Why do people buy designer bags/shoes?

[ettieb]

I have seen a few threads recently with people discussing designer handbags and I'm absolutely baffled why people are spending so much money on a handbag.
What can be so special about a handbag (or a pair of shoes) that people will pay hundreds of pounds for them when they can get a decent leather bag for a fraction of the cost of a designer bag?
There must be a limit to how good the quality of a bag can be... surely no bag is worth £800?
The most expensive bag I have ever bought cost £35 and I felt very guilty as this is a lot of money for a bag in my world.
Is it a status thing? Do they buy and carry these bags so other people will know that they have lots of money to waste?
I honestly don't get it, it just seems obscene to me. I get that people can spend their money on whatever they want but it just seems such a waste and so show-offy.

@maddy68
There are many bags without obvious logos.
This is an absolute classic imo

I bought a Louis Vuitton bag on a trip ti New York when I was 21. Still using regularly 19 years later. Think I had my moneys worth out of it and then some.

My Mantaray bag has a logo on it. Is that acceptable? It's actually busier and louder than the bag Blossomtoes posted.

The only people who'd ever notice are the ones checking bags for logos...in other words, those who are into bags.

I don’t particularly want and don’t have a designer bag, but I have a Dd who does want one.

Im not sure I understand either. But I buy most of my clothes in supermarkets. I can afford to buy better, but I can’t be bothered to go clothes shopping and I have enough clothes in my wardrobe. But there is a reason that I don’t buy easily identified Tesco/Sainsbury/Asda clothes as I don’t want other people to recognise them.

Im happy wearing Next, M&S clothes in all colours and shades, so I guess that’s how I see myself.

Im much older and didn’t have the awareness of Designer Stuff when I was younger, plus I no longer care how I look., (I care, but not like I did when I was younger).

The only explanation I can think of that makes sense to me is that some people just inherently feel special and feel they deserve better. Ie the ad phrase “because I’m worth it”

It makes evolutionary sense as it makes these people strive more (maybe they’d be the ones looking for a comfier cave or fresher drinking water, while others would be going “oh this is all right, let’s make do with it).

I probably could have done with more of this attribute. If I had felt that I deserved better I might have got more from life.

My Dd with her striving to feel special has just bagged an amazing pay rise.

So really that designer bag hanging off her arm is just another way of saying I’m going to follow my dreams and I won’t settle for less. Good on them!

Or am I spouting absolute bollocks?

I had no idea that handbags would bring out such strong opinions. I dislike obvious branding of clothes and accessories. When I got my modest Radley bag the first thing I did was remove the dog tag. It could be any old bag as far as anyone esle is concerned, but I am not someone who notices brands on clothes and accessories anyway.

I expect this bag will outlast me. I don't take a bag out with me very often these days.

These threads are exactly the same as the ones about flash cars. Not a single person will admit to purchasing for the imagined prestige. That they think people will be impressed or jealous and think they are wealthier than they are etc.

I think assuming people who don’t want expensive designer bags are just jealous is not a very emotionally intelligent suggestion and just trying to hit back because you feel judged.

I love and have expensive bags, a friend who is probably richer than me - we’re both additional
rate tax payers anyway - has a Radley bag and wouldn’t dream of forking out for a Chanel
flap. She’s not jealous of my bags and I’m not jealous of her very beautiful spacious Queen Anne manor house. And when I didn’t earn very much in my early twenties, I wasn’t jealous of my trustafarian friends with their loadsamoney. Not everyone is “just jealous”. Not everyone is boiling over with confusion and/or rage at the choices of other people.

Or am I spouting absolute bollocks?

No, you’re not. My friend’s daughter got a Fendi baguette for her 21st about 13 years ago. She’d just graduated and was looking for her first job in fashion marketing. She reckoned having THE bag of the season would help at interview - and it appeared it did, she got her dream job and the interviewer admired the bag as she left.

So what is the number you need in your bank account whereby having a designer bag signifies you are exactly as rich as you are, and not spending beyond your means?

People who buy designer bags are never going to admit they paid for the label because, rightly so, it would out them as superficial.

People can do what they want and buy what they want and they can pretend to themselves that the materials, designs and workmanship are worth the thousands if that makes them feel special. Not harming anyone I don't think.
Other people can afford them but wouldn't buy them because they know they'd be buying into the marketing.
Each to their own.

If it wasn't very much about buying in to the marketing and showing off then the counterfeit market wouldn't be worth circa £600bn. globally.

I don't think the issue is not wanting a designer bag. Funnily enough, the bag ladies seem to be the ones who understand that not everyone likes the same thing.

It's the ones whose reaction to designer bags is "You just did that to have an effect on me", "I know you're not actually rich", "Your life is empty", "You're a dirty nouveau riche", "You're just shallow and stoopid", "You have no taste", "I don't understaaaaaand" or any variation of "that makes me better than you". They're jealous and that's really obvious. Or they're pissed off because they're not getting acknowledged as superior for not having designer bags.

Mantaray bag owner here, by the way. Bags aren't my thing. Other things, some of which have been mentioned, are. But it's not beyond my wit to understand that what I get out of my fun money, other women get out of nice bags. It's not difficult.

Nice bag @Blossomtoes . Clearly we can agree!

@SynchOrSwim has it ever occurred to you that lots of people are rich and when they do their shopping they're not thinking of impressing you?

Well I bought my bag because of its style and design and the pockets it had. It could of been £35 of £400. I would of still got it.

So no im not pretending its worth more based on materials etc and I didnt buy it because of the label. I simply got it because I like how it looks and the pockets it has.

The counterfeit buyers aren't the real bag buyers. Totally different market. The very fact that the real bag buyers want the real thing when they could get a convincing fake for much less suggests that showing off isn't the primary motivation. Why pay more for that than you need to?

Why do people not accept that bags come in different qualities? We accept that some clothes and shoes are very high end, well made from beautiful materials. We accept that watches and cars can be feats of engineering. Why the refusal to accept that bags can also be made to a much higher than usual standard?

Is it because men buy clothes, shoes, watches and cars, but handbags are bought almost solely by women?

Good for you.

I think the counterfeit buyers would definitely buy the real bags if they had the money. A counterfeit marketing of £600bn is just proof that people, many people will buy something even if it's shocking quality just for the marketing. To show off.

I think the counterfeit buyers would definitely buy the real bags if they had the money.

Maybe. But the people who want and can afford the real thing aren't buying the counterfeits.

So of all the reasons to be spending this extra money on the real deal, impressing other people would seem to be the least of it. Why spend thousands to do that when you could fool 'em with something that was cheap as chips?

Is it really that hard to accept that it's not actually about you? And it's not actually a moral issue?

https://tressiemc.com/uncategorized/the-logic-of-stupid-poor-people/

this thoughtful piece is an interesting read on this subject.

I don’t think people are jealous of others having designer bags, but I DO think they’re jealous of people who have the disposable income to be able to afford a designer bag.

Especially at this time when people are struggling to pay for everyday essentials, buying a designer bag is a massive splurge and huge luxury. I’m quite sure that some people are jealous of having a spare £800 that could be spent elsewhere

Jealousy isn’t always a bad thing. Everyone doesn’t have to be really happy for everyone else, all the time. It’s ok to feel jealous sometimes, especially if someone is a lot more fortunate than you.

@pepperquorn not at all. I know many people who buy both. They have real Hermes and Chanel but like to buy fake bags too particularly the less classic bags. Extremely good fakes that cost £200-£300. They just would like bags that they don't like enough to pay £2k for. Seasonal bags, trend bags etc.

@ReneBumsWombats my previous post is for you also

I don’t think people are jealous of others having designer bags, but I DO think they’re jealous of people who have the disposable income to be able to afford a designer bag.

And there are people who just aren't interested in owning one.

Yes, I should have said “some” people

Probably on most things if we avoid politics!