YouLookFab Forum » Topic: I think I have a fetish

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: I think I have a fetish https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-think-i-have-a-fetish Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 27 Apr 2026 01:43:44 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Anonymous on "I think I have a fetish" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-think-i-have-a-fetish#post-1286573 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 13:34:26 +0000 Anonymous 1286573@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm so drawn to bags that I force myself not to look! I fall victim to "ooh, shiny pretty" way too easily, and then I'm left with something that doesn't function all that well or doesn't really go with my wardrobe. I'm drawn to bright bags in the store, but I've learned that I don't love carrying them as much. I feel like all eyes are on my bright, shiny bag ... it doesn't feel safe to me. Since I live in one of the safest places in America, this is an absolutely ridiculous fear, BTW. I am comfortable with muted versions of those colors, though. My all-time favorite bags have been cognac leather. I'd love to know what that says about me! ETA: Cindy, I am drooling over your collection! I have a soft spot for those D&B nylon bags. I have a bright pink one! lyn67 on "I think I have a fetish" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-think-i-have-a-fetish#post-1286549 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 12:30:00 +0000 lyn67 1286549@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Wow Cindy, I want yours nr 1,4, 6,7, 9 and 15. Right now! Sal on "I think I have a fetish" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-think-i-have-a-fetish#post-1286023 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 21:49:49 +0000 Sal 1286023@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I am more a shoe person than a bag person.  I would be embarrassed to photograph either of my day bags at the moment (yes I only have two!). I have a couple of lovely evening bags and several I am keeping for the future but I do need to update my day handbag soon! Suzanne (ambergreen) on "I think I have a fetish" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-think-i-have-a-fetish#post-1284966 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 16:54:51 +0000 Suzanne (ambergreen) 1284966@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ @Aziraphale, I also am not particularly into bags. I appreciate them for sure, but they don't seem to grab me. I always have one workhorse bag (usually until it starts to fall apart, heh) and a few others that I might occasionally use, but I can go yearrrs without adding a bag. I think that for me, many are nays based on size, weight, color, and handle design and length, so it limits the potential selection anyway. I don't like bags that are heavy, large, soft/slouchy, or have to take up a hand. But the straps have to be short enough to work on me and not have to crossbody. However, I do switch the innards of my bag to a laptop bag when I need to carry one (both would be too much weight and bulk), and I rely on my group of smaller pouches to do this efficiently. Learning that trick has been a lifesaver! I have a makeup touch-up bag that also holds a pen and eyeglasses cloth and has a pocket I put my phone in. Then I have a change purse and a card wallet. These make switching bags SO much easier. There are single, multi-pocket purse organizers that can serve this kind of purpose, but I do better with the handful of smaller ones because they can fit into different bags' pockets and configurations easily. Here's another tip about this practice: get your inner pouches in colors that contrast with the insides of your bag! Mine (should be no surprise here) are all bright orange. (So is my phone). In the past I would always have chosen black to "go with everything." Naturally, it's pretty invisible inside most bags, so eventually I figured this one out. Anonymous on "I think I have a fetish" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-think-i-have-a-fetish#post-1284963 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 16:51:08 +0000 Anonymous 1284963@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Cindy -- thank you for the pictures.  They made me very  happy.  My favorites were Numbers, 4, 6, and 13.   Cindy Fontan on "I think I have a fetish" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-think-i-have-a-fetish#post-1284960 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 16:44:45 +0000 Cindy Fontan 1284960@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This must be my favorite post and comments on YLF yet. Purses, satchels, clutches oh my! I too build my outfits around my accessories. Which one comes first the purse or the shoes is like asking what came first the chicken or the egg. I'd love to share a few of my latest designer finds, which by the way, I never pay full price for. I hope you like! Anonymous on "I think I have a fetish" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-think-i-have-a-fetish#post-1284950 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 16:32:49 +0000 Anonymous 1284950@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Yes Alana.  That was the website.  Thank you for finding it again.   JAileen.  I love Coach and own several of their older pieces for the exact same reasons you noted.  All of them are black.  Only the style and function changes … from black brief case to black satchel to black wristlet.  I love them all and get a lot of wear out of them.  I will start looking at second hand stores to see if I can find other colors.  What a good idea.   Susie -- I am using the Into Mind capsule that Alana found for me to decide what styles I need the most.  I will focus on filling those styles first and work my way down a list.  My first purchase will probably be a satchel in a just off-white color.  I will post a picture when I find it.   Aziraphale -- you are certainly not a fashion fraud.  I have come to understand that we all love different things about fashion.  It just so happens that I adore purses.  My love of shoes and purses is the reverse of yours.  I wear shoes out of necessity.  Those are all black too.  Sigh. I think the next few months are going to be a flurry of buying after having so so carefully budgeted for the last two years.   Anonymous on "I think I have a fetish" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-think-i-have-a-fetish#post-1284947 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 16:31:32 +0000 Anonymous 1284947@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I love bags, but I'm awful at switching them out. So I'll end up carrying the same one nonstop for weeks before I get bored with it or end up wearing something it really doesn't work with. Which means my everyday bags are usually either neutral or a color that blends well with my wardrobe. I have a newish indigo bag I've been using almost every day since I bought it, and I'm surprised how well it goes with most of my clothes. My everyday bags are all good quality leather. They get so much wear they pretty much have to be. Evening bags and other "fun" ones are usually cheaper, and are kind of whatever catches my eye. Shoes are where my heart really is, though. Aziraphale on "I think I have a fetish" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-think-i-have-a-fetish#post-1284942 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 16:20:48 +0000 Aziraphale 1284942@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ It's posts like these that make me feel like a fashion fraud! Or at least, definitely not a fashionista. Everybody seems to love bags...except me. I like the look of a nice bag (I love beautiful leather) but I think of them as gear. You know, something you purchase out of necessity, so you look for the nicest one you can find, but really you'd rather be looking at shoes... Lol. Anyway, I am clearly the exception here. Carry on, and know that you have lots of bag-loving company! Susie on "I think I have a fetish" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-think-i-have-a-fetish#post-1284929 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 16:06:29 +0000 Susie 1284929@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I agree with Janet's recommendation of metallic bags. I have a pewter satchel that got tons of use (so much so that it should probably be replaced as it's looking a bit worn) as well as a pewter clutch. I think it was intended for holding a tablet but it is a nice size as a clutch. I like your color choices, Sterling. Have you decided on a style? Although I don't wear brown, I am thinking I would like to add a tan or cognac bag as Angie featured in her recent post. I think that just made my NAS list! JAileen on "I think I have a fetish" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-think-i-have-a-fetish#post-1284925 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 15:56:11 +0000 JAileen 1284925@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I love vintage Coach bags. I have a lot. I started buying them about thirty years ago new, and had just a handful. Now I buy them at thrift stores and have several dozen. I don't use them all but I love them all. I also have a few non Coach leather bags - Fossil, Ralph Lauren, Evan Picone, Donald J Pliner, and Tignanello. And then I have a few nylon travel bags. I seem to keep buying them, looking for the one that works for me. I think a Baggalini is the best for me in that category. Back to Coach: Most of my collection are British Tan or black, because that's what sold the most, I think. I do have red, navy blue, denim blue, grey, chocolate brown, bone, and even mustard. I have them in all sizes. What I like the best are cross body bags. What I usually find are shoulder bags, though. Since I went grey, I'm not using the brown as much. This year I bought some Bernardo sandals in black and British Tan specifically to make it easier to grab those color bags. My holy grail is a grey cross body. I would pay retail (!) for the perfect grey cross body bag, but I haven't found this so far. BTW, some of my bags are fairly new, but I still prefer the old ones. The leather was nicer, the styles simpler. Like Angie, I do not like a lot of metal on the bag, especially decorative non functional metal. This was in style a couple years ago and I thought it made handbags look unattractive and also unnecessarily heavy. Pictured is my mustard bag. It's not quite vintage. It dates from the 90s. I used it last night when we went to a barbeque. The rest of my outfit was modern, including an Eileen Fisher shark bite linen top. Sorry I didn't take a picture of my outfit. Suja on "I think I have a fetish" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-think-i-have-a-fetish#post-1284919 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 15:42:01 +0000 Suja 1284919@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm a shoe lady, no contest, but I love hearing from people who love bags.  I can understand the emotion, I just feel that way about shoes. Alana in Canada on "I think I have a fetish" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-think-i-have-a-fetish#post-1284915 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 15:36:08 +0000 Alana in Canada 1284915@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sterling: Was this it? <a rel="nofollow" href="http://into-mind.com/2013/08/05/building-a-bag-capsule-wardrobe/">http://into-mind.com/2013/08/0.....-wardrobe/</a> I'm just learning all the terms. So interesting. Anonymous on "I think I have a fetish" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-think-i-have-a-fetish#post-1284910 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 15:24:03 +0000 Anonymous 1284910@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Angie -- I looked at the leather bags at Zara.  Nothing jumped out at me.  Without a doubt, I will be shopping for new bags at Nordstorms next month.  July is close enough to August for me to feel comfortable.   BTW.  I found this wonderful website for designing a "bag capsule."  I did not bookmark it so I can't share the website with you, but it was what got me started in thinking I could have bag capsule.  Once I thought about it, I realized that was the piece from my wardrobe that has been missing all along.  You should do a post on bag capsules!  Gracie on "I think I have a fetish" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-think-i-have-a-fetish#post-1284891 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 15:03:23 +0000 Gracie 1284891@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have a small collection of bags, all leather. I used to Always wear a black one with everything, but now I have an assortments of colors. However, I seem to wear a bag for two or three weeks then switch... Sometimes they go well with my outfits, sometimes not, so, not ideal - I need to work on putting things in small bags like Susie so that changing bags won't be time consuming. My bags don't get seen during my work week really, as I have a short car commute to my office. On outings I do coordinate my bag to my outfit. I also prefer bags that can be worn crossbody as I like to have my hands free for shopping, holding food and wine or hugging :) Janet, I enjoyed reading your short novel, I agree with all you said, specially about the versatility of a metallic-finish bag. Angie, I need a naughty bag now, any suggestions Mo on "I think I have a fetish" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-think-i-have-a-fetish#post-1284888 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 14:59:21 +0000 Mo 1284888@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ You must be my foil in the universe!  I was just noticing my bags hanging this morning unused.  I don't even use my 'daily' purse here anymore.  A pain on the bike.  Once a week on date day Sunday only.  And I'm totally happy with my every day purple Fossil, and maybe the silver clutch once in a blue moon for out at night (10 times a year?).  Guess this knowledge helps me save a lot of $$$  :D Anonymous on "I think I have a fetish" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-think-i-have-a-fetish#post-1284882 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 14:56:02 +0000 Anonymous 1284882@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Angie, I was intrigued that you like no hardware on bags because I often rant when the right bag for an outfit usually has gold hardware and I'm wearing silver everything else. I can't see to find bags that are nice with silver hardware. None would be ideal! This is a light bulb moment! Angie on "I think I have a fetish" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-think-i-have-a-fetish#post-1284881 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 14:55:07 +0000 Angie 1284881@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ High five Fellow Bag Lady Sterling. Our comfort needs are different, so good job pinpointing the styles that will work for you. That's a big step forward.   I love the sound of the bags you want to add to your capsule. Zara makes brilliant inexpensive bags that are usually leather (Spanish leather goods are amongst the best in the world and give Italy a run for its money). They are having a sale NOW. I vote treat yourself to a fun little treasure now. And head to the NAS in July for a look see. I know that's all before August.  Anonymous on "I think I have a fetish" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-think-i-have-a-fetish#post-1284859 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 14:32:35 +0000 Anonymous 1284859@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Angie -- I could talk bags all day too!!  I love the idea of light colored and bright bags.  I have followed your lead in wearing white jeans (love them).  Now I want to follow your lead and purchase one whitish bag, one palish pink, and one bright red (not orange, not burgundy, but real red).  August can't come fast enough.      It never occurred to me that my purse could communicate "mood" to the world.  I will pay extra attention to your future posts to see if I can detect mood.   I do have to carry a tote in addition to a purse though.  I work in an office and have to shlep stuff from the car to the office on a daily basis.  If I have my computer and work folders, it is even more I have to carry.  Right now I use a black Coach briefcase and it works well, but it is a bit boring.  I have no idea how I will upgrade my briefcase to add color and interest.  I will likely start with the purse and continue to use the briefcase for utilitarian reasons.  I tend to need straps because I carry so much so although I love the look of clutches, they would not work for me.   One more thing.  I adore designer purses.  Those are the ones I look at, touch, and fantasize about.   Angie on "I think I have a fetish" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-think-i-have-a-fetish#post-1284853 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 14:24:29 +0000 Angie 1284853@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ HUGE Bag Lady here. I love bags more than shoes. No contest.  My little wardrobe pets (and my specs) are all the accessory I need. Granted - I wear my bags a lot because I'm out and about a lot. I don't stay at home, nor do I sit in an office. Carrying a bag is a very practical part of my style,  I love what Janet said. Makes sense.  I'm in the middle of revamping my bag collection actually. I passed on 6 bags this year, and have bought three. (Two white and one blush).  My bag finishes off the final mood of the outfit. It tells the world how I am feeling. Dressy, casual, formal, chatty, aloof, quiet, happy, relaxed, naughty or extra practical. Sometimes I wear a bag for 4 days in a row. Sometimes I wear two different bags in a day because we go out again at night.  I keep the contents of my bag to an absolute minimum. No water bottles or anything heavy. The bag itself is light too. I cannot handle crossbody bags - I find them awfully uncomfortable - but of course I love the way they look. I stick to two styles of bag - satchel or clutch. (And I've thrown in a sporty back pack just for fun). Handles must be short. I don't do shoulder totes either. Not comfortable.  I use a bag to add colour, create a tonal look, or create a neutral contrast. Most of my bags are a shade of white or a bright. I have a gold bag that I use occasionally. I have three black clutches that I use occasionally. I was into patterned bags for a while - but I'm off that at the moment.  All my bags are designer unless they come from Zara. I do not like bells and whistles on bags. I like them simple, no hardware, pretty, and very modern. Sometimes I throw in a bit of Retro.  I can talk about bags all day. I will stop now, so that you can breathe.  Anonymous on "I think I have a fetish" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-think-i-have-a-fetish#post-1284852 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 14:24:14 +0000 Anonymous 1284852@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Janet -- your advice was GREAT.  I made a mental note to remember the "oooh pretty" because that factors into my purchases.  Oooh!!!  Pretty!!!   I must have!!!   Susie -- I will be working on downsizing what I carry.  I like the idea of using little bags to hold essentials and then switching those bags between purses.   Neel -- smile! Janet on "I think I have a fetish" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-think-i-have-a-fetish#post-1284847 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 14:05:53 +0000 Janet 1284847@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh, even though I just wrote a short novel, I had another thought. For me, some bags have a definite seasonal appeal. Some colors and styles just feel more like spring/summer, and others are very fall/winter. If you live in a place where the seasons are very defined, like I do, this is something to consider as well. I find that my black, white, red, and metallic bags seem to span seasons the easiest. But forest green seems to beg for colder weather, and mint waits for the warmer months. Janet on "I think I have a fetish" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-think-i-have-a-fetish#post-1284845 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 14:02:53 +0000 Janet 1284845@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ LOL @ your post title. I like bags a lot, and have a decent collection, but I don't get too carried away with them. I definitely consider my bag for the day after I've put together my outfit. I consider it a lucky coincidence if I can just use the bag from the day before, but I don't carry a lot, so it takes me only a quick moment to transfer my stuff from one bag to another. I admit, I often find my black bag easiest to default to, as well. I wear a lot of black, so it just works. But I do find that with just a moment of thought, I can usually find another bag in my collection that ups the style factor of an outfit just a bit more. Sometimes I will choose a bag because it pulls out some color in a print in my outfit, but sometimes the choice will be more obvious and matchy-matchy. Sometimes, particularly when I'm wearing a very simple or more conservative outfit, I'll choose a bag that has a bit more visual interest or contrasts more with my outfit, colorwise. It depends on my mood. I consider color carefully these days. I just noticed the other day that have some bags that have been going unused, and I'm considering why that is. I think some colors trended a few years ago and have faded (apple green Coach satchel, for instance), and some just don't grab me the way I thought they would (a deep red but not quite burgundy Hobo mini tote, which is now listed on eBay). I think the color needs to *go* with the outfit without necessarily matching. If I'm wearing an outfit of mid greys, denim, and white, for example, I will often reach for my mint clutch or maybe a bright red handbag. I love metallic bags because they go with everything but still have the ability to stand out a bit on their own. I have a metallic clutch, and a very shiny casual, slouchy, silver leather tote, but I think I'll be on the lookout for a more polished, structured metallic bag soon. I suspect I'll be selling one or two more bags soon to make room. I would look at your outfits and consider whether you want the purse to complement or contrast with it. Do you want the bag to stand out against your outfit or blend in a bit more to reinforce the color scheme or mood of your outfit? What colors do you love to wear, and do you reach for over and over again? And what about prints? I love a printed bag but have sometimes struggled to style them because I'm not a big pattern mixer and often wear a pattern in a shirt...but lately I seem more drawn to solids in my wardrobe, so a patterned bag is now appealing to me again. Just some thoughts and questions to get you thinking about what kind of bag collection will serve your needs. I've fallen into the trap of buying a bag because "oooh pretty" and then never using it. And this is only touching on the aesthetic part of it! Then you need to consider what size works best for you, whether you like to use clutches vs. totes vs. satchels, etc. Susie on "I think I have a fetish" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-think-i-have-a-fetish#post-1284827 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 13:41:16 +0000 Susie 1284827@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm not sure it is quite a fetish but I have become a bag lady :) I believe that stylish shoes and an interesting bag make any outfit better and I have a good sized collection of both. I used to prefer single strap shoulder bags. Then I moved to satchels. In the last few years I added several clutches and I have 2 or 3 totes too. I understand the preference for black as that used to be my first choice too. But since I wear a lot of black, now I choose more colorful bags. I seem to switch bags a couple of times a week. It only takes a minute and I want the bag to work with that day's outfit. Sometimes it's a matching bag and frequently it he bag adds a pop of color. My latest favorites (meaning most frequently used) include a cobalt Furla satchel, a citron Kate Spade satchel, a smallish blue Coach shoulder bar, a navy clutch (Pour la Victoire) and a red tote (Charles Jourdan). I used to be all about the pockets in bags and I probably still would be if I used the same one everyday. Now I don't really use the pockets except for my phone. It's quicker to switch things if I don't. I downsized my wallet and make up bag to fit any size bag except some particularly small special occasion bags. Those 2 things, plus a folding brush, readers, keys and a pen are quickly moved from one bag to another. ETA: I find that Last Call is a good source of nice bags at great prices. Neel on "I think I have a fetish" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-think-i-have-a-fetish#post-1284824 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 13:30:27 +0000 Neel 1284824@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Tee Hee! Your comment on my post says it all I am not a purse person. I am a shoes person! But when I bought purses I just bought random colors. So I have one each in black, white, red, green, animal print and striped bags I am not planning on replacing any of them in the near future. But I think I might add a solid brown and grey to my collection. I swap bags as per my outfits. Now I am a pro in that but still forget my wallet at times Anonymous on "I think I have a fetish" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-think-i-have-a-fetish#post-1284818 Sun, 22 Jun 2014 13:15:15 +0000 Anonymous 1284818@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I adore purses.  I notice the purse first and foremost in all WIWs.  I may forget the outfit itself, but remember the purse for days ore even weeks afterward.   Every single time I go to the mall, I swing by the purse section "just to look."  I pick up every single one and examine it in a great detail.  If I brought home every purse I wanted, my purse collection would exceed the value of my brand new car.   So my question is directed at the women that have many purses and seem to be able to coordinate their purse to the outfit.  First, I admire all of you immensely.  Do you switch purses every single day to match your outfit?  Could you explain how you have a purse that matches your outfits so intentionally?    When my car is paid for this August, I intend to revamp my purse collection.  Right now, I own A LOT of black (well, all black).  I always bought black because it seemed the "right" thing to do.  NOW I want color and interest.  I want my purse to make a statement.  I want my purse to standout in a rather otherwise conservative approach to dressing.