In 1983, when she was at the peak of her popularity, British singer, model and actress Jane Birkin had an encounter with Jean-Louis Dumas, the chief executive of Hermes – in the first-class cabin of a flight from Paris to London.
Birkin was carrying a wicker purse, but its contents, including (or so rumour has it) an Hermes diary, spilt out over the plane floor when she attempted to place it in the overhead locker. As Dumas began to assist her, Birkin complained she was unable to find a suitable leather weekend bag that would hold all the essentials.
And the rest is fashion history. A year later, Hermes released its first Birkin – the ultimate It-bag tailored specifically to the needs of the ultimate It-girl. This first run was made of supple leather, in black.
Jane Birkin, who died on Sunday at the age of 76 in her adopted home of Paris, was known for her classic fashion choices, a wardrobe that was a study in French chic and understated elegance – quite like the handbag she inspired.
However, Birkin was not overtly thrilled with her namesake bag. For one, she realised she was carrying too many things in it, and even once joked: "They're heavy ... I'm going to have an operation for tendonitis in the shoulder."
Then, in 2015, the singer asked Hermes to no longer use her name for its famed bag on the back of an exposé by Peta on the company's treatment of crocodiles and alligators.
Hermes since went on to clarify that the incident identified by the animal welfare group was an "isolated irregularity", and that Birkin was "satisfied" by the measures taken by Hermes.
The leather conundrum aside, and whether or not the boxy, oversized, curiously casual proportions of the Birkin are to your taste, there is no denying that it is the rock star of the handbag world. Its story, price tag, celebrity owners and much-discussed waiting list have ensured that it is entrenched in fashion history.
All of this is underscored by the fact that Hermes is notoriously tight-lipped about it – no one will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
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Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
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How Alia's experiment will help humans get to Mars
Alia’s winning experiment examined how genes might change under the stresses caused by being in space, such as cosmic radiation and microgravity.
Her samples were placed in a machine on board the International Space Station. called a miniPCR thermal cycler, which can copy DNA multiple times.
After the samples were examined on return to Earth, scientists were able to successfully detect changes caused by being in space in the way DNA transmits instructions through proteins and other molecules in living organisms.
Although Alia’s samples were taken from nematode worms, the results have much bigger long term applications, especially for human space flight and long term missions, such as to Mars.
It also means that the first DNA experiments using human genomes can now be carried out on the ISS.
DSC Eagles 23 Dubai Hurricanes 36
Eagles
Tries: Bright, O’Driscoll
Cons: Carey 2
Pens: Carey 3
Hurricanes
Tries: Knight 2, Lewis, Finck, Powell, Perry
Cons: Powell 3
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Dhadak
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
