Tired of luxury

[Pmrbfay]

Great thread! The responses have really got me thinking. I have posted these similar thoughts on other parts of the forum: for me, some of the newer styles today are too busy or complicated for me. My preference is clean simple designs. Not that the newer styles are awful, they're just not for me. Also, I found my holy grail bag last Christmas, after buying and selling many other bags that just were not "her." Once I found her, seems like my searching/shopping obsession faded. Now I try to focus on needed items only (looking for a great navy light-weight sweater/wrap currently).

I agree with many posters here: when you purchase something, especially a luxury item, you're purchasing a "feeling." And it's totally OK to look and feel great!

Thanks for letting me share.

 

[VernisCerise]

Such a great thread! Idk if I'm getting older or overwhelmed with luxury goods because of social media. My wishlist used to be endless, now I just have several pieces that I'd like to add. Quality and functionality became more important to me than quantity. What frustrates me is that high price doesn't guarantee quality. Luxury turned into mass production. Inferior goods are covered by "handmade" label, which in reality has nothing to do with bags made using sewing machines. I still enjoy using what I have, I just became more selective in how I spend my money.

 

[Sparkletastic]

I dunno. Maybe I live in a different world than most on TPF. I don't see enough luxury to get tired of it. I'm not a jet setter who lunches with queens or parties with superstars. LOL! Many times, I'm the only person in a room with a designer bag. So I don't get peer pressure one way or the other.

I can buy luxury only as the result of the significant sacrifice and effort of previous generations of my family culminating (til my children take the baton and do even more) in me leveraging the opportunities they provided to build / drive to build wealth and then buy (sorta kinda) whatever I want.

I don't come from generations of luxury buyers. I don't have friends who have enjoyed luxury items for decades. And, (other than jewelry) I've only bought luxury wardrobe items in the last 10 years or so.

So I haven't yet had the luxury of being tired of luxury.

Given that, I really enjoy the things I buy and revel in each plotting, purchase and wearing. I am learning to only buy what I need and adore. So I don't see me getting tired of my luxury items any time soon.

Side note: this being said, I completely agree with a few earlier posters who say experiences outweigh "stuff". A happily but highly disproportionate part of our disposible income goes to travel and other "moments" where we can connect, live and breathe.

So, bottom line. I love the stuff of luxury and am grateful for it. But, it's not at all the end goal for me. Looking and feeling good with the exact things that make me deliriously happy - no more / no less - as I dance through life is my true end goal.

 

[Evia]

Exactly! I spend a significant chunk of the year traveling in a truck and trailer, and my husband said "Imagine how stupid you'd look getting in and out of the trailer with a $5000 ladylike handbag!" LOL

No offense - but if a man said that to me I'd bop him on the nose!

I live a pretty casual lifestyle on the whole, but I love my handbags. I've always bought the best leather I could find and afford and still do (I never carried a plastic handbag even as a impecunious student). I love what I have. I know I'm very lucky to be in a position to spend money on the things I love but don't need. I admit some of the shopping behaviour on tpf strikes me as unhealthy, but what do I know? Each to their own. I do, however, think tpf has an over emphasis on brands, especially the famous brands, and an expensive brand doesn't necessarily guarantee a luxurious ownership experience, any more than owning something in every colour does. And so I think whats being described here in this thread is largely shopping fatigue as opposed to be being tired of luxury itself.

 

[papertiger]

No offense - but if a man said that to me I'd bop him on the nose!

I live a pretty casual lifestyle on the whole, but I love my handbags. I've always bought the best leather I could find and afford and still do (I never carried a plastic handbag even as a impecunious student). I love what I have. I know I'm very lucky to be in a position to spend money on the things I love but don't need. I admit some of the shopping behaviour on tpf strikes me as unhealthy, but what do I know? Each to their own. I do, however, think tpf has an over emphasis on brands, especially the famous brands, and an expensive brand doesn't necessarily guarantee a luxurious ownership experience, any more than owning something in every colour does. And so I think whats being described here in this thread is largely shopping fatigue as opposed to be being tired of luxury itself.

This is true, a sad reflection on contemporary society. I have 'no name' and forgotten name vintage bags that today's famous brand name bags could not even begin to compete with in terms of materials, workmanship and design features.

The term 'luxury' has generally lost all meaning anyway. I mean, when was the last time I saw a new apartment block under construction without "luxury" attached to the description? High crime area, next to a motorway, no garden or green around, built in months from pre-fab material etc, not things I would want, let alone describe as luxurious. This is why Hermes stays away from the word luxury, it's become a gauche catch-all marketing term for anything new that is the opposite of what it claims to be.

As for the buying>selling>buying>selling thing on tPF we've talked about before many times. I am happy for others to do whatever works for them but no, it wouldn't work for me.

 

[bellebellebelle19]

I dunno. Maybe I live in a different world than most on TPF. I don't see enough luxury to get tired of it. I'm not a jet setter who lunches with queens or parties with superstars. LOL! Many times, I'm the only person in a room with a designer bag. So I don't get peer pressure one way or the other.

I can buy luxury only as the result of the significant sacrifice and effort of previous generations of my family culminating (til my children take the baton and do even more) in me leveraging the opportunities they provided to build / drive to build wealth and then buy (sorta kinda) whatever I want.

I don't come from generations of luxury buyers. I don't have friends who have enjoyed luxury items for decades. And, (other than jewelry) I've only bought luxury wardrobe items in the last 10 years or so.

So I haven't yet had the luxury of being tired of luxury.

Given that, I really enjoy the things I buy and revel in each plotting, purchase and wearing. I am learning to only buy what I need and adore. So I don't see me getting tired of my luxury items any time soon.

Side note: this being said, I completely agree with a few earlier posters who say experiences outweigh "stuff". A happily but highly disproportionate part of our disposible income goes to travel and other "moments" where we can connect, live and breathe.

So, bottom line. I love the stuff of luxury and am grateful for it. But, it's not at all the end goal for me. Looking and feeling good with the exact things that make me deliriously happy - no more / no less - as I dance through life is my true end goal.

Loved this post! What you said resonates with me. I am blessed to find joy in what I have and am grateful for the fact that I can own it. I can buy a new bag once or twice a year, but for me the fun is in the chase and plan, and because it takes me so long to save I know I REALLY want what I buy. And then I remember that I'd rather be at my low-paying career I love than at a high-paying one I hate with all other luxuries in the world! And also, pursuing my dream job is the biggest luxury in itself, because my parents have worked very hard at jobs they hate to provide me with this chance!

 

[remainsilly]

No, not tired of luxury items.
Do not pin green butterflies of expectation to every purchase.
Nor yellow butterflies of fear.

I use nice things & enjoy.
Live with, repair.
Let go, eventually.
And get different things.

Ultimate goal of owning a luxury is to free self more, imo.
Not to squash into another's dictated "lifestyle."
Should be growth experience.
Is for me.

Have other interests than shopping.
Several cost nothing. Most are offline.
Balances the wheel.

On other subjects, meandering through thread:
1)Faith--
When someone says:
"God does not want me to buy such an expensive bag. With all the poor people in this world."
I stare a minute.
Then respond:
"Give me $10 for that homeless man/woman, right there. He/she looks hungry."
Silence. Nothing.
Every
single
time.
Then I open my expensive bag. And find $10 to give.

2) Instagram/twitter/youtube/etc.--
Uh, it's all fashion porn.
Most are paid per view.
To hop around wearing company freebies.
Then will resell stuff on depop/ ebay/ etc.
Calling themselves "iconic," every 6 seconds, does not make it true.
Some have good ideas.
98% spew utter crap, imo.

Hope helps.

 

[kate2828]

When someone says:
"God does not want me to buy such an expensive bag. With all the poor people in this world."
I stare a minute.
Then respond:
"Give me $10 for that homeless man/woman, right there. He/she looks hungry."
Silence. Nothing.
Every
single
time.
Then I open my expensive bag. And find $10 to give.

Sad that this has been your experience and I can say speaking from personal experience these are not the people of faith I know nor describe my reaction to someone who needs help. When I see someone who is asking for help, I always open up my wallet. I have also given up purchasing certain things I want so I can give to some of my favorite charities. However, when I compare my giving to others I know who are of my faith, I am put to shame. And it's not because they are able to afford to give more than me but because they give so much more of what they can give in comparison to me. This is something I continue to work on. Obviously there are people who don't do this and I respect that. I just wanted to point out that while some people of faith may be hypocrites, there are many others who live or strive to live an authentic life. We are only human.

Also want to add that when the question is asked about whether God wants me to spend this on something I don't actually need, this is because in my faith everything we have is God given. And because of that, we are stewards of what God has given to be used wisely and according to His will. This is just what I and many other believe and hope this gives you a better perspective of what I said above.

 

[remainsilly]

Sad that this has been your experience and I can say speaking from personal experience these are not the people of faith I know nor describe my reaction to someone who needs help. When I see someone who is asking for help, I always open up my wallet. I have also given up purchasing certain things I want so I can give to some of my favorite charities. However, when I compare my giving to others I know who are of my faith, I am put to shame. And it's not because they are able to afford to give more than me but because they give so much more of what they can give in comparison to me. This is something I continue to work on. Obviously there are people who don't do this and I respect that. I just wanted to point out that while some people of faith may be hypocrites, there are many others who live or strive to live an authentic life. We are only human.

Also want to add that when the question is asked about whether God wants me to spend this on something I don't actually need, this is because in my faith everything we have is God given. And because of that, we are stewards of what God has given to be used wisely and according to His will. This is just what I and many other believe and hope this gives you a better perspective of what I said above.

My comment was not to attack yours.
Simply to relate my personal experience on such matters.
Just as I am certain your comments do not suggest that anyone carrying an expensive handbag lacks deep faith.

 

[Annabel Lee]

I dunno. Maybe I live in a different world than most on TPF. I don't see enough luxury to get tired of it. I'm not a jet setter who lunches with queens or parties with superstars. LOL! Many times, I'm the only person in a room with a designer bag. So I don't get peer pressure one way or the other.

I can buy luxury only as the result of the significant sacrifice and effort of previous generations of my family culminating (til my children take the baton and do even more) in me leveraging the opportunities they provided to build / drive to build wealth and then buy (sorta kinda) whatever I want.

I don't come from generations of luxury buyers. I don't have friends who have enjoyed luxury items for decades. And, (other than jewelry) I've only bought luxury wardrobe items in the last 10 years or so.

So I haven't yet had the luxury of being tired of luxury.

Given that, I really enjoy the things I buy and revel in each plotting, purchase and wearing. I am learning to only buy what I need and adore. So I don't see me getting tired of my luxury items any time soon.

Side note: this being said, I completely agree with a few earlier posters who say experiences outweigh "stuff". A happily but highly disproportionate part of our disposible income goes to travel and other "moments" where we can connect, live and breathe.

So, bottom line. I love the stuff of luxury and am grateful for it. But, it's not at all the end goal for me. Looking and feeling good with the exact things that make me deliriously happy - no more / no less - as I dance through life is my true end goal.

Well said. Your posts are always so thoughtful.

I don't know that I'm accustomed to luxury--I don't see a lot of it in my day to day either, and I didn't really grow up with it. I would like to be a little more careful about my purchases, but I haven't really felt any ill effects from not being selective because I rotate my bags frequently and don't often get bored with them.

Lately, though, I feel I've been in a lot of situations where it's just not practical for me to bring my luxury bags--extended overseas travel, horrible weather in my hometown, etc.-- and I've been rotating in more lower-end bags. I miss wearing my premier designer bags, but I'm also enjoying the feeling of not worrying about them.

Since I haven't gotten to use my nicer bags as much in the past couple of months, it really feels like a treat when I do get to wear one. But between two unplanned bag purchases and realizing how useful a lot of my lower-end bags are, I'm just feeling like my closet is too full.

 

[guccidame]

I decided to start my luxury bag collection-beginning with a Saint Laurent Sac Universitie bag. 5 more bag purchases later I was already feeling a bit burned out and I don't even consider myself "hardcore" at all (yet). Looking at luxury bags on the internet and watching bag reviews and unboxings on youtube kept enabling my lust for luxury bags but at the same time I felt kinda sick of it and being like "gaaaah!! what am I doing with my life?"

 

[lovebeigeandblack]

Great thread! And I'm in the exact same boat. Finally, I'm at a place in my life that I can afford what I've always considered my "holy grail" - a H Kelly. But the more I thought about it, the more I thought "why do I want to part with $10K for a used bag?". It really got me thinking about why I was coveting something considered luxury. What was I hoping to achieve? What did it say about me as a person...did it fit with who I am? Was I shopping for my imagined life or my real life? Then the desire for it all just...waned. I don't know if it's gone for good but it's gone for now.

Mind you, I still want nice things. So lately my thing has been supporting start-ups and new companies. Ordered two bags from Mon Purse that will be unique and "me", and a Kickstarter campaign for comfortable heels (and getting rid of all my uncomfortable brand name heels that I can't wear anymore!)

Same here: now that I can afford really expensive things, I'm at a place where it makes no sense to spend that much money on them. I don't have a burning desire for most of these 'status' items anymore. Like another poster said, I have begun to really cherish experiences like travel, or dining, taking all kinds of classes - those types of things are so much more rewarding, they enrich my life in a way that no handbag can.

 

[Mariapia]

I watched a TV programme last night...
It was about prestigious brands and their image.
They explained that though their products are supposed to never go on sale.... they do!
There are dates and places for the happy few..
A gentleman showed us his walk in closet. It was full of high end coats, shirts and shoes he had bought from the secret sales...
A pair of sneakers... Retail price €612 Sale price....61!
A pair of boots... Retail €800, Sale price €320
A leather coat... Retail € 10150 . Sale price €1010 ... and so on.
Now, you will ask " what does the brand do with the items they didn't sell during the sale?"
Well.... they destroy them !
They don't want their prestigious items to be found in "outlets"...

 

[Purseloco]

Exactly! I spend a significant chunk of the year traveling in a truck and trailer, and my husband said "Imagine how stupid you'd look getting in and out of the trailer with a $5000 ladylike handbag!" LOL

I would say your right dear and then I would buy a $10,000 bag. He wouldn't say anything next time. Hello Holy Grail!

 

[tarana6]

I have to be completely honest im a bit tired of luxury myself and I just started collecting! Ive just come to a realization that unless you own your own business, Don't work or work downtown in a big city etc most luxury items are just not practical for everyday life.

I'm planning on selling a few of my bags and just keeping the ones I use for special/formal occasions since those are the situations I use luxury handbags for the most (vacations and going out for dinner)