I find both contemporary & designer great but vintage really is the best for me. Plus you get the fun of reviving something that looked “done” at one point.
Did you stop buying/using contemporary bags once you go luxury?
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I have so many thoughts around this and something I do think about regularly. I feel like this is entirely dependent on the reason you buy luxury.
My first leather bag was MBMJ Hillier - a contemporary bag that was expensive for me at the time. The quality of the bag is no different than the lower-end bags of luxury brands, and maybe even better. From that gateway, I bought a lot more contemporary brands but also discovered that the resale value to contemporary brand is good when the bag is trendy and terrible when the bag goes off the shelf, and with contemporary, it's only a matter of time.
My gateway into luxury was my Bal City. At the time, I really believed that this was going to be a classic bag, will never look dated, and hold its value. Alas, I was wrong. NG exited Balenciaga, and the bags arent really considered classics anymore. I followed NG to Louis Vuitton and have started buying more LVs and am really only starting to learn about how it all works. It's true LVs hold their values much longer when it comes to "classic" bags that may not go off shelf, especially if you buy it in the right pattern, but to keep their sales up, they do have to rotate and nothing is really forever. Even Speedys and Almas are updated and can look dated and then the older versions' value decrease. But with the prices increase, i think some items do stay "classic" and less dated for much longer than contemporary brands (e.g., the neverfulls are still good value, "classic" bags).
I have yet to buy Chanel and Hermes, which i think does maintain their value and not look dated for even longer. But this is only interesting if the goal of buying luxury bags is for its longevity (in style and quality) or resale value. If you are buying a bag for its brand/status, then no, why would anyone go back once you have gone up? But if you are buying a bag for quality and simply loving its art, then I would say plenty of contemporary brands have great quality and would meet the needs of those of us who just like bags/styling.
I think each bag I buy, I may buy for different reasons. Now that I am able to buy luxury brands and have, I tend to want to buy bags that hopefully won't feel dated quickly to make the money i spend last longer, but, like many already noted here, turn towards contemporary for more fun colours and trendy styles that may look dated in a few years (e.g., bum bags and tiny tiny bags that hold nothing).
And, btw, I am currently addicted to polene bags, and it's the first contemporary brand addiction I have had since I entered the luxury market.
My first leather bag was MBMJ Hillier - a contemporary bag that was expensive for me at the time. The quality of the bag is no different than the lower-end bags of luxury brands, and maybe even better. From that gateway, I bought a lot more contemporary brands but also discovered that the resale value to contemporary brand is good when the bag is trendy and terrible when the bag goes off the shelf, and with contemporary, it's only a matter of time.
My gateway into luxury was my Bal City. At the time, I really believed that this was going to be a classic bag, will never look dated, and hold its value. Alas, I was wrong. NG exited Balenciaga, and the bags arent really considered classics anymore. I followed NG to Louis Vuitton and have started buying more LVs and am really only starting to learn about how it all works. It's true LVs hold their values much longer when it comes to "classic" bags that may not go off shelf, especially if you buy it in the right pattern, but to keep their sales up, they do have to rotate and nothing is really forever. Even Speedys and Almas are updated and can look dated and then the older versions' value decrease. But with the prices increase, i think some items do stay "classic" and less dated for much longer than contemporary brands (e.g., the neverfulls are still good value, "classic" bags).
I have yet to buy Chanel and Hermes, which i think does maintain their value and not look dated for even longer. But this is only interesting if the goal of buying luxury bags is for its longevity (in style and quality) or resale value. If you are buying a bag for its brand/status, then no, why would anyone go back once you have gone up? But if you are buying a bag for quality and simply loving its art, then I would say plenty of contemporary brands have great quality and would meet the needs of those of us who just like bags/styling.
I think each bag I buy, I may buy for different reasons. Now that I am able to buy luxury brands and have, I tend to want to buy bags that hopefully won't feel dated quickly to make the money i spend last longer, but, like many already noted here, turn towards contemporary for more fun colours and trendy styles that may look dated in a few years (e.g., bum bags and tiny tiny bags that hold nothing).
And, btw, I am currently addicted to polene bags, and it's the first contemporary brand addiction I have had since I entered the luxury market.
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I think whether a bag looks dated or not is a really individual view and also the individual perception / relation to the opinions of other or the general audience.
Me personally I buy bags because I like it’s style and because it also complements my own style. So I would not care whether the general audience view it as dated ot not. E.g. I don‘t think that the Bal city is dated. I use mine and I am sure it looks fabulous, because it is a fabulous bag. I also still have many old pieces from Marc Jacobs premier line like the stam, which is also often discussed as a dated bag. But I like them so I don‘t care if they are dated or how their resale value might be, because I still bought them for longevity, but for myself.
Of course if one buys bags as kind of an investment piece, they need to select more carefully, like Hermes, which really is really not dropping in value. But for me that is not the reason I buy my bags, the reason is I want to enjoy them regardless what others think, because that is something for me and not for them.
I think this also applies to fashion/clothes. I have one friend who always ask whether this or that is in trend and whether she can wear it. I always answer she should wear, what she feels good and comfortable in and not based on what is in trend (I mean of course if you like the trend, wear it!). If at all one should place a trend and not follow a trend.
You can still like a bag even if it is dated. I love my Bals and i continue to collect them, but the price and the people on the street clearly reflect whether or not a bag is "in style" or "on trend." You can look fabulous with a bag that is dated and with any luck becomes "vintage" but it is still dated.
Yes, I do and have. I've tried, but nothing compares to the leather and craftsmanship of the 'luxury' bag, whether it's vintage or not. I know 'luxury' can be in the eye of the beholder, but I am going by the definition here - contemporary vs. luxury.
ETA: Reading further - 'dated' is not part of my lexicon when it comes to 'contemporary vs luxury'.
ETA: Reading further - 'dated' is not part of my lexicon when it comes to 'contemporary vs luxury'.
Ironically, when I was broke as a joke I really coveted luxury brand stuff, but now that I earn enough money to be able to afford it? Not really interested.
I was looking at a LV Graceful, which was on my wishlist for a long time, but what is it going to do for me that my Coach 1941 Bedford Hobo doesn’t already do? For 4x the price I can “upgrade” from a leather bag w/ no obvious branding to a canvas bag covered in logos. Or I can spend half that and buy the same bag I already love in two more colors off the preloved market, and have one that matches every outfit.
What itch would a Birkin scratch that a contemporary brand leather tote w/ a belt detail won’t? Does that itch need scratching so badly that it justifies paying literally 100x more for it?
More than that, I’m more and more drawn to custom and unique artisan pieces. I have more fun shopping in craft fairs or on etsy than I do looking at premier designer stuff. My all time favorite bag is still an Ugg bag I got more than 10 years ago on clearance for less than $200 (Ugg Sante Fe Embroidered Clutch) because it speaks so well to my personal style and even after more than a decade I still haven’t found any other bag that gives me the same buzz. My favorite slg is a silly wallet with a fox on it from Chala, and it’s not even made of real leather!
I mean, I’d still love to get a vintage Kelly in a classic color, just for the sake of having an heirloom piece of that quality. As far as collecting multiple handbags go though, I find I’m perfectly happy with contemporary brands - mostly Coach and Tory Burch since they seem to be pretty good at balancing quality, design, and price. And in general I’m much more excited to find a bag that feels like *me* than one that meets some arbitrary definition of luxury.
I was looking at a LV Graceful, which was on my wishlist for a long time, but what is it going to do for me that my Coach 1941 Bedford Hobo doesn’t already do? For 4x the price I can “upgrade” from a leather bag w/ no obvious branding to a canvas bag covered in logos. Or I can spend half that and buy the same bag I already love in two more colors off the preloved market, and have one that matches every outfit.
What itch would a Birkin scratch that a contemporary brand leather tote w/ a belt detail won’t? Does that itch need scratching so badly that it justifies paying literally 100x more for it?
More than that, I’m more and more drawn to custom and unique artisan pieces. I have more fun shopping in craft fairs or on etsy than I do looking at premier designer stuff. My all time favorite bag is still an Ugg bag I got more than 10 years ago on clearance for less than $200 (Ugg Sante Fe Embroidered Clutch) because it speaks so well to my personal style and even after more than a decade I still haven’t found any other bag that gives me the same buzz. My favorite slg is a silly wallet with a fox on it from Chala, and it’s not even made of real leather!
I mean, I’d still love to get a vintage Kelly in a classic color, just for the sake of having an heirloom piece of that quality. As far as collecting multiple handbags go though, I find I’m perfectly happy with contemporary brands - mostly Coach and Tory Burch since they seem to be pretty good at balancing quality, design, and price. And in general I’m much more excited to find a bag that feels like *me* than one that meets some arbitrary definition of luxury.
Yes I did but that is not to say I will stop buying in the future. In the past 4 years, I went on overdrive, purchased 2 chanel bags (a mini reissue and a small coco handle), 4 ysl leather bags, 4 lv SLGs, an hermes slg, and a longchamp bag as well. And now need a long break. I started with leather (full grain and top grain) coach bags 10 years ago and most of them are still in very good condition. I feel that my collection is almost complete (small but practical). I'm loving all of them and enjoying them immensely. Have my eyes set on one or two premiere bags (a Kelly or birkin) and a couple of contemporary bags (Furla or moschino or longchamp or coach 1941) then I'm set for life. 
So far, I have not had to let go of any bag, premiere or contemporary. My lv speedy b 25 has also stood the test of time - 12 years and still counting. I find that I'm drawn to quality more than the brand. I choose my pieces well and they need to serve some practical purpose as well.
So far, I have not had to let go of any bag, premiere or contemporary. My lv speedy b 25 has also stood the test of time - 12 years and still counting. I find that I'm drawn to quality more than the brand. I choose my pieces well and they need to serve some practical purpose as well.
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Nope, I still rock both. I don't really care if it's designer or not. If I like it I will use it. I carry my Coach and Dooney&Burke into luxury stores all the time. No one really cares.
If I like it, I’ll buy it. It’s the bag style and color I want, it doesn’t matter to me if its a no name, contemporary brand or high end designer.
Yes, I still buy contemporary brands after going into luxury. For white and trendy colors, I can’t pull the trigger to buy luxury. So most of my luxury bags are classics… designs and colors I can see myself carrying in my 50s and hopefully 60s.
Personally (not imposing this to anybody), I am also uncomfortable using luxury in job interviews, workplace, with some groups of friends and family members.
There are a lot of nice contemporary brands bags. I think at the end of the day, the important thing is you love the bag and you are comfortable using them.
Personally (not imposing this to anybody), I am also uncomfortable using luxury in job interviews, workplace, with some groups of friends and family members.
There are a lot of nice contemporary brands bags. I think at the end of the day, the important thing is you love the bag and you are comfortable using them.
I had more compliment on my Rebecca Minkoff backpack than my own LV inside the boutique and any luxury stores. Even just walking around the mall, streets, restaurants.
With years gone by I find myself drifting further and further away from luxury brands. My wishlist only contains a WOC and a Coach tote (which I'm probably not going to buy this or even next year), and I don't really even feel like looking at brands like Gucci, YSL, Chanel or LV. With the prices being appalling and quality proving to be a constant issue with many high end brands I don't really see myself buying luxury bags anymore. I have my 3 Mulberry bags and loads of contemporary items and I'm happy with the situation.
I’m so happy to hear that. Bags don’t need to be designer to be nice.I had more compliment on my Rebecca Minkoff backpack than my own LV inside the boutique and any luxury stores. Even just walking around the mall, streets, restaurants.
I have 40 bags so far, ranging from Hermes to no-name bags from flea markets
I do ‘flirt’ with many brands (my closest friends jokingly call me a ‘handbag whore’ ) but I always seem to eventually return to LV
I do ‘flirt’ with many brands (my closest friends jokingly call me a ‘handbag whore’ ) but I always seem to eventually return to LV