Let's talk about handbag mistakes!

[Sparkletastic]

Bags that are on sale, especially in some seasonal color, that eventually I won’t be using once I get bored with it or it doesn’t work with my wardrobe…

Bags that are heavy… I actually don’t ever buy these as I know they’ll be pain in the a**… the only one I ever got was Maxmara Whitney bag in a medium size, that I was lucky to exchange with my mom, who had a smaller version… she doesn’t mind the medium one being heavier as usually she’s driving by car all the time, while I use public transportation and can’t bare extra weight on my shoulders…

Bags that are trendy/popular that don’t speak to me… getting a bag just because everyone is raving about it is a bad idea, as I need to know whether the style works for me and fits my lifestyle, and not just buy because of a hype or some fantasy life…

LOL! On the Max Mara Whitney. I have the large and it’s my main work tote which ONLY works because I only have to carry it from a building to a car. But, it’s heavy as cement.

I would sell it but, with Covid, I’m not in office anymore so there isn’t the urgency to look for a replacement and offload it. Plus I doubt I’d get a decent price for it. But it’s a beautiful bag.

 

[Purrsey]

a "big" lesson - too many bags. With covid, i can't be hanging out at home carrying around / showcase my fav bags. Social gathering / travel / events are pretty much still restricted. I've bags that started to grow some mold (yeah it know it's horrid but a spa will cure them). Sold a handful especially in 2021. I no longer buy bags (at least for now i don't see anything else i fancy). Keeping few fav ones that i know they will grow old with me.
I buy fine jewelry now. Just a few to keep me staring at them on my hands while i am working from home.

And I wouldnt exactly say it's a bag mistake since those i've purchased hold their values (thus i i make my money back in some way when i've sold them, thanks to chanel price hike). Just an interest/perspective shift.

 

[coffee2go]

LOL! On the Max Mara Whitney. I have the large and it’s my main work tote which ONLY works because I only have to carry it from a building to a car. But, it’s heavy as cement.

I would sell it but, with Covid, I’m not in office anymore so there isn’t the urgency to look for a replacement and offload it. Plus I doubt I’d get a decent price for it. But it’s a beautiful bag.

Haha, yeah I know, right? It’s pretty heavy even empty, but I love how structured it is, mine was black with red lining, it looks so classic and chic, and yet has no visible branding… I love when my bags have “if you know you know” vibes…. Which color do you own? I also admire it as a piece of “fashion meets architecture” and the mini version works better for me, however, if I’d have a chance I would get a zip closure version (see attached image), as it’s more secure and has only one compartment. I don’t know why, but usually I prefer the bags that don’t have a compartment in the middle like Peekaboo and YSL Sac de jour, I somehow struggle to fit my stuff in these type of bags, like a water bottle, an apple or so… however I’m okay with Mini Whitney, as it’s a mini bag, so it can’t fit an apple, as the opening isn’t too wide

 

[IntheOcean]

I think the biggest mistake I made was purchasing a bag that had shoulder handles, a flap, and a very fussy closing mechanism. Also, no exterior pockets. So the trouble with that bag was, I couldn't simply reach into it and grab something quickly. I had to take it off my shoulder, open the lock, open the flap... Plus, the flap was kind of large and heavy and it would always try and fall back into place on its own and when it did, the closing mechanism would lock again. Didn't work out for me, sadly.

 

[Sparkletastic]

a "big" lesson - too many bags. With covid, i can't be hanging out at home carrying around / showcase my fav bags. Social gathering / travel / events are pretty much still restricted. I've bags that started to grow some mold (yeah it know it's horrid but a spa will cure them). Sold a handful especially in 2021. I no longer buy bags (at least for now i don't see anything else i fancy). Keeping few fav ones that i know they will grow old with me.
I buy fine jewelry now. Just a few to keep me staring at them on my hands while i am working from home.

And I wouldnt exactly say it's a bag mistake since those i've purchased hold their values (thus i i make my money back in some way when i've sold them, thanks to chanel price hike). Just an interest/perspective shift.

OMG! Same!! I don’t know that I have too many bags but I’m frustrated that I don’t have use for my bags! And as I posted in another thread, time is passing and my taste is shifting. So I didn’t get enough use out of my bags when I “should” have and now I have an itch to add something else. But, back to the original point - why buy when I can’t use what I have.

Haha, yeah I know, right? It’s pretty heavy even empty, but I love how structured it is, mine was black with red lining, it looks so classic and chic, and yet has no visible branding… I love when my bags have “if you know you know” vibes…. Which color do you own? I also admire it as a piece of “fashion meets architecture” and the mini version works better for me, however, if I’d have a chance I would get a zip closure version (see attached image), as it’s more secure and has only one compartment. I don’t know why, but usually I prefer the bags that don’t have a compartment in the middle like Peekaboo and YSL Sac de jour, I somehow struggle to fit my stuff in these type of bags, like a water bottle, an apple or so… however I’m okay with Mini Whitney, as it’s a mini bag, so it can’t fit an apple, as the opening isn’t too wide

Mine is the black with red lining as well. The no logo but stylish look is perfect for work. But the weight. Yikes!

 

[hlh0904]

A no-no for me is a non-structured bag with a heavy chain strap. It puddles on the table and all the contents of your purse just get into a black hole, if not fall out when you set it down on a flat surface. I need a piece of leather on the chain strap too. It won't dig into your shoulder. For the life of me I don't understand how that design passed the approval stage of construction. The chain was so heavy, God help you if you are wearing it on a bare shoulder. I have passed the age of tolerating "Painful Fashion".

 

[jiljenner]

Bags that are too small, bags that are divided. Bags that are too complicated to get into. Bags that don’t close. Bags with two handles. Bags that don’t sit right on my shoulder. Bags that tuck too close to my arm pit. Bags that have narrow openings….

I am the Goldilocks of the handbag world.

I could've written this myself I am so picky when it comes to bags. I've realized that I like big bags, semi-structured, with open interiors, that can hold any possible thing that I (or my hubby, or my kids) might need on any possible occasion. Any bag that does not fit that description, is a mistake.

 

[Pkac]

I’m currently dealing with my biggest bag mistake so far and I thought I’d share my story in this thread to try and help process my regret!!
In July last year, after months of a Bulgari Serpenti obsession that came out of nowhere and had me convinced that I NEEDED one of these bags, I impulsively bought a brand new one from the boutique as I was blown away by the colour of the bag. In my mind at that time, I was convinced the bag would get a lot of use, that it would work with my wardrobe and be really versatile.
I brought it home with me and then just…. never used it!!! This is not like me - I don’t keep unused bags in my wardrobe, I typically buy them and enjoy them.
This one I just don’t know what happened!! I suddenly realised that the snake clasp was actually really uncomfortable under my arm, that the bag was overall very stiff when I usually go for softer leathers or canvas, and that despite me still finding the bag striking and beautiful to *look* at, it just wasn’t a wearable bag for me.
I ended up selling it at a massive loss this week, and it’s bothering me. I’m annoyed at myself for buying a Bulgari brand new - I should have been patient and waited for a good deal. It’s well known that they don’t hold their resale value whatsoever, what was I thinking?!
Secondly, I feel sad when I look at pictures of the bag because I really do still think it’s stunning, but at the end of the day I’d rather swap it for a bag I’ll get good use out of.
I guess I’m processing my regret and it’s been a hard lesson learned that I really need to take the time to think about exactly how I’ll use a bag before purchasing in the future!! Thanks for listening to my rant.

 

[vesna]

Loud chains and other hardware and large logos especially hanging metal logos are a NO for me…..sold so many beautiful bags because I could not stand all that

 

[Amazona]

Noisy bags, bags with heavy and clunky hardware, Mulberry bags from after 2013 because of the hardware basically getting destroyed even when in very light use, bags with a very narrow base or a sack-like shape (as in, it's not possible to keep the bag in order as things just fall to the bottom). All of these are things that if I had to choose carrying a bag with said traits vs. not carrying a bag at all, I would choose the latter one and just shove things in my pockets or carry them in my hands. A bag is not worth getting worked up over and these things certainly make me do that.

 

[Amazona]

I agree about chains and noisy bags. I have a beautiful chain bag that I have to unravel, which drives me crazy. I had a coach bag years ago that squeaked it drove me insane.

I used to have a beautiful Roxy travel bag and it squeaked so bad I just gave it away after a couple of trips. I just couldn't handle the noise.

 

[Cali2HI]

Bags with narrow zippers that don't run smoothly and scratch the back of your hand each time you reach inside the bag.
Sold some of my LVs for this reason.
Ugh...

Agree 100%

 

[Cali2HI]

My bag mistakes over the years are:
-Fabric/textile bags that can’t be cleaned/washed - the dirt/stains are there forever eww
-Bags that can’t stand up on their own (I get irritated when it falls over and become a blob)
-Clutches (I like being hands-free and I will forget where I left it last or will not remember that I was carrying one in the first place)
-Top handle bags (unable to be hands-free)
-Chain strap bags (aversion to painful digging shoulder pain)
-Heavy bags (shoulder/arm/hand pain)
-Bags without a crossbody strap or do not have attachment points to add a crossbody strap
-Orange and yellow bags (I love having a bag in every color of the rainbow but I never reach for them and always end up selling them)
-Shoulder bags (they never stay on my shoulder)
-Large bags (bottomless pit)
-Any bag with a formal closure (I don’t like to close my bags. I like to just get in and out)
-Narrow bag openings that cut/scrape my hands when getting in/out (always end up selling or donate)

So basically, bags have to be made of leather, light in weight, have pockets/compartments inside, is able to covert to a crossbody bag and has a comfortable strap.

 

[peachylv]

I can’t do heavy bags. I can only carry my Chloe crossbody if it’s lightly packed and I’m just running errands. I can’t take it traveling when my husband and son want to load it. Ouch! I love the look and it goes with everything, but when it dies, I won’t replace it with another.

I will also never buy a double handle shoulder bag again. My LV Verona mm is the only double shoulder strap handbag I ever reach for. It was my first designer bag, is weatherproof, and stays on better than my others. I think it’s because of the strap length and how the leather is treated.

I’m fine with crossbody bags, single strap shoulder bags, handheld, and backpacks (though I have and only need one).

Oh, and another thing, I won’t buy a bag that is hyped but I’m not in love with. I did that twice and sold them. I just didn’t enjoy carrying them.

 

[maris.crane]

I don’t think it’s a true regret but buying trend bags. I purchased (or my parents helped me purchase with my first minimum wage jobs in college) bags and they went out of style really quickly. At the time, the Dior Gaucho Saddle Bag & Chloe Paddington’s I bought were around the same price as a Chanel flap. But now the bags I bought feel retro and vintage, so I’ve been able to bring them back out. Temporary bag mistake.

White bags.