Dorothy Wang Empire Star

There is a certain kind of confidence that only comes from someone who has spent years collecting, wearing, and genuinely loving handbags. Dorothy Wang has that confidence in abundance. Long before she became a breakout star on Netflix's Bling Empire, and well before she headlined her own spin-off, Bling Empire New York, she was already known to a generation of viewers as the reigning queen of The Rich Kids of Beverly Hills. Through it all, her devotion to Hermès has remained one of the most consistent threads in her very public life.

Dorothy Wang of Bling Empire New York with her Hermès handbag collection

Her philosophy on the French maison is simple, memorable, and delivered with the kind of deadpan humor that has made her a fan favorite: a Birkin a day keeps the doctor away. It is a line that captures exactly why collectors relate to her. She is not precious about her bags; she is joyful about them.

We asked Dorothy five questions about her handbag journey, from her very first orange box to the pieces still missing from her wishlist. Her answers reveal a collector who has evolved from a completist mindset into someone with a sharp, personal point of view.

1. What Was Your First Hermès Bag?

Beginner's luck is a real thing, and Dorothy experienced it in the most dramatic way possible. At eighteen, during the summer after high school, she traveled to Paris with her family. While visiting a boutique, she was offered not one but two 28 cm Kelly bags with silver hardware. One came in the house's iconic orange, and the other in a vivid apple green.

Dorothy Wang's first Hermès Kelly bags in orange and green

She describes them fondly as her firstborn babies, a pair of twins she no longer wears often but still treasures for the memory they hold. For many collectors, that first boutique moment is the beginning of a lifelong relationship with the brand, and Dorothy's story is a reminder that timing, luck, and being in the right city can all converge at once.

2. What Is Your Favorite Bag Right Now?

Her current favorite is a navy cargo Birkin 25. What draws her to it is precisely what makes it stand apart from a standard configuration: a slightly funkier, more unexpected aesthetic than the classic Birkins that dominate most collections. There is also a sentimental reason at play. The bag lives in Los Angeles while she is based in New York, so she has only carried it a handful of times. As she puts it, distance makes the heart grow fonder.

Navy cargo Birkin 25 styled as a favorite everyday Hermès bag

For collectors weighing a cargo Birkin against a more traditional Togo or Epsom piece, her reasoning is worth noting. Limited or unusual details add character, and character is what keeps a bag in rotation rather than on a shelf.

3. What Do You Wish You Knew Before Starting Your Handbag Journey?

Hindsight is generous, and Dorothy is candid about her early approach. When she was younger, the mentality was collect them all: buy as many as were offered, without much reflection. Over time, that has shifted into something far more deliberate.

She is now selective and specific about what she wants. It is a lesson that resonates with nearly every collector, whether they are chasing a Mini Kelly Sellier or a Garden Party Neo. Scarcity and boutique relationships can create pressure to say yes to everything, but the bags that end up mattering most are usually the ones chosen with intention.

Hermès Mini Kelly Sellier in a bright colorway

Her advice, distilled, is this: know your taste before you let the boutique define it for you.

4. What Is Next on Your Wishlist?

The wishlist is where the real dreaming happens, and Dorothy's is appropriately ambitious. She has her eye on a Rock Birkin, a Crocodile Birkin 25, or a Mini Kelly. Each represents a different kind of desire: the Rock for its subversive, studded edge, the exotic for its craftsmanship and rarity, and the Mini Kelly for its jewel-like proportions.

Hermès exotic and Mini Kelly styles on a collector wishlist

Collectors often describe the wishlist as a moving target, and hers is no exception. The fun is in the pursuit as much as the acquisition.

5. Stickers On or Stickers Off?

Her answer is immediate and emphatic: stickers off. But she admits to occasional horror at discovering leftover stickers she missed, particularly because they can be surprisingly difficult to remove, especially when you are working with long nails. These days she simply asks her sales associates to take care of it at the point of purchase, which is a practical tip worth borrowing.

Hermès hardware detail where protective stickers are typically applied

The sticker debate is one of the most enduring rituals in the Hermès community. Leaving them on can protect hardware from scratches, but many collectors prefer to let a bag look lived in from day one. Dorothy falls firmly in the second camp.

From Beverly Hills to New York City

Dorothy's move from the West Coast to New York mirrors a larger shift in her life and career. Bling Empire New York premiered on January 20, 2023, and with it came a new city, a new cast, and a new chapter. Her collection, meanwhile, is split between coasts, which she treats as an advantage rather than an inconvenience.

Hermès Birkin and Kelly bags representing a bicoastal collection

Her affection for the brand is not about status alone. It is about the memories attached to each piece: the Paris summer, the twins in orange and green, the navy cargo Birkin waiting patiently in Los Angeles. That emotional layer is what separates a collection from a display.

What Collectors Can Take Away

Buy with intention. A curated collection ages better than a crowded one.
Let unusual specs guide you. A cargo Birkin or an exotic Mini Kelly can feel more personal than a standard classic.
Ask for help with stickers. Boutique staff can remove them cleanly before you leave.
Keep a wishlist. Naming your next three targets makes the hunt more focused and more fun.

Hermès Kelly bag styled for an editorial feature

Whether she is filming, traveling between coasts, or simply reorganizing her closet, Dorothy Wang remains one of the most enthusiastic and unapologetic Hermès collectors on television. Her journey from two Kellys in Paris to a carefully edited wishlist is a reminder that taste is not static. It grows, sharpens, and occasionally surprises you.

Hermès bag detail photographed for a luxury handbag journal

You can follow Dorothy on Instagram and TikTok at @dorothywang, where her bags, her outfits, and her unfiltered commentary continue to delight fans of both reality television and fine leather goods.