to think you only buy a LV handbag to show off how wealthy you are?

[PhlegmyHead]

I'm not disputing their quality, as having watched a lot of construction videos they do seem reasonably well-made, but the monogrammed "leather" is just so ugly.

A bog-standard tote will set you back £1200 - handmade bags made by lesser known brands/designers in full-grain, veg tan leather would cost less and be far more attractive. (And higher quality too)

Seeing as we wear things to make a statement about ourselves (for the most part) and considering the bags aren't aesthetically pleasing, the statement, in this case, must be "look how much money I have"?

I have an LV Speedy 30 that I bought 16 years ago for £300 - I have just looked it up and if I wanted to buy it today it would be over £800.

Mine still looks like new as I look after my bags (which I have many !)

I also have a purse which was £200 and they are on average now £400 +

I do not regret the initial outlay and know I can get that money back and more, not that I will sell as they are for my DD to do with what she pleases.

You can also tell a fake from the real deal, there is no beating the genuine item.

I have many bags from cheap to expensive and I will always if funds allow go for the more expensive option.

I say each to their own and live and let live - if you don't like it so be it - makes no difference to me !

I think many people have missed the point of my OP.
I didn't say that I thought paying a huge amount for a bag was wrong - in fact at some point on this thread I said that I'm not against designer items, and that I agree with paying for quality.

What I do find unusual is paying a premium for something that is covered in branding - the LV monogrammed bags being a prime example. No matter how much someone says it - a heavily branded item is not something bought for its style or quality (as you can buy the same shape bag in a similar style/pattern/colour, in equal if not better quality for much less money) - therefore it MUST be to show off the brand.

One of my hobbies is leathercraft (thus why I've watched so many construction videos) - I could buy the absolute highest quality leather and hardware for a "OntheGo MM" for less than £150 (at retail price). It would take me approximately 8-10 hours to construct (bearing in mind that I don't have the premade templates to punch out the shapes etc, and I'd be saddle stitching by hand). Before anyone says it, I can sew well so it would be at a professional level.
A bag maker at Louis Vuitton apparently makes $18 (£14) an hour - so the labour cost would be £140 (again, assuming that they are as slow as me, without the commercial equipment)

So - it would cost me around £300 to make the bag at home, bearing in mind these costs are much higher than LV as I'd be using leather, not canvas, at retail cost rather than wholesale, and my production time would be much higher as I don't have access to the clicker press templates etc.

An OnTheGo MM starts at £1500. The price is not reflective of the quality or craftmanship - it's the logo.

If someone genuinely wanted the best quality £1500 could buy - they'd get a custom made bag from an artisan maker that wasn't plastered in the LV logo.

I don't care what people buy - I just think that if you're buying something covered in a logo - it's cause you're making a statement on what you can afford.

@PhlegmyHead if you look at it like that everything we do is for a stament of sorts. From virtue signaling to trying to impress how wonderful we are, how rich we are etc it's all to boost our own ego

@PhlegmyHead but you're not just paying for the materials and labour. You're also paying for the branding and in this case LV bags increase in value because it's a famous brand.

A beautiful, hand made, Italian leather bag by an artisan but unknown leathercraft master won't appreciate in value. No matter how well made or beautiful it is.

I buy luxury brand handbags because I know they will be worth more than I paid for them if I take care of them. I also have a cheap leather handbag that is more functional/everyday. Two different motivations behind the purchases.

But if you have lots of bags it's no wonder that your LV bag is still in good condition!

So in order to keep your LV in good condition you have to spend money on other bags to use day to day?

Christ, live and let live, one and all.

@CounsellorTroi

So in order to keep your LV in good condition you have to spend money on other bags to use day to day?

I’ll answer this, my most used bag is 15 years old. It’s in pretty amazing condition for being that old with plenty of life left in it. This is my go to everyday bag - so yeah they really do last. I had one slight issue with it - caused by me. It was sent to Paris and repaired free of charge.

[quote LongPauseNoAnswer]@PhlegmyHead but you're not just paying for the materials and labour. You're also paying for the branding and in this case LV bags increase in value because it's a famous brand.

A beautiful, hand made, Italian leather bag by an artisan but unknown leathercraft master won't appreciate in value. No matter how well made or beautiful it is.

I buy luxury brand handbags because I know they will be worth more than I paid for them if I take care of them. I also have a cheap leather handbag that is more functional/everyday. Two different motivations behind the purchases.[/quote]
Starting to understand why designer labels (esp overly conspicious ones) are so popular - it's a "shorthand" to quality - or perceived quality. I don't think a used bag should appreciate in value, it's all about a perception that it's still "good". A lot of designer bags are actually rubbish but still command high resale prices simply because of the shorthand.

A beautiful, hand made, Italian leather bag by an artisan but unknown leathercraft master won't appreciate in value. No matter how well made or beautiful it is

This is a shame, I'd rather buy this one. But again without the "shorthand" you don't know if what you're getting is "worth" the money. So the poor artisan misses out.

The big designer brands have probably pushed it this way because it keeps them at the top, and rich. It's all capitalism and marketing.

I think they're hideous. They may be quality but they look cheap, like a nasty free gift when you order from a catalogue.

@BinkyBoinky that said I do have multiple bags from artisan makers but they are not bought with the intention of being heirloom pieces like the "big brand" ones. I get them because I appreciate the craftsmanship, the uniqueness of the designs and wanting to support small businesses.

Different motivations behind the purchases.

@LongPauseNoAnswer I like your username! Shopaholic?

That's not a comment on the bags BTW. Just love the film!

@LonelyFromCorona

Lots of jealous individuals who dream of affording such bags in this thread.

Jesus no, you couldn't pay me to use most LV bags. Ugly, gaudy things.

Whoever asked if disliking tripe made them jealous of it was bang on 😂

It’s all about exclusivity, therefore they’re desirable because not many people can afford one. I don’t own a LV, I have done in the past.

The older I get, the more I prefer brands which are understated, I want to wear an item that I love without announcing to the world how much I’ve spent. But equally I’d not judge anyone for what they chose to buy/wear.

I don't care what people buy - I just think that if you're buying something covered in a logo - it's cause you're making a statement on what you can afford.

/////

MASSIVE generalisation OP

I buy luxury brand handbags because I know they will be worth more than I paid for them if I take care of them. I also have a cheap leather handbag that is more functional/everyday. Two different motivations behind the purchases

I’m completely the opposite. My everyday bag is a Mulberry. My bags are for use, not investment and I don’t believe in keeping anything “for best”. My pleasure is using that bag every day, to me there’s no point in owning lovely bags and then using a cheap leather one. It’s like having a Rembrandt in a bank vault and hanging a print on the wall.

I don't care what people buy - I just think that if you're buying something covered in a logo - it's cause you're making a statement on what you can afford.

If you don't care why even start such a strange thread.

There is absolutely no reason for me to make any statement about what i can afford. Clothes, jewellery, hair, shoes etc equally make a statement I can assure you.

If Mumsnet is a true representation of British society I don't understand how absolutely everyone is claiming they can drop a couple of thousand pounds on a handbag but don't because they are tacky.

No need for Rishi to worry about the economy after all.

Mumsnet is a true representation of British society

Is it? From threads I’ve read it’s only middle and upper class mostly.

IF it is. Clearly it isn't if this is for real.

I wouldn't drive a £100k range rover because they are tacky.

I can spend thousands of pounds on a handbag but choose not to for the same reason.

Rishi is panicking for nothing it would appear.

I generally assume they're fakes, it's incomprehensible to be that anyone moving in "ordinary" circles would spend so much on something so ugly.

But then I think a £100 bag is expensive.

To me it just shows you’ve got no taste. I hate brown anything.

@happilybemused you deliberately snobbing these bags is in a similar way making a stament if you can truly afford one. Same with the car

You are technically by this signaling to people around you that you have better taste then them, are deeper then them, more virtues then them etc everything we wear and use sends a message of sorts

@BinkyBoinky yeah

@lovepickledlimes

You deliberately snobbing these bags 😂

Enough said