Askme – RL Ricky Crocodile Bag

Hi Purseholic

I would like to have your opinion on the Ralph Lauren Ricky Crocodile Bag. I really like the one in brown but some of my friends advised me against it as it looks too much like the Hermes Birkin. Is it a bag you will buy?

Madeline, DC

Hi Madeline

There are two types of Hermes Birkin look-alike; the rare good ones and the lousy ones. The Ricky happens to fall into the category of the rare good ones. The Hermes Birkin bag is indeed a modified version of the HAC, which was inspired by vintage saddle carriers. The design of RL Ricky was inspired by vintage Cooper saddle carriers so there is no denying there is a close resemblance and one can always correctly argue that Ralph had indeed copied the Birkin design to capture the left-over market (aka the people who can not get the Birkins. Then again, nowadays, if you have the money, why can’t you?). If this bothers you, I suggest, do not buy the Ricky and put your money on an Hermes Birkin in normal leather or double/triple it for the croc version instead.

If, however, you can get pass the argument above, look at the bag by itself and the legacy of the house of Ralph Lauren, I suggest you get it now before the price increases furthermore. At USD16,995, there is no way you would get an Italy-made, full croc skin bag from a respected designer like RL. Besides, RL is now the only thing America has to rival European luxury giants like Prada, Gucci, Chanel, Dior and to some extent, Hermes itself.  Being an American, you should be proud to wear a RL bag, especially one that is so tastefully made.

Your friends might argue and put their opinion across but when you place your croc Ricky in front of them, they could not help by be wowed. Trust me since I had been there and converted once I have seen, touched and smelled one. The Ricky croc is a real deal.

J Purseholic

Write to us at askme@purseholic.com

Image is courtesy of Ralph Lauren Collection

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Image is courtesy of Ralph Lauren

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Images are courtesy of Ralph Lauren

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Image is courtesy of Ralph Lauren

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Image is courtesy of Ralph Lauren

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Image is courtesy of people.com