I only started really caring about bags recently in my mid 30s, probably because I couldn’t afford anything super nice when I was young. I’ve always been the type of person to have one or two bags and carry them for years. When I was in my early-mid 20s, I bought all my bags from antique stores- random bags I thought were cute from the 1950s and 1960s for very cheap, like $50 or less. In my late 20s, I bought a Betsy Johnson bag for around $120 and wore it out. Next, in my early 30s, I bought a really cute Kate Spade bag. I wore that one out, too. When I was 34, I knew my KS bag was looking worse for wear and I needed to start looking for a new bag. I happened upon a picture of Audrey Hepburn carrying a Speedy, and suddenly I looked at LV in a new way and NEEDED one. Before that, I mostly associated LV with the tacky (sorry) white bags with the colorful mono print I saw all over the place in the early 2000s and always hated. I ended up buying a Soufflot MM and carried it every day for over two years. I have been absolutely blown away with the quality compared to the bags I owned when I was younger. It still looks as perfect as the day I bought it, even after constant use. Premiere designers were never on my radar before, even after I got to a place where I could afford them. No one I knew carried anything fancier than contemporary designers, so I just never thought about it. I recently added a LV reverse mono Pochette Metis and am thrilled with it as well. I don’t see myself buying many contemporary pieces at this point now that I’ve experienced the quality and design of luxury bags. I think my next bag will be a black Chanel classic flap before it becomes completely unattainable to me because it is my HG bag. Still, I am considering buying a cheap (lol) $300 wicker Frances Valentine bag because I need something bright and colorful that will match a lot of my spring/summer wardrobe. I wouldn’t be completely opposed to Coach, but they don’t currently have anything I like aesthetically. I especially hate the look of the “C” hardware. I still check Kate Spade, but I kinda doubt I’ll buy another bag from them. I do still wear KS and Coach clothing and shoes, though.
Did you stop buying/using contemporary bags once you go luxury?
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Did you ever notice on eBay which brands have the most vintage bags available and check out how many pages of listings for each brand? That can tell you a lot about which brands have stood the test of time.
It may not be the most fair analogy, because more people can afford the contemporary bags, than can afford the higher end bags, so of course there would be more, right? But it was interesting nonetheless. It also doesn't count for the thousands of bags listed on other sites, but since eBay is the biggest, I went for it anyway and the results were interesting.
Gucci has 55 pages with 60 listings per page right now!
Louis Vuitton has 34 pages.
Chanel has 33 pages, and
Coach? Well I got tired of counting at over 151 pages! lol! Lord only knows how many more there are!
It made me kind of sad, because Coach was a USA made brand for decades until they outsourced to China and the majority of the vintage Coach that are still around, are those vintage USA classics. It shows that at one time we made the very best quality products, and look at us now! We hardly produce anything anymore. Sad!
I will say this, that while I don't own any Chanel bags, I do have Gucci, LV and Coach. The straps broke on three of my LVs that I can't even use anymore until I get them fixed. The others are 'ok' if you like coated canvas. My Gucci bags are hanging in there, I especially like my Matelassé Marmoth bag, but I'm afraid to use them very much and feel like they would break if I used them everyday, like I do my Coach bags.
I put some of my 20 to 30 year old Coach bags through absolute torture, and every one of them still looks like new! It never ceases to amaze me! You can't KILL those bags! lol! And believe me, I've tried! The zippers never jam, the straps never break and they are the most reliable handbags I know I'll ever need!
For me, it's Coach hands down! Why would I want to spend $2500.00 on coated canvas, when I can have luscious genuine leather for so much less?? I never got that? lol!
So I guess my answer is NO! i did not stop buying contemporary once I got into luxury brands. I really didn't find them to be better at all! I am curious to try Chanel though. Their leather looks pretty dreamy, so we'll see if Chanel can change my mind? So far LV & Gucci have not.
It may not be the most fair analogy, because more people can afford the contemporary bags, than can afford the higher end bags, so of course there would be more, right? But it was interesting nonetheless. It also doesn't count for the thousands of bags listed on other sites, but since eBay is the biggest, I went for it anyway and the results were interesting.
Gucci has 55 pages with 60 listings per page right now!
Louis Vuitton has 34 pages.
Chanel has 33 pages, and
Coach? Well I got tired of counting at over 151 pages! lol! Lord only knows how many more there are!
It made me kind of sad, because Coach was a USA made brand for decades until they outsourced to China and the majority of the vintage Coach that are still around, are those vintage USA classics. It shows that at one time we made the very best quality products, and look at us now! We hardly produce anything anymore. Sad!
I will say this, that while I don't own any Chanel bags, I do have Gucci, LV and Coach. The straps broke on three of my LVs that I can't even use anymore until I get them fixed. The others are 'ok' if you like coated canvas. My Gucci bags are hanging in there, I especially like my Matelassé Marmoth bag, but I'm afraid to use them very much and feel like they would break if I used them everyday, like I do my Coach bags.
I put some of my 20 to 30 year old Coach bags through absolute torture, and every one of them still looks like new! It never ceases to amaze me! You can't KILL those bags! lol! And believe me, I've tried! The zippers never jam, the straps never break and they are the most reliable handbags I know I'll ever need!
For me, it's Coach hands down! Why would I want to spend $2500.00 on coated canvas, when I can have luscious genuine leather for so much less?? I never got that? lol!
So I guess my answer is NO! i did not stop buying contemporary once I got into luxury brands. I really didn't find them to be better at all! I am curious to try Chanel though. Their leather looks pretty dreamy, so we'll see if Chanel can change my mind? So far LV & Gucci have not.
I think you might be disappointed if you try Chanel because the main draw is the design not the leather.
We have the same impressionI think you might be disappointed if you try Chanel because the main draw is the design not the leather.
Really? I'm especially interested in their lamb leather bags. You'd think they'd be so wonderfully soft. I'm sure lamb leather isn't as durable as the glove tanned Coach leather , but that softness seems so divine. I have a feeling it would tear pretty easily though, so you're probably right.I think you might be disappointed if you try Chanel because the main draw is the design not the leather.
I don’t think I have heard of people experiencing tears. My only issue with Chanel lamb has been colour loss at a rate I’ve never experienced with any other bag. However blue dyes are less stable so that might be my issue.
I have seen both of their vintage and new CFs, and both in lambskin and caviar. I don’t know, I was disappointed. I also used to own a 19 lambskin, it felt plasticky. 19 and CF have different type of lambskin though. I was surprised that my Coach Madison Pillow which was also described as lambskin is more buttery soft than 19.
This is not meant to offend the Chanel fans. This is my personal experience. I have different experiences with different premier brands though. My Givenchy Antigona’s and Loewe puzzle edge leather are more luxurious than the Coach Madison Pillow.
That's very helpful, thank you! I think I'll just stick with my Coach, lol! I now have a new love as well, that are made by Brahmin. Has anyone seen those Brahmin Ombre bags?? With the two and three tone colors? Holy Cannoli, they are stunning! Hmmm, I'm noticing I have a thing for USA companies, even though they are all outsourcing to China now, lol! Sad!
Plenty of USA companies that don’t though! They just tend to cost more than coach.
Like who? Can you name a few please?? I know of a few Native American Brands that are made here, and I own a couple I really love. There's one called 'Tribe America' and their bags are all hand made and beautiful! They're full of fringe, genuine buffalo bone beads and Buffalo Head Nickels that I have to be in the mood for, or can only wear certain places. They're actually less $$ than Coach however, depending on the bag. Are you aware many Coach bags are between $500.00 & $750.00 now? They're not quite as reasonable as they used to be, don't I wish! lol! I'd love it if you'd name a few that haven't started outsourcing, thank you!