Expensive hanbags-please explain

[Kahana-ri]

As much as I would love to be able to afford certain expensive bags, once I had kids that was over. I always adored D&B, some Coach styles and Kate Spade. My last purse I bought was at Target, on clearance. Now my purses have to be affordable and function to carry wipes, a spare diaper and the occasional juice box.

 

[Mahnahmahnah]

Hey, if you can afford it more power to you. I don't think that makes you a bad person. I just don't see the inherent value in these things. I don't feel superior because I made a different choice. I do find the cult of fashion bizarre, though.

Take a look over on that Geek Thread - did you see all the stuff they have? They must have spent mucho money on all that stuff. I don't get it. But they do. They probably don't understand handbag obsession either. That's OK.

I don't expect anyone to understand. My MIL makes comments all the time about my purse collection. But she orders from QVC every week, Diamonique, candles, crab cakes etc. She probably spends more on QVC crap than I have in purses.

I think a lot of people have a hobby or collection obsession.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I confess I am a handbag addict.

I don't feel the need to make excuses for myself, though. What floats my boat might sink yours.

But here, I give you, me: My car is 13 years old and runs great and is reliable. I am a DINK. I have a savings account and an IRA and a 401k. I am known in my field of work.

I own over 9 Coach Bags, 2 Kate Spades, 1 Gucci, 3 D&Bs, a large collection of vintage vinyl bags from the 50's and 60's, a few wacky bags, a luggage set, back-packs, and five messenger bags. I don't have a massive shoe collection nor do I go crazy on clothes.

I bet some people here who don't understand my bag collection might collect frogs. Or Mickey Mouse things. Or kids. Or quilts. Or scrapbook supplies...

It is all relative.

 

[bumbershoot]

I guess I don't see the draw to them. Could someone explain this to me. I was camping last week and I saw some girls walking around with them. Why? They had them sitting on the ground or on top of the dirty picnic tables. I can't imagine spending hundreds of dollars on a bag that I know will get dirty.

I don't have a problem with people having them, it's their prerogative, but I just don't get it. Enlighten me.

I'm with you. And I'll take it further, b/c I haven't seen even ONE that I find remotely cute or attractive. The style of purses for the last few years, and the style of shoes, have been really disappointing to me. Can't wait for this Love Boat cruise-style overdone purse and shoes era to end!

 

[Goofyzgurl]

I guess like some other folks said, it's what makes you happy and what you can afford. I have a friend who just dropped $30K on a Dodge and another one who's spending $600 a month to lease an Infiniti....I don't get it, my cars are paid for, but I have a purse thing. I love my Coach, esp with the big C's on them My dh doesn't mind and I don't go crazy with it. It's like someone asking me why I like to go to Disney World so much.....

 

[hollieplus2]

OT but I'm looking for a purse. I saw 2 the other day at the mall and I must have it. They are Dolce & Gabbana and they are striped leather bags. One was black and white (or silver, I couldn't get really close) and the other was red and white striped. Where do you find these? They were so cute but I can't even find them on ebay?????

PLEASE HELP FEED ME HANDBAG ADDICTION

 

[LisaZee]

My name is Lisa - and I'm a purse snob. My husband says my 2 favorite past times are "purse-sniffing" and "ring-sniffing", which basically means I look at and judge everyone's purses and wedding rings. I'd love to tell him that he's full of crap, but... not so much. LOL.

I agree with the other posters that have mentioned that what everyone "values" is different. My best friend (who just turned her nose up at the new Coach and Dooney bags I bought at the outlet mall last weekend) goes to Mario Tricoci every 3 months to get her hair cut and highlighted. I know she easily drops $150+ every time. Now, I would NEVER spend that kind of money- no judgement to those who do, but that's not what I "value." I get my hair cut in my mom's friend's basement for $10 every 3 months. I figure all the money I am saving in Mario haircuts goes to luxury handbags, no? It's not better, not worse, just different.

Handbags are my one vice (ok, maybe shoes, too...) I will wear a $250 Coach bag with $200 Coach shoes with my $14.99 cotton tshirt and Lane Bryant jeans. I can't see spending lots of cash on a shirt I will inevitably spill food on, or jeans that will probaby not fit me next year as I will either have gained or lost weight, but purses and shoes are forever! They always fit me, I don't have to go to the pudgy girls section to buy them, and yes - I like the attention. There, I said it. I like having luxury items that people coo over. I'm a snob and I am ok with that. LOL Thank god the spouse is too, he funds my habit!

 

[Mahnahmahnah]

OT but I'm looking for a purse. I saw 2 the other day at the mall and I must have it. They are Dolce & Gabbana and they are striped leather bags. One was black and white (or silver, I couldn't get really close) and the other was red and white striped. Where do you find these? They were so cute but I can't even find them on ebay?????

PLEASE HELP FEED ME HANDBAG ADDICTION

Love it

Did you try the Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, and Neiman Marcus sites? That is usually the best way to find what you are looking for.

 

[hollieplus2]

I can't find it anywhere. I can find the fakes and such but not the real thing, if they even made it to begin w/. But it was so colorful and pretty and it must be mine.

 

[Mahnahmahnah]

I can't find it anywhere. I can find the fakes and such but not the real thing, if they even made it to begin w/. But it was so colorful and pretty and it must be mine.

Too bad you live in TN - there is a D&G outlet in NY State.

That'll learn ya to always just buy it!

Don't worry - another one will crop up that you'll love even more than that one. Trust me.

 

[sha_lyn]

ITA with the OP...I just don't get it. I don't think I would even if I had a lot of extra cash to spend. The only time it has ever bothered me when someone else has them is the mother of a girl that used to take martial arts with us. The mom was ranting because her DD was no longer qualified for the states free health insurance for kids, all the while showing off the $250 sun glasses, coach purse and matching coach accessories she bought while on vacation gambling in Las Vegas.

 

[lulu71]

I have owned less than 10 bags in my lifetime. I'd rather spend more on a quality bag that lasts forever. I've always hated LV bags and swore I'd never own one. Then I broke down and got one because I liked the shape and functionally, I like a bag that has fewer compartments and this one fit the bill. I've worn it every day since last May and don't plan to stop for a long time.

Now, I've bought a couple of clunkers that were expensive and thought were better quality than they were. My Michael Kors bag, which was not uber-expensive but not really cheap either turned out to be a bad buy. The hardware turned and then peeled after just a few months. The strap on my Fendi literally broke in half. Not all expensive bags are created equal.

 

[#1hockeymom]

Hi! My name is #1 Hockeymom, and I am a Coach fanatic. I also buy cute purses, any brand. I LOVE handbags! I can't think of one of my coach bags that has the logo all over it. I like their shape/color/feel/quality.

 

[DawnM]

I love real quality leather bags. They don't have to have a name. There is a wonderful lady at Pike Place Market in Seattle who makes bags called Ann Brown Bags (she now has a website). I still have my 2 leather purses, one from 1989 and one from 1997, both look absolutely fantastic! Very high quality leather!

The pictures really don't even do the bags justice, but here is the website.....
http://homepage.mac.com/aboutbrownbags/PhotoAlbum1.html


So, I do understand the desire for a quality bag, but I don't understand the need for the name brands.....I will share something here that I have never said before.....but I think those quilted purses (can't even remember the designer now) look like something I had to make in 7th grade home-ec class....I never got the appeal.

Dawn

 

[Corryn]

Like other DIS'ers have said, either you get it or you don't.
I don't get it. I buy Kathy Van Zeeland & Guess bags because I like all the bling. If I could get the same bag without the label at K-Mart, I would.

I know plenty of people who wear certain things, drive certain cars, eat at certain restaurants, live in certain neighborhoods, etc.
They are also the people who notice what people wear, what people drive, where people eat and where people live.

Not me. I never buy anything to impress anyone but myself. I have a feeling (and I'm pretty good with those) that people do/wear things because they want to be noticed by other people who have the same "standards". That's their right as an American (isn't it great!)

I just want to live comfortably in a nice house, be able to take vacations (especially to DISNEY!) eat out when I want, and a bunch of other things. I don't care what people think of what I wear or where I live or what I drive.

All I know is I have been a home-owner for 16 years, own one car outright, have very little debt, my children are good kids, my husband is a hard-worker, and I'm living the American Dream. I don't care what others are doing/wearing/buying.
All I care about is me and what I can do/share/buy/love.
That's what life is all about - doing what you want, living your life

 

[mpls_mm]

I don't get buying a bag just because. I bought a bag in a department store once that was $700, I was 19, and I was so sad when I learned about quality and that it wasn't even all leather and put together well. It was just a flashy trendy bag that didn't hold up well. I won't spend more than $200 on a bag now and it has to be made well, stitched nicely and classic. I have a beautiful Etienne Agner that I love that is so pretty and it was on sale for $100. Just because it has a name brand doesn't mean its made well. The other benefit of buying nice classic pieces is after I get sick of them, I pass them on to my mom and she gets even more mileage out of them. I'd rather save my money for jeans and shoes.

 

[Mahnahmahnah]

Hi! My name is #1 Hockeymom, and I am a Coach fanatic. I also buy cute purses, any brand. I LOVE handbags! I can't think of one of my coach bags that has the logo all over it. I like their shape/color/feel/quality.

None of mine have a logo on it either.

Except for my Juicy diaper bag, but I just love it and had to have it.

Oh - PS - Handbag Lady? Can we see your vintage bags? Any pics?

 

[chisnpeke]

I love purses. They always fit.

It's all what you value. I have one Coach purse that is a pebble suede leather that I got at the outlet in San Juan last year on my cruise and it will last for years and not go out of style. I also have a D&B barrel bag I got about four years ago. I have a few Vera Bradley purses. I've stopped buying purses for now.

I wonder why someone would spend $2000 on a Mac computer when I could get a Windows computer for $600.

It's just different priorities for different people.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

No one saying it's a need. Disneyworld isn't a "need" either but lots of folks go there regularly? What's the different? They are alot of women who, believe it or not, take care of their kids future, save for retirement and manage an expensive habit all at the same time.

Very true--I would never in a million years buy an expensive handbag, but I don't blink an eye at spending $600 once a month for a quick weekend at WDW.

Last year I worked with a young woman who had over 300 handbags. Her parents had built-in a closet for them. She was SO passionate about design; she was trying to get into nursing school and I was always saying, "Don't do it!! You want to be a fashion designer, you need to go to design school, not nursing school." She swore she would pursue her dreams once she had a way to financially support them.

Everybody needs some things that they are passionate about or that make them feel special! (My weekends at Disney do both for me ).

 

[PrincessKitty1]

I will share something here that I have never said before.....but I think those quilted purses (can't even remember the designer now) look like something I had to make in 7th grade home-ec class....I never got the appeal.

Dawn

I brought DH into a Vera Bradley store and he said "These look like oven mitts." And he was right!! I never "got it" until I looked inside them and saw all the wonderful compartments. I ened up buying a Vera Bradley wallet (that goes into my non-matching locally-made fabric purse that I bought at a crafts fair ).