This gender reveal costs more than a mortgage—inside the viral designer bag trend

Forget balloons and confetti cannons—2025’s latest gender reveal trend is all about designer handbags, first-class flights, and a whole lot of cash.

Influencer moms-to-be are skipping the backyard parties and heading straight to the luxury boutiques of Paris and New York, where gender reveals are now as much about the handbag as they are about the baby. Viral TikToks show expecting parents handing over their sealed sonogram results to store associates at Chanel, Hermès, and Dior—then unwrapping a designer bag in a surprise color to find out if they’re having a boy or a girl.

How the trend started

The internet took notice when Miami-based content creator Rachel Santana posted a video of her gender reveal inside the Dior store on the Champs-Élysées. The video went viral with over 11.8 million views and 2.1 million likes. The concept? If the baby was a girl, the associate would bring out a pink Lady Dior; if it was a boy, she’d receive a blue one.

Santana and her husband, Austin, captured the moment on TikTok—where their excitement (and the $7,000 price tag) quickly divided the internet. Some called it “iconic” and “chic,” while others saw it as a flex that screams privilege.

But Rachel isn’t alone. In Germany, influencer Stefanie Helen unboxed a mini Birkin bag—a gender reveal with a price tag that can climb past $20,000.

Wait, gender reveals are getting… more expensive?

Gender reveals started as simple moments with colored cake and party poppers. Then came exploding baseballs, helicopter smoke, and literal pyrotechnics (one gender reveal gone wrong even caused a wildfire).

Now? The trend is getting a luxury upgrade—and an eyebrow-raising price tag.

For some parents, it’s about making the moment special in a way that reflects their personal style. Others see it as peak influencer culture, where baby announcements double as content opportunities.

But is spending thousands on a gender reveal celebratory or excessive? The internet has thoughts.

Related: One mom shares her ‘gender disappointment’ for the world to see, and people have thoughts

Social media reacts

Some TikTokers are all in:

• @Gabri says, “This is the chicest gender reveal I’ve seen! Congrats

  ”

• @Queenoftheborrowedlight says, “This is actually better and more intimate than a huge party. Plus the bag can be passed down through generations! So cute.”

Others? Not so much.

• @xo.zym, “Video called me broke in every way”

• @Haleigh Wiseman just wrote, “*cries in poor*”

And then there are those wondering…why not just put that money in a college fund?

The bigger picture: Is parenting becoming more performative?

From $1,200 strollers to nurseries that cost more than most people’s rent, for some influencers and moms, modern parenting is getting increasingly luxe. And with social media, everything—from the pregnancy announcement to the first steps—is now a curated moment for the world to see.

Some parents love the idea of a gender reveal that reflects their personality and interests—whether that’s luxury handbags, sports, or travel. Others argue that placing value on gender through high-ticket spending reinforces old-school traditions that some families are moving away from.

And at a time when many parents are navigating real financial pressures, the rise of luxury gender reveals raises questions about the broader influence of social media on parenting culture.

Is this just a fun way for parents to celebrate? Or another example of how parenting has turned into a social status symbol?

One thing is certain: whether it’s a Birkin, a Dior, or a Chanel, these babies are arriving with serious designer game.

Related: Sweet co-parenting moment at gender reveal goes viral—and we love to see it