https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-long-do-you-hold-on-to-your-handbag Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 15 Apr 2026 21:48:38 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-long-do-you-hold-on-to-your-handbag#post-661138 Wed, 04 Jul 2012 19:29:46 +0000 Angie 661138@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have a Chanel that is 20 years old that I still wear, and will wear for at least another 20 years. </p> <p>I will wear my Valentino until I am 100.</p> <p>I invest is beautiful, well made and expensive bags because bags are my thing. I'm a Bag Lady and not a Shoe lady. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-long-do-you-hold-on-to-your-handbag#post-661078 Wed, 04 Jul 2012 18:05:03 +0000 Chippy Mia 661078@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>A good quality leather handbag should last you years, if you take care of it. I'm a bag lady and tend to stick to classic simple styles so that I can still carry them when I'm 90. Some of my bags are 5 - 10 yrs old. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-long-do-you-hold-on-to-your-handbag#post-661057 Wed, 04 Jul 2012 17:22:39 +0000 Amy 661057@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I tend to buy nice-ish bags, usually between $100-$200. They only last me a year or so, but I'm very hard on them and don't switch them out frequently. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-long-do-you-hold-on-to-your-handbag#post-661042 Wed, 04 Jul 2012 16:59:23 +0000 ManidipaM 661042@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for chiming in, ladies! Good to know it's possible to last for a decade and a half with good quality leather and proper care. </p> <p>I know I'm guilty of not conditioning and overfilling my bags. But your stories give me heart that I *might* just be able to stretch their lives with care and awareness... and if I find I can do that with my current few, I might be able to find courage to splurge on a better bag to begin with. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-long-do-you-hold-on-to-your-handbag#post-660929 Wed, 04 Jul 2012 15:15:06 +0000 Kari 660929@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Until this past year, I only bought cheap (less than $40) handbags.</p> <p>I have two Franco Sarto bags bought at a discount that are still in good condition; one is periwinkle and is about 2 years old, and the other is a yellow crossbody going on 3 years. Everything else pretty much fell apart within 6 months or so of purchasing and regular use.</p> <p>Part of the reason I decided to splurge this year on the Kate Spade bags was after seeing how sturdy they are. The leather is thick and the zippers and handles are sewn on in a very secure way. I don't see the firm, thick straps ripping the way some of my cheaper bags with thin, flimsy handles have. And of course, I'm trying to take good care of the bags as I want them to last, too. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-long-do-you-hold-on-to-your-handbag#post-660924 Wed, 04 Jul 2012 15:11:38 +0000 Isabel 660924@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Manidipa, don't laugh : for my first "real" job I bought a Coach, tan briefcase. I beat that thing to death. I was in the field a lot and travelled and commuted long distances sometimes. That thing went everywhere with me and travelled in every transport imagineable and in a few countries. It lasted 14 years !!! To be fair, I took really good care of it. I polished it and replaced the strap twice. Ahhh..the memories.</p> <p>Otherwise, my tend to last me a while. I don't use the same one every day for years but I am tough on mine. I tend to get durable fabric or leather. My flimsier summer fun bags usually don't get past the season. </p> <p>One of the reasons that I like leather is that it tends to look good even if it gets a bit beat up. But I am not a prisitne kind of person, so it doesn't bother me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-long-do-you-hold-on-to-your-handbag#post-660918 Wed, 04 Jul 2012 15:06:38 +0000 Mo 660918@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have one almost 10 years old that is a nylon Nine West and holding strong. I used it exclusively for about 5 years. Right now my Fossil crossbody is my daily bag. Had it a year and a half now and I could easily see it lasting 10. I would say I get tired of them before they ever wear out. I can't recall ever breaking a strap or whatnot on a bag. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-long-do-you-hold-on-to-your-handbag#post-660910 Wed, 04 Jul 2012 14:57:27 +0000 Anonymous 660910@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>A woman gave me her handbag about 7 years ago and I still have it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-long-do-you-hold-on-to-your-handbag#post-660870 Wed, 04 Jul 2012 14:28:22 +0000 christieanne 660870@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am a Bag Lady too. Aside from vintage (I have some from the 40's that are holding up well but have most likely never had daily use in their sweet existence!), I have a few that are over ten years old. Not sure any are beyond that as my memory gets foggy. </p> <p>My hardest used bag is a Charles David leather that has seriously improved with age. I have had tiny bit of repair work done on handles and the leather fob recently fell off the zipper (need to have repaired) but that thing has taken abuse and barely shows age. I condition my leather bags a few times a year and thing that helps. </p> <p>I have two older Coach bags (one might be close to 15 yrs old) and they have lasted well and I use sometimes. I have looked at Coach recently and noticed the quality isn't quite the same and the prices are much higher than "back in the day". And the styles are so trendy now that I doubt I would like for 15 years! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-long-do-you-hold-on-to-your-handbag#post-660771 Wed, 04 Jul 2012 12:06:52 +0000 Deborah 660771@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have always been a bag lady so I have a bit of a collection. My bags are retired usually because I am tired of them as opposed to them being retired due to wear and tear. I also change my bags frequently (often daily) so they don't really get run into the ground. Since coming to YLF I have been much more intentional with my bag purchases and I suspect that I won't tire of them as some earlier purchases. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-long-do-you-hold-on-to-your-handbag#post-660760 Wed, 04 Jul 2012 12:00:30 +0000 Kristin L 660760@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It really depends on the bag. My favorite ones are ones that I've had for about 2 years. But, some of them I bought second hand or swapped for, so I'm not sure their real age. I've had a few impulse ones, but when I'm tired of them, I usually try to swap them for something else. I'm working on curbing my impulse buying. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-long-do-you-hold-on-to-your-handbag#post-660756 Wed, 04 Jul 2012 11:55:31 +0000 Janet 660756@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I used to buy one or two inexpensive bags at a time and wear them into the ground, but I now have a nice selection of quality bags, and I switch out my bags pretty frequently, which helps them last a long time. </p> <p>My taste in bags has been evolving in the last half a year, as I'm starting to move towards more structured, streamlined, smaller shapes and away from large, heavy and slouchy. The last few bags I retired were donated because they weren't my style anymore, not because they were worn out. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-long-do-you-hold-on-to-your-handbag#post-660751 Wed, 04 Jul 2012 11:37:55 +0000 harmonica 660751@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting question! I just started to wear handbags a year ago. I always grabbed the backpack so that my arms are free. Last year I *invested* in a crossbody handbag (Natasja from Marc by MJ) and I've used it quite a lot, but far from every day. I did a lot of saving + research before I bought it and it has served my all my wanted needs. I don't know how long I can expect it to last. In my mind it is forever, but that's probably just dreaming.</p> <p>ETA: if you've worn your cheap handbag on a more or less daily basis for 3 years, the cost would be down to nothing. I think the handbag by that time have done it's duty and it would be ok to get a new one. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-long-do-you-hold-on-to-your-handbag#post-660747 Wed, 04 Jul 2012 11:15:17 +0000 ManidipaM 660747@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I must confess most of my bags are cheap, even if leather; but I've never had a handbag last more than 3 years with regular use (bringing in to work or dragging to school, if that's your lifestyle, or serving as your MOTG carryall). </p> <p>So I'm just curious --- how long has your best-behaved bag lasted and how do you treat your bags to help their longevity? Does your interest in it or reliance ever give out before the bag itself does? Do you retire bags more often for being outdated than for being worn? </p>