Did you stop buying/using contemporary bags once you go luxury?
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I haven’t purchased a contemporary bag in a while but with the rising prices of luxury brands I’ve been really interested in the Coach 1941 rogues, especially the made to order ones.
I just can’t seem to pull the trigger on it. I think part of it is that everyone in my city carries a contemporary brand Michael Kors, Kate Spade and Coach. They are everywhere and I just want something a little different.
I just can’t seem to pull the trigger on it. I think part of it is that everyone in my city carries a contemporary brand Michael Kors, Kate Spade and Coach. They are everywhere and I just want something a little different.
I agree. It's not that I don't want to carry a bag because many others do. It's that I get fatigued from seeing certain bags everywhere. So I have no desire to carry them
Several years back I bought a mini MK Hamilton corssbody. I really liked the bag but then an explosion of Hamilton's were everywhere. I became really bored with the style very quickly. I just prefer something that I won't see often so I can stay enamored of it.
I have quite a few Coach bags. I have very rarely seen anyone carrying the same bag. My sister has the same one that I have in a different color. There was one style I have that was somewhat popular and I saw one every few months.
The bags in my current rotation? I haven’t seen a single person with one. One of those bags is about 4 years old and I have still not seen anyone.
I do see a lot of Michael Kors bags, but Coach 1941 sightings are super rare.
I see lots more 80s/90s Coach bags out and about.
I have a small collection of bags that which includes Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Prada, Bottega Veneta and Loewe.
But that didn't stop me from buying a Michael Kors cross body and a Lancaster bucket bag recently.
I have been using the above two a lot on casual days.
But then again, I belong to the middle working class, not the higher or the privilege ones.. My bags are usually purchased for my liking, and not so much for fitting into a particular social circle.. hmm..
But that didn't stop me from buying a Michael Kors cross body and a Lancaster bucket bag recently.
I have been using the above two a lot on casual days.
But then again, I belong to the middle working class, not the higher or the privilege ones.. My bags are usually purchased for my liking, and not so much for fitting into a particular social circle.. hmm..
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My collection is more luxury brand focused: Chanel, Hermes, LV, Chloe etc however one of my most beloved and frequently used bags is a Michael Kors hobo in really delicious chocolate leather with GHW. I picked it up online about 3 years ago, well after I started buying luxury brands. So I don't think it's a rule that you stop buying contemporary designers once you start in luxury brands. If you are true to yourself and your style, you're going to be drawn to a particular bag regardless of who makes it 
I won’t pay full price for a contemporary bags anymore...but still buy them for fun...I just recently bought a red Kate spade bag because it was cute... and only 80.00... I also bought a velvet mini bag from target for 10.00... only will use it a few times but still fun... I have a black Vince camuto crossbody that I lovvvee because when I’m in a not so great neighborhood or maybe even at a theme park I like having a bag I won’t cry if it got lost or stolen.. I love my luxury bags but I’m careful when I use them, so you gotta have some throw around bags!!
THe tile of the thread throws me a little. I guess-define luxury.
Who determines what luxury is?
For a person saving and saving for a Coach bag, that is THEIR luxury, and with many new Coach styles that cost 800+ How is that not luxury?
With all the seductive advertising that’s out there, it feels as though we are sent the message that the larger the price tag the more luxurious it is. I think that we need to each decide what our own definition of luxury is. To me, all my bags fall under the luxury umbrella because I love them and saved for them and in essence don’t really need all of them so they’re a luxury to me!
Who determines what luxury is?
For a person saving and saving for a Coach bag, that is THEIR luxury, and with many new Coach styles that cost 800+ How is that not luxury?
With all the seductive advertising that’s out there, it feels as though we are sent the message that the larger the price tag the more luxurious it is. I think that we need to each decide what our own definition of luxury is. To me, all my bags fall under the luxury umbrella because I love them and saved for them and in essence don’t really need all of them so they’re a luxury to me!
1) This. ^
2) There are a lot of cute contemporary bags so I am going to turn my nose up at them because they are less expensive? Non! A Kate Spade bag is on my wish list because I really want one of their bags with the cute polka dot or striped lining.
3) Quality is great on most luxury bags but there is something to be said for quantity too.
I don't have to break my budget to get fun colors or seasonal pieces by filling in with contemporary.
My designer purchases are always well thought through and pieces/styles which I love and are an investment, as I’m only able to purchase 1 designer bag a year (chanel/LV)
The contemporary bags which I also buy are only Tory Burch - nothing else has really pulled my heartstring! I started buying Tory bags along time ago And only buy from the sale, I love them just as much and they too make my heart go boom - again I will most likely only buy 1 or 2 at the most in a year. I love to wear my bags and carry them -all of them
My biggest challenge has always been that as an accessories product developer and buyer, quality and cost are paramount too me, so my choices are always a reflection of that
My next purchase which I am saving for is a Hermes b25-30, if all goes well that will be next year
The contemporary bags which I also buy are only Tory Burch - nothing else has really pulled my heartstring! I started buying Tory bags along time ago And only buy from the sale, I love them just as much and they too make my heart go boom - again I will most likely only buy 1 or 2 at the most in a year. I love to wear my bags and carry them -all of them
My biggest challenge has always been that as an accessories product developer and buyer, quality and cost are paramount too me, so my choices are always a reflection of that
My next purchase which I am saving for is a Hermes b25-30, if all goes well that will be next year
I actually never got into luxury bags. I bought a luxury SLG and put it in a subcontemporary bag, because the idea of carrying a thousand dollar bag with me on the train or outside in the rain makes me too nervous!
I actually think buying luxury SLGs has increased the amount I want to buy contemporary! Or at least spend $100 on a nice Fossil.
I actually think buying luxury SLGs has increased the amount I want to buy contemporary! Or at least spend $100 on a nice Fossil.
I don't see PS as a lux brand, the quality is definitely not there.
I have yet to see anyone in my city (of ~100,000) with Coach 1941 aside from myself.
Of course, that's your prerogative to see it differently from most. But, it's listed as premier on TPF. And, while PS isn't one of my favorite brands, I do think it's approach to / uniqueness of style and the level of quality does set it apart from contemporary brands.
To add my own rogue opinion of a classification, I think what Coach is doing lately with its materials and designs would make it a "contemporary plus" brand. The styles don't work for me personally but, I have to give high 5's for materials and quality given the price point.
I had asked once on TPF how these designations were determined and didn't get an answer. It's probably not worth the time of serious thought but, (offering it for giggles) I think there could be 5 categories. Thinking of a brand's handbag offerings only:
- Super Premier: Hermes, Dior, Chanel, etc.
- Premier: Prada, Jimmy Choo, etc.
- Super Contemporary: Coach, etc.
- Contemporary: Michael Kors, Kate Spade, etc.
- Sub Contemporary: Calvin Klein, etc.
- Novelty: Guess, etc.
We could debate which brands belonged where or if even another category is needed and it would be a lot of fun. But, ultimately we'd struggle to reach any kind of consensus as we all tend to over value elements of our favorite brands while undervaluing elements of brands we don't buy or like. And, the argument of whether a brand like Hermes is "worth" the price or whether a brand like Coach or Dooney is "just as good" has been done to death on TPF.
LOL!
Generally no. Once I started buying luxury bags, I did stop buying contemporary bags. I have bought bags from brands that some consider luxury, others near-luxury -- for example, Carolina Herrera. Her bags (at least the ones that interest me) start around $1k, but very rarely reach the $2k mark. The last non-luxury bag I bought was a Liebeskind leather backpack and a couple of fun, sub-contemporary bags for less than $100 each that we found in Florence, Italy. But those are the exception, not the rule. There are no non-luxury brand bags on my shopping list -- but I don't plan to buy more luxury bags in the near future either. In fact, I plan to sell a few instead.