What is your designer bag history/development?

TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others

#31
Ohh. This should be fun!

My first was a Banana Republic hobo when I was 26-27?

Next came a few...like 4-5 MattandNat bags (phase)

Then I took my first trip to Vegas in 2008 and really wanted a Coach bag, but found I really didn't like any of the styles at the outlet. So I bought a sad looking Michael Kors instead. It stayed with me for about a year.

LV Neverfull in Mono/Eugenie Wallet from HR

Gucci Interlocking G D-Ring Hobo/Interlocking G Zip Around from HR

LV Eva Clutch in Damier from Banff boutique (now closed)

LV Zippy Coin Purse in Damier from Vegas (to match the Eva clutch)

Prada Cervo Visone Tu/Prada Gaufre Nappa Leather Wallet from Vegas

Gucci Small Messenger/Gucci Trademark Flap French Wallet from Vegas

Burberry Medium Haymarket Check Belted Hobo/Burberry Haymarket Check Continential Wallet from Calgary

In between my premier designers I got two more Michael Kors bags and a Tory Burch

I love each and every one of them! It's hard to choose which to wear and what to buy next!!!

Happy Shopping :)
 
#32
My first was a Nine West in my final year of study. I had been eyeing the bag and constantly went back to the store to try it on. At the time, it was sooo expensive (40 pounds in the UK) to me, as I normally just wear H&M and Primark. The most expensive I had was from Accessorize.

Then three months later, I got a red Tula bag which I used for a year, sort of my first work bag.

Then I never use H&M again. Ever since my Tula, I had a Radley, Harrods, my first Anya Hindmarch, Cole Haan, my second Anya Hindmarch (Meave), Kate Spade, Coach, Coach and more Coach. It is more of the transition from UK to US brands I suppose, cos I moved. :) Still loving Anya Hindmarch.

I am now wishing for a Ferragamo.
 
#33
Let's say that with time I am preferring quality over quantity.
From no name, to a few italian designers' bags and Chloé, I started a love affair with Balenciaga and started collecting (very dangerous habit) a few years ago.
Now I own a few bags: my fave Balenciaga, a few Hermés, a vintage speedy in vachetta and a few clutches.
I am still tempted by other designs (mulberry, other bbags, lanvin, celine), but I'd like to keep having a tiny family of classic bags...anyway I'm going to check valextra bags and...I'm missing my BV :thinkin:
Oh choices!!
 
#34
well, i'm just a newbie to the bag addiction, and i'm only 23 and i don't live in the us, so i guess i have a long road ahead of me:D also because there are not much official brand stores in my country.

but to start, i didn't use to be so much into fashion and style until 2 years ago. I used to have no name handbags, until i was 21. i only owned like 3 bags before i was 21. each cost around 20$. after that i bought my very first nicer bag, which was a sisley ( don't know if you know this french brand), i bought it for around 70$. then few months later, i purchased a united colors of benetton bag, for 90$. followed by a Zara stachel, for 100$. I got another Zara bag then for around 120$ and then I got a fabric adolfo dominguez (spanish desginer) for around 140$. I was so much into buying my very first designer bag, i couldn't decide between Kate spade/coach/ Micheal Kors/Marc By Marc jacobs, but then when i was on a trip abroad, i saw a coral MBMJ baby groovee and fell in love with it. and I managed to purchase my very first designer handbag and i love it. but I think i'll get more bags in the future (maybe when i'm older) :D
 
#35
I love this thread! My obsession started pretty early. It came from being influenced by suburban mothers and my well-off classmates..

2002: In 8th grade I got my first Coach bag for Christmas and still have it because of all the memories that surround it.

2002 to 2007: I accumulated a total of 7 Coach bags for Christmas, birthdays and saved up babysitting money

2007: Bought my first non-coach bag, Longchamp nylon tote, which has been given away

2008: First Marc by Marc Jacobs bag for Christmas

2009-2010: Assortment of MK, TB, Longchamp, Burberry

2011: Purchased first LV

2012: First BV


I have gone in a pretty logical order of price and from "contemporary" to "premier". I don't tend to stick to one brand because my tastes are always changing. Right now BV is perfect for me. In a year, who knows!
 
#36
Loved bags but had no money and. My parents don't have the habit of gifting. Not even on birthdays.

My first was a green Ralph Lauren bag in my teens.

Then early 20s rolled along and my next was a gucci bamboo handle bag I bought with my first paycheck.

A chanel woc in my late 20s

A speedy 30 multicolor at 30 but it's so not me I promptly sold it after 3weeks

Fendi spy in dark brown when it first came out; I was about 33

Between 33 and 38 gerard darel bags served me well.

At age 38 I bought two lindy bags and subsequently went nuts over Hermes

Bought, used and sold several bags since then and am happy now with my bolides and trims and one black birkin that's my workhorse.
 
#37
I am into western (USA), hippie bags.
I started with Brighton and some no-name all leather hobo fringe bags, which I still use today.
I have moved on from Brighton, but kept some jewelry pieces.

I didn't get bitten by the designer bug until last year! Since then, I have purchased 5 LV's to add to my collection.
Three of them are pre-loved LE pieces. I like the unique-ness of a LE bag. I also have a Linea Pelle (with FRiNGE, of course).

Mostly my heart still lies with the smaller designers of western-style bags.
I am on the fence with Chanel. I would like a purple/Lavender one, but I'm still wondering if I am a "classic" purse type of girl.
 
#38
BgaHolic said:
I started off way way back with Coach & Dooney & Bourke. Then I would buy an original find in a street fair in NYC. Years later, when middle age approached, my niece suggested I buy one high end bag and wear it all the time. So,... after YSL, Gucci and Bottega Veneta I can almost say I'm done. Not quite. I think I am rotating back to a new Coach Legacy. I just want to add, I only buy leather bags. I just love them!
Click to expand...

@BgaHolic... I just had to say your shih tzu is adorable! I LOVEEE shih tzus (mine is in my picture) he's sitting beside me right now. Your picture is too adorable for words!

Now back to the discussion!
 
#39
I always loved bags... I think my love started I was in high school (owned a lot of Guess bags). Then university I worked in a very upscale part of Toronto (Yorkville) and all day long I would see the most beautiful bags from our guests/clients. On my lunch hour I would go into Holt Renfrew, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel etc and browse/drool at the bags/shoes etc. I was a poor student though at the time making $10 an hour! I bought my first "designer" bag around that time (Coach) this was 2007 or so. By the end of 2008 I was almost done school and now working full time going to school part time and bought myself my first LV bag- "Speedy 30 in Mono" ahhh remember that day VERY well! I must point out I have also loved Gucci just as much as I'm Italian and growing up "gucci" was THE designer among my family- to this day my Mom doesn't get the appeal of LV... Gucci yes- LV not so much... she doesn't even think Chanel is worth it (but Fendi, Prada, Gucci YES!) LOL Anyways I made a point of going to purchase it at the very store where I had stopped by so many times as a poor student and said "one day". In 2008 I also purchased a Gucci bag. By 2009 I had bought a LV Neverfull MM Damier, LV Speedy Azur and I think I bought a Damier Pochette too. I also bought sometime in 2009 another Gucci bag. Since then I have also purchased lots more Gucci, MBMJ, more LV andddddddddd *dun* *dun* *dun* a CHANEL GST IN SHW this past May in Paris:love:

Basically it went for me Coach > Gucci / LV > MBMJ > Chanel
 
#40
I am brand new to TPF and this thread looked like a great place to start. I still don't know how I stumbled on to this website, but I have been hooked for the last 24 hours or so just cruising around eye balling everyone's fabulous bags, reading the threads, etc. My husband thinks I already have a HB problem, but I am a mere amateur here. I look forward to making the move to pro.

My love of bags started in the 8th or 9th grade. For Christmas I wanted an Etienne Ainger burgundy shoulder bag (I can't find the name, but it was the ONLY bag to carry), but got the burgundy leather Bermuda (with the wood handles) instead. I remember being crushed that I didn't get the one I wanted and having a bag that was "different" than the IT bag of the early 1980's. Had I known then how much now I enjoy carrying a bag that is different from what everyone else is carrying I would have never gotten rid of it when I was a silly teen. Thanks to this website, I am now trolling eBay looking for a replacement...

After that I couldn't afford designer bags until I was deep into my 30's, so I did all my HB shopping at Ross and TJ Maxx type stores. I remember the first bag I ever spent $100 on. It was an orange suede Nordstrom label bag that I still have. I was in my late 20's or early 30's. It was the most money I had ever spent on a purse. I still love that bag for the fall. After that I was hooked. My first real designer label bag was a Kenneth Cole black leather hobo with silver hardware that I bought in Las Vegas. It looked so Rock 'n Roll. And, I won it in a bet with my husband. I don't remember what we were betting on, but I won and I still love that bag.

After the KC I bought a beautiful tan leather Banana Republic tote. Then my first LV off of eBay. It was a vintage Noe that I literally wore out. I called it my gateway bag. I finally sold it at a consignment store after I had gotten two other LV bags (Batignolles Horizontal as a Christmas present and a Stressa PM I bought at the Paris LV mothership). I now also have several wallets and other small LV accessories. All but one in monogram. I have yet to really branch out.

One of my absolute, all-time favorite handbag designers is Lockheart. I have four of their bags and I love every one. Two were anniversary presents. And the other two were because I just couldn't stop thinking about them.

I have other bags, of course. Most of which are mid-priced, every day bags. I love them all. I love that most of my bags have a story. I always think about the history of each bag when I pull them out of their dust bags. My handbags are my version scrapbooking. Now, I keep the bags I love no matter the price point and I rarely get rid of one, unless is was super trendy or a cheap impulse buy.

I can tell this website is going to be dangerous....I can't wait to start posting pictures of my favorite bags (after I figure out how get them small enough...I mentioned my amateur status at the start) and finding new loves and memories. Sorry for the length of my first post, but I am just so damn excited to find people who actually want to talk about handbags! (Insert giddy giggle here.)
 
#41
In high school, college and medical school I bought cheaper bags like Tommy Hilfiger, DKNY, etc. In Residency I moved on to leather bags, which ranged from no-name to Coach. When I finished all of my training and had more disposable income I moved on to Premier Designers (LV, Gucci, Chanel, etc). Now I tend to buy a mix of Premier and Contemporary Designers. I won't buy a no-name bag simply because I don't know how it will hold up (I'd rather buy bags that are proven to be good quality, instead of taking a chance and being ticked off about wasting money--of course, those no name bags may be great quality...just not worth the risk to me).
 
#43
I wasn't too into handbags as a teenager but my timeline goes:
- early 20's bought Guess / Tommy Hilfiger
- mid 20's started with Dooney & Bourke then progressed to Coach
- late 20's Michael Kors and Marc Jacobs
- early 30's Gucci, Burberry, Louis Vuitton

It took me awhile to get the courage to buy a LV because I thought that it would be something that I would regret (cuz of the price), but I gotta say that I totally love it and can't wait to get another one LOL. My next target is definitely a Prada bag though, hope I can get it by Christmas.
 
#44
I got my first - a teeny tiny Chanel - while in Paris for Grad. Bought a couple of more over a few years (Dior, Chloe, LV) then went 3 years without buying any. Hit my stride again last Summer with my first Bal and some Contemporary stuff.

My current obsession seems to be Alexander Wang. I got my Granite recently; a Fumo wallet & bought a Tangerine Rocco back in March. Still not sure if I should pull the trigger on a Black/SH though...
 
#45
Definitely no-name cheapies from Wal-Mart, Maurices, wherever. I still buy a store brand bag once in awhile when I like the look. The brands I like are still fairly low to mid-price designers, contemporary. Faves are Coach, Dooney & Bourke, Rebecca Minkoff. My lust is for a Mulberry, but its way out of my price range for the foreseeable future.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top