To not understand peoples' obsession with expensive handbags?

[GMajor7DeadlySins]

Gonna get roasted for this, but I honestly don't get it.

I've seen a few threads on here lately where people have openly admitted to possessing several designer bags costing many hundreds of pounds! Why?

I have ONE handbag. It is in a neutral colour so goes with everything. It's only there to conveniently transport my general effects - hairbrush, phone, purse etc. Why the need for 15 of the damn things!

I thought we were in a recession FFS! Please enlighten me as to how one affords to even think of spending in excess of 500 quid on a bag. Madness!

What's a handbag lol I use rucksack but then if people can afford to treat themselves to designer ones then don't begrudge them even if I can't undestand all the fuss

Up to a certain price handbags are more coo-able-over, nice soft leather is lovely for example, and you won't get that for a fiver. After that it's mostly about the design. They might look the same to you but they don't to a handbag lover, the same way someone who shows corgis at Crufts will think that individual corgis look different, whereas to me they all look like 'that kind of dog that the Queen likes'

Chil1234, it is very but I am yet to be convinced this is a wide spread phenomenon.

@OP: No I am not embarassed at all to admit that I own expensive bags. As Ruby said, I worked bloody hard to earn the money, my child isn't starving and I regard them as nice treats for myself. Why on earth would I be ashamed of them?

Shoes is what stops your feet being wet, clothes is what stops you being naked, all true but they can be more if you want them to.

Riven did you see someone suggested you for a Gok Wan makeover? I haven't checked back on the thread but I imagine you would run away screaming!

I love handbags- my husband says my eyes sort of glaze over when I see one I like BUT I don't buy expensive bags- I just can't justify it to be honest, although if we had more money I may be tempted to treat myself!

here

I guess if you look closely, you might fork out on something others might not.

I do love handbags. I have many. Some expensive, some not.

I only go to the hairdresser twice a year, I wear cheap make up, and own only ONE bottle of perfume that I hardly wear. The last time I bought shoes were 2 years ago. Until last week, I had not bought new clothes for myself since March 2008. I kid you not. I am no bum, though. I do look reasonably stylish (thanks to my handbags. ) I wear classical lines, and smart jewellery. And bags.

Nope don't get it, I don't have a bag, everything gets carried in my pockets! Same with shoes, I have collected a few pairs of boots over the years but I live in my trainers!!!

As I am always on a diet and not buying fat clothes, because I will be slim soon.

Buy a hand bag it will definitely still fit in a month.

I went into Russel Bromley on monday. Big mistake. I found some LOVELY boots, they were high, moderate heals, leather on the front and elastic on the back (fat calf, me), the price tag? £245. The assistant then said, "wait, I have just the thing for you!" and came back with a gorgeous matching handbag. Also £245. Gulp. I snuck out of the shop when she had her back turned. No way could I justify £500 on one bag and a pair of shoes.

Yup I put my hand up to this, I have several designer handbags bought secondhand through e bay. I had to sell a lot of my things to afford them to. I love designer bags I am obsessed, but lack of funds put paid to that really. I just enjoy the ones I have . Actually I see no difference really between the quality of a designer bag and other cheaper designers. I am coming to think that it is a marketing con, you pay more because its Dior, Prada, etc not because they are of exquisite quality. I am a member of the Purse Forum and there are a lot of people there who complain about the qulity of these 'designer bags'.

I don't get it either. If I saw a bag for £800 which I liked, even if I had the money I don't think I could justify it. Maybe if it was totally stunning and you couldn't get another like it cheaper, but still, I just resent paying that much for a bag, when I know it couldn't possibly have cost that much to make, and I could spend that money on something else which will actually bring me pleasure, or be useful.

I saw some shoes for £100 the other day and I could probably save up for them, but I have never spent so much on a pair of shoes before, and it just feels wrong! The thing which is swaying me is that I've never seen any shoes like them, and they look really good quality (and I hardly ever find shoes that I like, and these ones are really 'me' and would go with almost all of my clothes.)

Even if I won the lottery, I don't think I could justify spending this amount of money on handbags.
But I guess if it's your thing, you can save up or get them in the sales.
yanbu, i don't get it either, but I think it just means handbags aren't your thing. No big deal really

I think everyone just has their 'thing' whether it's spending it on the mortgage for a bigger house, fancy carpets, or it's perfume or shoes.

The problem is when you're like me and have too many things about 'things'

I like shoes, handbags, and perfume.

I absolutely loathes plastic handbags. I don't care that they are just there to carry stuff around, they have to be made of something nice.

I really like Boden bags and last year I got the navy patent bag and I have used it so much since - I got it in the sale for £60-ish. It's really well made. It's slouched beautifully.

i put my hands up and admit to being one of these people! i LOVE handbags.

i have a black distressed leather balenciaga motorcycle bag and its my most treasured possession :o it is beautiful and goes with everything. and my next must-have is a tan mulberry alexa (ARE YOU LISTENING DP?

What always amazed me was the massive Market there seemed to be for handbags costing nearly a grand. I always wondered who on earth was buying them, especially as I didn't consider myself poor but felt I could not afford them.

Then they started making programmes like Spendaholics and Bank of Mum and Dad, and every other person featured was obsessed with the designer bags etc. And had debts of tens of thousands of pounds through buying them when their salaries couldn't take the strain. Madness I tell you, and most of them are minging! IMHO

I do get the enjoyment thing though. I spent ages choosing DS' pushchair (loola up in brown/cream) and got the almost-matching-more-complimentary footmuff which is brown and minty green, and I enjoy using it, I like pushing DS along and seeing him in the nice cosy looking green/brown/cream combination (am aware that sounds hideous it does look nice though!) and also spend ages choosing his clothes, even though I tend to buy in sales or from supermarkets/cheap shops or on ebay. It brings me pleasure to see him running around in a cute little orange and lime green outfit for example.

I just hate paying over the odds for things. I love Toby Tiger stuff, and Boden stuff is cute for children too. But £20 for a top? no way! But for a special occasion I might splash out. I got him some Gap pyjamas for his birthday even though they were ridiculous (£15 for one pair!) but they are very very cute