Do you baby your bags?

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#31
It's a great topic.
Pessie on here wrote "I care for my bags but I'm not precious with them".
Nearly everybody contributing to this thread has described their own way of doing just that.
The common factor is that everybody appreciates that we have some items of superb quality that we don't want to spoil.
Everyone is describing what that means for them and possibly reflects their general attitude to how they care for all their possessions.
For some that does mean that they have to remain pristine, for others there will be some signs of use, but no-one is admitting to being mindless or wilfully careless.
.
 
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#32
kkfiregirl said:
I agree with most of what you said until you got to the end. We can't compare ourselves to bags because bags are material objects.

But yes, if you take special precautions to not get your bag wet, you are babying it, but there's nothing wrong with that. It just is what is is.
Click to expand...
True lol. Only point i was trying to make is we dont like to get wet in the rain cos its an inconvenience same as if your bag gets wet it can also be an inconvenience because your things inside get wet and you may need to towel down your bag.
^ thats why i used that comparison[emoji108][emoji106]
 
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#35
My SA once told me a story about a client who came in out of a downpour carrying a Croc B. She and the bag were very wet, and everyone in the store couldn't help but stare. The woman gave the Birkin a good shake, looked around and said, "Oh, don't worry. It's FINE." I remarked that this must be a person with a closet full of exotic Bs, and my SA nodded and said, Yes, that's exactly right.

The story made me think of the Karl Lagerfeld quote about wearing fur like it's a cheap knit, implying that if you have to be too careful, it means you can't afford it. While I see what he's saying, I'm like @Israeli_Flava . I'm naturally careful with my things. I've been this way since I was a child, it's just not in my nature to be careless.

That said, I'm not going to let carefulness get in the way of enjoying my things. I use twillys on occasion for decoration, not to protect handles. I am an avid user of handcreme, because my own skin is more important to me than my bag. I use bag organizers, not to protect the inside of the bag, but in an attempt to actually be organized. I will try not to wear box leather in the rain. There is a plastic bag law in my city that requires customers to pay 10 cents for a bag in any retail store, so I've taken to carrying a reusable bag in my bag. I suspect it will come in handy some day when I get caught in the rain and can pop my bag into the reusable bag. But if not for the law, I probably wouldn't think of it.

I don't like putting my bag on the floor. I did that once with a leather Longchamp bag at Starbucks. When I got up to leave, I discovered that someone a table or two away had spilled an entire latte, which had run along the floor and soaked the bottom of my bag. But if I'm shopping and there's a carpeted floor and I put my bag down to try something on, so be it. What I do depends on the situation. I don't insist on a separate chair for my bag, but I'll put it on my lap rather than put it on the floor.

I want my H bags to be an integral part of my life, to share days and stories with me. I don't expect them to stay perfect, nor do I want them to. That said, there are certain situations (hockey games, volunteer work at an animal shelter, and horrible New England weather come to mind) where I'd rather leave the bag at home and not stress over it.

Mrs. O, I'm glad you started this thread. Like you, I've seen this come up as a tangent in other thread recently and there seems to be a lot of defensiveness out there. As others have said, everyone has to figure out what works for them. I suspect that most of us are somewhere in the middle, between the wear-the-croc-B-in-the-downpour lady and the person who is so afraid of wear that her bags sit in the closet unused.
 
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#37
I use my bags, but I don't abuse them. I treat my Birkins the same way as I treat my Timbuk2 nylon messenger bag. I would hesitate to put either down on the ground, but if that's the only place then there it goes (actually, the Birkin goes on the floor; the messenger bag gets slung on my chair, so it gets better care :biggrin:). If I get caught in a downpour, the Hermes protects me -- same as if I were carrying my Timbuk2 -- not the other way around, or we get equally wet.

The thing is, Hermes makes tough bags that can handle being used. My Swift Jypsiere was soaked during an unexpected summer storm; I ran into a cafe, grabbed some napkins to dry my face, then dried my bag. The Jypsiere came out none the worse for wear; I, on the other hand, looked like a drowned rat :facepalm:. I've stuffed Birkins in the overhead bin and under the seat in front of me. My Togo B was scraped by a muddy stiletto heel on the subway with nary a scratch (I wiped the dirt off when I got home).

I do take care of my bags, from the Timbuk2 on up. Before they are stored, I empty the pockets, clean the inside and outside, and if they are structured, I will stuff them, do up the straps, and then in the dust bag they go. That's all. Low maintenance, low anxiety.
 
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#38
Oh my, what a discussion you have started Mrs. O. My daily work involves a commute, often a visit to constructuon trailers and sites, and squeezing in a business lunch or two during the week. I also fit in daily runs, dog walks and running back and forth to meetings downtown. If my bag is small, i will throw it into a baggu or larger longchamp tote as i have notebooks and files too.

I choose bags that fit my lifestyle and work, super casual, but do have a few wonderful ladies who lunch bags, including vintage box plumes. I do not Dress up my bags with charms and twillys. I am somewhat of a minimalist in this regard. The essence of Hermes is the beautiful handcrafted leather goods, and i love my silk scarves, so too much embellishment is over the top especially if i am wearing a silk. I do appreciate my dear friends who do dress up their bags; it gives them pleasure and we have fun when we get together.

I do use inserts. I am a minimalist when it comes to handbags, they need to provide organization and structure to my daily life. The added bonus is they keep the bag interior clean. So i love inserts that are light and functional.

If my bag has feet, then i dont mind placing on a clean floor; most times the nylon carrier is great hanging onto a chair back, so no problems there. Everyone has their lifestyles so I am at ease with how my H bags work for me. No exotics, no heavy bags, and I keep it simple, organized and minimal.
 
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#39
I used twillies and charms to spice up my B or K. I don't put on the lockets at all. The only bag I baby is my SO since the primary color is blanc. But I never put napkins underneath it because never thought of color transfer from chair to bag (now I might for my SO). I do avoid taking any bag in the rain. Just wallet in my raincoat.
 
#40
This is such a great topic, and when I first joined this forum, I was amazed reading how many would thoroughly inspect their bags in the boutiques before purchasing. I mean really inspect - if there was a wrinkle in the leather they would not purchase, if a thread was hanging they would not purchase, etc...Then, I would read how many would go home and inspect it even more. If after three months of use the edges or corners of a bag were scratched, it was a problem. I understand defects such as leather peeling after one use, but I think we all have to realize that bags and shoes and any leather will age. I read somewhere on a thread, that a bag should be inspected three inches away...or something like that. I completely agree. I am careful with my bags but not over the top. I don't purchase for resale and I actually adore the look of expensive bags that have look like they have been used and enjoyed.
 
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#41
I try not to bump into or touch things/strangers with my stuff (or even myself lol), regardless of the price. I won't carry leather bags that might blister (box leather) in the rain. I do carry groceries in them, but nothing that might leak or leave a smell.
But I don't use bag liners, twillies, rain coats etc. and removed the plastic immediately when I got my bags and set them on the floor all the time (unless it's visibly wet or gross).
I see them as beautiful pieces of art in a visual way, but at the same time products that are meant to be used and that will earn "character" (scratches, wrinkles, patina, loose shape) which adds to their emotional value to me. I wouldn't enjoy them as much if they were sitting around and collect dust.

On another note I just got a 2inch scratch on the back of my HG during grocery shopping (some metal edge...)... hurt a bit mentally at first, but life goes on... I'm just glad it was the back as I usually carry the front facing inwards and I'll probably won't carry it that much for grocery shopping anymore where I'm more focused on picking the prettiest fruit rather than sharp edges...
 
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#42
I baby my bags to the extent that I try to avoid structural damage (bent seams and panels, deformed handles and flaps, loose turnlock, etc), but I'm less precious with my bags when it comes to cosmetic issues. Those are generally treatable if not always fixable.

One issue that hasn't really come up in this discussion is the likelihood of carelessly used or abused bags ending up in the secondary market. From my experience, sellers don't readily admit to using the bag as a workhorse (or worse, a pet carrier), carrying it in rainstorms, or routinely whacking the bag into doors and walls. Those of us who buy used bags based solely on photos appreciate those of you who baby your bags. I may not put my bag on its own special stool in a restaurant, but if I buy your bag down the road, I'll be very glad that you did [emoji1]
 
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#45
Hermes has addled my brain a bit.

I baby my H things much more than other things I own, and the reason is strange, because it isn't about cost.

Maybe in my mind, my H things are super, super special. I actually enjoy putting my bags back in their sleepers, lying them carefully in the box, properly shaped and stuffed for next time.

Then, It is enjoyable when I take them out to use again. A feeling that I am going to do something really fun when I take it out. (I dont use them everyday).

A bit of a ritual, it creates some feeling of excitement.

When using them, i am fairly cavalier, though not careless. I enjoy using H and my focus is more on the enjoyment rather than the fear of damage. I like to put a napkin under the bag if I set it on the floor though. I try not to be reckless with it. With scarves I try to avoid the arch-enemy: velcro.
 
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