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Time of India
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Inside the $10 million handbag: Why Jane Birkin's Hermès purse made auction history
The black leather Birkin bag by Hermès is scuffed, scratched, and stained, but it's now the priciest handbag ever sold, as per a report. Black Leather Birkin Sets New Auction Record at $10 Million The handbag owned by the late British actress and singer Jane Birkin sold for a record price of €8.6 million (around $10 million) at a Sotheby's online sale on Thursday, including fees, as reported by CNN Style. The hammer price was €7 million ($8.2 million), which went on for a 10-minute bidding battle between nine collectors, according to the report. The successful buyer was a Japanese private collector, reported CNN Style. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Top 25 Most Beautiful Women In The World Articles Vally Undo ALSO READ: Google killer? Perplexity's Comet browser is blowing minds – features, free tools and why it might replace Chrome The Story Behind the Iconic Birkin Bag This wasn't any designer handbag, it was the first Birkin, the first one ever produced for the actress and singer in 1985 and used by her almost daily for almost a decade, and has now become the ultimate symbol of luxury, as per the CNN Style report. Live Events The concept of the Birkin bag was conceived on an aeroplane from Paris to London in 1984, according to the report. Jane Birkin was sitting next to former Hermès chairman Jean-Louis Dumas and shared with him that she couldn't find a purse spacious enough to suit her needs and had taken to carrying a large wicker basket, which accidentally fell on Dumas during the flight, as reported by CNN Style. During an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour in 2020, Jane Birkin shared that she wanted a bag 'half the size of my suitcase,' as quoted in the report. Then she recalled that, 'He said, 'Well, draw it for me,' and so I drew it on one of those sick bags — the vomit bags — in the airplane,' as quoted in the report. Later Hermès delivered the bag to her in 1985 and gifted her four more over the course of her life, and she also received royalties from the name but reportedly donated them each year to charities, as reported by CNN Style. ALSO READ: AWS just crushed Vertiv? Stock tanks over 6% after Amazon's bold cooling move Jane Birkin's Legacy Lives Through the Bag She passed away in 2023 at the age of 76, but she had jokingly predicted that people would remember her best for inspiring the coveted, capacious style, which has become one of the most recognisable and expensive accessories one can buy, and said, 'Bless me, when I'm dead… (people) will possibly only talk about the bag,' as quoted in the CNN Style report. Sotheby's global head of handbags and accessories, Morgane Halimi, said that it was a historic sale and 'an important milestone' for the history of fashion and luxury, according to the report. Halimi highlighted that, 'It is a startling demonstration of the power of a legend and its capacity to ignite the passion and desire of collectors seeking exceptional items with unique provenance,' as quoted by CNN Style. ALSO READ: This AI rocket stock just posted 400% growth, and it's powered by Nvidia's engine A Milestone for Fashion and Collectors Before the sale took place, Halimi pointed out that, 'It is incredible to think that a bag initially designed by Hermès as a practical accessory for Jane Birkin, has become the most desirable bag in history and will most likely continue to be so for many years to come,' as quoted in the report. While the earlier record for the most expensive handbag was set by a diamond and crocodile Kelly bag at $513,040, reported CNN Style. FAQs Did Jane Birkin actually use this bag? Yes. She used it nearly every day from 1985 to 1994, which explains its worn condition. Who bought Jane Birkin's bag at auction? A private collector from Japan won the bidding war, as per the CNN Style report.
Economic Times
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Inside the $10 million handbag: Why Jane Birkin's Hermès purse made auction history
Black Leather Birkin Sets New Auction Record at $10 Million The Story Behind the Iconic Birkin Bag Live Events Jane Birkin's Legacy Lives Through the Bag A Milestone for Fashion and Collectors FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The black leather Birkin bag by Hermès is scuffed, scratched, and stained, but it's now the priciest handbag ever sold, as per a handbag owned by the late British actress and singer Jane Birkin sold for a record price of €8.6 million (around $10 million) at a Sotheby's online sale on Thursday, including fees, as reported by CNN Style. The hammer price was €7 million ($8.2 million), which went on for a 10-minute bidding battle between nine collectors, according to the report. The successful buyer was a Japanese private collector, reported CNN READ: Google killer? Perplexity's Comet browser is blowing minds – features, free tools and why it might replace Chrome This wasn't any designer handbag, it was the first Birkin, the first one ever produced for the actress and singer in 1985 and used by her almost daily for almost a decade, and has now become the ultimate symbol of luxury, as per the CNN Style concept of the Birkin bag was conceived on an aeroplane from Paris to London in 1984, according to the report. Jane Birkin was sitting next to former Hermès chairman Jean-Louis Dumas and shared with him that she couldn't find a purse spacious enough to suit her needs and had taken to carrying a large wicker basket, which accidentally fell on Dumas during the flight, as reported by CNN an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour in 2020, Jane Birkin shared that she wanted a bag 'half the size of my suitcase,' as quoted in the report. Then she recalled that, 'He said, 'Well, draw it for me,' and so I drew it on one of those sick bags — the vomit bags — in the airplane,' as quoted in the Hermès delivered the bag to her in 1985 and gifted her four more over the course of her life, and she also received royalties from the name but reportedly donated them each year to charities, as reported by CNN READ: AWS just crushed Vertiv? Stock tanks over 6% after Amazon's bold cooling move She passed away in 2023 at the age of 76, but she had jokingly predicted that people would remember her best for inspiring the coveted, capacious style, which has become one of the most recognisable and expensive accessories one can buy, and said, 'Bless me, when I'm dead… (people) will possibly only talk about the bag,' as quoted in the CNN Style global head of handbags and accessories, Morgane Halimi, said that it was a historic sale and 'an important milestone' for the history of fashion and luxury, according to the report. Halimi highlighted that, 'It is a startling demonstration of the power of a legend and its capacity to ignite the passion and desire of collectors seeking exceptional items with unique provenance,' as quoted by CNN READ: This AI rocket stock just posted 400% growth, and it's powered by Nvidia's engine Before the sale took place, Halimi pointed out that, 'It is incredible to think that a bag initially designed by Hermès as a practical accessory for Jane Birkin, has become the most desirable bag in history and will most likely continue to be so for many years to come,' as quoted in the the earlier record for the most expensive handbag was set by a diamond and crocodile Kelly bag at $513,040, reported CNN She used it nearly every day from 1985 to 1994, which explains its worn condition.A private collector from Japan won the bidding war, as per the CNN Style report.
Global News
24-06-2025
- Business
- Global News
Jeff Bezos wedding: What we know so far about the Venice nuptials
As tech billionaire Jeff Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sanchez prepare for their upcoming nuptials in Venice, Italy, some details about the lavish wedding event have been revealed — and some residents say they are concerned about the scale of the event. Representatives for the couple are remaining relatively tight-lipped about the wedding, which is set for later this month, with one guest reportedly telling CNN Style that attendees had to sign an NDA. Despite the secrecy and mystery of it all, there's still plenty to unpack. The multi-day function is being run by boutique event planners Lanza and Baucina, the Italian duo behind George and Amal Clooney's 2014 wedding. View image in full screen George and Amal Clooney leave the Palazzo Ca Farsetti on a taxi boat on Sept. 29, 2014, in Venice, after a civil ceremony to officialize their wedding. AFP PHOTO / PIERRE TEYSSOT (Photo by PIER PIERRE TEYSSOT / Getty Images The vendors Bezos and Sanchez are reportedly hiring mostly local suppliers, with 80 per cent of wedding vendors said to be from the area. Story continues below advertisement On that list are pastries from the city's oldest patisserie, Rosa Salva, which has been run by the same family for nearly 150 years. Its owner, Antonio Rosa Salva, has been commissioned to make 'about 200 goodie bags' for wedding guests, and says he is accustomed to preparing orders of up to 1,000 baked goods. Laguna B, a design studio known for its distinctive hand-blown Murano glass prized by fashion and design clients, was also tapped by the couple, The Associated Press reported. Meanwhile, about 30 of Venice's 280 high-end water taxis are believed to have been reserved by the couple for the event, according to NBC. One driver told CNN he is booked from June 25 to 30 for 'a big wedding,' but did not elaborate. Story continues below advertisement In addition, the city's nine yacht ports are believed to be booked for the duration of the event, and both of Bezos' yachts, Koru and Abeona, are currently in the Adriatic Sea, the body of water on which Venice is situated, according to a marine traffic website. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The city's airspace will reportedly be closed to drones and unauthorized air traffic, though contingencies have been made for private helicopters and high-profile individuals who travel with security details, such as senior political leaders. View image in full screen Koru and Abeona, Jeff Bezos' yachts, are seen on June 13, 2023, in Portofino, Italy. Robino Salvatore / Getty Images The venue Little is known about the wedding day itself, with organizers keeping information about potential venues under wraps. Media reports have indicated that several venues are on hold, and that one will be selected based on factors such as protests and weather, a person close to Venice City Hall said. Story continues below advertisement There is speculation that the Cini Foundation on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore could be the spot to host the wedding. The monumental complex has previously held grand gatherings, including G7 events and private concerts. View image in full screen Helicopter aerial view of the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore, a small island located opposite St. Mark's Square in Venice, Italy. Fabrizio Villa / Getty Images The guests While the guest list has been kept hush-hush, social media posts from the bride's Parisian bachelorette party last month may provide a glimpse of insight. Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Katy Perry and Eva Longoria all appeared in photographs shared by Sanchez on Instagram. Among the 200 guests are Oprah Winfrey, Mick Jagger and Ivanka Trump, according to The Associated Press. According to NBC, only three or four hotels will be used to accommodate those attending the event, which is reportedly set to begin preliminary festivities on June 24. Story continues below advertisement The protests Some locals are expressing concern over the scale of the festivities in a city already swarmed by tourism. Last week, activists in Venice gathered to organize protests on June 26, 27 and 28 — the dates of the wedding — over the risk of disruptions. Large banners, graffiti and stickers were displayed all around the city that read 'No Space for Bezos' with an image of a spaceship, seemingly making reference to Bezos's ownership of Blue Origin, a U.S.-based space technology company. View image in full screen Activists gathered in Campo San Giacomo di Rialto to organize protests against his wedding, taking place in Venice on June 26, 27 and many details surrounding the upcoming nuptials have remained secret, one Venice resident told the New York Times that 'we have our moles.' Story continues below advertisement Federica Toninello, a protest organizer, told the paper that one of the venues could be The Misericordia, a large space dedicated to culture and events in Venice. 'Bezos will never get to the Misericordia,' she said. 'We will line the streets with our bodies, block the canals with lifesavers, dinghies and our boats.' 'Let's make sure that Venice is not remembered as a postcard venue where Bezos had his wedding but as the city that did not bend to oligarchs,' Na Haby Stella Faye, another protester, told the outlet. 'We have a chance to disrupt a $10-million wedding — let's do it,' she said. The city says it is accustomed to hosting large-scale events and crowds, with some 20 million tourists flocking to Venice every year. 'The city is fully accustomed to hosting high-profile events of this nature and scale, including other celebrity weddings, international summits such as the G7 and G20, as well as traditional events like the Festa del Redentore and the Venice Biennale,' it said in a statement. 'Protest initiatives are in no way representative of the majority of citizens, who are proud that Venice has been chosen as the wedding location,' the statement concluded. Despite the backlash, Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said that Venice is honoured to host the wedding. Story continues below advertisement 'We are very proud,' Brugnaro told AP, saying he hoped he would get the chance to meet Bezos. 'I don't know if I will have time, or if he will, to meet and shake hands, but it's an honour that they chose Venice. Venice once again reveals itself to be a global stage.' In March, Brugnaro told People magazine that reports the couple had booked out a large number of hotel suites and city services, including gondolas, were false. 'We are mutually working and supporting the organizers to ensure that the event will be absolutely respectful of the fragility and uniqueness of the city,' he told the outlet. 'The many speculations and fake news circulating about Jeff Bezos' wedding are completely unfounded,' the city added in a statement, saying that it 'is their utmost priority to make sure the city functions as normal, for all, with no abnormal disruption to anyone,' he concluded. — With files from The Associated Press and Global News' Katie Scott
USA Today
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Thousands locked out of the Louvre as museum workers strike over 'unmanageable crowds'
Thousands locked out of the Louvre as museum workers strike over 'unmanageable crowds' Show Caption Hide Caption Paris Louvre closure leaves thousands waiting The Louvre Museum in Paris delayed its opening on Monday, leaving thousands of visitors stranded in long lines outside the iconic glass pyramid. Euronews Culture The Louvre Museum in Paris, home to Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa and other priceless works of art, was forced to open later than expected because of a labor strike on Monday, June 16. Thousands of visitors, including Kevin Ward of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, lined the plaza near I.M. Pei's glass pyramid, tickets in hand, with no clear explanation for why the museum had closed its doors to the public without warning, CNN Style reported. "It's the Mona Lisa moan out here," Ward said in an interview with the Associated Press. "Thousands of people waiting, no communication, no explanation. I guess even she needs a day off." According to reporting syndicated by CNN Style, the "spontaneous" demonstration occurred during a routine internal meeting, when the museum's employees, from gallery attendants to security personnel, refused to take their posts in protest of "unmanageable crowds, chronic understaffing." Talks between the museum's employees and management began at a 10:30 a.m. local time and continued into the early afternoon, with the Louvre reopening at approximately 2:30 p.m. The museum confirmed to USA TODAY in a statement that it "remained closed this morning" due to a social movement but opened for the day at 2:30 p.m. local time. The Louvre declined to offer additional information. The temporary closure comes months after French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a 10-year plan to revitalize the cultural behemoth and ultimately save it from ruin, brought on by outdated infrastructure. "We can't wait six years for help. Our teams are under pressure now. It's not just about the art — it's about the people protecting it," Sarah Sefian, a spokesperson for CGT-Culture, a labor union advocating for the rights of cultural workers in France, told the Associated Press in an interview. "What began as a scheduled monthly information session turned into a mass expression of exasperation." The Louvre requested government assistance in January, report says A week before Macron announced the renovation project, museum leadership reached out to the government to ask for its help. Laurence des Cars, Louvre President, warned officials that the centuries-old building was in a dire state, characterized by water leaks and "worrying temperature swings which endanger the conservation of works of art," according to reporting from Reuters. A visit to the museum, Cars wrote, has become a "physical ordeal" as employees and visitors alike contend with inadequate signage, lack of space and insufficient food and sanitary facilities, as well as the pyramid-shaped western entrance, which magnifies the summer heat with its greenhouse effect. Even with a daily cap of 30,000 guests a day, employees are struggling to keep up, calling the experience "a daily test of endurance," as reported by CNN Style. The Louvre, which welcomed 8.7 million visitors in 2024, was only designed to accommodate four million visitors a year, according to Reuters. The Louvre's renovation, which includes a separate wing from the Mona Lisa, is expected to be financed through museum funds, ticket revenue, private donations, state funds and income from the Louvre's Abu Dhabi branch, CNN Style and Le Monde reported. Tourists from non-European Union countries will be hit with "a different, higher fee" to gain entry into the museum starting next year, Macron told reporters in January.
NDTV
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Paris Museum Housing 'Mona Lisa' Closes As Staff Protest Tourist Overcrowding
The Louvre museum in Paris, renowned for masterpieces like the Mona Lisa, unexpectedly closed on Monday due to a staff strike. Ticket agents, gallery attendants, and security personnel walked out, citing overcrowding and understaffing, which caused long lines and frustrated tourists. Following a four-hour negotiation with management, the Louvre reopened, allowing access to weary visitors. According to a CNN Style report, visitors were left frustrated, holding tickets without any official communication from museum authorities. The strike was reportedly linked to staff concerns over increasing tourist crowds and working conditions. "It's the Mona Lisa moan out here," said Kevin Ward, 62, from Milwaukee, one of thousands of confused visitors corralled into unmoving lines beneath I.M. Pei's glass pyramid. "Thousands of people waiting, no communication, no explanation. I guess even she needs a day off." Monday's strike comes after French President Emmanuel Macron announced earlier this year that the centuries-old Louvre would undergo renovations to include a separate wing for the Mona Lisa to control crowds better, according to United Press International (UPI). The "New Renaissance" project, which will repair and modernise the former royal palace, will take a decade to complete. Ticket prices are slated to go up next year for tourists who do not live in the European Union to help pay for the project. Last year alone, 8.7 million tourists visited the Louvre, with many complaining about insufficient signage, tight spaces, and lack of restrooms. The Louvre was originally designed to accommodate 4 million visitors a year. Louvre President Laurence des Cars, who was appointed in 2021, limited visitors to 30,000 a day after attendance surged in 2018 to more than 10 million. He has warned that parts of the museum are "no longer watertight" and that fluctuating temperatures could damage the priceless artwork.
