What have you learned through your handbag addiction?

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#196
1. Never say never! Now, you think that bag look silly/old/etc, another day/months/years, you will think it's the best/classiest/fabulous thing on earth and you have to have it.

2. Ebay, Bonanza, some other pre-own market site is a god-send. You can find some older style that you fall in love with, but couldn't find when it was up for sell, or just know about it after years it's been released. I score some of my treasures on those sites, especially those discontinued models.

3. Being patient pay. It may take a long time until one pop up for sale, but you will find it.

4. If it's not for you, maybe it's just not meant to be. After all, it's a bag. You will find something else to fall in love with. Get over it. Get a life! ;) (I tell myself this often. ;) )

5. Once you cross over the line, it's easier for the next time. And before you know it, "your line"'s been moved. :)

6. Negotiation is good. Even it's just with yourself or the seller. You never know it may work out fine.

7. If I'm in a relationship, I take it seriously. :P Once I fall for a brand, it look like I can only feel that brand. I only have one favorite at a time. After I'm done or have enough, I move on. I don't throw away stuff from my previous love. I keep them and use them. I just don't look back anymore.

8. Recycle is good. Modifying your bag a bit to make it fit your life style doesn't hurt. Strap extension, etc... Always make your bag look fresh and you can fall in love with it again.

9. I can't live without having my hands free! :)

This is a great thread!!! :)
 
#197
Now that I'm buying 'better' bags that don't fall apart in a few months, I'm more discriminating about what I buy (size, shape, organization) to make sure it will really work for me because I'll have it a long time.

Now that I have a few bags, I don't buy any that aren't on sale (other than LV which never goes on sale).

And I've learned that I prefer coated canvas (LV, LAMB) to leather - lighter weight and holds up to wear better.
 
#198
What a great thread!

For me:

(1) My style has definitely evolved, and I go for quality over quantity. (Although there is nothing wrong with a quantity of quality bags..) Along with my style, my spending habits have also changed. I don't have the "Oh, this is cute for $10" mentality anymore. I want to have a nice, well-rounded collection that will stand the test of time. I don't smoke, go to bars, or shop for unnecessary beauty products/clothing.
(2) I am engaged, so I am making sure I work extra hard to save up for my retirement, children, and to make up for the costs of my bags...
(3) I buy bags for MYSELF but keep what's most important in perspective.
(4) Ebay and tPF are my best friends, since I have bought most of my bags second-hand.
 
#199
What I have learned is when I find a bag I like I ask me self questions
1. Do I like it or LOVE LOVE it?
2. Do I have to have it?
3.Can I live without it?
4.Will I use it often?
This usually determines if I buy a bag.
 
#200
1. Ease of use must ***** beauty because otherwise I'm not only broke but frustrated because my bag is a pain in the ___ to use.
2. I have to have a shoulder bag with major drop because if it doesn't clear my elbow when I'm trying to sling it on, I'm going to consider it a hassle.
3. I'm totally screwed because I love the look of hobos and totes, but I'm a train wreck when it comes to organization and they all turn into large trash bags where I miss phone calls because I can't find my ringing phone. I require the shallow depth of a satchel, but long strap of a shoulder bag. Further, hobos suit my tall figure best but they're the worst for me to carry.
4. I prefer bags with no zipper and love bags with a magnetic snap closure or an open top. No flaps.
5. I always prefer Saddle, Cognac, Whiskey, Nut, Chocolate to anything black.
6. I think I'm impossible to please because I don't like bags that are too square and structured because they look geriatric old lady, but when i gravitate toward a hobo or other style bag I often wish they were more dignified and less sleazy looking.
7. I've collected lemon yellow, lime green, orange, white, black & white, black, brown, and aqua, yet I've owned only one saddle colored bag despite my love for them.
8. I used to buy lots of bags without a second thought and now I scrutinize each and every detail before i make a purchase.
9. i prefer purses to shoes yet I own way more shoes.
10. I annoy my friends that I change bags sometimes twice in a day if the outfit calls for it.
 
#201
1) Quantity does not always mean quality.
2) Patience is a virtue - far better to save up for a more expensive bag that you'll love and want to keep forever, than just to settle for the cheaper alternative.
3) There are better things in life that I should be worrying about..how can I get my hands on that limited edition piece is not exactly a life threatening dilemma! :D
 
#202
1. Quality over quantity
2. Is it really big enough to hold my stuff (if not, refrain)
3. Some bags that were my holy grail, have since gone bye-bye on ebay - so I guess my taste has changed!
 
#203
That sometimes larger bags can be really cute! I used to only buy small bags, but I've branched out a bit lately (after finding some gorgeous, larger designer bags), and I'm so happy that I did.
 
#205
ccjach said:
I've learned that selling on Ebay is almost as much fun as buying . . . . .
Click to expand...


I agree with this statement although I now use consignment shops. I enjoyed the bags I've purchased but when faced with some tough financial decisions due to loss of employment finding a new home for some wonderful bags was as fun as purchasing them!
 
#207
1. I learned that buying a designer handbag is an investment.
2. The highest I would go for a bag is 5,000. If I ADORE that bag.
3. Do not impulse buy.
4. You can have more than one bag of the same color.
5. Don`t credit buy. I`ve seen people do that, and it messed them up
6. I`m fifteen and getting a job. Hoarding now so I can save later -LOL-
 
#208
I found this thread and thought it would be fun to "resurrect," given the trend in topics I've been seeing on here. :) I've learned the following, in no particular order:
1) not to add up the amount of $ I've spent on handbags, because it will make me physically ill
2) to buy classic, good quality handbags that will last and last
3) that you DO get tired of collecting/hoarding
4) to never say never (see no. 3 above)
5) that I've been missing out on lots of other wonderful things because I've always spent my extra cash on handbags
6) that tpf is a godsend for crazy people like me :)
7) I need to save and stop pretending I'm Carrie from Sex and the City
 
#209
Thank you for reviving this thread! Love it's varied points of views and interesting lessons.

:urock:

Okay...

#1 made me laugh... because I've done it... and the "reality call" definitely made me feel ill :faint:

#2 ita... unfortunately... I've learned that this can be a "rationalization trap"... the more that we expose ourselves to quality and/or redefine quality... the more likely that we'll encounter #1, #3, #4, #5, etc... :bagslap:

#3 oh dear... I can so relate to this one... when I posted my "edit" on my blog... I could "hear" readers audibly gasping... but... I got sick of having so much

#4 yes yes yes!! Threads like "stuff you'll never buy" drive me crazy... because all the bags that I own now... used to be on my "never" list. We age... we change... why on earth wouldn't our bag habits evolve with us? :p (Not to mention... other stuff that we consume.)

#5 huge sigh of agreement

#6 :ghi5: I think more women are "crazy" like us... than not... but few want to admit it... maybe we're descended from really great gatherers of our hunter/gatherer ancestors :graucho:

#7 gosh... now it's instagram, blogs, fashion/style netzines... that parade an endless barrage of new bags, shoes, clothes, jewelry, etc.... at some point... for people not directly involved in the fashion/publicity/entertainment industry... we need to see accumulation and consumption - via those platforms - as someone's job - and not as vehicles of rationalization for us to consume more... :noggin:

CoachCruiser said:
I found this thread and thought it would be fun to "resurrect," given the trend in topics I've been seeing on here. :) I've learned the following, in no particular order:
1) not to add up the amount of $ I've spent on handbags, because it will make me physically ill
2) to buy classic, good quality handbags that will last and last
3) that you DO get tired of collecting/hoarding
4) to never say never (see no. 3 above)
5) that I've been missing out on lots of other wonderful things because I've always spent my extra cash on handbags
6) that tpf is a godsend for crazy people like me :)
7) I need to save and stop pretending I'm Carrie from Sex and the City
Click to expand...
 
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