I was in the no name, under $60, carry it til it was worn out category. Then I worked a 2 week job with a woman who was a purse lover and changed bags every day. I was astounded. The idea of moving my things from one bag to another daily was beyond my comprehension. But she got me interested.
Then a particular client came in to the office. She was a surgeon with about $1 mil in income a year--the kind of woman with a beautiful clothes and a Porsche convertible. She put her bag on the conference room table and I was transfixed. It was my first experience with my eyes recognizing quality.
I went straight to Nordstroms and looked at everything. My limit was about $250. I went on a Monsac, Brahmin, and Brighton binge. I liked the leather of the first two and the organization of the Brightons. I still have those bags and still love most of them (well not the fake croc Monsac but all the rest).
Years passed and lots of long hours at work I had slipped into my old ways of carrying a no name lambskin and snake bag everyday and it was getting worn out. I also needed a bigger bag. I was craving real croc and combed ebay. There was a $1700 bag I loved, but I thought no way will DH not have a heart attack over that. I figured I needed to keep it under $1,000 and under $500 would be better still.
I don't know why the
Fendi spy bag popped into my head, but it did. It was a combination of I loved the secret compartments and the unique shape and the tales of buttery soft leather. Thought I could get one for about $600, but it just doesn't happen in black. I spent 3 months obsessing over them on ebay until I found the perfect black one for $1k. I was madly in love and wanted one of every color. After it came, it seemed a little big for me and I was initially into the love it too much to carry it. I had the "on to the next bag" reaction. Without searching for the spy bag, the thrill was gone. And coming to TPF had become a habit so I started reading random threads of interest.
Reading here, there was this wonderful thread, with much.
Enough food for thought to keep my brain busy for a long time...
http://forum.purseblog.com/handbags...just-starting-handbag-collections-696396.html
And this thread helped me think about function.
http://forum.purseblog.com/handbags...ollection-5-bags-every-girl-needs-646293.html
These threads taught me to train my eye to what I like and works for me, which turns out to be lady like structured bags for work and edgy less structured bags for non work. All in black, gray, or shades of purple. I figured this out by every time I read about some bag that someone loved, I looked up pictures of it and started a picture file that I study obsessively. That has been the best thing ever. That makes it more about the bag than the label.
Another thread that was formative was
http://forum.purseblog.com/handbags...sappointing-bag-youve-ever-bought-253613.html
Now I have a wish list that includes a number of designers. I am trying to go for a collection of 10-15 high end bags that I think I will know what I am getting into very well before I buy. I don't think I will make mistakes with the possible exception of greed, which I am fighting.
Hope this is helpful to you in deciding where to start.
