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?

It was those for whom school fees were a struggle who insisted on the designer gear

I know this view is popular on MN but it really doesn’t align with my experience.

In reality the really rich are wearing designer because that’s what’s available to them.

either you’re spending your summer in Capri or Mykonos and therefore your options are Bruno Cucinelli and Miu Miu rather than Bershka M&S or you’re spending your summer working and your stylist, who you see once a quarter, is picking out all of your clothes from Harrods/Selfriges/the cute little boutique they’re affiliated with.

either way they’re not heading to the wrong side of town or the retail park where they might wander past a Primark or Next

I have a Mulberry, a Balenciaga, a Demellier and two Fendi. I’ve had two Prada, a Mulberry and two Balenciaga that I had to sell when I needed cash for a trip to America. I had a gorgeous white leather Miu Miu bag that seems to have gone missing at some point. Some of them were my mums and I inherited them.

The only thing I’d spend lots of money on is bags. I don’t have any designer clothes or shoes. I don’t drive. Not a home owner. They’re my only indulgence and I love them.

Even if I became immensely wealthy my scarcity mindset could never. I felt like I was splurging when I bought a £70 handbag last year -- that was an investment piece for me! I don't see the point in buying something just for the label anyway. Surely a £2000 handbag cannot be materially better than, say, a £500 one?

Dh spends a huge amount on clothes and shoes. We’re not rich by any means - dh works full time in a fairly low paid job, I get long term PIP and we get dla for teenage ds. We both have the same amount of spending money (£450 a month) but whereas I enjoy frittering mine away on day to day stuff and cheaper clothes, dh will barely spend anything on himself for ages and then go and spend ££££ on one item. If it makes him happy that’s fair enough! We are lucky to have paid off our mortgage (from when I was a higher earner) so we probably have more disposable income than many.

I'm not buying £600 trainers but I do buy the occasional investment piece eg I bought an expensive necklace recently. I will have that necklace for the rest of my life I imagine. I earn well and don't have kids. I don't buy designer bags

I have two high-end bags; both are pre-loved/vintage. Both cost less than 1k. They get pulled out on appropriate occasions but not every day.

Each year I buy myself one gorgeous item using all the funds from my Vinted sales during the year. I’m a SAHM, and have plenty of funds, but I can’t justify to myself spending regular amounts on expensive kit. I like to keep my money for my child. Plus I’m a huge vintage queen.

I agree. I live in Paris. French women absolutely do wear their (tasteful) Chanel and other luxury French bags out and about. I recently went to a Chanel auction, where you could visit beforehand to view and try on things like the jackets; it was rammed with quite regular looking women.

I’ve seriously upped my game since living here, and realised that a decent bag and shoe is a good investment. Sadly the Chanel bag I wanted went for a huge amount (they’re a great investment). I did score a pair of Roger Vivier shoes on Vinted, and am delighted with the quality.

I earn over €300k, mortgage cleared, no debts, so I do spend on nice items. I have multiple designer bags, some of which I’ve had 15 years or more, and I invest in good quality antique jewellery. I drive a good, reliable car. My home is modest but very comfortable and has everything I need. I buy decent quality but not designer clothes and would never spend hundreds on trainers, they don’t float my boat at all. Holidays, concerts, theatre are other areas that I don’t scrimp on.

The typical buyers don't seem to be on this thread... An acquaintance has a handbag collection totalling over £250,000, built while she lived in the ME with her husband who was working for a sheikh as a financial advisor.
There may be women earning their own money who buy some of these items - corporate lawyers, city analysts etc, but those who have the time to properly shop tend to be "wives of" rather than the official earner. (I'm thinking of the saying "marry a man for his money and you'll work hard for every penny".)

I'm definitely in the ME+EM, sezane bracket. I could afford a £2,000 bag but would much prefer a couple of nights in an incredible hotel (my weakness, I know others think it's insane). And I default to one bag at all times which has to be big enough for laptop etc during the week and nappies and clothes at the weekend. Currently it's a Polene cyme but it's getting pretty battered. Am thinking the Sezane gary maxi next. I feel I'm too rough on bags to make a beautiful one last. I guess it's just where you value your spending. I do have an eye on a MaxMara coat though, I might treat myself when I get a chunky bonus. I also have a hankering for a vintage chanel quilted bag but I don't think I could ever justify that.

Who only wears trainers for a few months... ?

I bought myself a Mulberry Bayswater when I passed my degree. Not sure I could afford one now!

I don’t buy many clothes these days but tend to buy nice pieces from Poetry and have just bought my summer ones, top, trousers, cardigan and sandals.

I probably now have 3 Mulberry handbags, 4 Fairfax and Favor handbags, a Burberry handbag, l used to have a lot more, I’ve sold some and gifted some to young women who aren’t able to yet afford these bags but appreciate them. I’ve often really wanted a handbag, then find out it’s totally impractical for my needs.

I’ve never bought anything l can’t afford or put myself in debt, l find my needs are reducing with age and shop accordingly.

From my first antique ring at 20. I've bought a lot or been gifted over the years jewellery. I love a good coloured stone, gold my favourite metal a few pieces are insured the rest I don't bother with.

I've had the odd designer bag, outfit. But it's jewellery that I adore.

We have a relatively high household income & DH likes buying expensive watches like Patek Philippe & Cartier & Chopard Happy Diamond for me . I used to buy Maxmara in my early 30's but was never into designer handbags, although I do have a hankering for a NeverFull. Now I have 4 kids with 3 in uni its all about saving for them although we do still go on nice holidays. I'm happy to wear clothes from anywhere, as long as they're made from natural fabrics & they fit properly.

I have a Fendi bag, a Balenciagia bag and a Stella McCartney bag.

I rotate them and use them every single day so for me, they're worth it. Also, they last because they are decently made.

Prior to this, I used to go through bags every few months- with cheaper ones the zips would break, or the lining would develop holes, or the straps would eventually come off etc. The amount of cheaper bags I've bought probably equals the same cost of the designer ones over the years so for me, its worth it.

The most Ive spent on trainers is probably £300 and again, for the same reasons as above, cheap trainers degrade quickly.

I dont understand what you mean by "only last a few months" - the opposite is true- cheap bags and cheap shoes never last.

This

I have a classic navy Max Mara wool & cashmere coat, bought in 2003. Still amazing condition. Definitely a worthwhile investment.

I don’t - but my £45 trainers are nearing 4 years old - no holes, no stink, and in clean condition. I’ve had my Knomo work bag since 2018. What are you doing with your stuff that they only last a few months.

@Newmeagain i am 50 and married with kids we have two well paid jobs. I have designer handbags I treated myself to a Chanel £1850 but it was pre loved I love it and it’s actually worth a lot more now. An investment piece well that’s what I tell myself 😂

My designer bags were all bought when I was working and could afford them via work bonuses. They are all loved and still in use. I've also bought pre-loved. I've got various brands (Mulberry, LV, Gucci, Alexander McQueen and Marc Jacobs). Now I've retired I really don't need to spend that sort of money (not that I can afford it). I've got a fake Mulberry mini Alexa which my SIL got for me in Turkey which is very good quality and which is much admired when I use it, and I've got a couple of Coach bags and an Aspinal bag all of which I used for work. I don't begruge those who can spend the money on bags or clothes and accessories, but it's not for me now.

That's not to say I don't live vicariously though the various handbag threads on S&B - I'm not one to say 'don't waste your money, spend it on a bench....!'

I not into bags (I see them as necessary evil, usually prefer to go around without one) but I wonder if the prices used to be more accessible for an average person? I love scarves and have a small collection, the price of new 90 Hermès scarves has been going up every year, quite consistently.

I do. And I buy them with money I earn, not my husband’s money. I have one particular pair of trainers in 4 different colours because they are the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn. Oldest pair I’ve had for 3 years and they are still going strong, I imagine I’ll still be wearing them for many years to come. I don’t give a shit about fashion, I buy quality items that I like and that make me happy. I have expensive handbags that I bought 20 years ago that I still use. The vast majority of my things aren’t overtly branded and most people wouldn’t even know what they were.

I think you're describing a much richer group here than OP's "people who earn £500k" though.

Luxury goods are about signaling wealth and the perceived status that wealth gives the wearer. Not everyone in this world attaches status to highly visible signals that can be bought by anyone with the cash.