Buying expensive handbags superficial or more of a hobby?

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#16
For me it is complete passion!

Passion for beautiful craftsmanship. Passion for the scent of gorgeous Italian leather. Passion for stitching and lining and hardware.

I do not buy for others, I buy what makes my heart swoon! And the quest for what styles fits me perfectly, what leather feels the best to my touch..... well yes, it is addicting.

I am lucky enough to own gorgeous bags made by the hands of talented independent designers with beautiful Italian leather that many people have never heard of and cost very little. I also own high end designer bags that others will most likely have heard of - - - I love and cherish them both equally.

Let your style choices reflect your individualism! Love that handbag passion!
 
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#17
tiggycat said:
My husband has several hobbies that I don't understand and have no inerest in, on which he spends more than I spend on bags. I'm thrilled to walk down the street with my LV (or Coach or LAMB) and he pretends to understand me and I pretend to understand why he wants a 50 year old computer!
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Lol. That's hilarious. Don't we all pretend as to why men need certain things but hey we will never understand each other. It's all about compromise.
 
#18
Camaro Chic said:
This! I don't give a rat's patootie what anyone thinks; I buy what I like. Sometimes it's Hermes; sometimes it's Coach; sometimes it's Target. Nobody 'round where I grew up has any clue what H is, really, so if one were to show off there, they'd be in for a sore disappointment when nobody knew who that designer was they were sporting! :D Maybe that's why I'm not in it to show off but because of a genuine love of fashion as an art form. :love:
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Same thing here!
No one knows anything about the bags I carry...
I've loved bags since I was a little girl...
I can buy a Balenciaga ....and yet fall in love with a George Gina and Lucy...., carry an LV wallet in my Le Pliage....
What is important to me is design and quality....and sometimes....fun...
 
#19
LoveHandbags! said:
For me it is complete passion!

Passion for beautiful craftsmanship. Passion for the scent of gorgeous Italian leather. Passion for stitching and lining and hardware.

I do not buy for others, I buy what makes my heart swoon! And the quest for what styles fits me perfectly, what leather feels the best to my touch..... well yes, it is addicting.

I am lucky enough to own gorgeous bags made by the hands of talented independent designers with beautiful Italian leather that many people have never heard of and cost very little. I also own high end designer bags that others will most likely have heard of - - - I love and cherish them both equally.

Let your style choices reflect your individualism! Love that handbag passion!
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:goodpost:

Now, I'm curious about those talented indipendent designers...:sneaky:
 
#20
In the buying category, I don't fit into either. My bags are, for the general public, unrecognizable or indestinguishable. While they are very high end, the majority doesn't know they are designer. As far as buying for hobby or showing off, I own too few bags to answer. I definitely fall into the category of hobby for looking at bags! Where ever I go I check out everyone's bag! :smile1:
 
#22
Babi said:
:goodpost:

Now, I'm curious about those talented indipendent designers...:sneaky:
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Hi Babi :smile1: Luz de Laguna and Staci Schubert are two of my favorites thus far, but Babi, you are in the mecca of great leather and independent designers! Talk about swoon, each time I was in Italy I just about melted from all the beautiful little shops with handcrafted leather items.

I have a clutch from Luz de Luguna that is gorgeous! It is well constructed, the Italian leather is soooooo yummy and very high quality, the lining pops and the design is hip and unique. I love that I am most likely not going to see this bag on anyone else. It was made for me. That kinda rocks, huh? The designer lives in the United Kingdom.

From Staci Schubert, she is in the US, I own a clutch and a messenger bag. They are beautiful! Both made of gorgeous to die for Italian leather, the clutch is lined in suede and the pockets have a really cute print lining, it makes me happy every time I open my bag, lol. The messenger is made of the most interesting Italian leather, it has this texture that is amazing, I have never seen leather like it! This bag is unlined and it’s crossbody Bohemian feel is so fun and so opposite of my more classic handbags like Chanel.

I don’t have just one style, I really enjoy everything from a Soho hip feel to the classic elegance of Chanel. Both make me equally happy and there is a need for both in my life.

It takes some research, but to carry a handbag that was completely crafted by one woman or man I find really fabulous. I look for unique leathers and unique designs. It just speaks to me personally. Buying an accessory to see how well made it is is a good place to start if you do not want to commit to a handbag.


Etsy dot com is a great place to look for independent designers, it is where I found both of these designers, just plus in the names of the above in the search engine and click people if you want to take a look at their work ( or you may also plus in “UrbanSea” and “babiesandbabes” into the search engine and click “Shops” rather than people, either one will work.) There is one in Greece that I would like to try next. She is on Etsy too, her shop name is Anastasia. Others that I have my eye on for both accessories or bags are: Lunajaze, VintageChase, ribandhull, robetoconticini, robbiemoto, kibisis

The hunt is SO fun!
 
#23
I love beautiful things in life. They just happen to be bags of all price range and jewelry! :)

I carry anything I like and feel it. Brand or no brand at all.
 
#24
I bought my expensive bags because of the following reasons:

1. QUALITY!!! Although not all of them are FLAWLESS, I’ve seen that they are really lasting and that the craftsmanship of a famous designer is much better than that of a non-famous designer (Department store bags).

2. STYLE!!! I’m really more into style that helps me portray the PERSONA that I really want to be. That’s why I don’t want to stick to one brand.

3. WAY OF USE!!! I really love big bags because it helps me bring all I need if I want to travel anywhere (abroad or domestic). I do have small bags that I can use occasionally (i.e. doctor’s appointments, parties…)

I never thought about buying a "FAKE" or "KNOCK OFF" until my friend gave me the idea to buy them in the Internet. I did her a favour because she has no credit cards to use in an online shop and bought them for her. That turned out to be the DUMBEST thing I ever did in my life. Customs made me pay a penalty for buying those "****" bags. Since then I’m allergic to this kind of "TRASH" (for the record, I paid the same amount as the value of an original one). :wtf::rtr::cursing:

I do love bags and some of my friends say it’s a fetish or obsession. But, I can hand them down to my siblings. My sisters will take care of them as I did. Haha! :angel::angel::angel:

I can’t see myself buying bags just to SHOW OFF. Actually, I get compliments for my bags not because people look at the labels, but because of their apperance. Then they ask the next question: "Where did you buy it?" :p:p:p
 
#25
dhadiezlilghoul said:
I bought my expensive bags because of the following reasons:

1. QUALITY!!! Although not all of them are FLAWLESS, I’ve seen that they are really lasting and that the craftsmanship of a famous designer is much better than that of a non-famous designer (Department store bags).

2. STYLE!!! I’m really more into style that helps me portray the PERSONA that I really want to be. That’s why I don’t want to stick to one brand.

3. WAY OF USE!!! I really love big bags because it helps me bring all I need if I want to travel anywhere (abroad or domestic). I do have small bags that I can use occasionally (i.e. doctor’s appointments, parties…)

I never thought about buying a "FAKE" or "KNOCK OFF" until my friend gave me the idea to buy them in the Internet. I did her a favour because she has no credit cards to use in an online shop and bought them for her. That turned out to be the DUMBEST thing I ever did in my life. Customs made me pay a penalty for buying those "****" bags. Since then I’m allergic to this kind of "TRASH" (for the record, I paid the same amount as the value of an original one). :wtf::rtr::cursing:

I do love bags and some of my friends say it’s a fetish or obsession. But, I can hand them down to my siblings. My sisters will take care of them as I did. Haha! :angel::angel::angel:

I can’t see myself buying bags just to SHOW OFF. Actually, I get compliments for my bags not because people look at the labels, but because of their apperance. Then they ask the next question: "Where did you buy it?" :p:p:p
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I hand bags down as well and resale them to buy a new one if I feel like going through the hassle.
 
#26
LoveHandbags! said:
Hi Babi :smile1: Luz de Laguna and Staci Schubert are two of my favorites thus far, but Babi, you are in the mecca of great leather and independent designers! Talk about swoon, each time I was in Italy I just about melted from all the beautiful little shops with handcrafted leather items.

I have a clutch from Luz de Luguna that is gorgeous! It is well constructed, the Italian leather is soooooo yummy and very high quality, the lining pops and the design is hip and unique. I love that I am most likely not going to see this bag on anyone else. It was made for me. That kinda rocks, huh? The designer lives in the United Kingdom.

From Staci Schubert, she is in the US, I own a clutch and a messenger bag. They are beautiful! Both made of gorgeous to die for Italian leather, the clutch is lined in suede and the pockets have a really cute print lining, it makes me happy every time I open my bag, lol. The messenger is made of the most interesting Italian leather, it has this texture that is amazing, I have never seen leather like it! This bag is unlined and it’s crossbody Bohemian feel is so fun and so opposite of my more classic handbags like Chanel.

I don’t have just one style, I really enjoy everything from a Soho hip feel to the classic elegance of Chanel. Both make me equally happy and there is a need for both in my life.

It takes some research, but to carry a handbag that was completely crafted by one woman or man I find really fabulous. I look for unique leathers and unique designs. It just speaks to me personally. Buying an accessory to see how well made it is is a good place to start if you do not want to commit to a handbag.


Etsy dot com is a great place to look for independent designers, it is where I found both of these designers, just plus in the names of the above in the search engine and click people if you want to take a look at their work ( or you may also plus in “UrbanSea” and “babiesandbabes” into the search engine and click “Shops” rather than people, either one will work.) There is one in Greece that I would like to try next. She is on Etsy too, her shop name is Anastasia. Others that I have my eye on for both accessories or bags are: Lunajaze, VintageChase, ribandhull, robetoconticini, robbiemoto, kibisis

The hunt is SO fun!
Click to expand...

Thank you!
I will have to check them out (but I'm banned...should not!)
Yes, the hunt is fun, I agree.
In Italy I enjoy finding shoes or clothes factories, but never met an indipendent and interesting artisan for unique handbags, until now. I'll try to keep my eyes well open;)
 
#29
I buy them for one reason-simply because I love them.
But I do think they can be good investment pieces-especially Hermes. I have decided to restrict myself mostly to Hermes because of the way they hold their value.
 
#30
more of a hobby.

I have owned several pieces in the past that were not big names...but they were amazing is quality, well made, strong and beautiful bags.

Slowly as my "branded bag collection" is growing...I am realizing that my older bag collection was not bad at all in terms of quality and functionality...

so its just to "own" a few name brand pieces...
 
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