This is a much discussed topic between me and my bag-obsessed friend! We jokingly call each other enablers but we regularly talk about how crazy it is to buy luxury. You get used to the price tags. We regularly catch ourselves saying things like "oh €2900 isn‘t such a bad price". If only our friends knew lol
We‘re both turning 30 this year and the idea of a classic flap has loomed large but the thought of spending so much is making us nauseous. When we started bonding over our love for bags, both retail and vintage prices were more palatable. Now we‘re supposed to shell out 6k at the boutique for an item that has not increased in quality?
You could buy a Dior, Celine or
Loewe bag and put the remaining 3-4k into savings. That‘s the crazy part. When you‘re buying Chanel, you‘re paying twice as much but it‘s not twice as well-made. Can a love for a brand/fashion house really go so far?
That said, I do think that fashion as a hobby/interest is looked down upon in general. Women’s hobbies are not taken as seriously. If a guy is buying a luxury watch and is knowledgeable about watches, he‘s seen as distinguished — seriously, just watch Hodinkee youtube videos for a day or read the blog. He’s a gentleman. He’s got his life together. He‘s a horologist.
If a woman wants a a classic flap or a birkin, she‘s a shopaholic and bad with money. I think that‘s why women are more likely to feel guilty for spending $$$$$ on a bag, even if we can comfortably afford it.