Designer Brands You Will Never Buy

[bernz84]

I don't love logos but for some reason I love LV mono... I can't help myself. I guess I see it as more like a classic neutral luggage pattern than screaming logo. And the prices are high for coated canvas & leather yes - but they're pretty much indestructible. I've got many retired bags that are pretty young, originally great quality leather, but still just worn out. Leather wears... can't be helped especially if you don't baby your things and mine take abuse. But all my old LV canvas items still look fab. They'll all last 20+ years I'm sure. And even if you're not into mono, and the logo trend comes & goes, that LV pattern has been around for decades & will be for decades more which makes it timeless.

I know people hate LV monogram but I have to agree, especially with the bolded.

I really try hard to love leather (I've even gotten into some other leather brands recently), but it wears/deteriorates so quickly. True, I am not gentle with my handbags, but I can't afford to baby my stuff. I need to use it; otherwise, I feel like I'm wasting my money. All my leather items just look trashed within a few months to a year; meanwhile, my coated canvas (ie, LV and Gucci) and nylon (Prada) items look fine and have some to very minimal wear...usually the wear is on the leather parts (not surprisingly). That and they are super lightweight. If there was a brand that made logoless/non-ornate coated canvas bags, I would be all over it.

I think the only exception I've found with leather and coated canvas is Dooney and Bourke. Their leather products are fab (albeit super heavy) but their coated canvas items age terribly, although I haven't bought anything coated canvas from D&B in years.

The only thing I really like from Hermes is their shawls, but for the price, it is just too much. I feel that way with LV shawls, too.

 

[Cloudburst2000]

I'm not brand specific, nor a label snob. I buy into the style, design, quality and durability. I don't discriminate but these traits are normally found in luxury brands.

I wouldn't say that I am brand specific. I own tons of brands from high end all the way to low end. I was just pointing out that I will never rule out a certain brand because they might very well make a bag I like in the future. But some people are very brand specific and only own bags from one or two labels. I personally think that would be rather boring. I like to have a lot of versatility and styles in my collection. I don't buy based on brand but on the style and quality of the bag.

 

[Cloudburst2000]

And longchamp - I literally see minimum one (usually more) of those nylon totes every time I get on or off the Subway when I commute to work. Every. Single. Time.

I am not a huge Longchamp fan for everyday wear, but they are AWESOME travel bags. Since they fold up so small, they literally take up no room in your luggage, always pack a Longchamp bag just in case I need a larger bag at some point during my trip. I like to use it for pool/beach bag, when we go shopping (to throw smaller purchases inside, etc).

 

[HandbagDiva354]

Making blanket statements about designers is a tough one for me! I have seen fantastic bags in nearly every designer's line, and even if I dislike 99.9% of a collection, there is always one bag that makes me go, "Hmmm...

Hermes is out too, not just because of the painfully high prices, but for me, the fact that I have to schmooze a sales person into selling me a product is absurd. Even though I love the look of the Kelly, the mere fact that I have to create rapport to be allowed to buy in a store is so silly that I will never even consider it.

I agree. I never understood why I'm expected to kiss someone's azz to be able to spend $20,000 on a handbag. They should be kissing mine if I'm spending that much. That's why I've never considered Hermes handbags. (I do have a few of their bracelets though )

 

[FunBagz]

I am not a huge Longchamp fan for everyday wear, but they are AWESOME travel bags. Since they fold up so small, they literally take up no room in your luggage, always pack a Longchamp bag just in case I need a larger bag at some point during my trip. I like to use it for pool/beach bag, when we go shopping (to throw smaller purchases inside, etc).

+1!

I have two LC bags..,a LP large tote and an expandable travel bag, both of which fold up perfectly for travel. I use the tote to hold my handbag and other carry on items and as an extra handbag when visiting places I'd rather not use a higher end handbag. The expandable travel bag was purchased while visiting Europe when I ran out of luggage room after a bit too much shopping. I filled it with dirty laundry for the return flight and checked it in and it held up AMAZINGLY! And since it folds up so compactly, I now carry it whenever I travel for extended periods so I don't run into the "over shopping" issue again.

 

[cafecreme15]

Louis Vuitton canvas bags (I would totally buy the all leather bags). I got my monogram canvas Speedy 25 in maybe 2008 or 2009, and paid $625. The same exact bag is now $950. Same deal with my monogram canvas Neverfull. Got it in 2009 and paid about $900. Same bag is now like $1,300. It's preposterous. I hate being taken for a fool or a sucker when I shop, and that is totally what I would feel like if I were to purchase LV canvas at the current price point.

 

[TNgypsy]

Tory Burch - over the years her bags have become overpriced for the quality

 

[babevivtan]

The reasons might sound a bit silly to you, but... mainly because everyone carries them, and the quality is declining while the price increases. I see so many people carry LV, Chanel, Rebecca Minkoff, Coach... that I just got tired of them. The leathers on most contemporary designers are so cheaply made. Kate Spade especially, her bags are cute but so not worth the full price. And RM is just dreadful. Cheap, cheap, cheap looking bags for over a couple hundred? No thanks. I've heard so many complaints here on TPF especially for Tory Burch, Valentino, Saint Laurent... that it made me hesitant to buy any bags from them.

Coach still makes excellent quality bags and their glove-tanned leathers are to die for, but their ridiculous price increases are getting out-of-hand ($600-$700+ for a Made in Vietnam/China Coach bag? Gimmie a break). I feel I can buy better quality bags from sellers on Etsy. I have several bags from them and the quality is amazing. All handmade in USA and beautiful in person. Plus I like supporting small businesses and getting a one-of-a-kind bag that no one will carry. I still have a couple LV's but I won't carry them that much anymore. Etsy bags all the way.

I do agree with much of what you've said regarding quality and pricing. I think as consumers we've become "used to" the cheaper leathers because more and more that's what we're offered. For those of us who know better, the leathers of old were much better and I'm not talking high designers leather but just leathers like Coach offered. You are correct that Coach's latest round of price increases are just incredible. For me, I'll purchased pre-loved if it's a design I have to have, no big deal to me as long as the bag is in good condition.
I used to own several LV's as well but didn't feel comfortable carrying them for whatever reason. Plus they were all the monogram print which I got bored with.
I do read (in disbelief) on these forums every day the prices that some pay for their designer "fix". For me the most important thing is the design of the bag itself, then I look for the quality in a price point I feel comfortable with.
I had a bag made by a designer on Etsy that is one of my all time favorites.

Able to share these Etsy sellers?

 

[babevivtan]

I'm also a no on Hermes. I'm not the lady who lunches type, so why bother shelling big bucks to pretend otherwise, especially when I don't think they're all that special beyond the hype.

I like the Kelly but to jump through hoops to be able to buy a bag, no. I need to spend on stuff I don't like do as to win favor from an SA to allow me to buy the bag, that is ridiculous. And I don't want to buy from reseller. Plus, I am in no way loaded, do people are going to think I carry a fake in any case, not that that matters too much. But it wouldn't match my social standing at all...

 

[shadowplay]

Not saying never, but I just can't justify the price of a Hermes right now. Would love a Jypsiere, Bolide and a Kelly one day, but for now I can buy so many more bags for that $$$

 

[anthrosphere]

Able to share these Etsy sellers?

I personally love NativeRainbow, I have at least 3 of her bags, 1 jewelry holder rack made out of real wood, and quite a few of her handmade jewelry, and finally a mobile made out of crystals, and they are all beautifully made (as you can see yes, I'm a big NR fan girl and I am not ashamed to admit it). The seller's name is Lizzie and she is a sweetheart.

Other sellers I like are Hustle and Hide, and if you don't mind a rugged, kinda western style to your bags, then RusticMoonLeather is a good choice! She tends to go overboard on the fringes though, but if want her to tone it down I'm sure she can take care of ya.

Lastly, if you like some handmade/vintage jewelry with a bohemian, gypsy vibe, I definitely recommend TheGypsyFawn. I have multiple pieces of her jewelry and I love, love it. Great quality and the prices are reasonable, too.

Oh. I almost forgot: HustleAndHide uses the highest quality leathers (such as Horween, a Made-in-USA leather famously used by watch brand Shinola). they also have their own leather which is also excellent. Very thick, supple and long-lasting.

TL;DR. I recommend GypsyFawn, NativeRainbow, HustleandHide, and RusticMoonLeather. All of them make beautiful, excellent quality items, have excellent customer service, and have generous return policies, too.

 

[babevivtan]

I personally love NativeRainbow, I have at least 3 of her bags, 1 jewelry holder rack made out of real wood, and quite a few of her handmade jewelry, and finally a mobile made out of crystals, and they are all beautifully made (as you can see yes, I'm a big NR fan girl and I am not ashamed to admit it). The seller's name is Lizzie and she is a sweetheart.

Other sellers I like are Hustle and Hide, and if you don't mind a rugged, kinda western style to your bags, then RusticMoonLeather is a good choice! She tends to go overboard on the fringes though, but if want her to tone it down I'm sure she can take care of ya.

Lastly, if you like some handmade/vintage jewelry with a bohemian, gypsy vibe, I definitely recommend TheGypsyFawn. I have multiple pieces of her jewelry and I love, love it. Great quality and the prices are reasonable, too.

Oh. I almost forgot: HustleAndHide uses the highest quality leathers (such as Horween, a Made-in-USA leather famously used by watch brand Shinola). they also have their own leather which is also excellent. Very thick, supple and long-lasting.

TL;DR. I recommend GypsyFawn, NativeRainbow, HustleandHide, and RusticMoonLeather. All of them make beautiful, excellent quality items, have excellent customer service, and have generous return policies, too.

Wow thank you!

 

[bellebellebelle19]

Bulgari Serpenti forever bags, due to bag experience

Would you mind please sharing details from your experience? I'm thinking of buying one of their wallets and would love to hear more - I've only seen sponsored bloggers talk about Bulgari bags.

 

[HopelessBagGirl]

Able to share these Etsy sellers?

I really like my Valhalla Brooklyn bags, very lightweight and stylish.

Laurel dasso on etsy is the nicest woman I've ever worked with on a custom bag before, very accommodating.

I really love the look of Angela Valentine on etsy, can't wait to try her out!

 

[Sparkletastic]

Bulgari Serpenti forever bags, due to bag experience

Would you mind please sharing details from your experience? I'm thinking of buying one of their wallets and would love to hear more - I've only seen sponsored bloggers talk about Bulgari bags.

+1 I have been looking at these bags but there is very little info out there. I'd love to hear about your experience.