When cheap and cheerful is the only way to go.

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Narnanz

Narnanz

Instagram tania_r_k
Jun 24, 2018
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#1
I love bags...always have...cant really remember when I started loving bags...cant remember my first either.
Althought I love bags...my bank balance doesnt allow me to buy the bags I really want. My most expensive bag is Coach mini Siena at $300 nz...and that stretched me to buy.
So its going for the much cheaper bags non-designer that I mainly look for. Ive been lucky and found a few oppshopping/thrifting but nothing like those lucky people who have found Chanel , Prada , Miu Miu while out thrifting.
These bags become work horses...use and abuse them and they still look great.
So what are your cheap non designer bags that you still love and use.
The photo below is of a brand called Madi Claire..got it for less than $50 ...a great tote..lots of room...and tough.
She is now being passed on to a work mate as I havent used her for a while...but I will miss her.
I have other cheap work horses in my collection.
So what do you have?
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#2
I love buying cheaper bags. For the same functionality and quality (similar look) I definitely choose cheaper one, I don't care about the brand.
I found out Coach bags are very good quality and reasonable priced especially on 50% off semi-annual sale. Same as some Tory Burch bags.
My work horse is a Tory Burch Tote bag, similar to this one.
https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/tory-burch-mcgraw-leather-laptop-tote/5171159?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home/All Results&color=royal navy

I bought it on sale about $200. I've been using it for almost 2 years, at least 5 days a week. including 2 long travel (1month travel to Costa Rica and 1.5month travel to China) , 1 short travel (2 weeks to Seattle and Vancouver). It still holds up like new.

My house income does allow me to afford handbag bag at any price range if I really want, but I haven't bought any Premier design handbags, I can spend $50K to a investment property paydown per year, but I won't buy a 5K bag. I found many of contemporary brands offer similar bag at much cheaper price range. some are even better material and quality, they makes me as happy (or even happier) as owning a expensive bag.

For example, I chose my Tory Burch Tote over LV neverfull, as they serve the same purpose while Tory Burch is cheaper and all leather bag, vs LV neverful is coated canvas and screaming loudly of the brand which I don't love about.

I would say buy whatever makes you happy. And of course, if more expensive bags makes you happier, just go for it.
 
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#4
Over many years, I found several Vera Bradley bags and different styles of Tignanello ( a wonderfull, underrated brand imo) for $20 or less in very good condition at local thrift shops. When they started to show wear after heavy rotation, I would simply donate them to GW. I also bought several Lilly Bloom nylon bags from discount stores (ie Marshall’s). All have been since donated away. I have and use now, mostly vintage, almost all pre-owned Coach. I gravitate toward vintage Coach because the 30 year oldish leather on my bags lends itself to reconditioning and use as a work horse! Which I do :yes:
Most of my Coach collection was purchased for $35 or less. I do have a bags in brighter colors but a lot of neutral colors as well. I brighten up my bags with inexpensive scarf and fob style accessories!
 
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#5
Lake Effect said:
Over many years, I found several Vera Bradley bags and different styles of Tignanello ( a wonderfull, underrated brand imo) for $20 or less in very good condition at local thrift shops. When they started to show wear after heavy rotation, I would simply donate them to GW. I also bought several Lilly Bloom nylon bags from discount stores (ie Marshall’s). All have been since donated away. I have and use now, mostly vintage, almost all pre-owned Coach. I gravitate toward vintage Coach because the 30 year oldish leather on my bags lends itself to reconditioning and use as a work horse! Which I do :yes:
Most of my Coach collection was purchased for $35 or less. I do have a bags in brighter colors but a lot of neutral colors as well. I brighten up my bags with inexpensive scarf and fob style accessories!
Click to expand...

If it's lasted 35 years already it deserves to be used already out of respect! Got any pics?
 
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#6
Oliver11 said:
If it's lasted 35 years already it deserves to be used already out of respect! Got any pics?
Click to expand...
Lake Effect said:
Well, somehow this warm Brit called to me on this rainy, dreary day : ) vintage Oliver.View attachment 4187625
Click to expand...
This bag dates to around 1990. To be fair, I bought it a few years ago off Mercari. It had virtually no sighs of use, so it was clear to me it sat in a closet all that time. The owner of Coach going back to say something like the 60s or 70s realized that the same leather used to make base ball gloves, known in the leather industry as ‘glove tanned’, would make for durable leather accessories, like hand bags.
 
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#10
Lake Effect said:
This bag dates to around 1990. To be fair, I bought it a few years ago off Mercari. It had virtually no sighs of use, so it was clear to me it sat in a closet all that time. The owner of Coach going back to say something like the 60s or 70s realized that the same leather used to make base ball gloves, known in the leather industry as ‘glove tanned’, would make for durable leather accessories, like hand bags.
Click to expand...
That's great.. I think that kind of leather with some conditioning can last another 35 years as long as the zip holds out.. thanks for sharing.
 
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