Corner and Leather Wear on your BEs?

[Jenova]

Originally Posted by Contessa

Lexie.....are you saying that the "thicker and more stiff" the better???? I agree that thin and stiff isn't a good combo.........

............could get worse though!

[hipnycmom]

Originally Posted by Jenova

............could get worse though!

I had a thought but probably shouldn't add to this train of thought

[Lexie2000]

Originally Posted by Contessa

Lexie.....are you saying that the "thicker and more stiff" the better???? I agree that thin and stiff isn't a good combo.........

Oh Geeesh! I am making a disclaimer now that I didn't start any of this because with each post I can just see it getting worse. Shame on You Contessa! And also it's OT. It should be posted in the Complaints & Concerns thread. There are no corners in what you are referring to! At least not any I've seen.

[rainydaze]

this thread is incredibly helpful, a big thank you to everyone who is contributing! i am a newbie to BE and really savoring learning as much as i can before i bring a BE home to me - when i finally take the plunge this handbag is going to be cherished! that being said....

Originally Posted by Contessa

I find that if I obsess about wear and tear on my bags, I might as well use a plastic garbage bag and call it a day. A mark here....a scuff there.........really, if it really irked me, then I would never ever wear a leather bag. I'm glad normal wear and tear doesn't phase me......mind you, my CC would probably thank me. I remember when I got my 1st LV years ago and became terrified of a scotch mist of rain. I'm not the same person anymore. And my LV's??? Well.....let's just say, they're "seasoned" and look amazing. Today, I wear my bags with pleasure and if it rains, snows, hails, who cares.....it's just a bag. And something else I've noticed.......I have a Bal and Prada Gauffre.......there is some minimal wear on the corners and although it bothers me NONE, I will say, if any of my bags were to get a "hole", it would be those 2.....NOT my BE's. And like my good friend says........wear something if you enjoy it.......wear the hell out of it and once it's had it's day, get a new one.

....Contessa, i feel exactly the same about my bags! looking at my first first luxury bag (and first bag over $75 for that matter), it definitely looks *ahem* loved. i wouldn't have it any other way, i loved that bag and wore it for 9 months straight (also a first for me!). and what a wonderful 9 months it was! for me, worrying about my bag and having to baby it lessens my enjoyment of it, and i don't care to pay this much for more worries/work in my life! however, i have also learned on this forum how to treat my nicer bags (LMV or apple), and i will at least adopt that habit.

[hipnycmom]

Contessa, I do agree with you that worrying about wear and tear can be limiting. However, I also think that there are some things that are good to know before making a purchase. For example, I had my designs on a python bag but then discovered it does not do well when exposed to moisture/humidity. I would hate to spend $$$$ on one and then not be able to wear it, or wear it only a couple of times before it is completely ruined. My little time on TPF has taught me to consider factors outside of how attractive a bag looks. Hearing how others' bags have survived their adventures really helps me when deciding on a future purchase.

I remember one thread on the Chanel forum about a beautiful pair of winter boots. One pfer was completely in love with them and asked an SA how to care for them if they should get snow on. The SA replied "the boots are meant to be worn indoors only" LOL.

[hipnycmom]

Originally Posted by tenKrat

Mottled gold Stroke Me Midi - I've been wearing this bag everyday for the last two weeks, and there is no noticeable wear. The leather is thicker than the matte and seems sturdier. I like this leather so much that I am considering getting a bag in the mottled silver sometime next year. (ScubaHound's mottled silver TMA is beautiful, but I would get a smaller bag since I am petite. I used to be afraid of metallics, but when I decided to go for the gold, I was a goner.)

I'm glad to have heard this more than once about the mottled gold. I have a Flirt With Me in mottled gold and it is the thickest and chewiest of the BEs that I own. I would love one in a handbag. It's a lot different from the pewter which is thinner and more textured but equally lovely. I worry more about the gold fading than the pewter but it's good to know that the fading is uncommon.

[*suzi*]

Originally Posted by Contessa

And something else I've noticed.......I have a Bal and Prada Gauffre.......there is some minimal wear on the corners and although it bothers me NONE, I will say, if any of my bags were to get a "hole", it would be those 2.....NOT my BE's. And like my good friend says........wear something if you enjoy it.......wear the hell out of it and once it's had it's day, get a new one.

I have to agree with you there. I sold my Balenciagas because I was terrified of wearing them. They just seemed so delicate for some reason. I have been looking at some Pradas on the Bay lately thinking they would be strong enough to take my abuse, but many of the gently worn ones seem to have corner damage. I do not baby my bags at all, so only the strongest survive. In the old days I had Coach canvas bags that never made it past a year because I literally wore out the canvas. That is why I only purchase the really high end bags on sale.

[sgreg]

Jenova! Naughty girl, I could hardly read the rest of the thread because I was laughing too much.

[Bali_Girl]

Jeneova - And other ladies reading this -
Do you think we'd like the style of bags such as the LM, IY, Hug Me and other BE designs if they didn't have the structured bottoms? I just thought about this as I read your post and I'm not really sure I would like it if the bottoms were saggy.
In fact even on the TME which is a bit less structured, I sometimes put a cardboard insert into the bottom so it holds its shape when I put lots of stuff in it.
If corners were an option that could be ordered on BEC, and if they in fact helped to preserve the leather or if they got scuffed as well but not as severely, would they add re-sale value to the bag?
Despite the current pebbled glossy leather rage, I love some of the deeply saturated beautiful sheen and matte leathers and I'm sure I'll order more bags in these leathers, but I will need to consider which styles I'll order to minimize the rubbing and scuffling. If it happens, then I'll know that it was completely my choice!

Originally Posted by Jenova

I really think that a lot of my abrasion damage is related to the structured bottoms, particularly that on my Dark Grey Matte TMA and Mottled Gold I'm Yours. You can see that the leather is being rubbed between my body and the hard edge of the base. I don't have a car and walk absolutely everywhere so if anything is going to rub, it will show up soon for me. I am waiting for the first Enchant Me to turn up with one of you because I suspect, from the photos, that it could have a base stiffener. I am steering clear of it at the moment for that reason.

[hipnycmom]

Bali, while I resisted the structured bottoms at first, they are a BE feature that I have now come to appreciate. I think it's the structure that helps keep things inside from falling about. I do feel that they tend to slouch sufficiently in time. Like you, I love the sheen and glossy leathers because they are vibrant yet soft, a combination not so easy to find these days. I've added protective leather corners to canvas bags in the past and they've been a huge help but I do like the look of my BEs without them.

Suzi you know corner damage is usually a deal-breaker for me too (which is why I always mention any in my auctions). I don't mind it so much on bags I already own and have worn sufficiently (I would mind if it showed up after the 3rd use). I do prefer when bags I use develop character - when they slouch and soften with use and even sometimes when the leather changes color (Evenly). Fraying corners is just an obsession i have with everything - books, notebooks, paper, credit cards, shopping bags, and yes, bags.

[Jenova]

I think the rigid bases make the bags look a bit square and lumpy and certainly wish they were made with thicker leather instead of the stiffener. To me they are the least attractive feature of BE bags.

[kings_20]

Anyone have a turquoise sheen bag? How is the turquoise wearing?

[kicksarefortwids]

Originally Posted by Jenova

I think the rigid bases make the bags look a bit square and lumpy and certainly wish they were made with thicker leather instead of the stiffener. To me they are the least attractive feature of BE bags.

sorry for my ignorance, but what is a stiffener??

[Loquita]

Originally Posted by kings_20

Anyone have a turquoise sheen bag? How is the turquoise wearing?

I have a turquoise sheen AP...personally, I think that APs represent a pretty extreme case of BE leather wear, largely due to their structure (pretty sharp corners). I was really sorry to hear about your negative experience with your turquoise AP, Jenova -- because mine has worn really well, and I have used it a great deal since I got it. It does have corner wear, but it fades with LMB conditioner and doesn't bother me at all. (And I am very picky).

The turquoise sheen leather is great, IMO!

[kings_20]

^^

Thxs for the info!