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Original poster

To feel conned by 'luxury' handbags?

163 replies

realhousewifeofmodor · 29/12/2021 22:35

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?

OP posts:
toconclude · 30/12/2021 13:16

And a con which, judging from comments, too many people buy into. Their loss, in more ways than one 🤷

Tabbacus · 30/12/2021 13:17

A Chanel/Hermes isn't going to give a better 'handbag' experience than a Coach/Osprey or even nice leather Zara, apart from knowing its a high end brand.

Not sure on Hermes as I have only ever seen one in the wild, but Chanel bags are definitely better quality than Zara etc. Whether they're worth that much more £££ wise is debatable, but absolutely they are (or were at least) exceptionally well made and last and last.

saleorbouy · 30/12/2021 13:21

As a bloke I'm at a loss firstly as to why you need to lug a bag of "stuff" about with you and secondly how the exorbitant cost can even be justified.
It seems to me the more expensive the handbag the more garish, chavvy and hideous the look.
When I see someone strutting about with one I just think "gullible".

Lucyccfc68 · 30/12/2021 13:22

I have a mix of bags. Some very expensive and some pretty cheap. OP - buy what you like and not because an influencer (idiot) has put pictures on Instagram of a freebie they have been given and are advertising.

If you really can afford a particular bag and love it then buy it because you love it.

onlychildhamster · 30/12/2021 13:29

@saleorbouy I carry a convertible backpack and it carries my work laptop. Also my makeup. And grocery bags. But in some settings backpack isn't suitable like in a museum or glassware shop so I wear it crossbody style.

Working women/mums have a lot of things to carry! And city women often can't drive around so they need bags to carry their stuff for the day.. I don't do small bags though! I can't walk in heels so for a long time, I needed a bag big enough to carry an extra pair of shoes. I still insist on wearing heels for formal occasions cos I am five foot tall! I don't understand small bags though and many expensive handbags fall into that category..I have no use for a bag smaller than 35 cm which is why I switched to backpack as it's kinder on the shoulders. I have a clutch for weddings.

saleorbouy · 30/12/2021 13:37

onlychildhamster
I have a work backpack too for a laptop, note book diary and PPE, I don't class that as a fashion item worthy of ££££ expenditure.

I just find it strange to put a phone, purse, etc in an expensive fashion accessory that then makes it more attractive for others to covet and perhaps try to relieve you of the bag and it's contents.

I get people need bags but these are just attracting attention and seem so unnecessary ostentatious and most are pretty ugly. (In my opinion)

Woodlandwater · 30/12/2021 13:42

@saleorbouy

As a bloke I'm at a loss firstly as to why you need to lug a bag of "stuff" about with you and secondly how the exorbitant cost can even be justified. It seems to me the more expensive the handbag the more garish, chavvy and hideous the look. When I see someone strutting about with one I just think "gullible".
As a bloke you probably won't have realised that most women's clothing doesn't have pockets, and even if you think they do they are often fake pockets, or they're too small to be functional. Women are also often relied upon to cater for the family's needs when out and about, which can mean nappies, wipes, change of clothes, something to keep kids entertained if stuck waiting somewhere, snacks, umbrella in case it rains, change for the trolley, tissues, hair bands, plasters etc.
PegasusReturns · 30/12/2021 13:46

When I see someone strutting about with one I just think "gullible"

I’ll be sure to bear your opinion in mind next time I’m being complimented on my fabulous accessorising.

mariebaby3 · 30/12/2021 14:04

I went through a bit of a phase a while ago of enjoying more expensive bags.

I’ve got a few Coach bags, 2 x Kate Spade, mulberry Bayswater and my biggest spend was on an LV. I ended up selling the mulberry and LV because they were so expensive I felt like I couldn’t enjoy them - also they require a surprising amount of upkeep! The quality on the LV hardware wasnt amazing either.

My favourite bags now are Coach. Expensive but not so expensive that I feel like I need to baby it, and I find their leather and hardware excellent.

onlychildhamster · 30/12/2021 14:06

@saleorbouy you could say that about clothes too. Why do I buy dresses from joules and Gudrun sjoden with floral prints that I find pretty? I could get a basic t shirt and jeans/black trousers and it would do the exact same job of getting me clothed. Even for work in my office job, a simple black dress would suffice. People do want to look nice and I am more willing to spend on a backpack that I can carry for years at a time rather than a dress that I might possibly not be able to fit into when I get pregnant and have a baby. I carry my backpack daily, I wear a favourite dress maybe once a fortnight.

Omicrone · 30/12/2021 14:34

@Tabbacus

A Chanel/Hermes isn't going to give a better 'handbag' experience than a Coach/Osprey or even nice leather Zara, apart from knowing its a high end brand.

Not sure on Hermes as I have only ever seen one in the wild, but Chanel bags are definitely better quality than Zara etc. Whether they're worth that much more £££ wise is debatable, but absolutely they are (or were at least) exceptionally well made and last and last.

I don't doubt the quality of the bags (although from what I have heard, the quality of Chanel, Mulberry etc is going downhill, almost in direct correlation to the price hikes!). I just think you can get just as good quality from bags that are literally 3 or 4% of the price of a Chanel.
zingally · 30/12/2021 14:36

I enjoy a nice bag as well, but mine are more of the Kate Spade/Coach level.

I use a Kate Spade backpack for work, which still looks as good as the day I bought it. I also have a Kate Spade purse, which is at least 5 years old, but still looks like new!

Saying that, my current day-to-day handbag came from Wish.com, and cost about £7!

Omicrone · 30/12/2021 14:38

@saleorbouy

As a bloke I'm at a loss firstly as to why you need to lug a bag of "stuff" about with you and secondly how the exorbitant cost can even be justified. It seems to me the more expensive the handbag the more garish, chavvy and hideous the look. When I see someone strutting about with one I just think "gullible".
It's to carry around all the stuff you are expected to in order to 'woman' properly. So that's makeup, hair stuff etc in order to fulfil the role of 'looking good' and then stuff like tissues, wet wipes, nappies, plasters, toys, hand sanitizer in order to fulfil the role of 'support human who has all the things that everyone else needs'.

But 'as a bloke' I wouldn't expect you to understand that.

MaybeHeIsMyCat · 30/12/2021 14:42

"Woman" things I carry
Plasters, medication, makeup, tissues, phone charger, water bottle, purse, perfume, hand cream, lip balm, throat sweets, phone, deodorant, work stuff, pads/tampons....
I can go out without a bag but for a full day I like to have some things with me for comfort

lioncitygirl · 30/12/2021 14:44

I buy a new bag almost every year - I like them so never get buyers remorse.

Ibane · 30/12/2021 14:45

@saleorbouy

As a bloke I'm at a loss firstly as to why you need to lug a bag of "stuff" about with you and secondly how the exorbitant cost can even be justified. It seems to me the more expensive the handbag the more garish, chavvy and hideous the look. When I see someone strutting about with one I just think "gullible".
Have you ever pondered the lack of pockets in women’s clothes, and the amount of ‘stuff’ required to present conventional femininity on a daily basis?

My 79 year old mother toddles about after my father with his diabetic test kit, insulin, emergency banana/Lucozade in her handbag because it simply does not occur to him that if he needs these things when out — which he does — he needs to carry them in a bag if they won’t fit in pockets. For him, normal is walking out the door with wallet, keys and phone in his pocket.

onlychildhamster · 30/12/2021 14:46

@Omicrone it's really not about quality with Chanel..for that price you can go to Italy and get someone to make you a bag for you and customize it to YOUR needs and that would be far more luxurious imho. It's about the design which has been desirable for years. The queen carries launer which is a fraction of the price of Chanel though still in the thousand pound mark and apparently they do customize it to her needs. Her handbags are very recognizable and arguably part of her outfit. Same with Thatcher's bags.

My DH thinks luxury leather bags like Chanel and hermes would go the way of fur coats. They used to be very fashionable and desirable and every middle class lady had one or aspired to have one. Now they are found in second hand shops as the grand daughters refuse them. My DH's grandma had several fur coats and none of the 4 grand daughters want them. In the future, maybe leather would go the same way as fur as it would be horrifying to see people carrying the by products of dead cows. I did consider buying the vegan senreve Maestra but they have so few colours!

HairyToity · 30/12/2021 14:46

Not sure. £100 is my limit on handbags and shoes. £200 my limit on a nice winter coat. Whatever floats your boat.

1concernedmummy · 30/12/2021 14:47

Is 'bloke' slang for misogynist now?

MrzClaus · 30/12/2021 14:48

@saleorbouy

"As a bloke I'm at a loss firstly as to why you need to lug a bag of "stuff" about with you and secondly how the exorbitant cost can even be justified.
It seems to me the more expensive the handbag the more garish, chavvy and hideous the look.
When I see someone strutting about with one I just think "gullible"."

Well I need to carry a purse, my phone, normally hair ties / a lip balm and some ginormous tampons. My clothes often don't have pockets, because they're not designed with them.

My most expensive handbags (several k) have no obvious branding, unless you know handbags you probably wouldn't know they're expensive.

And feck yes I strut about with my bags, just like I'm sure you strut about with your superior attitude.

The thing is I can't use a loud car like a man can to show everyone how big my penis is, I have to do it with designer bags.

justasking111 · 30/12/2021 14:52

I can't recall the last time I used a clutch bag. They're prettier but no use since children and now grandchildren came along. My reading glasses, water bottle, tissues, wet wipes, purse, all fit in sometimes kids bits, kindle, even my new phone is bigger.

I can throw in discarded jumpers, nappies, sudocrem . After Three baby bags being lugged around I swore never again so find the tote bag stylish and functional

onlychildhamster · 30/12/2021 14:59

@justasking111 I bought a clutch for future weddings/events. Used to lug my big bag around but everyone kept asking me why I brought such a big bag! No kid yet, just a bag lady who likes to redo her makeup! ..

And yes to pads. @MrzClaus I usually wear a menstrual cup but am a heavy bleeder so need to bring a few around with me. Might be too much info for blokes. If I carried it in my coat pocket and it fell out, it might give some blokes a heart attack. Yes some of them are that freaked out by bodily functions

CrimbleCrumble1 · 30/12/2021 15:06

I use a clutch for formal nights when I cruise, I enjoy using them.

MrzClaus · 30/12/2021 15:06

@onlychildhamster

Obviously a simple man can't comprehend that we women might come with equipment 😂

I had a tampon come out of my bag during a security check in an airport once - you'd think it was a bomb the way TSA reacted 😂

Cam22 · 30/12/2021 15:07

I think they’re tacky. Much better to be an individual with discerning taste. The women who tend to have them are those who like matchy matchy shoes and bag, sport fake tans and have no idea of what taste really is.