Chanel on play dates

[Christmasadverthell]

Went to one of my regular play dates with my Ds, 3 yesterday and noticed again the number of beautiful Chanel bags, designer sandals etc etc. Lovely, down to earth mums, nice friends, but I’m just not in the same league with my Zara bag & trainers
Aibu in feeling a bit shit about it 🤷🏻‍♀️

YABU.

A bag is a bag. Who wants to spend £££s on something that will get filled with sticks, conkers, stones and other grubby random stuff. Dd put some worms in my bag once to take home as a new pet.

I’ve got one handbag. It’s a Radley I paid £90 for in a HOF sale. It’ll do me until it wears out.

People talking about bags that are worth hundreds of pounds in comparison. A Chanel handbag will be around £5k for one that's pre-owned. It's a whole other level of bags.

I'm here in my cosy Lidl/ Asda attire and wouldn't recognise a Chanel bag if it bit me on the bahookie.

The important thing is, are these people you like and enjoy spending time with? If so, what everyone is wearing does not matter at all.

Not sure I’d notice!!! I have an old carpet bag and buy my clothes in Sainsbury’s

Who says it is a real Chanel, there are some really good copies.

OP your post has just made me realise that I don’t actually even notice these things. I literally do not know what is worn by the parents I pass at morning club or after school club drop off and pick up. Come to think of it - I know these parents by their names and their professions. So - Mark Doctor, Sarah Anesthetist, etc. It wouldn’t even strike me to take note of attires. I don’t even know this about my colleagues who I see very regularly in my profession.

@HaveringWavering It’s different where we are, big sets of International families, mix of wealth, which I think is great. I would say the majority are very wealthy though, we’re ok ourselves, but not on that scale!
In the U.K. we were totally different, our friends were all of similar backgrounds etc, it was just the way it was.
I enjoy this and am used to it, it’s interesting with different nationalities and backgrounds

Oh my gosh I’ve Also just realised the only bag I own is my laptop backpack. My trusty backpack which holds charger, laptop, adapters, lunch box and a large supply of chocolates at times

I don't notice brands to be honest, a lot of people probably don't notice either. I certainly wouldn't judge you for not having one, we could afford it but I think spending huge amounts on a bag is a ridiculous waste of money.

By nice sandals, I mean, Hermes or Chanel
sliders etc

As I said, they’re v understated and classy imo, nothing screams obvious or tacky and a lot of the items looked fairly lived in (which I like)
They will definitely not be knock offs though, although they may have had them for years and possibly don’t update on a regular basis.
I agree with a previous poster though, a lot of them are v money savvy, verging on stingy and balk over prices of certain things, often getting mainly second hand toys, clothes etc, so it’s quite confusing.
Must be where I’m going wrong and am more skint than them! 🤣

[quote Christmasadverthell]@HaveringWavering It’s different where we are, big sets of International families, mix of wealth, which I think is great. I would say the majority are very wealthy though, we’re ok ourselves, but not on that scale!
In the U.K. we were totally different, our friends were all of similar backgrounds etc, it was just the way it was.
I enjoy this and am used to it, it’s interesting with different nationalities and backgrounds[/quote]
This is why you're noticing it and why it matters to you. DH had a similar upbringing (mixed wealth social groups) and he always notices shoes, bags, watches, etc. People who live and socialise with people from similar backgrounds won't be able to relate.
I don't know if there are charity shops where you are but if they exist then you could always see if you can pick up a 'designer' bag there.

I have a handbag that everyone comments how nice it is, friends, acquaintances, strangers even - it's from asda!

@Onatree I generally don’t tbh, as I said upthread, at this meet, we were all sat together and bags put by us and I just noticed, as they were so lovely. Then it was in my mind and I looked and saw a couple of the other mums too..:I was thinking ‘Why had I not noticed before’ 🤷🏻‍♀️

Hi OP. If you feel you absolutely must have a designer bag, you could look on Vestiare where people sell (often) hardly used bags for a fraction of the price.

But, if you think about it, the handbag industry is pretty vile. These things are often made of dead alligators or calves. Disgusting when you think about it.

To be honest, I could afford such things but I don’t for this very reason. I don’t ever buy leather shoes anymore.

Have a look at Stella Macartney bags if you want a ‘designer.’ They are significantly cheaper as not real leather (but that’s the appeal) and you’re not carting your stuff around in dead animal skin for years on end. Win win!

Also, there is ‘See’ by Chloe which used to have non-leather bags which were just as good quality as the leather ones. Much more reasonably priced too as a result of no dead animals involved.

I also wouldn’t get a fake, was joking, I’d stick to Primark I think

This is the thing..it’s all about using only wooden toys, buying second hand, instead of buying more Stuff, saving money wherever they can (to a degree larger than I’ve seen in my normal friends) but then these beautiful bags and shoes

I wouldn’t be seen dead with a designer handbag. Tacky conspicuous consumption!

Maybe they were gifts from wealthy friends or family.

@My3cents1

Chanel, LV, Mulberry... they all look naff. It all just screams look at me me me.

You wouldn’t even notice my Mulberry bags, they don’t scream anything. They’re all old ones with no external branding at all.

If they're nice people and kind to you I wouldn't worry, OP. If they were snooty and snobby then it wouldn't be worth bothering with them.

Nouveau riche behaviour.

[quote Christmasadverthell]@Helloise Definitely not knock offs, they wouldn’t do it and have multi million pound houses (some of them)[/quote]
Multi million pound houses? Why are you jealous of the sandals and not the house?