Why do u spend thousands on a bag?!
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Cost per wear is how my purchases are largely determined. As others have mentioned, a $50 handbag used once or twice ends up costing more in the end than a $1500 bag used daily for a year. If I found a $50 bag I wanted to use every day for a year, so much the better 
For whatever reason though, I'm more inclined to use my pricier handbags more often and over a longer period of time. Whether it's due to quality of craftsmanship vs. the psychological component of carrying something deemed valuable by an external market, who knows. Probably both.
For whatever reason though, I'm more inclined to use my pricier handbags more often and over a longer period of time. Whether it's due to quality of craftsmanship vs. the psychological component of carrying something deemed valuable by an external market, who knows. Probably both.
As of now I have yet to spend below 4 figures on a bag because I tend to buy preowned, especially vintage. But even these are always in the 3-figure range. Well, tbh, I would spend thousands on a bag if I could afford so comfortably.
And for me, carrying a designer bag makes me feel chic and stylish. I am generally confident in my appearance but when I'm wearing an expensive designer bag I feel.. cool. Like one of those celebrities on a coffee run brandishing about an insanely expensive bag like it's no big deal. Is that weird? And I love looking at my humble collection, just admiring the workmanship and the leather.
So to a small extent, appreciation for the beauty, but in short, vanity. (Well, we all have our vices)
And for me, carrying a designer bag makes me feel chic and stylish. I am generally confident in my appearance but when I'm wearing an expensive designer bag I feel.. cool. Like one of those celebrities on a coffee run brandishing about an insanely expensive bag like it's no big deal. Is that weird? And I love looking at my humble collection, just admiring the workmanship and the leather.
So to a small extent, appreciation for the beauty, but in short, vanity. (Well, we all have our vices)
If it's going to last a ridiculously long time with the right care and usage, then it's definitely worth it when you think about the usage to cost ratio. I'd rather have a perfectly curated collection of bags that cost me a fortune, than have a ton of cheap bags that just don't give me the LOOK I'm going for.
I don't nor will I ever buy bags that cost thousands of dollars but I don't begrudge those who do.
People can spend their hard-earned money any way they see fit and hopefully they aren't extending themselves into debt or using up their children's college funds to do so!
There are many quality bags out there for far less that will outlast me here on this earth. Those are the bags I feel comfortable using. I've yet to wear one out, if anything I tire of it long before it starts even looking bad in any way.
Great quality can be yours at a far lesser price point if you do a bit of research about handbags.
I just fell in love with the Mulberry Bayswater but realized that I wouldn't purchase it brand new because of the price. Instead I searched on ebay and found one at a fraction of the retail price and I'm thrilled with it. I love the idea of pre-loved, this poor bag was so neglected and now she has a new lease on life and instead of being poorly stored on the bottom of someone's closet she'll be used and loved.......music to my ears (and wallet!)
Now I have the bag of my dreams and I've helped coax her back to life.
I've owned brand new bags and I've owned pre-loved. I don't feel any more attraction to a brand new bag than I do my pre-loved.
People can spend their hard-earned money any way they see fit and hopefully they aren't extending themselves into debt or using up their children's college funds to do so!
There are many quality bags out there for far less that will outlast me here on this earth. Those are the bags I feel comfortable using. I've yet to wear one out, if anything I tire of it long before it starts even looking bad in any way.
Great quality can be yours at a far lesser price point if you do a bit of research about handbags.
I just fell in love with the Mulberry Bayswater but realized that I wouldn't purchase it brand new because of the price. Instead I searched on ebay and found one at a fraction of the retail price and I'm thrilled with it. I love the idea of pre-loved, this poor bag was so neglected and now she has a new lease on life and instead of being poorly stored on the bottom of someone's closet she'll be used and loved.......music to my ears (and wallet!)
Now I have the bag of my dreams and I've helped coax her back to life.
I've owned brand new bags and I've owned pre-loved. I don't feel any more attraction to a brand new bag than I do my pre-loved.
I no longer do. I am finding some beautiful pre owned bags from past seasons that are better quality than a lot of the higher end designer bags out there! I just got a beautiful Kooba bag from one of the first seasons and the quality of the leather is amazing. One designer I won't be buying anymore is Chanel...so over rated IMO!
Good for you! While I've never purchased Chanel I know that many of the classic designers just don't seem up to par with their newer products based on opinions on these forums.
Seems as if vintage items are the way to go for the best quality!
The most expensive bag I've ever bought is a vintage LV Petit Noe from 1989, paid 290 euros (about 330 dollars), for my mom's birthday. The most expensive bags I've ever received as a gift are around the 200/250 euros mark: one from The Bridge (that makes some amazing bags that range from 200-300 euros up to 1000 and more) and one from Coccinelle, two italian brands. Both are more than 5 years old and still in very good conditions. As Missaggie said there are some beautiful bags that don't require selling a kidney, and buying second hand is a great way to find stuff that is both great quality and less expensive. I love searching for bargains in outlets or online on Depop, eBay etc, not only for bags but also for clothing and other stuff. I bought an amazing Max Mara coat for 200 euros for example, and its retail price was 900.
One can spend their money the way they like, as far as I'm concerned, I try not to judge. I'd love to buy a vintage Chanel bag, but at the moment I can't afford it and it's ok
One can spend their money the way they like, as far as I'm concerned, I try not to judge. I'd love to buy a vintage Chanel bag, but at the moment I can't afford it and it's ok
I wear my bags over a period of time that most would have gone off the bag and binned/thrift stored it so for me, because I can afford good bags, I buy good bags. It may be sad but they make me happy, last a long while and they're my 'thing'. I almost feel like it's a hobby looking after them. I buy new and preloved depending on how long ago it was released as I'm a terror for loving something 5 years after it came out!!
I have a large collection mainly mulberry but I'm just flirting with others brands right now as I feel Mulberry have gone off the boil a bit for me, so who knows how it will grow. I just love nice bags.
I have a large collection mainly mulberry but I'm just flirting with others brands right now as I feel Mulberry have gone off the boil a bit for me, so who knows how it will grow. I just love nice bags.
I guess the truth here is simply because I can lol. There really is a difference in the quality. If I couldn't afford it I wouldnt but the fact is by the time I finished buying cheap bags, straps tearing and buying new ones, in a year I could have bought an expensive one. I simply started choosing quality...and a bit of vanity as wellHaven't found a reason for myself, vanity maybe.. What's yours?
Love this thread. My spending ability, where I am in life, and my preferences impact my decision on my purchases. I used to own only a handful of purses that are non-leather, because I didn't appreciate leather then. I prefer better quality purses as I age because I discover the beauty of leather and the versatile of it. I still cannot bring myself to spend $1k per purse YET (even though I can afford) but I am really really close.
I discovered more high-end brands in TPF (the power of internet
). I do not splurge and just buy any brand names. I do my research (on quality, care and maintenance required, etc.) before I decide to spend $$ on purses.
Different person has different "weakness" and mine is purses. My bottom line is $$ should go to essentials/necessities first. "Essentials/necessities" can definitely be another topic!!
I discovered more high-end brands in TPF (the power of internet
). I do not splurge and just buy any brand names. I do my research (on quality, care and maintenance required, etc.) before I decide to spend $$ on purses. Different person has different "weakness" and mine is purses. My bottom line is $$ should go to essentials/necessities first. "Essentials/necessities" can definitely be another topic!!
I don't know if I already replied to this thread, but I buy because I like it and that I can. Simply as that.
I buy coz I like the design, material, and quality. I buy because I can pay the price and , at that moment, I can justify it.
Once the price gets too high for me to justify, or I feel like it doesn't worth the money I'm paying anymore, I stop and drop it.
I buy coz I like the design, material, and quality. I buy because I can pay the price and , at that moment, I can justify it.
Once the price gets too high for me to justify, or I feel like it doesn't worth the money I'm paying anymore, I stop and drop it.