Tired of luxury

[kate2828]

I think it's sagacity about what I have and what I really need and what I really can do without. I like my bags and jewelry but I think I've gotten to a point where I can also go without because there are more important things in life.

Also some of it does have to do with how nothing is catching my eye at the moment and things I've tried or bought in the past have not been fully satisfying. I just don't feel like spending more to be not completed happy again.

It's funny because in the moment I'm happy but then when I try it out I find it's not really me or I should have gotten a different color or style. And this is even after I've done research!

Case in point: I have a jumbo Chanel in black caviar with gold hardware. I thought I could really use this bag so I bought it. I went through a phase a year later of this bag really does not fit my totes and jeans lifestyle. It's also really big and heavy. (And yes I had read all the warnings) Now, I think it's ok but am not head over heels with it. I'm not crazy about flap bags and this bag is just too formal for me and I would never take it to a special evening function because it's too big!

I also in the past bought a Cartier love cuff. I thought I had gotten the right style and size and was madly in love with it until this summer when it suddenly became too tight with the weather. Now I want to buy another one but in the full bangle in a different size but wonder do I REALLY want this? Will I just be annoyed again because I have to wear it 24-7? Will this be a distraction at my very conservative workplace where many senior attorneys are making more than me and don't wear such things and I'm only mid-career? Do I really want to spend over 6500 on just a gold bangle where I'm basically paying for a name brand. Has the love become basic? This is fine of course but I tend to like to buy things that a bit unique.

Yes all first world problems. Sigh. Lol.

 

[Mariapia]

What is luxury? To a lady who can't afford a €200 bag ( a lot of money for most women in my country and a fortune for most ladies around the world) every item around that price is considered as pure luxury.
Some Hermès lovers even think that Vuitton cannot be considered as a luxury brand.
It all depends on our background and the amount of money we are ready to spend but not only....
A prestigious brand is associated with high prices and social status.
There are very expensive bags no one has ever heard about.
Why don't they sell as much as their competitors?
Is it because no one will be able to identify them?
An SA told me if there was no logo on their bags.. he wouldn't sell any,
I love all brands, whether premier, contemporary or independent.
I get as much satisfaction from carrying my Gérard Darel as from wearing a Balenciaga.
I consider myself lucky to be able to buy a genuine nylon LP when some friends of mine in another part of the world buy theirs at the local market for $5.

 

[Fimpagebag]

I think it's sagacity about what I have and what I really need and what I really can do without. I like my bags and jewelry but I think I've gotten to a point where I can also go without because there are more important things in life.

Also some of it does have to do with how nothing is catching my eye at the moment and things I've tried or bought in the past have not been fully satisfying. I just don't feel like spending more to be not completed happy again.

It's funny because in the moment I'm happy but then when I try it out I find it's not really me or I should have gotten a different color or style. And this is even after I've done research!

Case in point: I have a jumbo Chanel in black caviar with gold hardware. I thought I could really use this bag so I bought it. I went through a phase a year later of this bag really does not fit my totes and jeans lifestyle. It's also really big and heavy. (And yes I had read all the warnings) Now, I think it's ok but am not head over heels with it. I'm not crazy about flap bags and this bag is just too formal for me and I would never take it to a special evening function because it's too big!

I also in the past bought a Cartier love cuff. I thought I had gotten the right style and size and was madly in love with it until this summer when it suddenly became too tight with the weather. Now I want to buy another one but in the full bangle in a different size but wonder do I REALLY want this? Will I just be annoyed again because I have to wear it 24-7? Will this be a distraction at my very conservative workplace where many senior attorneys are making more than me and don't wear such things and I'm only mid-career? Do I really want to spend over 6500 on just a gold bangle where I'm basically paying for a name brand. Has the love become basic? This is fine of course but I tend to like to buy things that a bit unique.

Yes all first world problems. Sigh. Lol.

It's always a pleasure to read as thoughtful a post as yours, Kate2828. Often our possessions are like looking through an old photo album. They tell us where we've been and, more importantly, where we are now.

Ultimately, I think we tend to be too hard on ourselves when it comes to change. We obviously accept that every day is different weather wise. So why shouldn't we embrace the same philosophy when it comes to our ever evolving style?

 

[kate2828]

What is luxury? To a lady who can't afford a €200 bag ( a lot of money for most women in my country and a fortune for most ladies around the world) every item around that price is considered as pure luxury.
Some Hermès lovers even think that Vuitton cannot be considered as a luxury brand.
It all depends on our background and the amount of money we are ready to spend but not only....
A prestigious brand is associated with high prices and social status.
There are very expensive bags no one has ever heard about.
Why don't they sell as much as their competitors?
Is it because no one will be able to identify them?
An SA told me if there was no logo on their bags.. he wouldn't sell any,
I love all brands, whether premier, contemporary or independent.
I get as much satisfaction from carrying my Gérard Darel as from wearing a Balenciaga.
I consider myself lucky to be able to buy a genuine nylon LP when some friends of mine in another part of the world buy theirs at the local market for $5.

I agree that I also am happy to wear my nylon longchamp or jcrew crossbody just as I am wearing something from H. I think most people would define luxury as referring to certain brands but for me it's pretty much anything that is nonessential. So my jcrew crossbody I bought on sale? That'd be a luxury because I didn't really need it but it was just so cute!

 

[kate2828]

It's always a pleasure to read as thoughtful a post as yours, Kate2828. Often our possessions are like looking through an old photo album. They tell us where we've been and, more importantly, where we are now.

Ultimately, I think we tend to be too hard on ourselves when it comes to change. We obviously accept that every day is different weather wise. So why shouldn't we embrace the same philosophy when it comes to our ever evolving style?

This is so true! My likes and dislikes have certainly evolved through my twenties and thirties. Where I previously didn't mind carrying bags with logos, now I shy away from them because I like to be more low key. Thank you for kind words .

 

[Mariapia]

I agree that I also am happy to wear my nylon longchamp or jcrew crossbody just as I am wearing something from H. I think most people would define luxury as referring to certain brands but for me it's pretty much anything that is nonessential. So my jcrew crossbody I bought on sale? That'd be a luxury because I didn't really need it but it was just so cute!

Nonessential=luxury
I couldn't have said it better, Kate!

 

[Amazona]

I'm not into luxury just for the sake of it being luxury. I love good quality and certain styles; just so happens, the things I need are usually offered by mid priced luxury brands.
Sometimes I skip visiting tPB and tPF for even weeks at a time, because I get tired of the luxury that's everywhere. I do like the look of certain luxury items, but others - well, let's just say I think I've seen enough Chanel 2.55 and Boy to last me a lifetime...I get tired of seeing the same thing over and over again, and I often want to carry a no brand bag just because. And the just because here is often that I'm just so tired of luxury and want something worry free and easy.

 

[Mariapia]

TPF is a microcosm... Most high end brands we see here we never see in the streets. At least in mine..

 

[kate2828]

I'm not into luxury just for the sake of it being luxury. I love good quality and certain styles; just so happens, the things I need are usually offered by mid priced luxury brands.
Sometimes I skip visiting tPB and tPF for even weeks at a time, because I get tired of the luxury that's everywhere. I do like the look of certain luxury items, but others - well, let's just say I think I've seen enough Chanel 2.55 and Boy to last me a lifetime...I get tired of seeing the same thing over and over again, and I often want to carry a no brand bag just because. And the just because here is often that I'm just so tired of luxury and want something worry free and easy.

This is so true about getting tired of seeing the same thing over and over on tpf. I too have seen enough boy and classic flap bags to last me a lifetime along with clic clacs, the Gucci tee, marmonts, loves, bs and ks and even cdcs in the lizard color lol. I even see so many of these on insta. This is precisely why I recently bought my jcrew cross body. No logos and also worry free! I don't have worry about it getting wet or color transfer or my dog chewing on it. Ha! I also don't see these very much in person where I live. I can bet that warren buffet would never spend his money on these types of items (of course the male version!) I also read recently that bogle who founded vanguard has only once in his life paid for first class. Explains why men like Buffett and bogle are so wealthy!

 

[Antonia]

I am loving all the comments on this thread! keep them coming!!

 

[octopus17]

I've enough bags now to cover all eventualities and I like some more than others. Lately I've been a very lazy switcher - if the bag I'm using at the time serves me well, it'll be used for a good few months. So I feel as if I don't need anything else - I almost have to force myself to change bags. Maybe it's because I'm not a seller and have a reasonable amount of bags already, I don't know...
Also, and this must play a large part as well, have you seen the price of a lot of bags recently?! Absolutely outrageous imo and how come some non-leather bags are the same price as leather ones? Anyway, I'm sure that's an issue for another day!

 

[Jaime]

... Because non leather can be good quality too or made by a designer and for most bags you are paying a premium for the name. What it's made of doesn't make the bag for me. The look draws me in first, then the quality, then I will check reviews from people who have it, on tpf for example, then I decide to buy or not.
Doesn't matter to me what it's made of.

 

[kate2828]

I've enough bags now to cover all eventualities and I like some more than others. Lately I've been a very lazy switcher - if the bag I'm using at the time serves me well, it'll be used for a good few months. So I feel as if I don't need anything else - I almost have to force myself to change bags. Maybe it's because I'm not a seller and have a reasonable amount of bags already, I don't know...
Also, and this must play a large part as well, have you seen the price of a lot of bags recently?! Absolutely outrageous imo and how come some non-leather bags are the same price as leather ones? Anyway, I'm sure that's an issue for another day!

The prices have been really high IMO for a while and some of these bags aren't holding up to what the companies are charging which is sad. Prices are also really high for shoes. I have a really hard time with shoes because of high arches and I have bought a number of pairs which seemed ok in the store but after wearing them a few times are actually not comfortable. Sadly I cannot wear the chanel ballerina flats of espadrilles. Both are so ouchy! There are so many cute shoes also from Gucci but do I want to pay 1000 for embellished mules? Hmmm not really especially if I wind up not being able to wear them! [emoji38]

 

[lenarmc]

I had some bags on my wishlist-a Balenciaga First, a Chanel, a Dior Saddle Bag, and an Hermes Lindy or Jypsiere.
I have everything except the Hermes for obvious reasons (price). I have some stuff on my wishlist on TheRealReal but haven't pulled the trigger.

To be honest the couple of bags that I bought were from Michael Kors, Rebecca Minkoff, and Marc Jacobs. Their designs were cooler than any of the luxury brands.

 

[Emily1830]

This is an interesting thread. I have gone through some phases but mostly I am too crazed about luxury things. Right now I am obsessing over a gray My Lady Dior, a Cartier love, and VCA clovers. Sigh.

In truth though I am the type of person to one day be all decked out in designer goods (and at work I am known for being stylish) and the next day I am very plain and even frumpy. Seriously. I live in NYC and once I saw Nina Garcia (famous fashion magazine editor and TV personality) look totally unfashionable. I was shocked but then realized she's just like everyone else. Sometimes we don't want to care how we look.

I agree with you on the price of designer things. I added up all the items on my current wishlist and it totaled $30k [emoji15]. Crazy.