Bringing Home the Birkin by Michael Tonello

I don’t know why I picked up this book, I don’t even own a purse. Perhaps it’s the influence of my sister, who cannot seem to go to a craft or antique show without buying one. It could just be wondering how “the other half” lives, those with more money than sense, who see nothing amiss in paying $18,000 for a handbag.
Subtitled My Life in Hot Pursuit of the World‘s Most Coveted Handbag , we follow the author as he moves to a new continent, starts a new business and travels the globe after the ultimate accessory. Originally a hair and makeup man in America, he literally strikes off in a new direction when an acquaintence offers him a job connected with jewelry in Barcelona, which evaporates after he has relocated. Needing to pay the rent, he sells some of his ‘extra’ cashmere sweaters on ebay. As he continues to raid his closets, he is delighted when a Hermes scarf sets off a bidding war and sells for twice what he paid for it. This opens the door to the hordes of well-to-do folks who collect designer wear.  Soon he’s traveling all over Europe to find scarves with designs not available in the U.S. His new enterprise is incredibly lucrative, plus allows him to wear pajamas to work after enjoying the Barcelona nightlife.
When a thank you note from scarf buyer and singer Carole Bayer Sager mentions a “Birkin”, he has no idea what it is. When he finds out, he’s astonished that a handbag would sell for the price of a small car. That, of course, has him plotting how to get a piece of the action. The mechanizations of how he accomplishes this, despite the “rarity” of the bags and difficulty of obtaining them provides an entertaining read.
“…I put the bag on the table and waited for it to do something. Surely these bags had some kind of magical powers. I knew now that I did–today, I was the Harry Potter of handbags.”
He deals with celebrities, desperate rich people, sneaky corporations and even a hostage situation. The book includes photos of half dozen Birkin bags, which left me puzzled at their appeal, even my sister was not impressed. Other than as objects of conspicuous consumption, I don’t understand the demand. But then, I don’t know much about what’s trendy; anything I know about fashion, I learned from episodes of “Sex and the City”.
The chicklit style  cover belies the savvy business sense of the author, who displays a quick sense of humor and doesn’t take the whole situation too seriously. Tonello’s breezy style and wry comments carry us along on his adventures, which makes the book a perfect combination of travelogue, sociology and fun.
William Morrow 2008   259 pp.   ISBN 978-0–06-147333-3