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It bags: Are they worth the money?

Wednesday 27 March 2013
classicbags copy
Hermes Birkin, Hermes Kelly, Chanel flap, Bottega Veneta tote and Loewe tote


Previously, there was the logo mania where people carried their logo laden bags proudly as a symbol status. Think Gucci, Dior, Louis Vuitton. Now the pendulum swung the other way where the most desired bags are devoid of any visible labels yet there are still instantly recognizable. Ever since the black canvas Prada bags hit the stands two decade ago, we've seen the astronomical rise of It bags.

Women who would never ever consider dropping £1K on a piece of clothing would not bat her eyelid on a similarly priced handbag. It doesn't matter if you've binged for a week and now, wearing a pair of designer skinny jeans made your legs look like a couple of chorizos, your handbags love you just the same. Tall, short, fat, thin, normal sized feet, pixie sized feet (moi).... you don't have to worry about all that when you purchase a handbag. Designers caught on to this and made handbags their bread and butter while trying to attract and lure customers to their clothes. Take the rising star, Sophie Hulme who is taking the world by storm with her eye catching handbags but she's a womenswear designer by trade.

My question is are these bags truly worth the money? I've read and heard from friends about their Anya Hindmarch shoulder bag that fell apart with very moderate use in less than a year or the popular Stella McCartney bag with the chain unraveling after 3 wears. The MulberryAlexa bag has nearly doubled its price since its introduction a few years ago despite the fact that the production has since moved to China and Turkey where the labor cost is far lower than in the UK.

The majority of these fashion houses are now owned by conglomerates namely, LVMH, Prada, Richemont and PPR. Only a handful are still privately owned - Chanel by Wertheimer, Armani and Hermes, to a certain degree. There's the urgency of creating the next It bag to drive sales, increase profit and minimize operating costs in order to appease the shareholders. The focus of these luxury conglomerates is predominantly short term rather than long term where quality and maintaining traditional craftsmanship are compromised in the name of profit.

Let's be a little more anal here and talk about the details. To me, details and a good finishing are true indicators of a well made bag. Say, if we place two bags side by side - a Mulberry and a Loewe with the same price point, say, approximately £800. The edges of a Loewe has been sanded down and applied with resin but the surface is smooth to touch unlike the Mulberry bags I'd handled. A leather interior requires more expense and work compared to fabric variety which shockingly even bags above £1100 are lined with these days.

The leather exterior on the newer Balenciaga bags seem so thin and dry, it felt like I was touching a piece of paper. There have been complaints of strap clips on the popular Proenza Schouler PS1 which are too weak to support the bag. I was shocked to see how much the coating  on the hardware wears off despite minimal wear.

Is it unreasonable to expect my expensive designer bags to last at least a decade? I can't forget that gorgeous 30 year old Hermes Kelly I saw at a flea market in Paris in the late 90s. It was a testament to the incredible workmanship and the quality of the leather used at Hermes. The owner, I was told, paid 900 francs (approximately £625 in today's money) in the 60s and sold it to the shop owner for €2500. I've yet to see bags that look that good after being worn nearly everyday for 30 years AND has such a high resale value.

Call me a capitalist if you like but I hate the idea of flushing money down the drain after forking out an exorbitant amount for a consumer product just because it didn't last the distance. I'm feeling rather anti-IT bag these days. Three things come to mind whenever I feel the urge to plonk a hefty sum down - 1) quality of materials   2) workmanship  3) timeless design. So far, only 4 brands come to mind - Hermes, Chanel, Loewe and Bottega Veneta. What are your thoughts on It bags?

57 comments:

  1. I don't think IT bags are worth the money. Think Chloe Paddington. It's easy however, to get caught up in the hype and what's trending. For me, timeless design is the first criteria in buying a bag, followed by quality of materials and craftsmanship. I'd love to own more classics, in particular an Hermes, but I'm still trying to grow that money tree! ;)

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  2. I agree with the anti-it bag sentiment. I will pay the money for the purse as long as the quality is there, most high end bags don't have the quality any more. There is no pride in workmanship, move to China and forget the rest. I am not saying you could not product quality in China I just don't see most conglomerates caring about quality. It's all bottom line.

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  3. I agree; it’s not a big surprise to me that overpriced bags don’t have an AAA quality because that’s what high fashion seems to be these days: you pay for the design, the brand name, the celebrity who has worn it and all the surrounding hype, but not for the quality. And even if the quality and design are superb I don’t think they can justify the exorbitant prices of some bag models (bar them having precious stones!), no matter how aesthetically beautiful and well-made they are.

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  4. I agree with everything you say although sometimes it's hard not to fall for an IT bag because it's just so beautiful e.g. PS1. That being said, I just wanted to point out that I think Loewe is so severely underrated! Sure they may look dowdy sometimes, but the quality and craftsmanship is so fantastic.

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  5. I wrote a post about it in the past, called it "On bags and happiness" :) because I also felt overwhelmed with the whole It bag hype. I don't believe in them and, to be honest, the bigger the hype (and the more celebrities and bloggers I see with them), the less I want it. I liked older Mulberry bags and got one because I knew it would last me ages and so far we spent wonderful 7 years together. :) If I could, I would buy Bottega - I've loved the brand for a very long time (basically as soon as Maier became the head designer) and love the history and craftsmanship of each piece. And Chanel Boy, simply because I think it looks beautiful.
    x

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  6. I think.. it really depends. For me, price is relative, because it's about how much you as an individual consumer, are willing to spend on something.

    I have an 'IT' bag I suppose.. although when I first lusted after it, the production was fairly minimal and it was incredibly difficult to find. I waited a year and a half or so to buy it, and then dragged my friend to about 15 dept stores in the USA to no avail, at which point I purchased the bag from La Garconne (the Proenza PS11).

    I've had it close to two years now, and it's held up very well. There are some minor scratches to the leather (which seems more prone to holding these than my Celine wallet) due to my nails or something, but aside from that, it's in very good condition. No unravelling of the straps or anything - BUT I have heard that this isn't the case for all people with one.

    When it comes down to it, I wouldn't buy a bag solely because it's an IT bag. I spent a good 6 months searching for a cheaper alternative but couldn't see anything that I liked better. I tend to use my bags for years and years before I tend to even consider buying a new one, so to me the money spent seems worth it.

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  7. I think the Chanel quilted bag will always be a classic. It looks luxurious and feels exquisite. My cousin owns one, and boy did I eyeball it for the longest time. I'm still saving up to get one of my own.

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  8. I have lusted after...and have gone on to purchase one or two 'It' bags. The only one that has stood the test of time is the Chanel bought in 1991. Used it last on Friday night.....it's still going strong and definitely was worth money per wear. The craftmanship is superb so if you going to splurge do it in style!!

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  9. It doesn't matter at all to me if it's an "it" bag or not. I want quality. And I'm extremely picky about my handbags because I won't carry it if it's not comfortable, can't go over the shoulder, etc. And I'm either a big-bag girl (for day) or a clutch girl (for night) - there's no in between, so a day bag has to hold everything I need.

    I have a $1400 Ferragamo that my husband purchased for me and I LOVE it...but it's pewter and the metallic bags, sadly do not wear as well as others. The handles are very dark compared to the rest of the bag (it's 5 years old) and the Ferragamo store told me it wasn't worth replacing the handles until the rest of the bag was more "used looking". *sigh* I'm not sure that's ever going to happen, as I am very gentle with my bags.

    I have a $400 Michael Kors (bought at half off) that works just as well - and has held up better, with more use - than the Ferragamo. It's teal and is probably my favorite.

    I have a Francesco Biasia in dark brown that has been amazing. Originally the bag was over $1K but I found a deal (deals, actually, they still come up very inexpensively from time to time) on ebay. It's probably partly because of the color, and also it's a glazed leather, so it has some shine to it but not like a patent leather, but it looks brand new. I've had it cleaned once and the bottom touched up (wear marks on the corners) but that's it...and I'll bet I've had it nearly ten years.

    The rest of my bags are either cloth, woven (like raffia), or a few other leather bags that no celebrity ever heard of, but are excellently made and hold up well - that's the beauty of boutique shopping for independent designers. None of the rest of my bags cost over $200 and they've all been with me for several years now.

    I guess you'd call me a capitalist too, because I want EVERYTHING to last, not just my handbags. :) Shoes, clothing (within reason), jewelry...I don't buy often but when I do I'll spend if I think the item's got longevity.

    I do think the Hermes bags are lovely and so very well made, but most of their bags are not my style...too stiff and boxy. I like a little slouch, a soft leather...more Italian-style than French. :)

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    1. I've never heard of Francesco Biasia. I'll have to google the name to check out their bags. I'm with you about structured bags. I love the idea of structured bags but I just don't carry these types of bags well at all. I can only do slouchy. I've owned a couple of Kelly Selliers (rigid) but in the end, I just prefer bags like the retourne Kelly, Evelyne, Speedy.

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  10. I have bought loads of IT bags over the years, Marc Jacobs Stam, Chloe Paddington and Heloise, 2 Celine Boogie bags, Fendi B to name but a few. I do love bags. They all ended up on ebay when no longer fashionable but as much as I would love a Chanel or Hermes, they are just so completely out of normal people's price range.

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  11. Thank you, CC&C! I love reading the responses of other women on this. I sort of skipped the whole It-Bag craze by going from vintage Coach (American made!) to Hermès without stopping to see anything else. I did so because it's the only way to afford it (for me, at least—i.e., by not looking at anything else) and because Hermès bags are simply beautifully made. Since then, I've found myself interested in a lot of designer bags, but as soon as I touch them . . . or heaven help me, read the reviews (!) . . . I stay focused. Yes, this path is expensive, but as soon as you start to think about designer bags at all, it's ALL expensive. I'm even starting to rethink the "cheaper" tote approach of Longchamp. Even my Planetes tote is showing some fraying wear, and it doesn't even get used much. Sigh.

    Quality is a double-edged sword. It's luscious, but then you want it all the time.

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  12. I am guilty of owning 3 of the above bags and still love them as much today as the day I bought them. Of course I do indulge every now and then on an it bag (Balenciaga, Givenchy, and PS1) but they I feel like I use the crap out of them for a short period of time and always go back to the classics.

    Funny you mention it because the strap on my PS1 did snap off after a couple of weeks of use. I love that you can always bring a Hermes bag back to spa and have it sorted while when my PS1 bag snapped it was a huge pain. There isn't a PS store in London so brought it back to Joseph where I got it and they just sent it off to their shoe repair people. Came back not with original hardware and at that price you would expect more!

    Now that I have a little girl I love knowing that I can hand down my Chanel and Hermes and it will still be as chic as it is now and before!

    x

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  13. I've been thinking about this lately, though any kind of $1000 handbag is a purchase that is very far off in my future (if at all). But...I keep telling myself that there are certain things I will never buy because they are just too expensive but then all of a sudden if it's suddenly within my means, I go for it. Ha! If I were to get a classic bag, I would have narrowed it down to the exact same ones you did. However, I think first I will go with something like Clare Vivier that is only in the $300's and is simple and durable just to try it out and figure out what kind of bag I would really want with me in the long run.

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  14. I love purses, so I've acquired many IT bags over the years. Some have come and gone, but some still remain. I try to think about what I like and the functionality, then i try to find it on sale. My latest purchase is the Givenchy Pandora. It is so functional especially with toddlers in tow. I love it so much that i have been thinking of getting it another color. I think it all depends on the person. My husband said to me once that the joys from hobbies will diminish over time with age. I thought he was nuts, but it has rang true for me over the years. So if I take joy simply from carrying a beloved bag, why not, as long as it is within budget of course, lol.

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  15. I have limited budget so when I buy a bag , i only look at Chanel and Hermes. I cannot afford to spend money on other designers' bags as I always get so bored with them after a couple of uses. I have since sold my Balenciaga, YSL clutch, a few of Prada bags (I hate them) and of course LV bags (multicoloured, monogram, vernis ...). I sould have learned my lessons, but I am now thinking about Givenchy Pandora and Celine bags too.....what do you think of Celine? Seems like everyone has one . Is it an IT bag?

    regards,
    shan ty

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    1. I am so tired of seeing the Celine bag everywhere. Just noticed the other day that Michael Kors has made an almost exact replica (knockoff) of the style. I'm sure others have too...

      Personally I don't like the Celine bag shape, and I wonder if everyone would "love" it so much if it wasn't Celine. I think the same thing about a lot of Prada shoes though (and I do love Prada)...would everyone want them if they weren't designed by Miuccia? Because I think some of them are ugly.

      Just my thoughts. I'd say buy it if you love it, not for the "status" of it...

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    2. I'm with you on the Celine. I seem like the only one on this planet who didn't like the shape of the Celine. Ok, now I know there are two people on this planet who are not in love with it. :D

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    3. Funnily enough, I love the Celine Mini Luggage tote. I just love the leather and the design but I know myself. I can't deal with hand-bags. They have to slung over the shoulder or worn cross body or else I simply can't deal with it.

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  16. I love bags and they kind of make me lose all perspective when it comes to what I am willing to pay, but like you I'm really unimpressed with what most brands are making these days, and the pricing too! I got my Chanel 2.55 secondhand for a fairly good price and I would never buy in at full price in the boutique. The workmanship is lovely and the design is timeless but I don't like how luxury brands keep inflating their prices to stay exclusive - it's become all about money and that feels tacky to me.

    I love Loewe as well although their styles don't suit me - we bought my mother an Amazona some years back and the leather makes you want to curl up and crawl inside. I think the reason why I am still willing to spend illogical sums on a bag is because once you've touched a truly luxurious bag, you can't go back.

    I have noticed that when I find the right bag, I stop craving bags. For example after I bought a large YSL tote in 2009 I've stopped wanting big everyday work bags because it works well for me, and it's also of high enough quality to make me feel that I don't have to look for the more luxurious alternative.

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  17. These bags are vanity purchases, it is largely predicated on status. I am a collector so I have many many fine designer bags. They are addictive, they actually really last. I have bags that are over 10 years old and are in impeccable condition.

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  18. I still have this thing about the Kelly bag, I want one but the price is ridiculous and I don't even know if it's me, I might feel very self conscious doing the "rich lady elbow crook sashay into the room"

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  19. I wouldn't spend more than 1k for a bag

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  20. Hi, I love vintage bags the quality, the history etc, etc. There are still many beautiful craftsman made beautiful leather bags out there today. But the craze for the Mulberry bags eludes me......why would you want something every other tom, dick, and harry has? I think it's much more fun to have something a bit more original and not just follow the pack? I love your blog and find it so well written....Have just started to follow you! Please if you get a chance take a peek at mine, tell me what you think, all comments welcome!! xx

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  21. Lazy lurker , I'm prompted to post here .
    The whole issue is a fraught one for me , I'm running with the fox and hunting with the hounds .
    I have a couple of vintage and out of the ordinary Hermes bags : I like the styles and yes , the workmanship is excellent . I bought them because they were a bargain and am just going to pick up a third .
    A beautiful vintage Black Box Kelly and a gold one too are never far from my thoughts, but spending what it takes to get a really decent one still feels really wrong . I can't figure out my reasoning , whether sociological/animal rights issues are all it's about [ and they both are very important to me ]

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  22. Ugh I'm guilty of falling prey to some of the 'It' bags when I was younger. I've since sold most of them and I'm concentrating on Chanel and Hermes. But I will say that my eyes linger when I see certain new 'It" bags on bloggers. So far I'm showing great restraint though! I did hang on to two of my Balenciaga bags, only because they are still in great condition and I've never had any problem with the leather fading. I agree with you about the paper thin leather on the newer ones.

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  23. I'm curious... what do you think about the LV X Sofia Coppola bag?? Always so tempted to get one

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    1. Would you believe your timing?? It's impeccable. I was actually at Louis Vuitton checking out the SC for LV bag when you wrote this comment! I saw the bigger size 2 years ago but it was way too heavy for me especially with my camera gear. I went in today to see the 30cm and boy, I fell in love all over again. The buttery soft supple leather, the exquisite workmanship and the simplicity of its design. It's a beautiful bag.

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  24. Totally agree Marlene, the quality of some of them these days is actually pretty shocking. When I brought my Balenciaga city, I originally intended to get a brand new one, but actually ended up buying a pre-owned one (think its from 2007?) as despite the fact it was used it just seemed to be a much nicer, better quality bag. I'm happy with my choice though as I have used it & abused it (I'm awful for over stuffing & generally battering it!) every single day for over 5 years now & it still looks beautiful, maybe even more so. I do take care of it though with a little conditioning every now & then & I expect it has a lot more life left in it yet. That said, when it does finally die I would happily replace it with another Balenciaga, even if it is a newer version, as I feel it suits me & my needs very well & so worth the cost, regardless of 'it' status :)

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  25. I agree with all of this! Costs and saves me tons of money all at the same time! M and I were just talking about this!!

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  26. I agree on the part where not all designer bags are well-made.

    But on the brands you have listed which supposedly produced the better quality ones....from my experience, sometimes it's not about the brand. It's also about the design (some designs creates more wear and tear) and material used for a particular bag.

    Example, the Chanel caviar classic flap I had which dates back about 5 yrs ago, looks really good still, despite consistent usage. The distressed reissue flap I had, rubbed off a little on the side after only a few use!
    A vintage lambskin flap I had (I don't know how old it is) still holds so well.

    A Gucci canvas tote I owned fell apart after a couple of years. But a Gucci fabric bag trimmed with leather, still stands beautifully after 5 yrs.

    My LV Epi leather speedy still look reasonably well after 6/7 years. But the Epi leather purse I had, went kaput after one year. (I've grown to realise, those wallet/purses just don't last as long as a bag).

    The innner seams of my Evelyne seems to have grown yellow (I suspect those are glue stains "aging"?) and the hardware has tiny specks of black on it. Can't comment on the Kelly since it is pretty new still. But I sure hope the quality would be better than the Evelyne..

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    1. Thank you for your input. I've gained a different perspective. My Evelyne which I've since sold had yellowing along the inner seams as well. As for the black specks, I was told it was oxidization particularly if you live in humid climate. I took my Birkin in and the artisan removed all the oxidization off the hardware with a special metal cleaner paste.

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  27. Great topic and lively discussion!
    Yummy bags you've chosen to feature.....I'd like one of each, thank you! ;)

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  28. A lot depends on your definition of an 'It' bag, no? Frankly, given Birkins and Kellys are carried prominently by every other Z list celeb these days they are every bit as 'tackily' fashionable brand. I like the idea that quality of workmanship and classic design means that a bags longevity can make an eye watering price more affordable when measured by the likely years of wear, but to justify the prices of new Hermes bags its a tough one. I own a couple of Chanel flap bags (bought second hand) and can attest to their durability. Equally, given my lifestyle needs, I carry them a great deal less frequently than, for eg my decade old Bayswater and my Roxie bags, both of which have also worn well and are used way more frequently. I don't feel particularly 'dated' by any of them. Thy were expensive, given an Hermes would cost roughly 10x more, I would need to live well beyond my current life expectancy to get my bargain! On quality, I have to say all my LV's have worn well too and been repaired graciously by the store - unlike a Bottega bag which unravelled within months of purchase and required the threat of legal action to be sorted. Susan

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    1. Thank you for your input, Susan. I had no idea about Bottega Veneta. Ahh... don't get me started on the customer service. I've had patchy and inconsistent service at Hermes, Chanel and LV. It really depends on the individual SA you're dealing with.

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  29. My sister and I were having this conversation just this afternoon. The more I handle these bags the more discouraged I am about buying them. Even at a point where I no longer need to look at the price tag, I still question exactly what it is I'm paying for and why I'm buying something. I have been turned off Chanel so badly due to the poor customer service we have received. It was truly shocking. I have changed my mind about dropping such large sums on bags - for me it comes down to a few things - all of the points you mentioned but also the weight of the bags. I'm finding many 'IT' bags to be too heavy. The Rocco, I really wanted that, way too heavy. I've been contemplating the Pashli but I'm not sold. Last year I had a chance encounter with an Australian brand LouenHide and I fell in love. Not designer at all. But the bags are light, durable, and the interior/lining is not black. I have a few of their bags now so when I started looking at the Pashli I really had to ask myself why? It's heavy, the lining is black...time to re-think the 'IT' bags. I really loved this post Marlene xoxox

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    1. You're right about this, Vanisha. Lately, I've been turning bags inside out, branded or not, just to see if it's well made. I've also had massive shoulder problems thanks to the weight of the bags I've used. I ended up getting rid of most of my heavy bags :(

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  30. Truth be told i'm not much for it bags I think they are beautiful , if I was rich perhaps I wouldn't mind buying them but at the moment you I can get really beautiful bags for a fraction of the price.

    xo Meg<3

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  31. Very interesting post :)
    I really appreciate your blog !


    Http://Fashioneiric.blogspot.com

    Coline ♡

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  32. Great article Marlene, very insightful! Have you ever read Dana Thomas's 'How luxury lost its luster'? Some it-bags have a great design but when you think they'll inevitably go out of fashion and that their production is sort of dubious, I'd rather wait and pay a larger amount of money for a timeless, 'true' luxury brand like Chanel or Hermès.

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    1. I LOVE Dana Thomas' book. I admire the woman for her tenacity and persistence to dig cold hard facts. To be honest, I love PS1, Celine mini luggage tote, Balenciaga bags etc but I guess what I don't like is the diminishing quality of some of these bags. I've handled the older Balenciaga bags and the leather felt so different to the ones made these days. I can only speak for myself but once you hold an Hermes bag, there's simply no going back. I've used my Kelly to death and yet, it looked amazing. And so did my Evelyne but I've since sold it. I'd used it non stop for 6 years.

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  33. Hi, Marlene, how about LV Speedy? I acutally saw you carried your Louis Vuitton 35cm Speedy Bandouliere a lot and is inspired to buy one in 25. Do you still like yours?

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    1. I was initially planning to buy the Sofia Coppola bag but even the SA had to agree that the 35cm was incredibly heavy with my camera gear. The other option was the Speedy Bandouliere 35 which I could not only flat pack but it's light as a feather. I love everything about the bag and have gotten used to the flashy logo again. The only thing that drives me bonkers is the zipper pull (not the zip itself) which gets stuck every now and then.

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    2. Thank u. What do think of the fact that the handle and strap will turn to that honey brown color as we see in used lv mono bags?

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    3. I'm a little weird because I hate the pale looking cowhide leather. Whenever I buy a brand new monogram bag, I leave it out in the sun. Unfortunately, we're rather sun deprived here so it took a long time before the leather trim on my Speedy 35 has a light patina.

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  34. Another wonderfully written article Marlene. While I love the look of IT bags, I just can't justify spending that amount of money on something that potentially won't see much use after the first few years. The classics are becoming quite an 'it' item themselves, with more and more fashion savvy women looking for longevity and timelessness. Even durability is debatable, I'm sure a lower priced non designer bag will hold up just as well. I think at the end of the day, what justifies the splurge is ultimately the design. There's no denying that designer bags are well thought out and intricate in both construction and detail. I liken it to buying a homebuilders house versus an architect designed house. At the end of the day, you get what you pay for.

    xx Jenee C.
    {camo meets couture}

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  35. I think quality can be found at any price point, you just have to look for it :) I have a marco tagliaferri bag that's lambskin that's aged and worn better than my lambskin Chanel, so like you said you can't just think the price means it will last. I love all of my bags, It bags (Chloe paddington!) and non-it bags (Marc by Marc Jacobs Fran is my utter favourite).

    To be honest, I splurge on bags for many of the reasons you stated - they always fit and can be worn more often than clothes - but ultimately it comes down to me liking the design - on a practical level or a purely shallow level, and having the bag fit into my budget however I categorise it. :)

    Away From Blue

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  36. Of all the IT bags, I think those that really work for me would be the Chanel reissue 2.55 and the SC x LV bag. The Hermes kelly would be the icing on the cake but I seriously think it has no place in my life right now.

    The Celine trio would be something simple and classic too.

    But my love for bags have waned after I experimented with the different styles and know what suits my lifestyle now. I always go back to the same ones.

    Thanks for sharing this insightful post, Marlene!

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  37. I totally agree with you, so many it bags are overpriced and frankly not worth the price... I much prefer timeless classics with a focus on quality. I love H, BV, Loewe, and Chanel, though the latter doesn't live as well as the other three...

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  38. Those Chanel, Hermes, Bottega bags are total it-bags and seem somewhat tacky in my opinion… and I do not think they are classic always, I remember they were seemingly tacky in the 80s and 90s, but they are more trendy as the classics are back and the styles are in. Bags do need to hold up, but they are also fashion items that express your individuality and lifestyles and they work as visual icons for people to recognize your stuatus, taste, attitude, lifestyle etc. Those bags do manifest that the holder loves status and have a conservative attitude. Some people look quite chic holding them but I think alot of people use them for status and beliving in the good taste… hmmm but I don't thik they always look good nor with good taste and the best functionality and durability.

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  39. No bag is worth $10-$15K (Hermes), I mean give me a break. The material nor the labor dictates that price so its strictly "name" and status one is paying for. A sucker born every minute fits the bill.

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  40. It is not worth to spend thousands on handbags when you have limited income. If you have a lot of surplus then it makes sense. But they are definetly overpriced and you are paying for brand name. The prada nylon bags cost around 500$ which is insane for a bag made of nylon. Even though chanel bags are well made they are definetly not worth thousands what you pay for, unless you have passion for handbags .i personally have only good handbags . One from coach , Mk and juicy couture . I feel it's enough for me . They seem to be of better quality and have lasted me from several years . I m happy to just rotate them, not break my bank by investing in handbags .

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  41. This article and the comments are so interesting and helpful - especially as I only recently became handbag crazy and do not like to spend lots on bags - I buy low end designer bags that have been discounted on ebay, much cheaper than those mentioned here - the quality is so-so, but I am getting more than I am paying for with the discount. I normally love quality, but I am willing to compromise considering my budget, other priorities, and how much wear and tear I might put on the bag. But I still lust after these gorgeous, expensive bags sometimes - and it was very helpful to learn that some of them *still* don't have the quality for that price - also that even with the highest quality ones you are paying not just for beauty, but mostly for the name. It is possible to get a lovely leather bag handmade by an artisan for much cheaper - the quality and longevity is there, but not the name....so I guess I realized for me, I am only willing to pay more money for quality, not for the name - and to me, the quality never justifies extraordinary prices, as it's just a handbag, not a rocket ship. Even the beauty - for me, I am willing to take a different look that I also find lovely, at a cheaper price. Basically, this post helped me get over my impractical handbag lust - I will just admire them, but I feel no need to aspire to one - though I completely understand why others may feel differently and truly love owning them.

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  42. Buy Designer Stuff at https://www.bitgiving.com/swarangdesigns

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  44. such a helpful content regard synthetic leathers very beneficial if someone want to Buy Artificial Leather For Bags leather in Pakistan

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