Vera Bradley fans- what do you think?

[scjo68]

I know there are many VB fans on these boards.
I never was into VB bags until this past year, when I fell in love with the Blue Rhapsody pattern. I literally saw someone with a bag in that pattern across a crowded theme park, and I just kept looking back at it. I probably looked like a purse snatcher!

So I bought the hipster in that pattern for my WDW trip, and I have enjoyed it for several months now. It has actually been my main purse since my trip.

Of course they retired it in the fall, and I bought a few accessories in the pattern locally, once they were marked down, and just got the Vera tote online as well.

Now I'm wondering if I should order more items in the pattern online, before they run out. I don't really need any of them right now, but I still love the pattern, and it won't be available much longer. I'm tempted to get another hipster, since mine is starting to look a little worn, and maybe another size tote, since I'm a teacher and can always use more totes. Maybe a cooler for lunches....

So my question is- does this sound crazy? I still love the pattern and none of the new ones appeal to me as much. Do people do this? Or do most people get tired of a pattern after a while? Will I just look pathetic carrying an old pattern or will I look cool and retro?

OK, I don't care what other people think that much- I do wear Crocs occaisionally- but in general, do old patterns hold their appeal?

 

[Magic Mom]

If you really love it, and it's in your budget, why not? I'm sure lots of people buy up their favorite retiring patterns.

 

[Angelrose]

That is my favorite pattern too. I have the hipster and a small tote bag along with an eyeglass holder and a small change purse.

 

[cc1013]

I know there are many VB fans on these boards.
I never was into VB bags until this past year, when I fell in love with the Blue Rhapsody pattern. I literally saw someone with a bag in that pattern across a crowded theme park, and I just kept looking back at it. I probably looked like a purse snatcher!

So I bought the hipster in that pattern for my WDW trip, and I have enjoyed it for several months now. It has actually been my main purse since my trip.

Of course they retired it in the fall, and I bought a few accessories in the pattern locally, once they were marked down, and just got the Vera tote online as well.

Now I'm wondering if I should order more items in the pattern online, before they run out. I don't really need any of them right now, but I still love the pattern, and it won't be available much longer. I'm tempted to get another hipster, since mine is starting to look a little worn, and maybe another size tote, since I'm a teacher and can always use more totes. Maybe a cooler for lunches....

So my question is- does this sound crazy? I still love the pattern and none of the new ones appeal to me as much. Do people do this? Or do most people get tired of a pattern after a while? Will I just look pathetic carrying an old pattern or will I look cool and retro?

OK, I don't care what other people think that much- I do wear Crocs occaisionally- but in general, do old patterns hold their appeal?

Old patterns definitely hold their appeal! If you like blue rhapsody, I say go for it! Vera Bradley's website will often have additional discounts on sale items, so my suggestion would be to wait for one of those sale announcements and then stock up.

I just purchased a Villager bag and it is wonderful. I highly recommend it. It's a larger bag with tons of pockets. I got it in a retired pattern (imperial toile) during a promotion on the VB website just over a week ago and liked it so much that I bought another off of ebay that is brand new and a current pattern (slate blooms).

 

[MWDisneyFan]

My favorite pattern in Yellow Bird. I have many, many items in that pattern. I have a few other things too, but mostly Yellow Bird.

But I stocked up on Yellow Bird a few years ago andd still love it!

 

[minniecarousel]

yup - I'd get more pieces, as long as it doesn't break the bank.
My favorite VB is Botannica, which is discontinued. I'm happy to have the pieces that I really want. I figure by the time these bags start to look bad, I'll like a new style.

 

[scjo68]

If you really love it, and it's in your budget, why not? I'm sure lots of people buy up their favorite retiring patterns.

Well, that's the thing, it would kind of be next year's bag budget, too! I mean, I have the money and all, it's just that I never get that many bags at once, certainly not at those prices. But I do tend wear out my bags since they get so much use.

So it sounds like others do this same thing when they love a pattern and they do not find that they are tired of it quickly after they stock up on it.

I wish they hadn't retired it. I get that they have to make room for new patterns, but it was so pretty!

Thanks so much for the input!

 

[JESW]

Buy what you like and enjoy it!

I was very surprised last week when my dd picked out a Vera bag for her 12th birthday. It is just black with a quilted look and I believe it is a tote - she is using it as a back pack for school (6th grade) - she says a lot of the older girls use them for that.

Jill

 

[Witch Mountain]

My experience is that you'll be able to find the bags for a while on eBay or even on the buy/sell/trade board on the Vera page on Facebook.

My first bag was on sale, a discontinued pattern that I'd always admired. I ended up picking up a hipster in the pattern on eBay and it was brand new. Then, another pattern I liked was discontinued before I purchased more.

Between the two places I mentioned, I have the four styles of bags I wanted in that pattern(Daisy Daisy), all purchased at less than retail. Strangely enough, the Vera Bradley site didn't have bags in that pattern and then over July 4th weekend, had a HUGE sale and it included Villager bags in that pattern, which had not been there before.

I bought a bag in one of the new patterns this weekend, and the shop I purchase most of my Vera from had just about every style of the discontinued patterns in stock and either 25 or 40% off. You'll probably find this with a lot of the mom and pop type stores that carry the bags. Like you, I'm a huge fan of the Blue Rhapsody and debated picking up a Vera or a Weekender. (I may go back for the Weekender because the shop owner told me she had three of them).

Bottom line is to get what you planned on getting and when you're ready for more, check the sites above.

 

[Maridw]

No the older patterns don't lose their appeal. I am like you, there have been times that the patterns really don't thrill me.

My favorite pattern is Botanica. I love that one and I was looking recently to see if there was anything that I wanted even though it is retired. I always check Ebay to see what they have and the prices.

If you like it and find something that you might use later, I say go for it.

 

[scjo68]

Thanks for the replies!
I have decided on several pieces that I want and they are "in my shopping bag."

Last week I was able to find a code for free shipping, but it has expired, and I can't find any more. This was my first online VB purchase. Is free shipping something that is usually available pretty often or should I go ahead and pay the shipping and order it now?

Is it hit or miss? If it's pretty rare, I'll go ahead and order.

 

[soccerchick]

Are you near an outlet? I'm quite surprised that the old patterns are SOOO available there. That's all they carry - discontinued styles and patterns. there is a ton of Botanical there.

They opened an outlet near me in October of 2010. I just bought two hipsters for $38 total.

 

[scjo68]

Are you near an outlet? I'm quite surprised that the old patterns are SOOO available there. That's all they carry - discontinued styles and patterns. there is a ton of Botanical there.

They opened an outlet near me in October of 2010. I just bought two hipsters for $38 total.

I didn't realize there was one in VA- I'm in the Richond area. Northern.Va. always seems like such a hike!
I wish there was one in the Williamsburg outlets. I go there every now and then to get my Brighton fix!

Is the Leesburg outlet easy to get to from Richmond? Is far off 95?

Thanks for the info!

 

[Luv2Scrap]

If my pattern was being clearanced out I'd be all over that like white on rice!

Now when I say my pattern, I could mean Calypso, or Night and Day, or my newest favorite, Baroque!

 

[Luv2Scrap]

*gasp* Calypso is on clearance???

 

[soccerchick]

I didn't realize there was one in VA- I'm in the Richond area. Northern.Va. always seems like such a hike!
I wish there was one in the Williamsburg outlets. I go there every now and then to get my Brighton fix!

Is the Leesburg outlet easy to get to from Richmond? Is far off 95?

Thanks for the info!

Yeah, Richmond is about 2 hours from here.

Are you familiar with Dulles Airport from Richmond? It's about 10-15 minutes past/west of Dulles Airport.

It's a good ways still from 95- probably 45 minutes non-rush hour. 95-495-to 7 or 267 & Greenway (toll). Or get off at Dumfries and come up 234 to 28 to 7.

 

[scjo68]

Yeah, Richmond is about 2 hours from here.

Are you familiar with Dulles Airport from Richmond? It's about 10-15 minutes past/west of Dulles Airport.

It's a good ways still from 95- probably 45 minutes non-rush hour. 95-495-to 7 or 267 & Greenway (toll). Or get off at Dumfries and come up 234 to 28 to 7.

Thanks- I think I need to plan a road trip!

Did you notice if they had recently retired patterns from this past fall or mostly much older patterns?

The thing about Blue Rhapsody is that as soon as it was retired, it disappeared from local stores, I guess it was pretty popular. But there are retired patterns that still have a lot of stock left that are being marked lower and lower locally and would think lot of pieces from those patterns would end up in outlets.

Hmmm.... now I am really curious to see this outlet!

 

[scjo68]

10% off all sale items and free shipping for orders over $100!
Yay!

Glad I waited!

 

[disneygirlRN]

Don't know if you live by any of the Vera Bradley Outlets (i'm from illinois and we have one in Aurora) and they sell only retired pieces! They have lots of older colors that i love and some of the newly retired colors as well. If you're close to one, i would definitely check it out. That's where i buy most of my bags, unless i splurge on new colors

Jess

 

[soccerchick]

Thanks- I think I need to plan a road trip!

Did you notice if they had recently retired patterns from this past fall or mostly much older patterns?

The thing about Blue Rhapsody is that as soon as it was retired, it disappeared from local stores, I guess it was pretty popular. But there are retired patterns that still have a lot of stock left that are being marked lower and lower locally and would think lot of pieces from those patterns would end up in outlets.

Hmmm.... now I am really curious to see this outlet!

Yes, they have the recently retired colors - one of the hipsters I bought was in blue rhapsody. They had java blue and the brown toile one - can't remember the name. They also had Slate Blue(current color/pattern) in the retired mailbag and two other styles.

Next time I go I'll try to do a little inventory. I think they have an additional 20% off through this weekend.