Who is buying the really expensive handbags and £600 trainers??

[Newmeagain]

I really like clothes and have always splurged on the occasional “investment” item - e.g. nice boots, a jacket from ME&EM that I loved, etc.

But even though I am on a high salary I can’t imagine spending £2000 on a handbag or £600 on fashion trainers that will only last a few months.

I work with lots of women in a professional environment, all earning between £150k/£200k - many don’t have children - and I don’t see any designer items. Mostly mix of standard high street brands plus a bit of Sezane and similar.

So - if you are spending £££, are you earning over £500k or have a partner who does?

I also expect clothes to last a very long time, and use that as a motivator to stay thin and not succumb to age-related weight gain.

Where I’m from you see people with them fairly often, often Mulberry or the LV totes, even though I’m from a low income area.

I know people who have bought them, and they’re often a stretch financially, like maybe for a big birthday or wedding present when a fair few people have put to for them.

I do splurge on the odd higher end high street brand like Sezane or Nobody’s Child or I have some Free People dresses and tops etc but I couldn’t justify to myself a 4 digit handbag! Even though I’d love a Chanel one 🤣

In my experience, people who are genuinely wealthy don’t care about designer labels, and tend to be more careful with their money. I think it tends to be people from working class backgrounds who feel that they have something to prove who by this stuff.

Thinking about it I'd have been way more likely to splurge on a mulberry bag or similar in my 20's when my income was much lower but my responsibilities were basically zero (rent on a crappy flat in zone 2, minimal food as I was never there) than I would be now even though technically I can afford it now and couldn't then. My 19 year old niece has a minimum wage part time job but she lives at home and her wardrobe is much fancier than mine.

I see those bags and shoes at my DD's prep and toddler classes - we're in N London and incomes are at least that much, plus lots of family money. Lots of law and finance types, their dcs come in wearing the kind of clothes sold in Selfridges kids section. Our HH income is just into that bracket and we're not spending that much on accessories, though I think a £2k handbag could be an investment as it could last years. Trainers wear out though or they become unfashionable quickly. But then again I've spent more than £600 on Mounjaro in a few months, so it's all about priorities!

I'm a high earner (not telling you how much) but when I get a bonus I'd usually put some in savings, some goes to holidays, stuff fr the house etc, but I'll typically put around 5k to one side to buy something posh for myself. I have a few very expensive things like Burberry coats, a few Chanel handbags and a YSL one. I like it, like the fact I earned the money that paid for it, one day my daughter can have them.

I have a few expensive handbags and I’m not super rich. I just liked them and chose to save for them. They’re on the mid-range of designer (Mulberry, Gucci) rather than Chanel or the £2k+ range. I have four bags in total, whereas most of my friends have a variety of cheaper bags in each “category” and replace them often from wear or change of taste. That probably doesn’t add up to much less than I’ve paid for mine (a variety of second hand, sale price and full price).

I don’t think I’ve ever spent more than about £150 on trainers.

I don’t buy myself expensive bags, but my husband buys them for me as gifts sometimes. He bought me a Mulberry Boston bag last month for our anniversary. Not sure of price, but it’s more than I’d spend.

Hm that's definitely a UK-wealth thing where you have this strange thing where the proper aristocracy / old money all drive clapped out old range rovers and spend all day in wellies. The world is a big place and certainly in most of Europe, the US, South America - the wealthy absolutely wear very fancy designer clothes and visible wealth (huge rings etc)

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Same here. Less splurges recently as with two under 5s and a huge mortgage most of my bonus goes to childcare and family holidays as regular salary no longer covers that but pre kids I regularly spent 5k of my bonus each year on something for me (Chanel bag, nice jewellery etc).

I would never spend that amount but ive got a chloe and aspinal handbag and when I was using a changing bag I got a jem and bea one that cost a few hundred. Have had them all for 10 plus years and used them without being very precious about them and they all look brand new. Can't say that about any cheaper bags I have.

When I was on around 50K and child free I spent around £700 each on two bags. One I still use and is it great condition and the other I’ve used once!

I do spend around £250 every other year on a really decent warm winter coat which I then wear to death.

I earn close to 90K now and wouldn’t spend £700 on a handbag now, but I’m a single parent so much more careful with money. I spend around £100 on trainers but will have them for 2-3 years.

I’m 50 in 2029 and am considering saving up for a Loewe Puzzle bag to treat myself. If I do it will be my most expensive fashion purchase ever!

Agree with this. I just said I wouldn't spend that much on a bag but I've been on mounjaro for a year and we're about to go on a holiday that cost what some people would consider to be an obscene amount so there's no judgement, just different preferences/priorities.

Is it weird? I don’t know about the US and South America, but in the UK, and many European countries, flashy wealth tends to be viewed as tacky. Your average French woman certainly doesn’t buy Chanel.

However, I can totally imagine that Americans love to flaunt it. Possibly Italians too, but certain about that.

I go quite cheap on clothes and pretty much all on Vinted. Air and Grace on sale is the most I spend on shoes.

My bag collection is 3 mulberry, 1 Chanel 2.55, 2 Anya hindmarch, a prada clutch and a couple of other small brands. This has been amassed over working 20 years and from bonuses. I also buy secondhand.

We are a high income household and there’s some things I don’t spend on like highlights, manicures, Botox etc that many friends do. But it’s obviously all coming from a place of privilege and I’d sell the whole collection if I needed the money (I have plenty in savings).

I wish I’d bought a Chanel 2.55 when I first wanted one, it would have been the best investment of my life. I still lust after them. I own three Mulberry bags - I didn’t pay full price for any of them - and I expect them to outlast me, they’re showing no signs of wear despite regular use. I’m a believer that you get what you pay for.

It isn’t me. I don’t care about named brands so I wouldn’t buy them. You can get beautifully made items in fine fabrics from independent stores.
I bought some Brooks trainers recently (recommended by my husband) because I have foot problems and every time I go out someone asks me which ones they are. They’re a thing apparently. I’d never heard of them.

I like vendula bags and have a smallish collection (7 now) but they range in price. My most expensive was £150 and I winced at that price.... but its a beautiful bag and I very rarely buy myself anything so treat myself now if I see one on vinted

I hate trainers with huge designer logos on them so no mater how much I earn I will never buy them. They look awful IMO.

When you have enough money to buy stuff like that, it loses its appeal. When it's slightly out of reach or you're stretching yourself, it has appeal. I could buy a flash handbag every month, therefore it has no appeal to do so. Labels also make me cringe these days.

I have a lovely LV record bag. Haven’t used it for 15 years.

I dont think I could justify it to myself TBH. Also the idea of wearing things that cost hundreds or even thousands of pounds would make me nervous (inc jewelry)...although that may be a reflection on where I live!😂
Designer stuff does nothing for me though, I get the 'oooh, its the quality!' argument but after a certain price the quality is no different and you are just paying for the name.
I think Id probably be a cheap and cheerful dresser if I won the lottery too!
But if it makes someone happy then its no different then a treating yourself to a nice holiday or a new car is it?

Currently have a few mulberry (one a vintage from Vinted) and Gucci. Was going to get a few more but the prices of designer bags went up around Covid and we left the EU so no duty free anymore. 2 of the Gucci ones would have cost me around £600 each before we left the EU. I paid £950 each. And then we had to start paying nursery fees so had to stop buying them after that.

I read your message and thought pfttt what a waste of money, then looked at the trainers. They are really niiiiice! I’ve wanted a pair since Beyoncé wore them in the Love On Top video, couldn’t wear a heel to save my life though…even a wedge trainer. Gorgeous to admire from a distance though 😍