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 have a couple of pairs of Ferragamo “trainers” which have lasted years and are still in really good condition. The last bag I bought was more than £2k however I use it daily and it still looks good.

Do you have any children?
My DH will shortly earn £200k and we will not be in a position for me to spend £££ on anything. I do have a lovely bag from The Horse that was around £200.
Maybe once our kids are through uni? One is 7 🤦🏻‍♀️

I have a few Chanel and LV bags bought by dh for birthdays, some of which (The Chanel) were over £5k. I would never dream of spending that kind of money myself though. I do love Maxmara but will usually buy in the sale. Dh loves a bargain, we’re skiing and we found a Bogner current season ski jacket half price. I don’t need another jacket so walked out but It’s like he didn’t have a choice, he had to go back and get it.

I buy myself a new mulberry bag every year because I can and would rather a decent bag to use every day. And bought DD a LV for her 18th as a gift that she could keep and remember her 18th by. Earn well and have excess funds each month and bags are something I can use everyday so worth the money in my eyes.

I am not a real huge bag person I can't use a tote or massive bags. I have a nice cross body bag by lv bought second hand. I use it most weeks it a nice size with a thick strap not too heavy on my shoulder. I have a fab Alexander mcqueen clutch bag a few years old. I bring it out for weddings or going out. I do splurge on certain items it has changed as got older no longer the heels or dressy dresses but now good jeans or trousers stuff that I can wear to work and day wear etc. i can afford sometimes and I get alot of vouchers too. I have a fab pair of issabel marant Beth runners in black patent. they are closer to a shoe than a runner so suitable for work aswell they are very comfortable. have a few nice belts as they also smarten up an outfit. that's how I think now. for practical wear walking dogs and with horses I have invested in good quality coat and body warmers. I don't shop every week now I don't go into supermarket clothes sections next etc I only go when I need something and even before that I would have looked online or vinted (vinted is excellent for getting brands can't afford normally for a good price) to buy 1st before physically step into a shop. I have sold and am still selling a lot of my wardrobe. I have learned what to look for for quality now and know my brands and stick to that. if I am looking for something specific I will save for it use some of my bonus if can or use money of what I have sold to pay for it

It is interesting, as I did buy much more branded clothes before and still have a good stock of it, and although I earn much more now I find high street brands to be quite good and have no need to spend £££ on something that I can buy for much less and is equally good. I would compromise for a bag or really good boots but still nothing above e.g. £600.

Keep wearing them for short amounts of time, and they’ll stop hurting! 🙂

I earn profit of £220k in my company annually and I just can’t bring myself to buy a designer bag / clothes

my 3 year old son on the other hand 😂😃

I bought a couple of £500 bags years ago but find them heavy now so I have a fairly basic leather rucksack, although I earn a lot more.

I have designer stuff but it's 2nd hand as I like to feel I've got a bargain, not been ripped off. So probably not in the bracket you are talking about.

However - I do buy jewellery including antique earrings that cost £2k. I wear them and others on any random day, I don't save them for events.

I’ve got several Mulberry bags. I love them, they make me happy, and they will last me years if not decades (a couple are several years old already). I earn and save well and they are a treat; each was bought after time spent researching, considering and lusting after them. I’d rather one £1000 bag I love than 20 £50 ones.
On the other hand I have no interest in shoes at all and am happy with my adidas trainers! My car is a runaround that’s been scuffed and knocked about and I don’t have masses of expensive jewellery or expensive hobbies. I don’t drink or smoke. Bags, holidays and nice gifts for others are my things.

I think it’s understandable that some of us on lower incomes are more likely to buy luxury goods, albeit perhaps the more ‘aspirational’/accessible luxury. We’ll likely never have our dream house, but we could have our ideal wardrobe still.

Those on higher income can put so much money into houses, school fees, whatever else, that they don’t have much left over to treat themselves. That’s how it seems on Mumsnet, anyway.

The super rich/ luxury market is growing. The rich are getting richer. It's only us plebs who are getting pushed harder and harder. My husband works for a huge brand whose whole business strategy is evolving in the recognition that the middle class is becoming less and less. Sad.

Same here.
Live off inheritance, commercial and domestic rentals.

A lot depends on stage of life & priorities. I spent far more on Isabel Marant in my 20s vs post dc.

I don’t really like to spend more than £250
on shoes now & £500 on a bag but I have to really want something.

I don't know who buys things like this, certainly nobody in my circle. Tbh, even if I had a million in the bank I could think of much better things to spend £2k on than a handbag. It just seems to be the perfect example of a 'fool and his money is soon parted'.

Plus I can no longer afford to splash the cash, dc are expensive. I don’t plan on working f/t & want to retire early.

I spend a lot of time in Paris and rich Parisian women absolutely wear Chanel. Not the gaudy logos everywhere type but yes, the clothing and the bags. And they’d never be seen without their cartier watches.

Having travelled and lived all over the world, the UK is quite an outlier in that it’s the only place where ‘old money’ is shown by being honest to god scruffy, barbour coats and tweeds etc. Some places (Scandinavia, East Coast US) have more of a stealth-wealth look (groomed but no visible labels but those in the know will recognise outfits worth thousands) vs southern europe where it is more labels and bling on show.

Same boat OP

I’m sat on the fence about a new bag thats around £200. Feels like an insane amount to me even though I can easily afford it. Don’t think I have bought a new handbag for about 8 years

trainers, I find the nike factory store is sufficient whether here or the US. £600 for trainers no way lol

I had a Birkin years ago and a flashy engagement ring and drove a Porsche all gifts from an absolute git of an ex. He thought he could gift his way out of trouble and it was status. The Birkin came as he noticed his ex wife had a nice car and he went and got me a new Porsche the following week to go and ‘pick the kids in’ I twigged it was to make her jealous (she had left him after having an affair) so I was his status symbol - 10 years younger, slimmer (pre children) etc I was the status symbol.

I got rid of him. And the handbag which although nice I dreaded bashing it or getting it nicked etc a the car drove like a tank.

I could go and buy any designer handbag I like I have money in the bank. But actually happier spending it on my allotment and a good take away and getting my children set up for life!

I did and do buy designer items but not as much as I did. My lifestyle and what’s important to me has changed since then.

one of my friends always wears designer clothes. But she is at the very top of her game, has no kids and would have paid off her mortgage. She always looks amazing. I've got the odd lower end designer piece - DvF, Rixo - but actually none of them fit me any more.

Maybe that's the appeal with bags, it doesn't matter if you put on weight!

If you had a million in the bank what would you spend your money on? Are any luxury things a turn-off for you or your thing would be an amazing car or stunning home interior or would jewellery be your thing?

just being nosey x

I’m a bit like my auntie who used to own her own business and got me started on the original mulberry bag habit, she bought me one, which was generous of her. Now she’s retired she doesn’t spend much on designer gear though she does like to look nice. Maybe at the back of her mind is care home fees as her mum had to go into one with Alzheimer’s.

We have a household income of over £200k and would never spend huge amounts of money on designer items. I would pay for jewellery but would rather spend my money going on nice holidays in my high street clothes!

I always think obvious branded items (thinking Louis Vuitton and Gucci) are a bit desperate and try hard. No offence to anyone who has such items obviously just an opinion!