Good Taste or Spoiled?

[jealousguy86]

What is your immediate reaction when you see a young girl/teenager (maybe around 16-18 y/o) with an expensive (and real) designer bag?

[Antonia]

Most 16-18 year olds I see carry Coach and it's the norm. I'm never surprised to see this. I don't recall ever seeing anything really high end on teenagers in my area.

[tatu_002]

well for me, I did not know any designer bags until I was about 19 years old, and I am 21 now and just got my first designer handbag.

I am fine with 16-18 year old girls with a real designer bag, what I really don't like is when I see a 10 year old dying for a Coach. My little cousin girl is 10 and she wants a Coach so bad, and then she wants a Gucci. I mean I don't know what to call her spoiled ?. I know I am not jelous, but I can't believe young girls nowadays. When I was 10 I hated carrying a handbag and I never carried one until my senior year in high school.

[canada's]

designers goods are not exclusively mutual with good taste. i have seen plenty of 3K+ bags that would fit in at target.

i'm fine with teens having designer bags (or jeans, etc.), but i do not think it should be the focus. hearing girls on the board (yes, this one) saving all summer at a lame summer job to buy a LV breaks my heart. you're young! have fun, get into a little trouble, spend your money on movies, hanging out with friends and grabbing cute stuff at forever 21. to think they're missing out on random fun things as teens for a bag isn't fun to hear. and many here say, "it's an investment!" blah blah blah. not really true, but whatever. there's plenty of time to acquire the finer things in life.

[jealousguy86]

Originally Posted by canada's

to think they're missing out on random fun things as teens for a bag isn't fun to hear. and many here say, "it's an investment!" blah blah blah. not really true, but whatever. there's plenty of time to acquire the finer things in life.

Well Said

[Leeleerae]

It really bothers me. I grew up in NYC and when I was 16 my school bags were a Kate Spade messenger bag and a prada bag. My "evening" bags were a gucci, and a small louis vuitton. I had many prada and LV wallets, etc. I also wore only jimmy choos, manolo blahniks or clergerie shoes.
At that age, I didn't realize the value of the items and I treated them like I would a $10 piece of junk. If I asked for it, I got it. I judged those whose parent couldn't buy them things that my parents could because I didn't know any better.
Now that I am older and have to work to earn those possessions, I don't take them for granted, I treat them well and I don't think less of anyone who can't buy those them.
I think about the things I ruined that would be awesome to use today, and it bothers me that I was such an idiot. What bothers me more is the sense of entitlement I had towards owning those things.
From my experiences, teens that carry high end bags don't really have to work hard for them. They think its important to have those name labels and their parents are happy to pay for it.
It's a shame because value is placed on owning labeled items without work. I don't like seeing teens that have such a sense of entitlement because it makes like harder for them in the future when they have to start being responsible for themselves.

I think for kids that have actually worked hard to earn their bag, then that is a different story.
There is no way to know, but I know for sure that when I have kids, they will have to earn things that are "prized" possessions.

[MACsarah]

you never know weather this teenager has a part-time job, and saved it up, or got it as a reward from grades.

[Onederland]

spoiled or not, who are you to judge?

well, i guess everyone judges a little, so that's not fair to say.

but my sister got her first designer bag at 12, it was the Dior Girly Boston. spoiled? probably. but that doesn't make her a bad person. she's incredibly caring and smart. and it doesn't make us devalue what we have, or realize that it doesn't come from just any where.

and to each pair of parents, they raise their child differently.

my sister and i get straight A's. i go to a UC, and our high school, (my sister is currently a senior) was ranked in the top 50 of the Wall Street Journal's list of the best private school's in the nation. Needless to say, it's not easy achieving those A's. some parents reward their kids with video games or toys. our parents reward us with designer bags and clothes. and they can afford so without going into debt or whatever, and it is expendable income.

either way, we worked hard to EARN those gifts. because at our age, our job, is our education. and a gift is a gift, no matter what it is, and should be appreciated as such.

[pro_shopper]

I think that young ppl having nice bags is not really about good taste...since they are quite young they probably want one because they feel they should have one...

I had a few friends that carried high end designer bags since a very young age but they also came from very wealthy families...so there are different circumstances for everyone.

[Leeleerae]

Originally Posted by Onederland

spoiled or not, who are you to judge? well, i guess everyone judges a little, so that's not fair to say. but my sister got her first designer bag at 12, it was the Dior Girly Boston. spoiled? probably. but that doesn't make her a bad person. she's incredibly caring and smart. and it doesn't make us devalue what we have, or realize that it doesn't come from just any where. and to each pair of parents, they raise their child differently. my sister and i get straight A's. some parents reward their kids with video games or toys. our parents reward us with designer bags and clothes. and they can afford so without going into debt or whatever, and it is expendable income. either way, we hard to EARN those gifts. and a gift is a gift, no matter what it is, and should be appreciated as such.

I was just basing my opinion from my own experiences. My friends were just like I was. I shouldn't judge because everyone has a different story.

[PurseXaXholic]

I'm 15 and have some designer bags, including an authentic Louis Vuitton speedy 30. Who are you to judge me? Like the post above, everyone has a different story. And you can't judge a book by its cover!

Some people start collecting desinger purses at 18, 30, 40, whatever. I started at 11. Its my obsession and addiction which I pay for with my part-time job. I ended my freshman year in high school with a 3.8 GPA, along with belonging to 2 clubs, and being cheerleading captain. I have a ton on my plate but manage to get it done, with my job. I save up money, and I buy my purses on sale or second-hand.

[XoJUICYCOUTURE]

Originally Posted by Onederland

spoiled or not, who are you to judge? well, i guess everyone judges a little, so that's not fair to say. but my sister got her first designer bag at 12, it was the Dior Girly Boston. spoiled? probably. but that doesn't make her a bad person. she's incredibly caring and smart. and it doesn't make us devalue what we have, or realize that it doesn't come from just any where. and to each pair of parents, they raise their child differently. my sister and i get straight A's. i go to a UC, and our high school, (my sister is currently a senior) was ranked in the top 50 of the Wall Street Journal's list of the best private school's in the nation. Needless to say, it's not easy achieving those A's. some parents reward their kids with video games or toys. our parents reward us with designer bags and clothes. and they can afford so without going into debt or whatever, and it is expendable income. either way, we hard to EARN those gifts. because at our age, our job, is our education. and a gift is a gift, no matter what it is, and should be appreciated as such.

Agreed. There's nothing wrong with loving designer accesories at such a young age, myself being 17. Everyone has their own niche and if you work hard either it be a part time job or great grades I don't see it as a problem.

I can proudly say I'm only 17 and bought my pair of louboutins by myself.

[coach♥]

I'm 14, and I have a collection from Coach to Chanel. I grew up with my grandparent's and mother carrying designer handbags and wearing designer shoes. I paid for all of my Coach, and my first Louis Vuitton myself. Everything else has been gifts for grades, Christmas, or Birthdays.

[PurseXaXholic]

Oh, and just so you are aware, there is a whole thread of stylish young ladies most under the age of 20 who are all obsessed with purses, and work hard for their collection. We have people with ages ranging from 13 to 20, the majority of us have authentic high-end designer pures: Teenage Time Trois

[LadyLouboutin08]

I'm 19yrs old, and have designer handbags, and I got my first one at a young age....when I see other girls carrying them it doesn't bother me. Why would someone care? The money didn't come out of your pocket so why does it matter that a teenager has a designer bag?...I also don't think it means they have good taste, because like someone said above, some girls want them because someone else might have it...I have designer handbags because I like them,not because everyone else is carrying them, or because I feel entitled to one. I may not have paid for any of my bags, but I did "earn" them in other ways. Keeping excellent grades, and doing everything that my parents asked of me. I don't take my possessions for granted, and I definitely don't judge those who don't own any designer handbags. Having a designer bag doesn't make you any better than someone who doesn't own one.

*I'm not directing my post at anyone in this thread, I'm just stating my opinion on the subject :)*