To think my bag isn't too extravagant!

[TheoriginalLEM]

For my birthday last year my DD and DP bought me a Cath Kidstone bag, admittedly it was £70 which is a big wedge of money but it was a birthday present and i absolutely love it, its still as decent as when i first bought it despite me chucking it around in my usual way. Ive never been a bag person before and its nice to have somethig that is mine and nice. I never spend money on myself, i cut my own hair and all my clothes come from charity shops. I live in converses which are full of holes and a pair of tk max birkies and in the winter my northface boots i got from john lewis sale for £40 are on their second year and will last at least another.

Some work colleagues spotted my bag and were all "oooh get you with your cath kidstone bag" (actual words) and when i said it was only £70 and a birthday present there were raised eyebrows all round.

I can't imagine i'll have to buy another bag for a loooooooonnnng time and surely that is better than buying several "copy cat" bags on the market for £15?

It made me feel really bad actually and its playing on my mind because we really don't have very much money at alland whilst the bag imo wasn#t expensive, it was to us,the eyebrow raising colleagues are far better off than us so was I selfish? Have i been too long on the school playground were all the mums sport mulberry bags? I just thought Cath Kidstone was a standard, relatively cheap make? .

People have said "Oooh get you" when I had supermarket sunglasses on just because they had diamante even though they were £3.99). Some people are incapable of a simple, direct "I like your bag" compliment so theyalmost take the mickey instead.

Of course, some people really are snidey and look for ways to make others feel uncomfortable.

Regardless of the reason, put it firmly out of your mind and continue to enjoy your Cath Kidston bag, there's no justification required on who bought it, where you usually shop and how much you usually spend and what is a lot of money etcetcetc... none of that matters. Just look at your CK bag and admire it's beauty and appreciate it was a special gift.

YABU for making me read that tiresome OP.

Join me in the Mulberry bag appreciation society and make sure your new bag hits them hard when you swing it on to your shoulder. Would love to know what they say then. Stupid people... Your DD and DP's money, their choice on what to spend it on.. It got nothing to do with that bunch of bitchez.

"Oooh get you" is a perfectly light hearted thing to say to anyone imo.

"I'm having sushi for dinner" - "Oooh get you"

"Think I'll get a taxi home instead of the bus - "Oooh get you"

"Think I'll have a cocktail instead of half a lager" - "Oooh get you"

No-one really means anything nasty when they say it IME.

I think this bag thing and the £70 might be more about the fact you somehow feel 'odd' or 'guilty' in some way OP? You shouldn't. It was a lovely gift.

I genuinely wouldn't know a designer bag even if someone hit me round the head with one, but from what I read and hear, £70 is probably not much to pay for one.

So I really doubt the comment was anything other than light hearted from what you've said.

I don't think it was the "Ooh get you" element, it was the perception that eyebrows were being raised after the sharing of price.

If someone raised their eyebrows but said nothing else it's definitely meant to convey disapproval of some sort.

The question is whether the OP only perceived raised eyebrows because she is sensitive to having a bag more expensive than usual, or if the raised eyebrows happened either because the colleague(s) thought it was a lot of money OR because one in particular spotted an opportunity to make OP feel uncomfortable.

Either way, none of it matters. Just enjoy your bag.

I agree with the very first reply from MakeitRain (or indeed Worra, 2 posts up from here)
It's just a lighthearted comment that I'd say to any friend that was doing something a bit fancier that we normally do.
You need to keep it in perspective.

No it's not extravagant in the slightest and that just sounds like lighthearted banter

The next time someone says something similar just smile and say thank you.

That really is all there is to it.

I suspect the raised eyebrows were at your defensive reaction rather than the ownership of a perfectly normal bag.

It's such an ordinary thing to say and I would be quite taken aback if that was the response I got!

I've just bought myself my first ever "proper" handbag. It's a beautiful Radley one. I got a few comments at work but I think that's because they are used to me toting around either colourful shoulder bags from the market or freebie beach type bags from magazines!

My response to this would be a big smile and say 'Its fab isn't it, it was a birthday present and absolutely delighted with it'.

If it was an off hand compliment, she'll also be happy for you.
And if it was meant to be bitchy, rub her nose in it.

this one but in red

Totally agree re the python bag -hideous and looks like a market job!

In context , the "get you" comment was from someone with form for bitchiness. The other person was admiring.

I think ive just been on mnet too long because ive seen threads where people talk about buying bags for £££'s and as i said im not really a bag person i just really liked the strap

I kept my radley purse tucked away and put my hand over my radley glasses

I said i don't spend money on clothes because i don't.

I don't enev love cath kisdtone just like the bags. everything else is to twee for me.

YABU to let someone who you know has form for bitchy comments upset you over the price of a birthday gift you love. It doesn't matter if its £7 or £70. People like that you are always best off ignoring or playing it so ignorant and happy that it winds them up to see you aren't getting their passive aggressive hints.

The only time I'd pay attention to anything like that is if it came from a well meaning friend who was trying to help, i.e. I was struggling with money and blowing what little I had on expensive non essentials. Otherwise, fob them off.

You are way over sensitive and read far too much into what seems like a lighthearted throwaway comment

Someone who works for me made a similar comment when I spent £300 in a bag. I smiled sweetly at her and said yes isn't it lovely!

Blimey it's been reduced to £40 now!

Whathaveilost - i know!!! although you can't get it in red anymore so i guess its vintage already At that price, i could afford to buy another!

Well if you do get another you will really will get raised eyebrows! Lol!
Just remember our tips and smile!

Ignore. Cath Kinston bags are lovely and often a decent size. I can think of many more expensive designer brands that are much more extravagant.

I once bought a "copy cat" bag off Amazon. It was lovely and looked just like the real thing, but the magnetic popper broke off within a couple of weeks.