase a Birkin, without being on the waiting list, is spending $100,000 in Hermes.  

Beckham is constantly photographed with a Birkin in every size, shape, and color and her collection is worth over $2 million. Posh carries luxurious versions in pink ostrich skin and glossy black crocodile, as well as the rare ‘Silver Himalayan’ style, which she received as a Christmas present from husband David, and at $120,000 comes complete with three-carat diamond. Victoria showed off the bag, one of only three in the world, as her husband David made his debut for AC Milan in Dubai. Nailing down the bag was even hard for the famous footie David, who purchased the gift in Los Angeles from one of the few powerful fashion buyers who could get one. In case you’re wondering, the waiting list for a Himalayan like Victoria’s has closed, with those already on it having to wait four years.

Victoria's rare 'Silver Himalayan' style Birkin

The bag, which was designed in 1984 by French fashion house Hermès and named after the actress Jane Birkin, is seen as a fashion classic. It follows in the footsteps of the 1935 Kelly bag – named after Princess Grace of Monaco because of her many appearances with it. The Birkin was allegedly created after the company’s CEO Jean Louis Dumas sat next to the actress on a Paris to London flight. Birkin had been discussing her difficulty in finding a leather weekend bag, explaining her ideal. Shortly after, the bag she described arrived at her flat with a note from Dumas.

The bag costs a small fortune, but is truly an ‘investment’ piece since it’s an item that will remain in style for years, if not decades. A spokeswoman for Hermès told The Daily Mail that the lengthy production times were due to a combination of the advanced craftsmanship involved in making the bag, and the limited availability of particular colors or skins. Communications director Fiona Rushton said: ‘If someone is looking for a classic Birkin bag – in a regular leather, color and size – the lead time is significantly lower. It is not and has never been, Hermès intention to create an artificial waiting list. All long lead times experienced by customers are the consequence of capacity limitations or shortage in certain types, sizes or colors of skins. Over the last few years, Hermès has embarked on an ambitious program of hiring and training new craftsmen (and women) … the production is now raising and we are happy to announce a significant reduction in lead time.’