Time-tested: best and worse luxury bag after long usage/test period - what are yours and why?

[fettfleck]

Dear fellow baglovers. I thought it might be interesting to know your favorite luxury bag you learn to love to use over time and why.

I don‘t mean your favorite style, because sometimes you love a bag, but it is just inconvenient to use (e.g. like my holy grail LV Murakami Blossom Retro bag).

Which one is your favorite to use and why (was it anticipated or a surprise) and which one has disappointed you after starting to use it and why.

Excited to hear your stories!

 

[fettfleck]

I will start with mine (2023).

My favorite bag is currently the medium Loewe Puzzle in sand (Original cut).
It was actually an impulse buy because I read the original design might be retired and I wanted a medium Puzzle as my small ones are pretty but to small that I would use them. Have them mainly because they were limited edition Ghibli collab and I am a big Ghibli fan.

I always thought sand and Puzzle is superboring. But actually it turns out sand is a superclassy, gorgeous and versatile color. Pictures just doesn’t do it justice.
The puzzle has such durable yet beautiful leather and it fits most of my essentials and I have been using it as much as I can since I bought it sometime in April! More than any bag before after I bought it. And still can’t get enough.
Such a surprise turnout! Never would have thought I would love to use it so much.

Why I love it: soft, durable leather, carefree, always chic, big enough for daily necessities AND travel (I am a medium bag girl). Everything just well made: no scratchy zipper or sensitive leather.

 

[fettfleck]

My most disappointing bags of the past year:

1. LV Keepall 35. Not proportional larger between Keepall 45 and Speedy 30. Less height and width and therefore not much more spacious than a Speedy 30 as one would expect. So disappointing. It has the benefit of the larger opening, so still useful as a daily work bag, but definitely to small as a overnight bag, if you want to take more than a change of clothes. E.g. will get tight, when you need cosmetics bag, a book, tablet or else.

2. Polene Cyme regular size: what a useless bag. Looks pretty, leather is okish and sturdy, so nothing you need to baby, which is great. But being a tote and due to the rounded bottom, everything will circle around in the bag like in a washing mashine. Totally unusable, if you carry rectangular things like books, tablets or similar, they won‘t stay at one place. This taught me to stay away from medium bag brands which are hyped. Better get what you know works for you.

 

[1LV]

The bags I don’t love pretty quickly have a short shelf life in my closet. The one I thought I’d love forever but let go pretty soon was the beautiful medium Chanel CF. The inside flap was a pain, the chain straps dug into my shoulders, and it turned out I needed more room than I thought. A bag I liked from the onset has been my damier ebene Neverfull PM. I’ve used it to death! Deceptively spacious, all-weather and tough as nails.

ETA Love this thread, btw. Thanks for starting it.

 

[muchstuff]

I had a brief affair wth pre-loved Chanel bags (none of the structured styles) and resold most of them, either I didn't like the leather or the style just wasn't comfortable. I do have two I've kept.
My Celine Phantom Cabas bags have stood the test of time. Lovely to look at, they hold a lot, and are easy to carry. I wasn't sure I was a tote gal when I bought my first one, but am a total fan. Various older Balenciaga and BV styles as well.

 

[papertiger]

One of favourite luxury bags is Gucci's Bamboo Top-handle. I have had one for over a decade, and now I have 4 (2 Large - 36 and 2 Med 27) all basically neutrals. I bought my first 2010 and my most recent 2022. I can't narrow down to just one because I always think I love the one I'm carrying best whenever I take each out. A good sign.

Aesthetically: They are really works of art(isans). It captures being lady-like but not a fussy, overly delicate nor flirty. Quirky and powerful. No logo. Statement quiet luxury.
Usage: Everything stays where put. I suppose it's a bit like carrying a little basket. Not too heavy and very strong - but they can't be over-filled.
Versatility: I have taken them to work many times, but best for a nice day out or the Med for a casual evening - even cocktails or events.
Trend: Surpasses trends. Every lux store I go in SAs compliment the bag, Hermes SAs always to know more.

I suppose the one that is most 'difficult' is my now ancient all-black Chole Paddington. I still love the look, it took me long enough to save up for 'back in the day' but it's heavy even without the lock and I hate not carrying the lock coz I think "What's the point?". Another one would be a brass-studded Sonia Rykiel. It's not a typical Domino (I have one of those too and love it) but it's basically a paperweight, I don't know why I never considered the weight of bags years ago. I keep it because it would fetch nothing and actually it's quite a fashionable look/size/shape.

 

[Tanja]

My most loved bags are the Celine nano luggage in souris because it fits all my essentials and a water bottle and the pochette metis in nacre and my B30 in gris meyer togo. Easy grab and go bags.
My biggest love has also the biggest pet peeve: my Kelly 28 in rose poupre retourne togo. Loooove the colour and that's why I put up with the fussy closure. The closure really bugs me as its hard to close with the lock and the two sangles. I will keep her forever however will probably super annoyed every time I wear it.

 

[fettfleck]

I totally get the tote love! Not so pretty shape, but always a very useful bag. That is my Damier ebene Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM, never liked it much, but still one of the bags I used most often in the past 13 years I have had it…

@papertiger I have a similar pieces like your Chloe Paddington from about the similar time: the Marc Jacobs Stam bag. I love that bag, but it‘s hardware is just so heavy! I remember a few years later he made the chain lighter. Back then however it did not bother me, but perhaps I was just younger and stronger back then.
It‘s like @Tanja with her Kelly. Actually also probably also counts for relationships : If you love it you will put up with it.

 

[ghoulish]

My personal favorite is the Givenchy Pandora, specifically in the Medium size. It's comfortable to wear both on the shoulder and crossbody and can fit a ton. I can toss it around carefree and it looks just as good as the day I got it. The leather is hearty and wonderfully slouchy, I love how well it molds against my body and just seems effortlessly cool.

As much as I love the design of the Prada Nylon backpack, I just can't get past all of the various closures (drawstring, snaps & belt-like buckles). I prefer the ease of a plain zipper. I love how the nylon wears and its durability is unmatched, but the closures are just too fussy for me.

 

[janetaz]

My bags that have held up the best are my canvas LV bags, especially my 2 NFs that are constantly used and abused during travel. They’ve been filled to capacity, shoved under plane seats and in overheads, rained on etc. they are both about 9 years old and show no wear except patina on the mono version. I’m really impressed with them. Same goes for my 2 speedys.
My other bags, some lux and some contemporary are rotated enough that they don’t show any wear.
Most disappointing was a canvas and leather Gucci that wore badly. The strap came apart and the leather color wore off in many places. I haven’t bought Gucci since. I asked our Gucci boutique if they did repairs and they said nope. I donated the bag.

 

[MillStream]

Another Loewe Puzzle Bag lover here. The quality is extraordinary and well beyond its price point. I've tucked my Puzzle Minis away until spring, or warm climate vacation this winter, and am using my Black Small Puzzle (original, not edge) and kicking myself for not snapping up another Small original in Pearl Grey. This clever design is light weight, chic, works both handheld or crossbody and is the reason my other designer bags are languishing in the closet.

 

[stacy_natalie]

A bag that really grew on me was the YSL icare. SA and store manager called me to tell me they had 1 and that I needed it back when they were hard to come by last year. I never even took it out of the box and it just sat in the shopping bag in the corner of my room forever. Once i finally started using it, it became a go to bag and I have even used it for traveling on overnight/ weekends trips without even needing a carryon or other luggage. When I use it with less i just put smaller items into various pouches so they don't get lost in this oversized bag. Anytime i have worn it to a high end mall, I get tons of compliments from SA in other stores and customers alike. At first I thought the size was ridiculous especially bc I am petite but it doesn't bother me at all. I like that the strap is on the wider side (compared to LV On the Go or Neverfull), and the quilted leather is soft and luxe.

Biggest disappointment is probably the Givenchy Antigona mini. I bought this in bright pink to match a pair of sharklock boots I still haven't worn and only used bag once very briefly. The structure is so stiff, I found it really hard to get in and out of. At the risk of sounding dramatic, it was almost painful to try to cram hand in between the zipper opening that had basically no "give". Pretty bag but super annoying in my opinion.

 

[stacy_natalie]

Thought of another one that was disappointing. I saw the YSL Grace suede fringe bag in turquoise color in St. Barths last summer and had to have it. A friend of mine saw mine and wanted it in the light tan color so I tracked one down for her. I thought i was being nice but she decided she didn't love it so I got stuck with that one too, which I didn't mind bc I secretly fell in love with it when it arrived. Problem is, these bags are super annoying to use bc the fringe always gets tangled, especially in the chain handle and the small logo "charm". Cute bags but using them is frustrating as constantly having to try to untangle the fringe.

 

[Christofle]

My bespoke Himalayan croc tote is my favourite. It has a slot for a card case, a slot for my travel atomizer and a few extra pockets inside. It is wonderfully understated as there's no branding, it isn't heavy at all, and the handle drop is perfect for wearing in the crook of the arm. (Close second would be my ostrich Delvaux but it is just a bit too small)

Biggest disappointment might be my D&G briefcase that I got a long time ago. It is wonderfully made but is far far far too heavy and I nearly always opt for something else instead. Even empty it feels like an unwanted workout.

 

[earthygirl]

Favorites to use:
mini bag- loewe mini flamenco
small bag-loewe small puzzle
med/large bag-goyard St. Louis tote pm size

least fave: goyard mini Anjou. I pined for this bag and it’s definitely cute, but I prefer a tote that can hold a bit more. Thinking about selling it, but will give it some time