Anna, until the past year, I had not spent more than - I think $45, maybe? - on a handbag. I actually don't switch bags often; I would buy one cheap, colorful bag that was versatile and would use it to death. But with the exception of a couple Franco Sarto crossbody bags (bought on sale at DSW) that lasted for a while, most of my bags fell apart within 6-12 months. The handle construction was usually what got me; the handles would crack or it would pull apart at the seams.
And yet, in the past year I've added some Kate Spades (just a couple, very selectively) to my closet. To explain this journey, I just touched on this in a reply to Claire's thread.
I hope you don't mind my copying some of what I wrote straight from that reply.
During a YLF meetup at an outlet mall, I saw a mustard structured Kate Spade bag and fell in love HARD. It was the color that I'd been mulling over for years (I have a love affair with mustard) and also a shade that goes with most of my wardrobe. The shape and size were perfect for perching the bag on my shoulder and holding it against my body; the pockets were large enough to fit my things but not so large that I'd overfill it. The handles are SOLID and are sewn on very well, with large rings attached to a placket that's sewn deep into the bag and bolted to the leather. The leather is nice and thick (boarskin, I think?) and not the type that would wear thin/fragile spots very easily. I could tell the construction was impressive.
I thought very long and hard before taking it home - and googled Ebay, ultimately finding it for a less expensive price from a seller with a very strong reputation for designer bags.
Many months later, I decided to add a second structured KS bag to my closet, and opted for a doctor's bag/satchel in cobalt blue.
"I hope that both of these will be my Forever Bags. I don't anticipate being a handbag-collecting maven; I tend to stick to just a few versatile bags and use them often, and that is what I found that these bags have been for my wardrobe. Classic and simple, but bright and colorful, and versatile with the colors that I wear (both neutrals and brights.)"
"I paid around $200 each for the bags. I really had to think about that - I'd only spent LOW triple figures a couple times on boots and nice shoes, and never came even close to that figure for a bag before. But I decided that the quality of the construction and the versatility of the styling and color would make it worth it."
I selected Kate Spade specifically because of the reviews of the quality of her structured bags, and because I've always loved her designs - colorful, classic, and fun. And I'm really not one who is into designer names as a principle. Angie and others who attended that meetup where I saw my mustard bag for the first time can tell you that I hemmed and hawed about whether I felt comfortable displaying a label on my bag (and the label is tiny!) It's just that I kind of feel like the highly monogrammed bags are SCREAMING the name or logo of the designer, and that would make me feel like I was sporting advertising for a designer's brand rather than incorporating a purse as a cohesive part of my wardrobe. Ultimately, I decided that the label was small and unobtrusive enough not to bother me - and as the back side of the purse is cute too, if I feel uncomfortable displaying the label, I can always turn the bag around.
My mom thinks that spending as much as I did on these bags - even though what I paid was about half of the bags' original retail cost - is crazy, but she loves the handbags. Even though she didn't necessarily agree with the decision to purchase something so pricey, she understood my rationale and sees me wear these two bags ALL the time. And with some gentle TLC but near-daily use of one or the other bag, they are holding up beautifully with no visible wear or tear.
Anyway, that's just my story and my own 2 cents, and what's right for me isn't necessarily right for anybody else.
