Do you use your less "expensive" bags?

[Tuned83]

For me it's the Number One (Nano and Standard) and the berry. I think the Nano I just find adorable but I have enough bags that size tbh. The standard sized one though I have nothing similar in my current collection, I just wonder whether it would be too bulky or heavy on me, and whether the issue would be similar another I sold because it was big but without being hold all because so then what's the point? The Beri in white I think could be a good summer bag and I have nothing like it...

I have the nano one. For the price it's great. I use on school run when Chanel is just too ostentatious. It is deceptively bigger than it looks. I wanted another but decided against it as I have too many bags overall. It is definitely a special bag. This is my initial post about it

Polène handbags

Just posted this on the Numero Neuf chat, but wanted to post it here as well since this is the main chat :P I haven't been purchasing Polene lately, but the Umi has got me really excited (Already bit the bullet in the clay variant, will be back to post first impressions of it!) -- [Numero Neuf...

forum.purseblog.com

I liked how well made it was so I got my mum umi. She loved it too. I guess you just have to figure where in your lifestyle the bag will fit. If it doesn't don't bother.

 

[ClaphamTulip]

I have the nano one. For the price it's great. I use on school run when Chanel is just too ostentatious. It is deceptively bigger than it looks. I wanted another but decided against it as I have too many bags overall. It is definitely a special bag. This is my initial post about it

Polène handbags

Just posted this on the Numero Neuf chat, but wanted to post it here as well since this is the main chat :P I haven't been purchasing Polene lately, but the Umi has got me really excited (Already bit the bullet in the clay variant, will be back to post first impressions of it!) -- [Numero Neuf...

forum.purseblog.com

I liked how well made it was so I got my mum umi. She loved it too. I guess you just have to figure where in your lifestyle the bag will fit. If it doesn't don't bother.

Thanks for the review - what a stunning colour!

 

[2cello]

For me, it's less about the price, but I wind up gravitating towards more common brands, like LV or Coach, over others in my collection. I've found they have the best balance of aesthetics, function, materials, and craftsmanship for my preferences whereas newer lines, which often skew to the contemporary price-range, tend to focus heavily on one or two areas. I've wound up getting rid of Mansur Gavriel, Sophie Hulme, Tory Burch, and Michael Kors bags and have a Chloe and Boyy I'm considering donating. I really like the idea of supporting smaller brands, but at this point, I've cycled through enough of them that I generally stick to more established brands these days.

i find this to be true too. Like the most popular bags are the most popular for a reason.

 

[needmoneyforbirkins]

100%. I actually got my Polene Umi for this reason - to use when I'm buying groceries, going to the park, etc. I find their quality to be possibly better than Chanel, tbh

 

[ClaphamTulip]

100%. I actually got my Polene Umi for this reason - to use when I'm buying groceries, going to the park, etc. I find their quality to be possibly better than Chanel, tbh

That's quite the endorsement! If the quality is so good why not use it both for groceries and more formal stuff?

 

[880]

I guess the reason I asked this question is because a few months ago I bought a Ferragamo bag (my other bags include Chanel, Dior, YSL and a big Ferragamo tote). I think the reason I ended up selling it on is because it neither ticked the convenient box (not big enough to be a hold all tote) nor was it as pretty and fancy as my Chanels etc. Now I am trying to figure out whether the Polene bags would have the same issues but I cannot for the life of me.

I have this issue Specific to Polene bags, and I have not purchased one yet. I recommend not buying until it ticks a box, personal to you. I used to end up buying something for the hypothetical me; the item sat in my closet for awhile; then I gave it to my mom, aunt, cousin, friend, assistant; cleaning person etc.

 

[needmoneyforbirkins]

That's quite the endorsement! If the quality is so good why not use it both for groceries and more formal stuff?

Oh I definitely would, but I prefer to use statement purses (think crystals & loud colors ) for formal/festive occasions but Polene's designs are more minimal and their colors very muted

 

[JenJBS]

This is like, a non problem, but here goes...

I own some really nice bags from Chanel and Dior but I LOVE Polene bags and am dying to buy one. But I've noticed in the past that I tend to "neglect" my less expensive bags and rarely use them compared to my luxury handbags. Does anyone have the same issue? Does anyone own a Polene bag and use them when they own much more expensive bags?

I own Polene, and some Premier brand bags. I love my less expensive bags for bad weather, or just running to the grocery store; so they do get worn a lot. I just don't feel the need to carry Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Givenchy, etc. to the grocery store, I've done it on occasion, but usually when I was carrying the Premier bag to go other places. Polene has exceptional quality.

 

[Jereni]

I have designer bags (Chanel, Prada Fendi, Celine) and regular fashion brands (Coach, Tory Burch, Polene) and I wear both about equally. I do like having the less expensive bags for scenarios where something like a Chanel might feel a little ostentatious, but I’m in and out of pretty much all my bags every month, they get equal wears.

Agree with the comments upthread that you should get the bag if you love it, if you have a clear use case for it, and ideally if you know you’ll wear it.

Polene I especially like these days because they are graceful and unique and look & fee like a designer bag without the price tag.

 

[phoebe.bqueen]

I bought a Botkier Valentina in Winter Purple last year and has been wearing it a lot. I just bought a Fjrallraven bag which I plan to carry my laptop, chargers and snack etc with and I sense I will use that very often too I notice that I feel more care free when I carry the Botkier, than when I carry a Chanel or Gucci etc. I sometimes don't like the attention I get when carrying my expensive bags, so I often enjoy them quietly (e.g. use them when I go for a car trip etc, I bought a Gucci tian a few months ago and that's what I plan to do.) I know I can be a bit weird. :-p

 

[elzi]

I find that if I buy them for a specific need, I will use them. But if buy because I simply liked it, I ended up not using them cos I tend to reach out for my favourite luxury bags.

 

[lill_canele]

Hmm, good question!
It's kind of difficult to gage now, because I don't have a large bag collection (less than 10) and most of my bags are at a similar price point. And then just a couple bags that are at a higher price point. So currently, I think I rotate my bag use pretty evenly throughout. The one that I don't really carry out as much is actually my Chanel flap, just for safety reasons, but I'm sure she'll come out when the time is right.

If I think back to when I was more in a "bag transition" from high street/contemporary bags to luxury bags I think I did use my less expensive bags than my luxury bags. To me, at the time, luxury bags were my pride and joy because they were something I yearned for so long and then could finally afford, so of course I wanted to use them and bring them out!

However, the one thing I do notice is that if I bought a "less expensive" bag to sort of "substitute" for a more expensive bag, that would just end up being a waste of money because I would never reach for that "substitute" bag since it wasn't really want I wanted. And I personally could feel the difference between having/using the luxury bag that fit my exact specifications vs a bag that subbed in for what my heart truly desired.

So I say, if your your heart is not committed and loving it, regardless if it is less or more expensive, just make sure it's what you really/actually want, and I think you'll put it to good use!

 

[ccbaggirl89]

I try to rotate equally between my high and low end items, but truth is I do prefer using my cheaper bags and no-name brands to my luxury ones. I suppose knowing what I paid for everything makes me more aware of not wanting to damage them or risk color transfer and nicks and such. I do use them a lot but not as often as I should. The non-luxury bags are just easier and carefree, but I enjoy having options.

 

[lovieluvslux]

I tend to use my contemporary and less expensive bags these days. Reason is I like to attend sporting events and visit restaurants (non fancy) ones a few times month. As much as I love my Chanel and the like, I feel they are fussy. Plus, I would have a fit if I spilt salsa, wine, etc...on my fancy bags. Its so silly not to get cost per wear. I know!

 

[Alienza]

I carry my designer bags daily but like most of us I dont go out much since the pandemic. So my bags still dont have much time to shine. Before pandemic, I carry the less expensive bags when I travel. But on our last holiday, I carried my YSL niki and almost took an LV too. unfortunately there was no space in the suitcase for my LV so I only took the YSL niki