Does anyone else not "get" designer purses/handbags?

[AmeliaG]

I also own a fake coach purse that I bought on the sidewalk in NYC during a trip up there. Hands down the most I've ever spent on a purse, but I don't carry it. It's big, bulky and ends up being so heavy. Oh well.

This is the one thing I don't understand. I can understand buying a designer item because of a fanaticism for high quality materials and workmanship or an inexpensive but OK quality item because a modest quality is more than enough to suit your needs.

But I don't understand paying any type of money for a street-vendor-sold low quality item that bears only a superficial resemblance to its designer counterpart. OK well I would understand it if I were on vacation and my purse broke, or was lost or stolen and i needed something quick and cheap to last me long enough until I got home and even then i wouldnt buy a purse with logos all over it unless it was the only option.

I just don't get name brand appeal without a corresponding demand for high quality.

 

[Ravenne]

Well it is a nice purse, and I do like the look of it. It's also pretty darn sturdy and for the time I did carry it (about a year or so) it never showed any real structural problems. But maybe I'm really easy on purses.

Mostly I bought the purse because it was the first time I was in NYC and I wanted to haggle. LOL. To be honest, I don't much care for real coach purses. Not my thing. But the fake one was right up my alley. The logo pattern is subtle (black on black) and it's got nice buckle and "leather" trim detailing. It's a nice purse. I bought it because I liked the way it looked, not because it's a fake Coach. It was an experience purchase more than anything.

 

[kenny]

I also own a fake coach purse that I bought on the sidewalk in NYC during a trip up there. Hands down the most I've ever spent on a purse, but I don't carry it. It's big, bulky and ends up being so heavy. Oh well.

This is the one thing I don't understand. I can understand buying a designer item because of a fanaticism for high quality materials and workmanship or an inexpensive but OK quality item because a modest quality is more than enough to suit your needs.

But I don't understand paying any type of money for a street-vendor-sold low quality item that bears only a superficial resemblance to its designer counterpart. OK well I would understand it if I were on vacation and my purse broke, or was lost or stolen and i needed something quick and cheap to last me long enough until I got home and even then i wouldnt buy a purse with logos all over it unless it was the only option.

I just don't get name brand appeal without a corresponding demand for high quality.

Status, cheaper.

 

[chrono]

Or a person likes that particular design but does not want to fork out a fortune for it.

 

[AmeliaG]

Well it is a nice purse, and I do like the look of it. It's also pretty darn sturdy and for the time I did carry it (about a year or so) it never showed any real structural problems. But maybe I'm really easy on purses.

Mostly I bought the purse because it was the first time I was in NYC and I wanted to haggle. LOL. To be honest, I don't much care for real coach purses. Not my thing. But the fake one was right up my alley. The logo pattern is subtle (black on black) and it's got nice buckle and "leather" trim detailing. It's a nice purse. I bought it because I liked the way it looked, not because it's a fake Coach. It was an experience purchase more than anything.

OK, now I get you, Ravenne. The New York experience. I guess because I live in NY and I know the quality of some of these street items, I stay away, but I have probably made a similar purchase in a city where I was vacationing.

Or a person likes that particular design but does not want to fork out a fortune for it.

Ah now I did this but by accident. I bought a knockoff qulted Chanel purse before I knew what Chanel was. It wasn't a cheap purse and the leather was good quality and buttery soft but it was a damn sight cheaper than an original Chanel bag (think $200 versus $1000) It was a very nice bag while it lasted but as I said, I'm hard on bags so I was back to Coach.

 

[beaujolais]

OOOooo, Ksinger & Traveling Gal,

Try this one:

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/40341?feat=53801-ppxs&dds=y

It really does feel lighter to wear. And they last forever. I buy them in the small size, just fyi, which is normal purse size.

 

[JaneSmith]

There is a tiny store run by a family of leather artisans outside of Florence Italy that I buy many of my purses from. They make everything under the sun using the finest of leathers. Of course, there are no outside labels, logos or decals but the leather is sublime and the workmanship is so terrific it is guaranteed.

You have to spill the beans on the company name and where they are. I want one!



I love handbags. LOVE They don't make my arse look big like some clothes, they don't hurt my feet like some shoes.
Much to my husband's amused disgust I will walk around in jeans and a t-shirt with a LAMB or LV bag and diamond jewelry. I don't like buying clothes.
I like iconic classic bags. I like how well made they are and how the style has stood the test of time. I like having a little piece of history on my arm. I especially like the little c's on my Chanel classic flap because C is the initial of my firstborn.
I do have one LV monogram bag, but don't like monogram in general, or being a walking advertisement. Odd, I know, but I love that bag.
I have some coach bags that are my everyday workhorses. I don't mind if they get a little beat up, I can generally spruce up the leather myself. To me coach is like an Acura or Lexus. Midrange.
I'll often carry just a small Chanel clutch with the essentials. I get tired of lugging everything but the kitchen sink in my large bags.

I really want a birkin, but I don't think I'll swing it. If they were less than $10k, maybe, but I'd rather buy a rolex or a nice AVC.

 

[AmeliaG]

A little update - I just went to the Coach store in Manhattan and the quality of the purses is now AWFUL compared to what it was! The leather's not as nice; they have crappy linings, overall a MAJOR disappointment, and the purse design looks funky and not very practical. It's a shame; I remember when they changed their style to keep up with the trends and even the salesgirl said longtime customers were complaining the quality went downhill from there.

I'll have to cross Coach off my list. How is Delfino's quality? I went to their shop today and the leather seemed really nice. I didn't like their linings so much. I also saw some Rebecca Minkhoff; I hadn't heard of her before but the bag I saw was nice. Sadly these two don't seem as nice as the old Coach but I think that type of quality is long gone.

 

[aljdewey]

I couldn't care less about designer clothes, bags, shoes, or much else becuase they don't do anything for me, but if they do something for others, that's fine by me.

I can't envision myself being willing to pay the amount for one that I know they must cost, but even if I found one I liked, I think I'd have a tough time carrying it. I'd prefer to avoid things that others might draw conclusions from, especially since in my case, they'd likely be inaccurate ones. LOL.

 

[zoebartlett]

I couldn't care less about designer clothes, bags, shoes, or much else becuase they don't do anything for me, but if they do something for others, that's fine by me.

I can't envision myself being willing to pay the amount for one that I know they must cost, but even if I found one I liked, I think I'd have a tough time carrying it. I'd prefer to avoid things that others might draw conclusions from, especially since in my case, they'd likely be inaccurate ones. LOL.

I'm the same way. I always feel like an imposter when trying to carry off a look that just isn't me.

 

[diamondringlover]

I normally just carry a small little black purse from Kohl's lol it wasnt even leather...I just dont care about purse's as long as they do the job I dont care what brand they are...however with that being said, last Christmas my sister bought me a small black little Coach purse (i like really small purses) and I got to admit I do like it...would I buy one again, no but I do like and as a FYI my purse from Kohl's actually seems to be better made

 

[cookies]

I have to admit some designer purses/handbags do look very pretty, but I cannot imagine myself spending thousands or tens of thousands of dollars on a purse (or a dress, or a pair of shoes). There are plenty of non-big-name purses out there, that are good-looking and sturdy, and cost only a few hundred dollars or less.

 

[JaneSmith]

I thought about this again today as I was window shopping. I like handbags because they are pretty. Same for diamonds.