"Embarrassing to be seen w/ a show-offy bag?"

[beljwl]

Living in Los Angeles I see people carrying birkins everyday. I don't think people in LA even notice.

[karmenzsofia]

To each her own.

No matter what we do or don't do, we cannot control what others think, plus, TBH, I care more about what I think kuz I have to live with myself 24/7.

[papertiger]

Originally Posted by chloehandbags

As far as London goes, that's largely due to: a) the deep discounts/special offers/lower prices and b) Eurozone citizens picking up bargains, due to virtual parity between the € and the £. Due to Cash for Clunkers - which, BTW, is causing palpitations amongst the classic car collectors, as people are scrapping beautiful and irreplaceable vintage cars. Also, it's appalling for the environment, as many of the cars scrapped have many good years left and according to environmental groups, it almost always 'costs' far more, environmentally speaking, to build a new car, than it does to continue running an older one until it's ready to be scrapped. Imagine if they were doing Cash for Old Handbags? All those gorgeous, Italian, or French-made older and vintage bags, with many years left in them, being destroyed, just to get a discount on a poorer quality new bag. I'd better shut-up, or I'll give them ideas...

All

I also don't like the idea of those beautiful handbags, old or new, being left at home in wardrobes across the world because some capital F dictator has decided that people should be ashamed of themselves for carrying them.

[chloehandbags]

^

BTW, I think I should reiterate that I really don't agree that anyone should feel ashamed of owning these types of designer bags; quite the reverse, in fact.

...and really, anyone who suggests one should, is being a snob (albeit a reverse one!).

However, I do think there's a big difference between feeling ashamed and being sensitive to other people's (and by other people I, primarily, mean those disadvantaged through no fault of their own) feelings.

I think, if one already has logoed/monogrammed/very recognisable bags one should, of course, feel free to (and may just as well, quite frankly!) enjoy them.

Perhaps just not in a tent city, or a soup kitchen, though?!

[ChaChaWeed]

I don't personally think that hiding your light is really going to help the world. The best bet we all have right now is to shine ourselves and express who we are. Wearing sackcloth and ashes is not lifting anyone up. Maybe everyone thought the guy with the Ferrari was a wanker, but I bet they would have liked to own the car. Be yourself, live out loud and express love to the world. If that includes a pretty bag, then great!

[musicalhouses]

I'm not against branded bags or flashy bags, or even bags with monograms all over per se. There's a lot more that makes a person classy or trashy than just the bag. A lot of it is also the attitude, know what I mean? We've all admired the person who carries a gorgeous, understated bag in a classy manner - expensive or not - and we've all been annoyed at the person who deliberately picks out a bag with monograms or logos for the sole purpose of showing off! (I know many ladies on TPF who like monograms or logos don't necessarily like them because they show off the brand, but I know of at least a couple of my friends who explicitly pick out bags with monograms all over, to show them off. Like, as in, "I prefer this bag because it has the BRAND all over it") So I'd say while personally I'd prefer to go for something that appears brand-less to the naked eye, I'd say its really a case of to each his/her own, and in anycase people may get first impressions of you based on your bag, but ultimately your actions and words are going to speak much louder than the type of bag you carry.

[BgaHolic]

I'm not a logo wearer simply because I don't prefer it, but at the same time, it doesn't bother me if someone wears the bag. It is their money and they are expressing themselves. I find it can be just as offensive to a super wealthy powerful person to see me on weekends wearing my comfy velour outfit and sneakers with a YSL bag hanging from my arm. - It's called freedom of expression!!! Next the writer will tell people they should stop driving Mercedes Benz or BMW's because it's offensive to others. I say, hey! This is America, freedom to express oneself!! Everyone should feel free to wear what they want as long as they aren't streaking in public! - Sorry! I got carried away! No one should feel embarassed for expressing their style and people should have confidence enough to just be themselves. Remember: Just because a person wears a logod bag or a highly understated bag such as BV doesn't necessarily mean they are rich. No one knows how they attained their bag. To each his own!

[doreenjoy]

Uhm, not everyone reading this forum is in America.

[BgaHolic]

I apologize. You are right, doreenjoy! I meant IMO, everyone should have freedom to express themselves no matter where they are from! C'mon! That's what makes this country and other countries so interesting! - The diversification! So who cares if someone is wearing a bag with the manufacturer's initials all over it, really! Just an FYI - a designer has to pay ME to wear their name. - So much in fact, that many years ago, I made the store engrave my name onto the bag and to this day everyone stops to ask where I bought it!!!

[DreamingBeauty]

I don't know, I'll always carry a designer purse for shopping or like to a restaurant or something, but I won't carry one to work. I don't want to deal with the stigma of it. It's just easier for me to carry the basic black no-name purse or the free messenger bag they gave us. I don't want people to think I have a lot of money, b/c actually I don't. I saved for my bags or got them as gifts.

[pukasonqo]

actually the article comes from australia.
there are worst things than carrying trendy bags:dishonesty,cruelty,people willing to exploit others and the list goes on and on and on...
people should be judged by who they are and how they behave towards others, not their bags.

[bagaholic85]

the only people that should be embarrassed to carry a "show-offy" bag are the people that bought them to be a show off in the first place.

[BittyMonkey]

I haven't changed what I do at all. All of my handbags are pretty much only recognizable if you're a handbag devotee. Some of that is with the increase in crime here (muggings coupled with beatings) I'm not interested in being targeted. Half the time I just shove my ID and a couple of credit cards in my jeans and don't carry a purse at all.

I don't buy LV and invest in pieces that are going to last a long time and go with many different outfits or looks.

Here in Chicagoland I have definitely seen fewer "blinged out" bags and more trending conservative.

[rainrowan]

^exactly, to bagaholic85.

I thought the article was very humorous. She's not talking about all people who carry luxury bags... more about the ones who have their nose up in the air to impress others. I've run into a few individuals like that... their LV speedy's literally raised up against your eyeballs, strutting in the mall. LOL....

I like to carry my nice bags out, but admit I admire them more fully in private at home. I don't really think about them too much when in public, there's too much I have to tend to, like shopping!

The thing about Stealth Wealth, I know someone who deliberately dresses down at events even tho they are loaded. It's fine not to be caught up trying to compete with the Joneses. But I also think it is a bit phoney to play down so much without having the mind set of the "new green", you know? If deep down, they're laughing at everyone else, then how much better are they to do that?

[ratox]

Originally Posted by rainrowan

^exactly, to bagaholic85. I thought the article was very humorous. She's not talking about all people who carry luxury bags... more about the ones who have their nose up in the air to impress others. I've run into a few individuals like that... their LV speedy's literally raised up against your eyeballs, strutting in the mall. LOL.... I like to carry my nice bags out, but admit I admire them more fully in private at home. I don't really think about them too much when in public, there's too much I have to tend to, like shopping! The thing about Stealth Wealth, I know someone who deliberately dresses down at events even tho they are loaded. It's fine not to be caught up trying to compete with the Joneses. But I also think it is a bit phoney to play down so much without having the mind set of the "new green", you know? If deep down, they're laughing at everyone else, then how much better are they to do that?

I agree with both of you.

There's nothing wrong with buying expensive bags or items if you can afford it but don't rub it in. Like pp mentioned, just because you carry a great bag with lots of class/history and craftmanship, doesn't mean that those qualities automatically transferred over to you by osmosis.