To feel conned by 'luxury' handbags?

[realhousewifeofmodor]

Have been fortunate enough to have had a bit more disposable income recently,and have found myself lusting after bags from certain well known middle-high end brands, such as Mulberry, Aspinal, Strathberry, Demellier etc.

Have bought a couple, and although they're nice bags, I can't now help but feel that I was conned into buying them from people on Instagram and I only ever really liked them for the name printed on the front. I can't afford the likes of Hermes etc so it's not even super high end, but do feel a bit disgusted with myself that I've spent so money on branded goods when that money could have done so much good.

Anyone else splurge a bit and then get buyers remorse? Or is it possible (or indeed OK) to own a plethora of such handbags etc and to not feel an ounce of guilt/shame about it? Or to truly believe people buy these items because they genuinely love them, not because of the brand name abs therefore status attached to them?

[quote AngelsWithSilverWings]@MaybeHeIsMyCat they are gorgeous and absolute bargains! Just had a look at the sale but can't see anything as good as those.[/quote]
Agree with sign up to emails from them
My friend has also had a couple of really heavily discounted ones (we have one matching bag!) and it seems to be random end of season that are best, so not Christmas sales

I do not see the point of just buying a bag because you can afford it. You have to want the bag for a reason surely?
I have a Mulberry Bayswater which is lovely ( and quite old) which I used a lot at one time but these days I use crossbody bags and have a much cheaper Michael Kors bought by my bloke.
I find the better quality bags do not break or tear and look OK even when older.
I have a twenty year old LV Neverfull which looks great and is in perfect condition.
All my bags were bought because they were for a particular use and so have been an investment.
I have had other bags which have fallen apart or just looked shabby after a while. I have also had other cheaper bags which have not done this, but I have never bought a bag on a whim. I just don't see the point.

You feel disgusted with yourself!?

I've bought a few nice bags, for big birthdays and for practical reasons.

I felt proud of myself for finally allowing myself to consider myself worth it, and to be able to not care/worry about what other people might think. I saw it as a significant piece of progress in my healing

I don't actually like the well known designer bags. The bags I like tend to be between 50-100.

But I know handbag people and that's fine if it's your thing (I think it is a bit of a con) .

They hold their value though, don't they? So you could sell them of you regret it?

I had a big birthday recently and was bought a gorgeous bag which I absolutely adore but I would never have paid that much myself. Not because I'm not worth it / can't afford it / don't see the value - I am, I can and I do - but I just couldn't bring myself to pay that much.

Having said all that, it brings me such a lot of pleasure and I am so glad it was bought for me

@Hunderland

I had a big birthday recently and was bought a gorgeous bag which I absolutely adore but I would never have paid that much myself. Not because I'm not worth it / can't afford it / don't see the value - I am, I can and I do - but I just couldn't bring myself to pay that much.

Having said all that, it brings me such a lot of pleasure and I am so glad it was bought for me

Don't leave it on a shelf in a dustbag. Use it.

Surely it all depends on why you're buying it? I buy bags I like. I've not got the budget to be dropping a grand on a bag but if the one I like is a couple of hundred quid, I'll buy that bag. If its a fiver in Primark, I'll buy it.

If you're buying a hideous thing just because of the name on it, that's the issue.

@Anordinarymum I do use it daily but it is kept in a dustbag at night and it has its own chair

I'm picky; if I see a bag I like, that's the bag, regardless of price, for the most part. I did keep the money I was gifted to buy a bayswater for my 21st though. It just... felt too much. So I suppose I have limits. I do think some of the classics are good value pay per wear over a long time and the quality should allow it to stand the test of time.

I also suggest finding a brand that works for you & seeing what you're then willing to pay within a bracket if the brand suits. Ralph Lauren bags work for me.

The top end bags are investments and assets in their own right as their value will only go up if you keep them clean / undamaged.

Or to truly believe people buy these items because they genuinely love them, not because of the brand name abs therefore status attached to them?

They love them because of the brand name and the status. There’s no way some of the bags available are actually worth the price tag without the brand name attached to it!!

Most designer bags are horrible. I must be the only person that doesn’t like the look of mulberry bags or Chanel. I do like coach but it’s not designer designer

If you have buyers remorse and/or have bought more than you really want for the sake of of it then it sounds like there are better things for you to spend your money on. Personally I think some brands are very much worth it, I have a second hand mulberry and the quality is incredible (apparently the newer ones aren't as good but not sure), definitely worth the money even full price, can see it lasting years and years.

When I stopped loving my Birkin and a Kelly bag (both Hermes) I sold them on Vestiaire Collective, and that made me feel a lot less ridiculous for having obsessed about having them in first place. I like the idea of bags having second or third lives….they should be used and enjoyed.

I love my senreve maestra backpack. No regrets despite the hideous price (for me!). but mainly its because I can't really find a cheaper substitute. It can be worn 3 ways- crossbody, on the shoulder and as a backpack and carries a laptop (essential for hybrid working!). I can't really find something that has the same functionality/looks as smart and is the same size for a cheaper price, despite trawling the internet. The closest is the Fossil Camilla (which I also have) but it doesn't have a laptop pocket, fits much less and you can't convert to a shoulder bag without manually taking off the straps.

Perhaps choose something with a unique design which isn't so common in cheaper bags. Resale value isn't amazing for mid high end brands- universally acknowledged that the designer bags with best resale value are classic bags from Hermes, LV and Chanel. But if you are buying it for your enjoyment, it doesn't matter as much.

In Asia, a lot of people buy high end bags to 'fit in'. these are cultures where conformity is prized. It was claimed once that 44% of Japanese women owned an LV item. Where i come from in southeast asia, I can sit in the train and identify at least 10 designer handbags with a cursory glance of the women sitting opposite me. Very average ordinary women! in China, I have read that graduates on super average salaries buy dior and chanel bags; and that is normal (I suppose being able to live with parents well into your late 20s does enable one to save for such luxuries). I feel like in the UK/Europe, no one cares so buying bags from an established designer brand isn't 'worth it' unless you really love the design. After all its for yourself!

@MsAgnesDiPesto

I really don't understand this obsession with labels - perhaps I'm missing something, but I just don't care if people look at me and think I've got money, or not. Most of those expensive bags are vulgar and look cheap in terms of design, to my eye. I've never spent more than about £70 on a bag, and ironically, the one which has elicited most admiration (from stylish people, too) is from Tesco and cost under £20.

People will come and tell you they are an investment. I think tying up cash in a bag for some future date is beyond weird. There are much better ways of investing, which don't involve having things stashed in the top of my wardrobe for decades, being afraid to use them for fear of damaging your investment.

Buy stuff you like, regardless of the label. Enjoy using it. Don't worry about what other people think of you. If they judge your worth by your handbag - or worse, if you do - then that's all kinds of wrong.

Its an interesting question. I once read a book on the economics of luxury which was written by an economist. I quote from the book: Toronto based fashion observer Miriam Viradi points out a cultural dimension to luxury;its ability to produce pleasures from aesthetics and contemplation that goes beyond any practical use of the object. She points out similarities among luxury fashion, art and religion. Each is concerned with timelessness;each emphasizes a creator and a founding myth and legend. Each uses storytelling to maintain mystique. Each has symbols and icons easily recognized by followers.Each has its urban cathedrals, a museum, an elegant flagship store or art dealer.

Consider an analogy to the automobile sector. The German mercedes E class cars are accepted as luxury vehicles because of the mystique, racing history at Le Mans and the engineering history that comes with the label. The comparable model of the Japanese Lexus has reliability, engineering, design and finish comparable to Mercedes. But the Lexus has no brand myth, no intangible benefits that go beyond functionality. The Lexus is premium, not usually viewed as luxury.

So basically explaining the allure and worth of designer brands is like explaining religion to an atheist. In my opinion (and people will disagree) however, Mulberry isn't luxury; it is premium. The prices look luxury-esque but that has been a pivot in the last 10 years from its traditional clientele of middle class British women who would buy its handbags as a treat . I think they are trying to appeal to a more international clientele who buy into the mystique of its 'Britishness'. I feel like Aspinal and Smythsons have the same strategy. They don't have the same 'creation myths' as the 'luxury brands'- Chanel, Hermes, LV, Dior, Gucci etc. However, being UK based, I don't really see the appeal as there are far better small brands to support if I wanted to 'buy British' as opposed to global lifestyle brands.

For myself I don't buy luxury either, but I do suppose I buy premium. My senreve bag was made in italy so I suppose thats why it costs more than coach which is made in China (even if the quality is said to be very good). It also uses a direct to consumer model with very limited retail stores which saves on the overall costs, but that means it is not 'luxury in the traditional sense of the word'. Traditional luxury has a huge emphasis on personal contact and service which is why you still can't buy most of the hermes bags online.

I wouldn't like to admit to having been conned into buying an expensive item by advertising. It's obvious that these bags wouldn't sell for as much if it weren't for the power of name/label recognition. They're selling perception as much as handbags. If you don't buy into the fairytale, they're worth only a fraction of the price.

There are simply too many other things I'd like to have more than luxury or even premium brand bags, clothing, or fashion accessories. Then again, I doubt many people would happily spend thousands on a longarm quilting machine!

An interesting mix of responses, thank you.

I feel like I can definitely se the difference in quality between bags from high street shops vs higher end ones, and hate the look of high street bags now, however I just morally don't think it's justified in spending such ludicrous amounts on a material item for its brand?

There must be a middle ground. Anyone want to suggest what the minimum is that someone could spend on, let's say a work tote style bag, to secure the high quality but not overpay because of the name? £200-300?

And to those saying they have Hermes, Chanel, Prada etc- to me paying considerably more than £1000 on a bag is completely absurd and there's no way that you're not just paying for the brand name at that level. If that makes you happy then fair enough, but admit it to yourself! (Some have).

Also interesting a few people saying the quality of mulberry isn't up to scratch. Thankfully that's not one of the brands from my list that I now own. Feel it's not quite as 'aspirational' as some of the others now either (despite often having a higher price tag) maybe because it's now so well known and therefore everyone and their cat seems to have a mulberry, so it's somehow shot itself in the foot?

@realhousewifeofmodor it wasn't so expensive when I was looking at it as a university student in 2011. Went to a London university with a very wealthy demographic so plenty of girls had mulberry bayswater as a school bag. There was even a girl who came to uni with a Hermes Kelly.
The prices increased along with the other brands because of the money from international tourism; upper middle class and wealthy from emerging economies with new interest in luxury etc.
I always thought of it as a upper middle class brand, so by definition that's not luxury? Similar to loaf sofas. A lot of people do have it but then there are a lot of upper middle class women! Plus people who aspire to be like them.

I think Russell and Bromley is probably a good bet..I have never used them but there is no Price uplift due to brand inflation but they are known for quality. Price would vary based on whether you get it on sale. I think fossil is good quality, my leather convertible backpack cost just over £100 and the totes are similar prices.

I totally missed the bag era, and it's interesting, I just don't see them. I don't notice bags in shops or around me or see what celebs in photos are carrying even if they are essentially holding the bag out in front of them for the photographers - at most ill notice a brown shape. The design is opaque to me, the aesthetic makes no sense, I can't read what a bag says at all. Like a pp said, it's a religion I don't feel.

So perhaps I'm a neutral in this. It's interesting that you feel 'the money could have done so much good' suggesting you should be giving more to charity. Maybe you need to unpick your belief that spending money on yourself is essentially wrong. Do you have purchases you don't feel buyer's remorse about - coats, shoes? Is it having more than one of things? Or do you feel uncomfortable if there's spare money in your account, rush to spend it and then dislike what you've bought?

@PermanentTemporary bags are the biggest earner for luxury brands... Apparel is harder to sell, most people cannot afford £1800-£3000 on an outfit, particularly one that is trendy. On the other hand, bags can be kept for years, you can carry them whether you are a size 8 or size 18 (or whether you are pregnant or post partum). Some people even want to pass them down to DDs. People like me carry the same bag every single day, they only need 1 nice bag. Some people claim the bag makes them look expensive even with mad hair, Primark hoodie and jogging bottoms.

I am a bag person I think. I wouldn't spend more than £35 for dresses generally (can count the number of times I have spent more than that on clothes that aren't coats or blazers or wedding outfits). I am not a fast fashion person either, I wear my dresses to death and they are generally sales items from Boden, joules, monsoon or second hand but from my perspective, one day they will go to a charity shop. My jumpers are ancient and I don't think I have spent more than £20. My shoes are generally £35 loafers from Clarks because I walk a lot and they wear out. But my senreve bag is £580. But I buy a bag far less frequently (hardly ever) than cosmetics (my chief vice- I buy expensive makeup) or even dresses so bag expenditure probably works out less.

@realhousewifeofmodor

Also interesting a few people saying the quality of mulberry isn't up to scratch. Thankfully that's not one of the brands from my list that I now own. Feel it's not quite as 'aspirational' as some of the others now either (despite often having a higher price tag) maybe because it's now so well known and therefore everyone and their cat seems to have a mulberry, so it's somehow shot itself in the foot?

I have several mulberry bags (well- a day to day one, a going out one, a work one and a really dressy up one). Sounds a lot but all are different sizes and I use one everyday and have no intention of replacing them before they fully wear out! I don't feel guilty because I make good use of them, I did not put myself in debt to buy them, and to be honest going by cost per wear over the years it's probably not far off buying loads of crappy, low quality handbags that wear out quickly. That said I went to outlets, sample sales to buy so didn't pay full price- the quality definitely changed a few years back though, they're still better than average but nothing on their older stuff in my opinion. I agree that it's not as much of an aspirational brand now, so I do think when buying one it's important to get one you genuinely like so if the brand reputation or whatever does change you aren't arsed because you just really love the bag! I would love a Chanel and I know it's mainly because of the brand, but I'll never be able to afford one so it doesn't really matter!

I have a couple of Mulberry bags that I bought years before their prices skyrocketed, although they were still expensive. They are too heavy and I rarely use them. I am planning to Ebay them at some point and donate the money to charity. I'd never buy a "branded" bag again.