Why do people buy designer bags/shoes?

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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.

I buy designer bags because I can afford to, I love the classic designs, the bags are better quality, the shops give excellent customer service and I like the way I get treated when I buy the bag. It’s an experience. The bags instantly elevate an outfit.

I wouldn’t have a tattoo.

horses for courses.

I used to work with someone who treated me with absolute contempt for not being interested in designer everything. I would therefore guess that for her, a designer bag or shoes or whatever was a permit to treat other people with contempt.

Funny, the things that make other people happy, isn't it?

People just buy what they want, surely

Aren't they brilliant? I work in a casual office but my Bayswater gets wheeled out every year for a big national conference I go to and I feel like the bee's knees. I think it's old enough to be sold online as "vintage". 😆

My Lv messenger is now about 30 years old and still looks good, back then it was about 200 not sure if made now but i think they last sold at around 800 and quality is not as good. its a very useful size.

Where I live it's very designer label orientated. I wouldn't know a designer symbol if I saw one.
I worked in our local schools and one of our TAs was wearing a Gucci necklace. She was most put out when one of the kids said he liked her necklace because it had a pumpkin on it.

Apparently the Gucci symbol looks a bit like a pumpkin....

This could be a response on a large proportion of mumsnet threads!

I'm not too sure, it's just my thing I guess. I don't care about designer clothes but I love a designer bag. I tend to buy second hand if I spit a bargain, though many bags hold their value so it's not always cheaper. I don't drink, don't smoke, avoid fast fashion as much as I can and have to really save for these bags. I feel a sense of achievement holding them, I don't go for ones with the name emblazoned everywhere, I buy them for me, not to show off to other people

Yeah. Expressing disapproval by feigning confusion is pretty standard stuff in the stealth judging armoury. I think my mother wrote the book about it .

The Mulberry bags are quite reasonable anyway as they are quite big for the money

Maybe you need to reframe the question and look at why you feel guilty spending money on yourself? £35 isn't a lot of money to spend on a bag unless your finances are tight. Are they?

To answer your question, I like them. I have a few designer bags that have been gifted to me. I take good care of them and will give them to my girls one day. I probably wouldn't buy one for myself as I can think of other things that I could spend the money on eg. house improvements. I've also recently gone self employed so wouldn't be spending a large sum on an item I consider non essential. I'm at a different stage of life now though, when I worked full time pre kids I bought myself a designer watch without hesitation.

Some people spend smaller sums of money but every few weeks getting their hair done or new nails, some will get regular massages or facials some like to buy investment pieces such as designer bags, shoes or jewellery. To each their own.

I like luxury handbags and I agree some can be ridiculously expensive. But if you can afford that expense and the bag brings you joy, crack on and buy what you want.
I would absolutely love to own a Hermes Kelly but before I ever did purchase one I would get a similar bag so I can give it a test run to see if it's really for me.

It depends on your situation, I haven't got any DC to have to pay for or pass stuff on to, they seem to be the most expensive thing to have, much more so than any bag, however expensive it is.

I wouldn't pay £800 for a bag but equally I don't think you can get a good quality bag for £35, even high street pvc bags are more than that in high street shops....I have a leather bag from all saints that I bought 4 years ago, its my only bag, so I use it every day, the leather is still immaculate but the piping is falling apart. I really don't want to change it because its such a practical bag (cross body with a flap with immediate access to my cards, and enough space for a lip balm and phone..) i think I spent £120 on the bag on the sale.

I usually don't comment on these threads but happy to 'justify' my purchases and will put my armour on for what may come.

As others have said, I earn more than enough and would like my purchases to last a lifetime. This could be well known and established brands or leather hand crafted sandals from Greece.
I'm happy wearing high street if it suits my need.
Also lots of designer items are discreetly branded and no more branded than high street alternatives, see attached pic of recent purchase. Will take cover for the comments that the bag looks like and is the same quality as something that costs £50 to £100.

I guess people like them. Means nothing to me as dont own a handbag so don't really understand it but each to rheir own

Sometimes though a £35 bag does suffice, I just today bought a largish Kipling bag off Amazon for £35 as there are some situations where a leather bag isn't suitable.

It is all relative. Some people spend more on cosmetics in a week than I do in a year. Some people spend £1000s on the sort of package holiday that would make me shudder. Some people spend a fortune on hair, nails, tattoos, cigarettes etc etc

I actually don't like the look of many designer bags and wouldn't use a Mulberry Bayswater even if someone gave me one. However I have almost certainly one of the largest perfume collections in the UK...

I suppose it doesn’t go all the way to explaining why people go for designer and spend more but in general a handbag won’t make you look bad in the mirror when you try it on, won’t get too big or too small if your weight changes. It’s all all round positive experience buying a bag unlike some clothes can be so worth the investment if it makes you feel good.

Yep, the real answer.

I found that the wealthier I got the less I desired stuff like this. I guess you become more reasurred and don't feel like you want everyone to know.

Nowdays I often assume designer items people wear are fake as there's so many fakes anyway, the heavily branded/logo heavy bags look so tacky IMO

That's not full price for a Kipling though. Attached is a screenshot of their current range. Mostly £80 and up.

Some would say you can get an identical bag made of the same canvassy stuff from Matalan for £18. It's all relative.

I use a Roka bag for days out with DS which was £35 in their lucky dip but should be £70 so I'd probably class that as expensive for a canvas bag.

I dont see the need for a bag personally. Just put stuff in my pockets. But I accept that I dont look finished or polished or whatever you are if you have your stuff in a bag costing hundreds or thousands

I spend my money on fast and expensive cars, too. And running trainers. And horses. And I’m not limited to ‘lady things’.

That's what I got, a navy Gabbie, I think it was medium, they are rrp about £90 I think, I paid £36.10, I just looked, it was in the Spring sale

I’m with you OP! I buy decent bags that are functional and look nice. £35 is the most I spent on one.