Whether chillin’ or workin’, Jacob Godfrey’s got his Birkin.
Much like the Hollywood hunks and A-list athletes who elevate their swag with the Hermès handbag, he’s leading the charge in the “Man Birkin” movement — a fashion-forward fad for the fellas.
“It complements my outfits, and it’s really practical,” Godfrey, 33, of Fort Greene, told The Post, gushing over the $12,000, black box leather number he shares with wife, Sarah, 32, on days his looks need a splash of luxe.
“I dress more traditionally masculine,” said the digital marketing executive, “and I carry a very beautiful bag.”
It’s hard-to-get garniture that’s no stranger to the spotlight — especially since the original Birkin sold for a historic $8 million at auction earlier this month.
Female fashionistas have fawned over the finery for decades, partly due to its show-stopping cameo on “Sex and the City” in the early 2000s, crystallized by the echoing line “It’s not a bag, it’s a Birkin.”
Diehard divas have even jet-setted overseas to snag the must-have directly from the Hermès flagship in France — which can cost an eye-watering $500,000.
But now, the haute commodity is ascending as the accessory of the gods as macho men, from Gotham to Los Angeles and beyond, are toting the totes with neither shame nor fear of folks questioning their masculinity.
It’s a sign of the times, says NYC stylist Turner Allen.
“Men have been embracing designer handbags over the past few years, partly for practical purposes, but mostly because they look really cool,” the pro, citing VIP bag boys like Jacob Elordi and Harry Styles, told The Post.
“They hold your s–t,” Allen added of the voguish sacks. “You can put your wallet, car keys, water bottle in a Birkin and not your pants pockets.
“Pairing the bag with some vintage denim jeans, a T-shirt an oversized blazer offers a nice combination of smart-casual and formality.”
Allen, the mastermind behind Style Turner, a premium men’s styling consultancy, hailed the classy carryall for its subtle, yet unmistakable, panache.
He attributes its popularity amongst the gents, in part, to its understated chicness.
“Men are interested in signaling who they are and what they’ve accomplished through fashion,” the expert noted. “What’s more prestigious, expensive and rarified than a Birkin?”
And he’s right on the money.
Musicians, such as Rihanna’s beau, A$AP Rocky, known for unabashed rocking his black Hermès Kelly, and Travis Scott, a huge lover of the Haut à Courroies (HAC) bag, bring their Birkins out to play on any given day.
Grammy-nominated emcee Gunna was even gifted the coveted accoutrement for his 32nd birthday this summer.
Boxing champ Floyd Mayweather recently dropped a reported $80,000 in 10 minutes on four bags — three 35-centimeter Birkins, one in yellow, two in different shades of green, and a 30-centimeter prize piece in black — as additions to his already impressive Hermès collection.
Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers, as well as Cardi B’s New England Patriots-playing hun, Stefon Diggs, proudly sport their look-at-me masterpieces at major sporting events.
NBA ballers like Karl-Anthony Towns and Kyle Kuzma have been known to follow swank suit.
Steve Harvey, of “Family Feud” fame, turned heads last month, finishing his outfit with a black Crocodile HAC Haut à Courroies — said to retail for approximately $100,000 — during Men’s Fashion Week in Paris.
And Gay Paree is where Godfrey and Sarah nabbed their bag, a Birkin Sellier 30.
It was a celebratory purchase the newlyweds made while touring The City of Lights on their mini-honeymoon last fall.
And while Sarah’s always dreamed of having a Birkin of her very own, she says splitting custody of the purse with her hubby, who takes it everywhere — from the subway to the park to after-work drinks with the guys — makes owning one a sweet experience.
“The Birkin is an item that a lot of people just sit on the shelf and look at,” she told The Post. “But I want ours to be used and worn as much as possible, and I love seeing Jacob take part in that.”
Sarah, a fine-art specialist, is grateful that the once-distinct lines of gender norms in fashion are now blurred.
“We’re losing the bifurcation of dressing,” she said. “So, it seems natural that the men are now coming into our closet to grab the great things, like a Birkin, in the same way I borrow his ties, cufflinks, coats and jackets.
“It’s only fair that the sharing goes both ways.”
And Godfrey appreciates the freedom to grab the bag whenever.
“I get nothing but compliments, online and in-person, anytime I wear the Birkin,” he said. “New York City is the epicenter of culture, style and ingenuity.
“And I’m glad that I can fully express myself through my style.”
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