Handbags and Lifestyle

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#16
I don't have much to add as I can't afford any bags that would warrant being a part of this discussion. I just love bags and I really enjoy seeing people carrying lovely and/or interesting bags, even if I'll likely never own them. So even though some of you suggested that no one else knows what you're carrying to the grocery store, just remember that someone like me might be there with an MZ wallace bag & wearing doc martens & totally digging your chloe paratay or checking out your gucci marrakech :)
 
#17
I live in a medium-sized hipster city characterized by its live music & tech culture. Pretty much anything goes here! I own a range of purse styles for the varied events I wind up at. And in this town I have seen people carry Hermes at food trucks and Target clutches at the W. As long as you have the attitude to rock it, then rock on :cool:
 
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#18
I have loved structured bags since i was 8 (Hello Kelly!). I live in a casual metro and work a a casual office where north face and company tee shirts are the uniform.

My uniform is more dressy, i wear dresses all the time. This weekend i splurged on a really nice bag: Ferragamo Sofia. (In black pebbled leather) My most expensive purse purchase. I realized i have spent about 10 years looking for my perfect black bag, and buying many pretenders. After some thought, although i love really structured bags they are too much. I need a crossbody strap for my transit ride and 15 minute walk to work. I need space for a scarf and water bottle. And sometimes i need more polish. And i need bags that fit in my bike basket too.

I think you can splurge for yourself, and still find things that suit your life, but think somewhat practically.

Please tell that to my shoe collection. I have too many car and driver shoes. Not enough bus/train/walk shoes.
 
#19
I wear what I like and don't really care about the strange looks. There are so many horrible fakes where I am, that I'm pretty sure people think that my bags are fake as well. I go to thrift stores, Goodwill, and Salvation Army with my high end designer bags. Handbags are frivolous items and need not be taken so seriously.
 
#20
I don't think a designer bag is necessarily a fancy bag....if you choose a simple style it will suit a casual lifestyle and wardrobe....I wouldn't warrant more than a canvas tote considering my lifestyle, but I certainly prefer a designer bag, they make me happy. I wear Chanel and Hermes almost anywhere.
 
#22
After making many expensive mistakes I finally feel like I have the right idea when it comes to shopping; I buy bags that cost max. 500-700€ new, try to find preloved or discounted quality brand bags and buy simple clothes which I spice up with statement jewelry. Which I usually pick up during sale time for less than 5€.
I'm someone who can't deal with breaking or otherwise damaging my things and I am careful with everything but still...you can never know what happens! Also, my work environment is laid back and there's no need to show off Chanel or Louboutins. On holidays I look like a hobo, because I travel alone a lot and I don't want to be a target for thieves. That does mean I get lousy service and snooty attitude in many shops and boutiques (the ladies at the NK Mulberry boutique are lovely though :heart: ) but it's their loss, not mine. I wear and carry what I feel is the best for me.

Even if I was filthy rich I don't think I could deal with the anxiety of carrying a GST or a Kensington, so expensive and so much to lose! :faint:
 
#23
What a good question! Recently I decided that I need to get bags that fit my style and lifestyle. As much as I love and want a Chanel Flap, I'm not going to wear it to the park or to the kid's birthday party. I also don't want to carry one to work on a daily basis because I need to carry my laptop. And I hate carrying multiple bags at once. I already have a Chanel WOC and for those rare date nights with the hubby. I like to get my money's worth for my bags. And spending thousands on a bag that I have to worry about instead of enjoying my life just don't seem worth it for me. I want to own my bags instead of letting my bags own me. Maybe when my kids are older I will rock a Chanel bag daily. But for now I need practicality.
 
#25
papertiger said:
I like your style ladysarah, I always have

Yay, wheely twins, mine is tartan and goes up and down stairs without me having to carry it. I also have a sleek black neoprene 'metro' wheely but it's not as much fun :D.

The locals think I'm completely MAD anyway, I hate to disappoint :graucho:
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Ha ha thank you! Your fashion wisdom has enlightened us all.:D to get back to the lifestyle vs handbag issue, I don't do heavy bags because I walk everywhere so anything heavy becomes a burden. It's quite common to buy handbags for the lifestyle we want to live rather than the real one. At one point I had six or seven straw basket bags, suitable for the seaside. I go to the beach like 5 days a year if I am lucky...
 
#26
mtstmichel said:
What a good question! Recently I decided that I need to get bags that fit my style and lifestyle. As much as I love and want a Chanel Flap, I'm not going to wear it to the park or to the kid's birthday party. I also don't want to carry one to work on a daily basis because I need to carry my laptop. And I hate carrying multiple bags at once. I already have a Chanel WOC and for those rare date nights with the hubby. I like to get my money's worth for my bags. And spending thousands on a bag that I have to worry about instead of enjoying my life just don't seem worth it for me. I want to own my bags instead of letting my bags own me. Maybe when my kids are older I will rock a Chanel bag daily. But for now I need practicality.
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Great post. I agree.
 
#27
I work in NYC so bags run the gamut from really high end to cheap. I never used to be into handbags preferring to change them out every year with trendy styles. However, all that changed 2 years ago when I went to Paris and picked up my first high end bag. Since then, bags have become my addiction and I tend to favor one particular brand. However, I prefer the more understated bags from that brand and I love when people compliment my bag but have no idea what I'm carrying.

Although I do dress up for work, I'm a very casual laid back person and I'm a commuter. The bags that I favor have to work for that lifestyle -they need to be be able to carry a lot of stuff, and be able to work whether I'm going to a child's birthday party, a day at the office, shopping or the gym. When I first started collecting, I bought without thinking. Now, I know what I like and will always look for function over form because I know that I have to be able to use the or it won't be worth it.
 
#28
I live in a very small town in the country (my nearest neighbors are horses!) and lead a very casual lifestyle, but I don't let that influence my choice of bag designers. I prefer under the radar bags that most people do not recognize, but are of high quality made by a premier designer. I buy what I love and I carry these bags to yoga, Walmart, Costco and even on motorcycle rides (in a saddle bag).

What I don't buy are bags styles that don't fit my hands-free preference, like clutches. I tried using a clutch for a day and I discovered I am definitely not a clutch gal. I do love handbags, shoulder bags and crossbody bags...just not clutches. :smile1:
 
#29
I love Ferragamo and Fendi, I don't have many bags but I wholly appreciate what I do have and I will carry them absolutely anywhere within reason. That having been said I work in a male dominated industry so I don't really get any catty comments about "designer" bags. In fact my male colleagues can be quite interested and inspect the quality of stitching and hardware. I never take a bag to the supermarket or shops, only a debit card because I like being totally hands free when shopping not because it's not an appropriate bag for the occasion.
 
#30
One day my friend told me, "I want to stop it, I want to stop buying bags for the lifestyle that I dream. That is a big mistake and not working for me, I got my lesson. After this I just purchase bags for the lifestyle I have".

I think this says how much it is important to match the bag we buy with the lifestyle we have.
 
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