And the winner is… Hermes. No ball has yet been kicked, but when it comes to this year’s World Cup fashion, it’s fair to say that one brand has already claimed victory.
As the creme de la creme of England players jetted off to the United States on Monday, it was immediately apparent that many had also opted for the creme de la creme of bags. Their choice? Hermes’ legendary Birkin.
Leading the charge was Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins, 30, who showcased a taupe leather iteration on top of a £1,400 silver Rimowa suitcase.
Striker Ivan Toney, 30, meanwhile, chose a grey felt wool version with a distinctive yellow strap.
Elsewhere, Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai, 25, proudly carried an understated black leather Birkin with polished silver hardware when arriving for friendly matches in the US. Though the Liverpool midfielder won’t be able to show off his designer gear for too long, as his country did not qualify for the tournament.
While the standard-size Birkin might suit the needs of owners such as Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Jennifer Lopez and Victoria Beckham, it’s clearly not capacious enough for these football stars.
Instead, two of them opted for the fabled French brand’s Haut a Courroies 40, which made its debut in 1892 – almost a century before Hermes created its iconic bag for the actress Jane Birkin. The first ever tote to be issued by the house, the HAC, as it’s often known, is renowned for its understated, sculptural allure. And also for its price. The trapezoid-shaped tote, which is taller and squarer than the standard Birkin, is known to retail for as much as £65,000.
Sotheby’s recently sold a vintage iteration for £35,000.
Despite the generous size of the HAC, Toney still saw fit to add another Hermes bag to his ensemble – an £8,000 cross-body Hac a Dos PM backpack in pale-blue leather that matched his tracksuit.
England striker Ollie Watkins travelled in style with a Hermes Birkin HAC 50 worth approximately £65,000
Ivan Toney also carried a Hermes Birkin worth around £35,000 and a Hermes Hac a Dos PM, valued at £8,000
Louis Vuitton came second in the manbag league table and was sported by Nico O’Reilly and Ezri Konsa
Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai, 25, proudly carried an understated black leather Hermes Birkin with polished silver hardware worth around £35,000 when arriving for friendly matches in the US
Designed by Nike, Toney’s tech fleece joggers, part of England’s official training kit, cost £104.99, while his hoodie retails for £124.99.
Given he is thought to earn £427,670 a week at Al-Ahli, his Saudi League club – making him the highest earner in the Three Lions squad – he can afford to drape himself in as many Hermes bags as he chooses.
Second in the manbag league table is Louis Vuitton, with Manchester City player Nico O’Reilly, 21, sporting a £2,000 Keepall Bandouliere and a matching £3,000 Horizon suitcase. This was accompanied by a £2,500 backpack, all featuring the French house’s monogram.
Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa, meanwhile, opted for a bolder statement by carrying a Speedy P9 Bandouliere 50 in an eye-catching red-and-white monogram. Reworked from a classic 1930s design by Vuitton’s menswear designer, the songwriter and record producer Pharrell Williams, the rare tote retails for up to £18,000.
It’s all a far cry from 1966, when England’s World Cup winners were content to carry standard kit bags ahead of their famous victory.
Sixty years on, for England’s current squad, it appears to be a firm case of ‘go big or go home’. In any big tournament, traditionally, it’s the footballers’ wives and girlfriends who steal the spotlight off the pitch. This year, we can only hope the Wags have supersized their bags, too.
