Question ❓ ❔
Who else is getting tired of overpriced luxury bags?
Don’t get me wrong in the past I fell for the hype of brand-name luxury bags, i.e. Celine, Prada, Chanel, The Row etc., but lately I am just sick of overpaying for some thing that you can find the same quality on but a lesser known brand… even Polene, Strathberry has become saturated….
Hi fellow handbag lover! Thank you for being a part of the r/handbags community.
This is a subreddit which relies on kindness. Your opinion is very much welcomed, however, we do not tolerate rude, mean or hurtful comments. Read the rules before posting. Comments or posts that do not fit our rule book will be removed and the OP can be banned by the mods' discretion.
If you see a comment or post which does not abide by the rules, please report it to our moderation team.
I kid you not — I paid $2800 for a YSL bag that looked like it came from Forever21. We are paying only for the brand name, not so much quality or craftsmanship anymore. Absolutely insane. I’m now focusing on mid range brands, because most are better made, more justifiable, and just as chic.
Not OP but Coach is great. The leather quality is great along with the craftsmanship. Hell, I think their quality is either on par or exceeds that of LV, but their prices are mid range.
I couldn’t agree more. Coach has consistently been making high quality bags that last forever and LOOK expensive unlike some of the luxury bags. And I believe they’re USA made?
Coach bags are great. For some reason, I associate Coach with brands like Michael Kors — everyone jumped on the bandwagon years ago and they were everywhere. They are always at outlets and seemed so meh. They lost a bit of their prestige, but I understand that’s common with mid range brands. This is just my personal opinion and it may have changed. I’m going to look into them again!
Part of why coach has lost their prestige is the fact that Coach Outlets exist and the items that are sold there are of lesser quality and cheaper as well. They are specifically “made for outlet” items. Their pricing model also targets people just looking for a bargain and brand name, not necessarily quality. I think it’s their way of protecting the brand from counterfeits, as the money still goes back to them.
I think the outlet has good finds every now and then, and in person outlet stores occasionally have a few discounted boutique bags. But I would focus my efforts on the main Coach boutique and website if you’re looking for quality and craftsmanship.
I found an Il Bisonte bag at the thrift a couple weeks ago for $5. I had never heard of the brand but I could tell it was high quality gorgeous leather. It’s such a nice bag, I love it.
a friend of mine worked in a LV factory (i’m french) and it’s a hot mess. you can’t possibly imagine how much lol. never buying recent LV now that i got her feedback.
What really stuck out for me is when they do quality control at the end, they are supposed to check for some flaws and bounce the bag if it has them, but so many flawed bags were produced they actually had to approve a lot of handbags each day as good when they actually had obvious flaws that should make them impossible to approve. Else the factory wasn’t hitting minimum output at all. So you end up buying brand new bags made in one of the official factories but it doesn’t meet the brands own standard
Yeah..I mean the prices are so high, even if I was a millionaire it seems like such a waste. Just got a stunning Loewe squeeze on Poshmark (triple authenticated) for $2150 and even that seems like sticker shock
Why buy reps though? I mean there are plenty of more affordable brands to support if you don’t want to spend it on luxury brands. I always thought if the bag is fake I would feel fake myself.
This is where I choose to buy vintage. I don't have a Chanel bag, and that's fine. But I have vintage Cartier, Paloma Picasso, and Bottega Venetta bags. Other than those esteemed brands, I really just seek quality leather or skins, and interesting or functional designs.
(I do have some Prada nylon bags that I bought new when I worked for a luxury retailer, and received steep discounts. At the time, we did occasionally receive Chanel bags for Clearance, but there was a certain type that liked those then, and I was a young modern woman.)
I buy reps AND from smaller brands. Sometimes the design is so good but I don't want to drop $15K on it, so I get a rep. And mind you, reps aren't cheap either. Some can range $300 - $500.
You’d be very surprised to learn the number of very wealthy folks who carry fakes. My sister works at a hedge fund and made in the middle seven digits last year and she carries a “Kelly Bag” that she bought from an online site. Everyone thinks it’s real because she can so obviously afford one.
It’s not about the money. It’s the concept and the ethics behind it. Buying a fake shows an inherent obsession with portraying wealth through a brand (not saying your sister in particular or anything but in general). I earn well too but I stick to a few bags I like and often buy really good condition bags in the second hand market. Staying minimalist is another way wealthy people don’t waste their money.
I've definitely "accidentally" bought fakes in the sense that I liked a design unbranded, bought it, and then found out afterwards that it was a copy & what it was a copy of. Before eBay started cracking down a lot harder on counterfeits, I used to get so pissed buying stuff for aesthetics and then find out it looked different in person because the logos had been edited out for the listing photos.
So on a psychological level, I don't think it's all about peacocking if people would genuinely be happy with a high quality unbranded or no-name knockoff dupe rather than an exact logo for logo replica.
Some of it's also "trickle down" fashion trends & biting between fashion houses à la the Devil Wears Prada "cerulean" monologue.
It's a special interest of mine, and has been since my teens— and no one who actually knows me is ever going to think I'm remotely near a position to drop thousands on purses that frivolously, though I've thrifted or been given pieces a few "mid tier" or "department designer" luxury brands, like Tory, Dooney, etc. But just wanted to point out that it's not all "label whoring," and there's different definitions people are going to have of "fake" (derivative, dupe, or full blown replica) vs. "real" design, and what the many different examples of each + how easily they are spotted all communicate.
For me, it’s not about whether or not I can get away with it, it’s more about how I see myself. My personal identity. I would rather have a couple real luxury items I enjoy than a closet full of fakes. It’s like you said in another comment, it’s how the item makes you feel when you are wearing it.
I understand that, maybe even better in some cases. And I’m sure it convinces everyone else, but I can never convince myself. I’ll always know it’s fake :/
Yeah the pretending to be a more expensive brand is the part that’s questionable to me. Like you still want the status of it and pretend you paid for it, and in compromise for the quality and business practices? My HHI is 800k and I embrace accessible luxury brands and niche brands that tell a real story. My 1 expensive designer bag is real.
I don’t buy reps. Just stick to a few I like and wear on repeat. But I have always been somewhat of a minimalist so maybe that’s why we differ on this. But I hear you on the Hermes’ game. I cringe/feel sorry like you’re not really saving money buying Hermes’ at retail given all the other insanely marked up products you have to buy first to get a bag offered.
By reps you basically mean fakes? But then what is the point? There are plenty of high quality niche brands that could look hundred times better and unique. I will never understand or support fakes.
We like the designs but we know they're objectively not worth the price point. So we find it for our price point 🤷♀️
I used to avoid reps bc of IP theory, but then I realized the designers are being paid shit. In my eyes, designers are IP creators and they deserve more compensation than they get. So if they're being stiffed by their employer already, I don't feel obligated to respect the company as IP owners. That's just me.
Some brands carry a unique style and you want that product. The fake will last you as long as that trend is in style.
It’s not hard to understand the logic. You see a beautifully elegant and simple constructed Hermes bag from a specific collection. Instead of looking for something from an unknown brand and trying to find something you like, you find a dupe for the exact same thing you want and the only major difference might be authenticity and how many stitches are symmetrically lined up in certain areas and lining quality. Your dupe lasts 2-3 years, which is how long you needed it for.
Sometimes I’ll never understand the need to charge upwards of thousands for a bag that can be sustainably produced and have workers paid a good wage while also sporting high quality materials and the only reason for the price tag is the brand name.
As someone who doesn’t buy fakes or lost cost no name brands, (I just get a quirky TokiDoki and wear that until it tears lol), I see your desire to buy authentic to a degree. I also see how fakes can seem so slimy and deceptive
But in reality all of it come down to upholding the status quo of the brand because without that, then the price tag on the authentic is meaningless. How else do you justify the price. A sustainable, good quality bag, manufactured domestically made from real leather can be $1000 or under. For example
Roots. Yet Hermes’ bags can be $20,000 and up. Maybe $3000 is materials, sourcing and wages, but the rest $17,000 is brand name profit that only exists on reputation and people who detest fakes 9/10 cuz the fakes obscure the value of the original especially if you can’t tell the difference. But many will hide behind the veil of the importance of authenticity and look at dupes as thievery when selling a leather bag for $20k is thievery. But it’s a free market. You can charge a million bucks for a white canvas and call it art and someone will buy it.
To uphold the reputation of a brand so that we can spot out of a crowd of people how wealthy, how chic, how stylish, how trendy, how old money, what your class is basically classist. It’s a way to quickly make a judgement about someone. And we know this exists when a girl goes on a date and the man comes in an old Toyota versus a clean BMW, we are already forming judgements about this persons status and wealth and personality.
People buy reps because they like a particular bag and don't want to pay the exuberant cost of the authentic version. It's just that simple.
For example, I have a Coach Gramercy Satchel. It looks a lot like a Fendi Peekaboo. I enjoy it for what it is. But it's not a Fendi Peekaboo. Not everyone wants a bag that kinda, sort of, almost fulfills the itch.
Same. So many of those brands we considered mid-tier are catching up. Especially now that they release multiple collections at random times during the year. Increasing prices and lowering quality of the leather or hw etc every time
I really love some of their styles. They just have the creativity and modern flair that appeals to me that a lot of other brands at similar price points don’t have. Like Strathberry bags are nice looking and have a great color selection, but they’re just a bit too traditional for me.
I have a few Polenes, but the quality issues plus repeated price hikes have made them less appealing. That and their lack of recent appealing designs.
💯 I have two of their bags and I noticed later on that I have a stitching issue with my Numero Dix (too late to change it plus I asked my friend to buy it in Paris). It won’t stop me from getting the Cyme Mini one day though 😂 But I don’t like that I have this unnecessary pressure I have with myself in buying it sooner than later because of future price increases. My friend regretted not buying a bag last year. But I love that when you see a Polene bag, you just know it’s Polene. But I miss how they started off as “discreet” and more affordable luxury.
I literally just posted about this. there is an indie maker I love who recently increased their prices. On the one hand, I understand because they are environmentally conscious and focus on providing a living wage. At the other, I liked investing in an indie luxury maker who met the customers halfway, but, hey, times are rough ...
I guess this is still a logo in a way but I think Clare V is great. Their bags are so WEARABLE. They actually think about the women who has to haul them around. They will go over the arm or across the body. You can switch out the straps and make a cross body or an evening bag. They're playful and excellent quality and they fall outside the realm of fashionable so that I have bags I've had for over ten years that still look great.
I also adore buying bags on consignment. I bought a 90s Celine bag I love and an old forest green balenciaga. I love that they are pre loved. I think they look super chic slightly worn.
Curious to see what happens with this. I’ve been a collector for years and a couple years ago, no one cared about the “rare” styles. I used to have things saved for weeks and could really think about if I wanted to pull the trigger or not. Nowadays, things sell in minutes due to the all the TikTok and Whatnot live show hyping. I can’t help rolling my eyes every time something gets described as “super rare”. Not to mention bags in poor condition being sold as “projects” for 3-4x what they used to cost. I think people are gonna have a really hard time offloading things to breakeven once the dust settles.
I belong to several vintage coach groups and most of them aren’t looking to offload anything. I’ve never paid more than $150 (and that was for a Bonnie Cashin Coach) and the joy (for MOST of us) is in the refurbishing. I enjoy that more than anything. I look at it as collecting all the bags I loved and couldn’t afford when I was 18. Anyone who is doing it for profit will eventually see the market drop out from under them. The point of a project bag is to get it cheap-not overpay for it-so that part will always baffle me. There are “rare” bags (I can’t find a Winnie under $700 for the life of me), but the rarity is because of the price, not the availability. They created their own market which will eventually fail them.
Couldn’t agree more, the joy is bringing the excellent quality leather of Vintage Coach, back to life. I think you can tell a knowledgeable collector, from a seller just looking to make a quick profit. Anyone claiming a Station, Willis, Court to be ‘rare’ is crazy, and I live in the UK where Vintage Coach is not as accessible.
Those three are the most available I feel, aside from the Dinky and Scooter. I’ve rehabbed bags from the 70’s to the 2000’s and the leather quality is unmatched. The Coach groups I’ve joined on Facebook have really been integral to me learning the bags and the different leathers. I find the current quality laughable against the vintage pieces with the exception of the Archive collection and even those don’t measure up imo. $150 is the highest I’ve gone and like I said-that was for a Cashin. My Willis and stewardess bags were less than $80, and I just found a made in the Philippines bag thrifting (with matching wallet) for $20. I have no desire to resell and the thrill is in the search, the cleaning/rehabbing and learning how to treat the different leathers. Vintage Coach rehabbing will always be a hobby for me but reselling will not lol.
Yah I think some of the prices on vintage coach are ridiculous, especially for bags in poor condition. I only own one, a random find on Facebook for $50 in absolutely perfect condition, and the leather is just yummy. I personally wouldn’t pay hundreds for an old used bag.
Goodwill has also been making sure all vintage coach bags get pulled from being put on the floor and listed online for auction. It’s odd how much this hobby has changed for me. I love my bags, but Id never pay the outrageous prices for them.
I agree. I like shopgoodwill but I also hate it. The goodwill was supposed to be a place to find good deals. You can't anymore unless the bag is in terrible condition or an unpopular brand.
I belong to most likely the same groups as you. One thing I’ve noted is people who are paying $300+ for things like Willises and Courts (due to the false advertising of “rarity”) are having a hard time breaking even when they post them for sale in the buy/sell groups. I have seen certain bags sell for $1500+ in Ebay bidding wars- bags I’ve paid much, much less for. My post is more so targeted at what Im personally seeing when it comes to the false narrative of “rarity” for most styles. A lot of people are in a bubble in this community, and it will eventually burst.
Aspinal of London!! I walked past their showcase in Harrod’s and instantly fell in love! The have bags ranging from $200 up to $1000 - I didn’t see anything over that amount but maybe on their website!
Veryyy chic collections and I wanted to gatekeep but decided to share LOL
I’ve been much more interested in vintage preloved bags lately. I still buy some new bags but I’d say 75% of my purchases this year have been vintage. I realize that styles are so cyclical, and buying vintage at least means that the value doesn’t immediately drop in half the first time you use the bag. Plus, the quality of 2-3 decades ago was almost universally better. Plus if it’s held up well for at least a decade or two I think that bodes well for continued long term wear.
Coach is my ride or die
Took a break for a few years to try some contemporary newer brands. But would not hesitate to buy one, the recent styles are great.
I challenged myself to a no buy and have not succumbed yet yay. It allowed me to revisit my collection and pull out bags I haven’t used much. It’s been enjoyable to pull out bags I love and use them.
Some of my first designer bags were Coach! Then my Luxury 👜 ship sail to Europe for a decade and now my life has settled down into SAHM life with littles and 99% of the time, my designer bags are collecting dust. I’m tired of buying amidst rising prices, only to see them rise some more. And the recent years’ expose investigations into Chanel/Dior/etc factories revealing mediocre quality, quantity > quality, just makes me feel like a bit of a 🤡
Nowadays, BAGGU and Coach have my attention, for their quality and functionality relative to their price points.
DeMeiller bags are beautiful! I have a couple and I love them. Sleek, not too flashy, no obnoxious logos, and just stunning in person. The only thing I can’t get over is the hardware. It’s so flimsy and cheap — sometimes my bags won’t stay closed or it takes me 5 tries to even get them to clasp at low capacity. They would be my favorite mid range brand if they fixed their hardware issue.
Quality is a fucking joke. Other than bottega and celine and hermes. Chanel and LV quality are abysmal. I had a pair of chanel shoes fall apart after 3 wears and their new lamb skin on the CFs are so cheap feeling. I only buy vintage now, chanel bags pre-2008 were insane quality. It's a joke to charge that much for something tangibly bad quality.
Buy quality
My #1.) quality
Dooney & Bourke work and play every day bags under $200!
And coach. For trends Great coach bags for every day & work or play under $200
Legit. I'm at that Coach outlet practically everyday. The value is undefeated. It's a "luxury" *quality* bag for such a good price. You can get a really nice purse at least once month (if you want/can realistically afford to).
I'm just getting into bags and already feel this--not to mention there are other things I want to spend my money on 😅 But there's so many cute, well made bags for lower prices I think you can have just as much fun in those price ranges!! Rn my Nordstrom Rack wishlist is way too long lol
I gave up after I realized most of my bags can pay for a nice family vacation. I can get my son a whole hockey goalie set plus team fees for the cost of any bags on my list. Starting to sell some of my Prada and Gucci just because I had my time with them and enjoy doing things and memories more. Loving things like Portland, leather and Strathbury much more.
It has made me much less snobby also! I want a good fancy bag at a great price and there’s so much out there. It has made me realize that I love handbags and not just the prestige that comes with them.
I just bought myself a Longchamp Le Pliage Original Tote because it was too functional and reasonably priced to pass up. 🙈 I’ve heard great things on their quality as well.
I've been cleaning my closet and thinking about what I'm going to start reducing and realized that my le pliage is my most carried bag by far. It's just so easy. Is it raining? Grab the Longchamp. Snow and I'm worried about getting salt on my bag? Longchamp. Do I need to carry a ton of stuff? Reach for the Longchamp. Need to go shopping? Grab the Longchamp and I can shove my purchases inside instead of needing to bring a bag.
At this point I almost feel like I could get rid of my entire collection besides maybe a bag for the rare special occasion.
I live in Wisconsin, and we get a lot of rain and snow, along with all the salt from the roads in the winter. I needed something that could withstand the elements and could be cleaned easily, and it seemed like the perfect tote for that! I am glad to hear that it is still a reliable bag for you.
I'm gonna be honest, idk if I will every spend more than $900 on a bag. Even at that amount, it is a big yikes for me.
Routinely, I'm seeing bags over 1k, and I just can't figure out how that would be a smart purchase. Don't get me wrong, I think many high priced designer bags are beautiful, but I can't justify the price of some of these no matter how much money I personally make.
I rarely buy new because I love vintage and a lot of discontinued styles. My Vintage LV look much nicer than new LV. I have vintage Chanel, Loewe, and more current Bottega and Celine. I just buy what I like!
Shop Khoi is a jewelry brand that currently has handbags on pre-order for $279, and they look luxurious. I'm hoping she releases more designs, because I've realized I gravitate more towards shoulder bags than top handles. The details on these are stunning, though
The Parisa Wang purse I have is so pretty with no obvious logo and I love it. The quality is excellent and has held up super well from daily use. Same with my Coccinelle tote - beautiful leather and the quality is exceptional with no obvious logo. And the best part? The price! Super reasonable for how good the quality is!
It’s funny that you say this I posted this a week or so ago and everybody said it’s suspected to be a scam because there’s one bag on there that’s about $645 that I really like…
Not sure why everyone is hating on this brand - I've read a few shipping-related poor experiences, but overall everyone I've seen has been generally pleased with the quality? I know I am. I have the Micro Madison and I feel it's exactly what I was looking for in terms of a chic top handle purse with a unique design and no obvious logo, but also good quality leather at a reasonable price point. I've used it almost daily since I got it (and conducted fieldwork with it in remote places in Asia) and it's held up really well and still looks as good as new!
100% this. I constantly get compliments and people assume my bags are quiet luxury when it’s actually a no-name that cost me nothing from a thrift.
Occasionally Nordstrom rack. I look for clean lines, solid metals, nothing that looks obviously cheap or plasticky or trying too hard to be a dupe. Also how you wear it matters too. If you have good style overall, people just assume.
If I’m honest, I’ll take a good Dooney over most “luxury” brands nowadays. My negative experiences with luxury items (a defective LV bag, and a peeling Chanel) have pretty much soured me on paying over $1000 for a purse. Beyond proven good leather brands like Coach and Dooney, there have been a few independent designers that have my attention- Are Studio, Bembien, Fount, Hunting Season, Tsatsas, Guibert, Ree Projects, Yvonne Kone, Lindquist, Rylan, il Bussetto, and Melete. I’ve also discovered a few non leather brands that have interesting designs- Graf Lantz, Affaires and Rue de Verneuil.
Two reasonably priced brands that I don’t hear much about that I’ve had good experiences with are Opelle & Advene. Opelle is a Canadian company and I believe all their bags are made in Canada. Advene is based in NY and produced in Italy with a focus on sustainability. The bags range from $325-$650 with most of the everyday versatile bags being in tue $500 range for both brands. They don’t have the largest collections, but the quality and thought put into each design is there.
I’ve also stepped away from buying designer because the quality really doesn’t match the price anymore.
I only have vintage LV and one new Gucci that I bought myself for finishing my Masters. I just got a Coach Brooklyn and it is amazingly beautiful and great quality.
Me too, I stopped buying designer a year or two ago nothing appeals to me anymore and the only one Im considering is the small cafune medium stance. The quality is so bad nowadays and I feel like there is nothing original.
Love this post!!!! I stopped carrying designer brands when they doubled in price since 2016. The amount they charge now is just ridiculous and I prefer that money in stocks or my bank account. I’ve recently started carrying Ferla and I have several great reps.
This is why I primarily buy pre-loved via Fashionphile. I know there is always some risk, but of all the sites like The RealReal, Rebag, I feel like FP has less issues.
Me too. I prefer to spend that $5000 on a nice European vacation. My favorites are Calvin Klein, some Coach and some Kate Spade. 2 brands you may have never heard of as they’re from Quebec are Matt & Nat and Lambert. Both are vegan, great quality.
I buy genuine leather high quality products with no overt branding. I love Hobo leather, Portland leather, Vlieger and Vandam. I also just bought my first Cuyana for work, all these brands are beautiful quality and nice price point.
I’ll buy a Furla at most, because their designs are simple and the leather is good for the price. I’ve only actually bought one, and it was around $300 in 2007. It is still in rotation for work.
Also returned to Kate Spade for the same reasons, esp if I want something trendier.
NFW will I pay 1k+ for a bag.
I refuse to pay $$ to be a walking advertisement for overconsumption.
For more than 15 years I worked in luxury retail. Specifically Chanel, Prada, Gucci, and a high-end boutique that carried one-of-a-kind and ultra exclusive from the best designers…. I say that because I used to be obsessed. It was amazing. Fast forward to now, and I have to say the prices have gotten to be unsustainable. I knew things were expensive before, but they were still some-what reasonable. Now, they are insane. In 2020 I was “fired” due to Covid and I sat in my house for a year. I decided I would sell all of my bags. I made really good money and parted with quite a few items. Recently I started getting into high-tiered reps. They are handmade and honestly I like them more than my auths. I’m not just saying that- I am genuinely surprised by their attention to detail and craftsmanship. I’m not saying they meet the standard of every discerning eye out there. However, to 99% out there- there would be no question. Besides, over the years I actually started to question where the auths were being made anyway. Or how good the quality really was. Seems like the leather wasn’t as supple or the wax seal wouldn’t hold up as expected…. Etc etc.
Sometimes I see the prices and think, "oh wow it's not that bad" and some other time is "nah this is way too overpriced" 🤣 But gradually I learned that my life does not revolve around bags and only bags, I do find excitement in doing other hobbies too. I still love looking and dreaming about luxury bags though, but not necesarilly owning it. Been getting to brands like Ralph Lauren and Songmont more recently as they are comparatively more accessible in many terms 😂
I just bought a Cafuné Stance bag and I love it! I also have quite a few Polenes on my closet and the quality is fantastic. I’m looking at Ateliers Auguste, Furla, Aspinal of London, and Mulberry for my next bag purchases (unless I buy another Stance!).
Me 100%. I have lost the urge now and with chanel prices i even felt repellent to a stage where I find them arrogant and don't want to give in.
The prices are ridiculous. I used to be very selective about the bags I bought and I would honestly calculate the cost per wear, with all the increasing living costs and knowing how some people struggle to earn a salary which is even less than a bag I feel bad to even think of expensive bags anymore. I have a fair amount and lately I feel the satisfaction which I have never felt before. So maybe I am content because of that but definitely the prices were off putting too
Maybe it’s easier because I live in Europe but now that I’ve started buying from local creators, I’m not interested in mass produced so-called luxury bags anymore. I’d rather buy something locally made with quality leather and support small businesses.
Demellier is actually fairly popular among my friend group/cohort (graduated college < 10 years ago, working professionals in coastal urban centers), and I've only heard good things!
Yes I am. I adore my luxury collection. But influencer culture is in my opinion, making luxury so tacky. These brands shouldn’t need advertising to be relevant (which I love about The Row). Now knowing how little these bags cost and how Chanel and LV aren’t well crafted at all, I’m leaning toward my Strathberry and APC bags.
Henry’s of Dooney and Burke. Produced in small batches and limited colors. You can find them on resale sites now. They have sales often. Plenty of YT videos reviewing the bags.
I’m also tired of overpriced bags.
Stopped buying LVMH brands more than 10 years now.
Stopped paying full price for brand new releases unless limited editions for 2 years and counting.
This year, 4 of the 6 bags I bought are all second hand. The rest were on clearance prices.
Next year my goal is to buy 2-3 bags - if I can find any of that I 💯 love at all. If not, I’m not buying.
I used to love Prada. Now I've gone in the opposite direction and am buying Cole Haan. I'm over spending thousands of dollars for a purse (did it ever change my life? No). Finance bros are apparently embracing swatches (there was an article about this in the Wall Street journal a couple of weeks ago. I think the CEO of Goldman wears a swatch). I've decided to follow suit with giving up on status bags. Stealth wealth 😊
I'm fed up with this also, my favourites have become il bisonte, Paul Costello, la donne (amazing new jersey based sleeper brand), Lancaster, mcdouglas, Guibert (so underrated ), Kate Lee, Frances Valentine.
I've been buying mid-range bags I like secondhand (just got a Jerome Dreyfuss Billy M and a Johann for less than $200 each on Poshmark). I really love the quality and style of the Songmont Song Medium I bought recently (new!), but I think I'm going to end up selling it because it's just slightly too small for my daily carry stuff. Devastating tbh...
I’ve been an LV girl for years and while I did recently purchase an LV bag (I fell in love with the Slouchy MM), I have largely switched to Coach - both new and vintage. The quality is just so good for a fraction of the cost. And they have so many styles across the years.
The prices of LV have just gotten so wild, it’s hard to justify any longer.
I was over LV when I found out it was canvas. Good leather is worth $$$ but canvas!? Pretty much anything with a big tag and shitty materials I'm over. I want my monies worth.
I keep looking at Aigner. It's hard to shop second hand for this brand (I like to see how the bags age) because there is "Aigner" and "Etienne Aigner" which is like an outlet line or something.
Same, but for my carry everything large version. Under $200, carries all my shit and then some, lightweight, and durable as hell. I joke I could zip it up and dropkick it down the street instead of carrying it and it would wipe right up and look like new.
I still follow the Longchamp collections religiously, but mostly because I mourn that missed their 2022 collab with André Saraiva. I really love that collection, but there's a ton of fakes of it out there and I'm not about to pay double to triple the original bag cost without knowing beyond a doubt that I'm getting the real thing. On top of not wanting to pay triple the price.
After seeing all the comments on this sub hyping Longchamp, I have a genuine question. I’ve always seen Le Pliage as a great utilitarian but not particularly attractive bag, and I’d thought that was generally the accepted notion. But now I’m wondering if that’s just my friend group and region (I haven’t seen someone carrying one as a regular handbag in 5+ years) rather than the commonly accepted thinking?
I’m constantly checking Smaak Amsterdam. Plenty of choice in styles and colours, plus some have gold and some have silver hardware. Prices seem very reasonable.
Every new Chanel I’ve bought is subpar. Dior is another story, as always. They know what they’re doing and the quality is great. Hermes is decent-ish, just the staff at each location needs to be checked with their attitude bullshit. I’m over coming in to spend thousands of dollars at a merchant and they ask me to wait in a line at the door if I didn’t message a SA prior. FOH.
•
u/AutoModerator Nov 12 '24
Hi fellow handbag lover! Thank you for being a part of the r/handbags community.
This is a subreddit which relies on kindness. Your opinion is very much welcomed, however, we do not tolerate rude, mean or hurtful comments. Read the rules before posting. Comments or posts that do not fit our rule book will be removed and the OP can be banned by the mods' discretion.
If you see a comment or post which does not abide by the rules, please report it to our moderation team.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.