Thoughts on well-used bags?

[IOSCHA]

Whether you're the first person in the waitlist for a new bag or a preloved professional, what do you think about bags that have notable signs of wear like slouching or creasing?

I took out my Celine Trapeze today because I haven't worn it in months, and I noticed that it started to crease (overstuffed? design flaw?) even more in the front. I've bought all my bags preowned so I kinda knew what I was going into, but now I can't stop staring at the crease and all the little scratches and imperfections

Do you instead reach for more pristine examples in your closet, have them repaired/rehabbed, or tote the battle scars proudly as you go on more adventures? Would like to hear your thoughts!

 

[papertiger]

Good question.

For me it depends on the bag. Structured, Modern, smooth leather bags in certain colours don't look so good when they age, yet slouchy, grained, grey or brown shades can actually look better.

Also, In the UK, it's considered more cool to have bags (and clothes and other things) that look like you've had them forever, you'll pay extra for patina in some shops including furniture like leather couches.

I have a Vivienne Westwood that's pale blush-pink suede. It's supposed to look old, that's part of its design aesthetic, but I am self-conscious that I look like I'm carrying a dirty bag.

 

[Norm.Core]

I buy pre-owned but there are certain things that I watch out for (overly warmed bag handles, corners with holes, dirty interior) but I do like to carry bags until they start to show distressing... as in heavy wear.

I don’t carry my bags to trash them but I’m not overly protective either. I clean and condition and spray my bags but after that, it’s gonna get worn. I’m proud to carry my leather bags with battle scars. Scratches and water marks and accidental dents and all. These “flaws” make it mine.

 

[IOSCHA]

Also, In the UK, it's considered more cool to have bags (and clothes and other things) that look like you've had them forever, you'll pay extra for patina in some shops including furniture like leather couches.

I have a Vivienne Westwood that's pale blush-pink suede. It's supposed to look old, that's part of its design aesthetic, but I am self-conscious that I look like I'm carrying a dirty bag.

That's quite an interesting point. I know for a fact that the lovely people at the Balenciaga subforum loves their smooshy, slouchy Moto bags, but I didn't know it's an entire aesthetic in the UK. Now I'm curious about the UK bag scene!

 

[IOSCHA]

I buy pre-owned but there are certain things that I watch out for (overly warmed bag handles, corners with holes, dirty interior) but I do like to carry bags until they start to show distressing... as in heavy wear.

I don’t carry my bags to trash them but I’m not overly protective either. I clean and condition and spray my bags but after that, it’s gonna get worn. I’m proud to carry my leather bags with battle scars. Scratches and water marks and accidental dents and all. These “flaws” make it mine.

I agree with you. I'm trying to get into that mindset of accepting these "flaws" as part of a bag's history. Like you, I don't trash my bags and I don't baby them either, but I tend to hyperfocus on the little details so I'm still self-conscious at times

 

[Norm.Core]

I agree with you. I'm trying to get into that mindset of accepting these "flaws" as part of a bag's history. Like you, I don't trash my bags and I don't baby them either, but I tend to hyperfocus on the little details so I'm still self-conscious at times

Ahh. I understand what you mean but I love vintage and imperfections to me aren’t flaws... they add character to the bag. So I tend not to focus on them. Must be my age showing but IDGAF.

The threads about microscopic flaws on some of the forums here do my head in and I avoid them like the plague.

 

[880]

It also used to be an aesthetic in NY to carry vintage with patina, and decades ago, somewhat ostentatious to carry expensive brand spanking new. I prefer to carry items that look like I’ve always had them. I collect dead stock vintage, stuff from family that’s been handed down, preloved heritage leather (box, barenia, VN bags, boutique bags and RTW; they all mix together to form my own style. I also like relaxed, floppy, and yes creased bags. They pair nicely with my combat boots If an item is made with care and built to last, then marks are a sign of it’s life outside the closet. I do send my bags to spa (originally I used H, but for reasons of speed, efficacy, and custom detailing and weatherproofing, to @docride.

nowadays I think it’s become a niche form of chic like dark academia, IDK. While I prefer smooth heritage leather, like box, barenia, vache natural with patina, there are exceptions. My kelly and Birkin handles are in great condition. I intensely dislike, chèvre that’s flaccid and droopy and flattened. Like @papertiger, I prefer pale suede that looks new (For example, pale pink suede gucci Mormont loafers were never worn past a certain droopy fringe stage) I judge on an individual basis. It’s personal preference and my own quirk.

like @Norm.Core , I intensely dislike the microscopic flaw threads, so try to avoid them

Box, metallic chèvre, croc vintage and a trio of vintage kelly bags. The retourne box is a bit slouchy with natural folds, easily dealt with by proper storage and stuffing

 

[LittleRunningDog]

I think it depends a lot on the leather. A thick natural leather can age well and develop a gorgeous rich patina - Mulberry’s oak bags became famous for that look, but their leathers are not the same quality anymore. And there’s a big difference between “that looks fabulous” and “thats ready for the bin” - a lot of completely knackered Mulberrys on eBay are still being described by their optimistic owners as having a great “patina”.

I don’t mind signs of wear on my bags such as softening, creases, or scratches, but darkened handles, a dirty lining or worn out corners are too much.

 

[IOSCHA]

It also used to be an aesthetic in NY to carry vintage with patina, and decades ago, somewhat ostentatious to carry expensive brand spanking new. I prefer to carry items that look like I’ve always had them. I collect dead stock vintage, stuff from family that’s been handed down, preloved heritage leather (box, barenia, VN bags, boutique bags and RTW; they all mix together to form my own style. I also like relaxed, floppy, and yes creased bags. They pair nicely with my combat boots If an item is made with care and built to last, then marks are a sign of it’s life outside the closet.

Hmm, now this is something I'm very interested in. Would my hypothetical grandchildren excitedly tell their friends that they "found Grandpa's vintage YSL Muse bag"? I think it's just funny when items we think of as trendy will be referred to as vintage in 20, 30 years time

 

[IOSCHA]

I think it depends a lot on the leather. A thick natural leather can age well and develop a gorgeous rich patina - Mulberry’s oak bags became famous for that look, but their leathers are not the same quality anymore. And there’s a big difference between “that looks fabulous” and “thats ready for the bin” - a lot of completely knackered Mulberrys on eBay are still being described by their optimistic owners as having a great “patina”.

I don’t mind signs of wear on my bags such as softening, creases, or scratches, but darkened handles, a dirty lining or worn out corners are too much.

Hmm, you raise an interesting point about Mulberry. From what I've read, they're quite well-made and can last a long time if properly taken care of. Personally, I don't mind a bit of DIY myself if I really like the style, but only if it's at a fair price. They're quite rare in my country so I still haven't found a good example.

Funny enough, this Mulberry restoration video popped up on YouTube while I was typing this. The algorithms are following me!

 

[LittleRunningDog]

Hmm, you raise an interesting point about Mulberry. From what I've read, they're quite well-made and can last a long time if properly taken care of. Personally, I don't mind a bit of DIY myself if I really like the style, but only if it's at a fair price. They're quite rare in my country so I still haven't found a good example.

Funny enough, this Mulberry restoration video popped up on YouTube while I was typing this. The algorithms are following me!

I stopped buying Mulberry from about 2010ish, at the point when they started using microfibre linings to pad out skinny leathers, and raised their prices to crazy levels. It’s a shame, the leathers used to be beautiful.

 

[IntheOcean]

Good topic! For me, it quite heavily depends on the style of the bag.

If it's meant to have a very polished, professional look, then things like extensive corner wear and slouchiness (if the bag was intended to be structured) would not look appealing to me. However, when the bag is more casual, I don't mind signs of wear that much. If there is any loose stitching, splitting of seams, corner wear, etc. I try to get that addressed as soon as I can. Most of my bags are black, so it's easy to touch up piping and corners when they turn gray.

I don't like stains on bags, regardless of whether it's on the exterior or the interior. I try to avoid buying bags with any kind of staining or pen marks unless it's something really small and isn't all that visible. One of my recently purchased bags that I bought for spring has a large, although somewhat faded, stain on the bottom (exterior.) I don't think I will be able to remedy it all that much... You can't really see it when wearing the bag, but I think I'll try to avoid bags with such issues in the future unless, perhaps, it's a bag I really, really love and it's hard to get.

 

[Farkvam]

I love vintage bags and have a couple, but I am a bit of a perfectionist at the same time so half the time I look at the bags and appreciate their beauty, uniqueness, quality craftsmanship and the life they've led, but the other half of the time I get worried over little signs of wear and pray they don't get any more wear...which is totally unreasonable. It's good for me to have these bags, it teaches me to relax a bit and enjoy imperfection.

It's a funny dichotomy because I tend to get more of a thrill over seeing vintage bags than new, so I don't know what's up with me

 

[maris.crane]

I think there are certain bags that look better a bit beat up and worn in, kinda like a pair of Chuck Taylors.

I think Chucks look way too square when they’re brand spanking new. I think for bags a bit of fading, or a quilted bag that’s a bit deflated are fine, but handle warming to me looks… kinda gross. I’d love to find a new-to-me Balenciaga RH First, but so many of the lighter colours have that handle warming and it kills the look of the bag, IMHO.

 

[IOSCHA]

If it's meant to have a very polished, professional look, then things like extensive corner wear and slouchiness (if the bag was intended to be structured) would not look appealing to me. However, when the bag is more casual, I don't mind signs of wear that much. If there is any loose stitching, splitting of seams, corner wear, etc. I try to get that addressed as soon as I can. Most of my bags are black, so it's easy to touch up piping and corners when they turn gray.

I agree, I think what bugged me the most about the Trapeze was how structured it's supposed to be, whereas my redyed PS1 just looks like a vintage school bag from the slouchyness. Also quite an interesting case with the Cabas ChYc, because from what I understand it's also supposed to be structured, but the sheepskin is just naturally saggy when compared to the stiffer textured leather.

At this point I'm very confident about redyeing bags to black, but I think it should be a super last resort kind of thing because 80% of the time I'd like to preserve as much as the original leather and finish as much as possible.