Expensive statement pieces

[Sundaystudythoughts]

Ok so maybe a bit of a taat, but read in that one that mulberry bags are out of vogue , so got me thinking what is?

In my head Burberry Mac, mulberry bayswater, black jimmy choo heels, are all classy investment pieces.

Am I behind times, are these dated?

Any new or different examples?

I'm not sure about being bang on trend but I've heard mulberry quality has really gone downhill in the last few years. I think they shifted manufacturing to another country so for me I would rule them out based on quality reviews alone!

I think in the last few years with the rise of Instagram there seems to be more 'it' items and they crop up more often, if that makes sense.

I don't think any of the things listed are "classy". Both the Mulberry and Jimmy Choos have always been considered blingy and "advertising ostentatious wealth" rather than class. Plus if I see a Bayswater I just presume it's a fake.
Burberry became so ubiquitous 20 or so years ago that I doubt that would be considered statement either.

Not sure really what would tbh.

I’d get statement jewelery or a nice watch.

Why are you are about mulberry bags being out of fashion?

None of those things are classy or investment worthy.

I wouldn't assume a bayswater is fake - tbh it depends a lot on the person it's on and how they're dressed. Smart looking woman dressing in office-y clothes, I'm not thinking fake. The bigger ones seem to be quite a classic work bag now. They're not seasonally trendy IT bags anymore but I don't think that's what you're after?

Better off buying diamonds than any of those things listed.

Investment worthy: large good quality diamond studs. Good quality dias in general. Your health. An amazing tailored wool coat. Forget the labels; labels for the sake of labels is so gauche

The Mulberry thing is just inverted snobbery. It’s perfectly obvious to anyone who owns a Mulberry what’s real and what isn’t. The quality has gone down. I wouldn’t buy one now but I love my old one.

Cross posted @BabyDarlingDollfaceHoney

So no investment one off pieces like a bag or coat that could lift an outfit?

I was hoping to buy a nice coat, bag and shoes soon as long-term wardrobe staples. So advice is just go for what I like/good quality?

IMO a stamens or investment piece will vary massively depending on the person.
It's only an investment if you love it and your going to wear it.

Personally I think a beige Burberry trench is a beautifully timeless coat however when I tried one I looked like my mother. On other people I think they look lovely. Just not me.

I have a beautifully cut black dolce and gabbana trouser suit but it's not something I wear everyday but when I do I always get a lot of compliments.

I also have a stunning Chloe swing silk black coat it's stunning and and I've had it for 15 years and again every time it comes out someone stops me. It cost over £2000 but every time I put it on I just love it.

My dh bought me a Cartier watch which I also think is pretty timeless but I must admit I don't wear it a lot.

Personally I'm not a mulberry fan at all it just screams middle aged mum to me. I would just rather have something not so obvious.

The pieces you mentioned sound like my wardrobe goals

Starting lower budget but am lost at what to aim for

Laura fantacci from wardrobe icons just bought a Burberry trench that she’s wanted for years and years and is calling it a timeless classic. Don’t know if that means anything to you but I think it does show that people are still treating them in this way

I have a Burberry coat - it is the shape of a trench but wool. I think it's timeless! However my oak NVT Bayswater I have had for 5 years and not used for at least 2 as the corner piping wore through. Had it fixed but it put me off. The newer Mulberry bags are even flimsier, more like a fast fashion brand - you'd get a Radley or similar lasting better now.

Interesting....any thoughts on what would make for a good investment bag nowadays? Budget up to 1k

I was looking at these the other day. They seem to be the same quality Mulberry used to be.

www.cambridgesatchel.com/collections/womens-tote-bags/products/large-emily-tote-black-saffiano

I think investment pieces are anything which has real craftsmanship and will therefore stand the test of time. So a watch that is made traditionally, rather than expensive because the casing has a fashionable brand name. A bag that is made from nice leather and finished well, no loud logos. A coat that again is stitched well, fits perfectly, has good buttons. It doesn't matter what the brand is - you can find these things from high end designers and sometimes from the high street if you look carefully and happen to have the right shape for a particular brand, so that their clothes for you well.
I think non blingy, but well made is more likely to be an investment piece for ordinary people, who can't afford Cartier covered in real diamonds.

Why not just change your mindset? The concept of ‘statement pices’ is outdated - and the only statement ever made with them was “I’m worried you won’t like me for myself so I’m wearing this to show you how much money I (or my rich partner) can spend.”

Now that most people have credit cards and access to the internet having a recognisable item really doesn’t mark you out as special.

Think about what works for your lifestyle, buy the best you can afford, look after it.

Sunday you may find this useful

My best quality bag is a Coach! A Scout Hobo that was £135 in the sale.

Personally for 1k I would be tempted to buy a couple of very good used bags - there are some great resellers out there. I think the mistake a lot of people make with good handbags is to only have/use one every day with every outfit. If you use the same oak Bayswater (for example) day in day out then for people who see you regularly it does the opposite of elevating the outfit.

I have enough handbags that I now have something good in most of my favourite colours so there's something which will go with every outfit and lift it. That includes a couple of bayswaters (colourful ones in my case), a Del Rey, a nice Chloe hobo, a leather Longchamp in a fab yellow, a LV Alma, quite a few Coach bags (they are a great bargain in the sales)...but they lift my outfits because I don't wear them every single day.

Try looking at NPN bags, handbag clinic, HEWI (individual sellers so check carefully) to get more for your money. There are also some good facebook groups

I have a beautiful Jaeger camel coat that I wear in really cold weather. It’s still getting compliments after 14 years.

Yeah used bags are a good option if you know what you’re doing & what to look out for but it’s not something I’d recommend to a bag “novice”. There’s been a rise in “super fakes” recently so there’s always an element of risk that you may buy a fake.

"Statement", "investment " and "classic" pieces are all quite different in my view so what to go for depends on what you're trying to achieve, or the look you're going for.

In terms of items to "lift" a wardrobe I wear clothes from a very broad spectrum of retailers and people always express enormous surprise when I say a top is from primark.

I put this down to the fact that I always wear a good quality coat (current favourite is a wool camel Vivienne Westwood); shoes are always leather and I have a penchant for designer handbags.

That YouTube video is dreadful! My first thought was I wouldn’t take style advice from someone whose taste in furniture is so appalling. Then she produced a Louis Vuitton bag - the most copied brand ever. I couldn’t take any more after that.