Do you baby your bags?

[Notorious Pink]

I have been really really REAAAAAAALLLY thinking about this topic. Do I put my two cents in, or leave it alone???

There was one comment where someone stated that if you really overly baby your H bags, maybe you can't afford them. And I actually thought about this...I mean, we save quite a lot, have nearly paid off our mortgage (early!) and didn't create any debt to buy them.....and I have several. And some other luxury items. Maybe in reality I can afford them, but psychologically I can't? Am i overthinking this???

So I have been paying closer attention to what I do. I really am particular with my nice things. When I get home, clothes and shoes go immediately to their proper storage. Clothes are hung (except knits) or folded in containers to prevent damage or bagged for cleaning. Twillies never spend the night on a bag, they get removed and neatly wound in placed in their boxes. Scarves are immediately folded and out away. Etc.

So it's not just bags with me. And yet, some go on the floor if needed. In fact, I thought about this conversation one afternoon last week in a studio restroom....which had no hook for my bag. Where to put it? I couldn't hold it AND go. I wound up putting my iPad on the floor and the bag on top of that. When I got home I pretty much bathed the iPad case in purell.

So I have been paying attention, and I have concluded that for me it depends on the bag. I have H that I baby and H that I do not. I do like to take proper care of everything, because I really do want to keep everything looking nice (if not perfect). Why? I guess it depends on how delicate I perceive the bag to be. My black Togo I know is easy to maintain. My Azalee swift....its a light color, it's not a grained bag....I worry.

While I would never ever want to make someone else uncomfortable with my being protective - 99% of the time there's no issue, but when my guard is raised I just try to be 'subtly vigilant' to avoid any situations. I think I'm pretty good. Once a waiter dumped a whole tray of white wine and martinis on me by accident. I didn't care; just went home and changed (red wine, however, might have been a different story!). When I came back people actually complimented me on how calm I was ("well, it was refreshing!"). The ONLY people who drive me nuts are people with pens. That's my limit.

 

[MSO13]

I have been really really REAAAAAAALLLY thinking about this topic. Do I put my two cents in, or leave it alone???

There was one comment where someone stated that if you really overly baby your H bags, maybe you can't afford them. And I actually thought about this...I mean, we save quite a lot, have nearly paid off our mortgage (early!) and didn't create any debt to buy them.....and I have several. And some other luxury items. Maybe in reality I can afford them, but psychologically I can't? Am i overthinking this???

So I have been paying closer attention to what I do. I really am particular with my nice things. When I get home, clothes and shoes go immediately to their proper storage. Clothes are hung (except knits) or folded in containers to prevent damage or bagged for cleaning. Twillies never spend the night on a bag, they get removed and neatly wound in placed in their boxes. Scarves are immediately folded and out away. Etc.

So it's not just bags with me. And yet, some go on the floor if needed. In fact, I thought about this conversation one afternoon last week in a studio restroom....which had no hook for my bag. Where to put it? I couldn't hold it AND go. I wound up putting my iPad on the floor and the bag on top of that. When I got home I pretty much bathed the iPad case in purell.

So I have been paying attention, and I have concluded that for me it depends on the bag. I have H that I baby and H that I do not. I do like to take proper care of everything, because I really do want to keep everything looking nice (if not perfect). Why? I guess it depends on how delicate I perceive the bag to be. My black Togo I know is easy to maintain. My Azalee swift....its a light color, it's not a grained bag....I worry.

While I would never ever want to make someone else uncomfortable with my being protective - 99% of the time there's no issue, but when my guard is raised I just try to be 'subtly vigilant' to avoid any situations. I think I'm pretty good. Once a waiter dumped a whole tray of white wine and martinis on me by accident. I didn't care; just went home and changed (red wine, however, might have been a different story!). When I came back people actually complimented me on how calm I was ("well, it was refreshing!"). The ONLY people who drive me nuts are people with pens. That's my limit.

That was a quote attributed to Karl Lagerfeld, I don't think anyone here actually thinks that way. He is an unusual guy with pretty specific ideas about luxury. I just googled though and couldn't find the exact quote.

 

[QuelleFromage]

I'm sure if many of you are aware of MRSA? But, I remember reading somewhere that they found this Super Bug on the bottom of women's handbags and it can live 10 days on a surface. I personally have had MRSA on my face, i'm not crazy about germs but there are bacteria's out there that can put you in the hospital and be quite deadly. Just something to consider when placing items anywhere. So, this is one thing that always crosses my mind when I'm placing my bag down.

MRSA, staph, and related organisms rarely live on floors. They live on places touched by a lot of bare skin, they need a mucous membrane or skin entrance to affect you, and the best way to avoid MRSA is to WASH YOUR HANDS (especially because we tend to touch our faces a lot) and be very careful if you have cuts or scrapes.
I have had a life-threatening case of MRSA in my nose from diving, as our oceans are not clean - surfers also catch it a lot. You can get MRSA from your dog licking your face.
The dirtiest places to touch are bathroom doors, gas pump handles, and similar.
By all means don't put bags on the floor if you don't want to but it's not going to protect you from germs. Floors and your bag are not even close to the frontline of healthcare.

 

[QuelleFromage]

One last try at explaining myself, and then I give up. I am not against taking care of one's belongings--including babying them, giving them names, and being sure they are safely and comfortably seated at all times. The degree to which one indulges in this level of caregiving is an individual choice, and I will fight long and hard for everyone's freedom to make an individual choice. There are occasions, however, when prioritizing a thing's "comfort" over a person's can occur, and it is this specific sort of incident that I was decrying. Examples: There are six guests at lunch and six chairs only in a crowded restaurant. Someone is expected to stand because another guest's handbag CANNOT be set on the floor. Or, a child accidentally steps on a stranger's Loubies. The Loubie-wearer immediately shrieks and begins examining the shoes for signs of damage, and/or offers words of criticism for the child and his parents.
No one on this thread has indicated that they would act in such a manner, and I am not claiming that anyone here would do so. But these sorts of things do happen--not necessarily or exclusively involving Hermes owners, of course--with a variety of "precious" things. And even if I were cringing and whimpering inside because a waiter had spilled something on my bag, I would endeavor to stop short of humiliating him, or myself, by yelling, crying, screaming, demanding a genuflecting apology, or otherwise suggesting that the bag has feelings that can be hurt or that "bag feelings" are of greater importance than those of the waiter.
That's solely MY reflection on the overarching issue of bag babying, based on my unique life experiences and entirely personal perspective. As MrsO said, she started this thread as a laugh, and if my take was overly solemn, I apologize.
For anyone still determined to be offended, I encourage you to ignore my posts in future. You won't be alone. In fact, I think there's a club. . . .

I understand where you are going with this, Mindi, and I have seen it too. The person who yells at an innocent child for damaging something monetarily valuable, when that child could have no idea - or the person who gets unnecessarily angry at a genuine accident because the item was "precious".
I don't think anyone could take what you've said as aimed at anyone on this thread. It's a valuable perspective to keep in mind. I know we all consider others' feelings ahead of our concern for the corners of our Birkins, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't keep it in mind .

 

[Mindi B]

Thank you, QF. Glad you found me comprehensible!

 

[Notorious Pink]

That was a quote attributed to Karl Lagerfeld, I don't think anyone here actually thinks that way. He is an unusual guy with pretty specific ideas about luxury. I just googled though and couldn't find the exact quote.

It is an interesting thought, though. DH and I live our lives grateful and enjoying our blessings but knowing they could be gone in the blink of an eye. So I think that's what really is behind the way I care for my things.

 

[kathydep]

Awww I too have caused inadvertent "injury" to my birkins. I once brought the B to Target and put a tube of Vaseline in the cart where the bag was. Turns out the edges on the tube were extraordinarily SHARP and literally sliced the bottom of my birkin in 3 places. EPSOM. Thought I'd die. Beat myself up for days! But we both survived. =)

Omg! You should have sued Vaseline! You never know! Lol jk!

 

[tonkamama]

I think people who expects others to give up seats for their handbags and yells at anyone that accidentally steps on her/his shoes or spills liquids are "self centered" individuals and very different from poeple who likes to take good care of their own belongings.

Last time I a little when someone accidentally stepped on my "shoes" because I was wearing sandals at the time... ouch and the big guy did not even turn around and apologize.....

 

[jayjay77]

That was a quote attributed to Karl Lagerfeld, I don't think anyone here actually thinks that way. He is an unusual guy with pretty specific ideas about luxury. I just googled though and couldn't find the exact quote.

If you google ... Lagerfeld fur cheap knit ... You get the quote

 

[Israeli_Flava]

There was one comment where someone stated that if you really overly baby your H bags, maybe you can't afford them. And I actually thought about this...I mean, we save quite a lot, have nearly paid off our mortgage (early!) and didn't create any debt to buy them.....and I have several. And some other luxury items. Maybe in reality I can afford them, but psychologically I can't? Am i overthinking this???


So I have been paying attention, and I have concluded that for me it depends on the bag. I have H that I baby and H that I do not. I do like to take proper care of everything, because I really do want to keep everything looking nice (if not perfect). Why? I guess it depends on how delicate I perceive the bag to be. My black Togo I know is easy to maintain. My Azalee swift....its a light color, it's not a grained bag....I worry.

While I would never ever want to make someone else uncomfortable with my being protective - 99% of the time there's no issue, but when my guard is raised I just try to be 'subtly vigilant' to avoid any situations. I think I'm pretty good. Once a waiter dumped a whole tray of white wine and martinis on me by accident. I didn't care; just went home and changed (red wine, however, might have been a different story!). When I came back people actually complimented me on how calm I was ("well, it was refreshing!"). The ONLY people who drive me nuts are people with pens. That's my limit.

That's called guilt hahahaha
I'm with you on everything you said 23744637839%
(((hugs))) 5 more days!!!!! Eeeeeks!!!

 

[lulilu]

One last try at explaining myself, and then I give up. I am not against taking care of one's belongings--including babying them, giving them names, and being sure they are safely and comfortably seated at all times. The degree to which one indulges in this level of caregiving is an individual choice, and I will fight long and hard for everyone's freedom to make an individual choice. There are occasions, however, when prioritizing a thing's "comfort" over a person's can occur, and it is this specific sort of incident that I was decrying. Examples: There are six guests at lunch and six chairs only in a crowded restaurant. Someone is expected to stand because another guest's handbag CANNOT be set on the floor. Or, a child accidentally steps on a stranger's Loubies. The Loubie-wearer immediately shrieks and begins examining the shoes for signs of damage, and/or offers words of criticism for the child and his parents.
No one on this thread has indicated that they would act in such a manner, and I am not claiming that anyone here would do so. But these sorts of things do happen--not necessarily or exclusively involving Hermes owners, of course--with a variety of "precious" things. And even if I were cringing and whimpering inside because a waiter had spilled something on my bag, I would endeavor to stop short of humiliating him, or myself, by yelling, crying, screaming, demanding a genuflecting apology, or otherwise suggesting that the bag has feelings that can be hurt or that "bag feelings" are of greater importance than those of the waiter.
That's solely MY reflection on the overarching issue of bag babying, based on my unique life experiences and entirely personal perspective. As MrsO said, she started this thread as a laugh, and if my take was overly solemn, I apologize.
For anyone still determined to be offended, I encourage you to ignore my posts in future. You won't be alone. In fact, I think there's a club. . . .

OK Mindi!
But I am not sure about giving them names . . .

 

[Israeli_Flava]

Omg! You should have sued Vaseline! You never know! Lol jk!

It was the TARGET brand. That's what I get for buying generic hahahaha wink wink

 

[NikkisABagGirl]

This is an interesting topic and I have certainly enjoyed reading this thread and getting a laugh or two at work when I need it...(Just put in a two weeks notice-little tense around here) haha! Anyway....I guess I will chime in. I am cautious with my bags. I appreciate quality and feel very lucky to own a handbag that many people won't (talking about my world here) for a myriad of different reasons. I do not have a large collection and those I have I take good care of.
-I don't use plastic anything on the hardware. Why would I, it is so beautiful as is. Also don't understand the threads with pics of Loves with scratches asking how to prevent, ummm...you can't. haha!
-I do use twillies, but because I like the look.
-I will never put my bag on the ground...icky...haha!
-I will try to protect my bag in the rain...
-I do not carry pens in my purse.
I use organizers because I am a minimalist and don't like clutter...I don't carry the kitchen sink. My everyday bag is the smallest size Picotin.
But I try to carry a bag on a daily basis that I can feel okay with being beat around a little. My daughter dropped ice cream (she is 3) on my picotin and I didn't care just because I wiped it off and kept it moving, maybe the monetary value of Kelly or Constance would have been different...but I wouldn't be upset with her, she is doing what 3 years old do. Well..so I think I take care of them within my own reason. I have loved reading the responses from some of you ladies that have been collecting for a much longer time.

 

[MSO13]

If you google ... Lagerfeld fur cheap knit ... You get the quote

Maybe you could share it because all I could find was a quote out of context from whatever the original interview was.

 

[kathydep]

This is an interesting topic and I have certainly enjoyed reading this thread and getting a laugh or two at work when I need it...(Just put in a two weeks notice-little tense around here) haha! Anyway....I guess I will chime in. I am cautious with my bags. I appreciate quality and feel very lucky to own a handbag that many people won't (talking about my world here) for a myriad of different reasons. I do not have a large collection and those I have I take good care of.
-I don't use plastic anything on the hardware. Why would I, it is so beautiful as is. Also don't understand the threads with pics of Loves with scratches asking how to prevent, ummm...you can't. haha!
-I do use twillies, but because I like the look.
-I will never put my bag on the ground...icky...haha!
-I will try to protect my bag in the rain...
-I do not carry pens in my purse.
I use organizers because I am a minimalist and don't like clutter...I don't carry the kitchen sink. My everyday bag is the smallest size Picotin.
But I try to carry a bag on a daily basis that I can feel okay with being beat around a little. My daughter dropped ice cream (she is 3) on my picotin and I didn't care just because I wiped it off and kept it moving, maybe the monetary value of Kelly or Constance would have been different...but I wouldn't be upset with her, she is doing what 3 years old do. Well..so I think I take care of them within my own reason. I have loved reading the responses from some of you ladies that have been collecting for a much longer time.

When your daughter inherits your bags eventually, you can say, "you made that ding/scratch/stain" LOL! This makes the bag a true heirloom. Can't wait to have a little daughter too!