Ask Angie and everyone: "Bags Aren't Dated"

Janet

In my recent thread on whether to keep or donate an old animal print bag, almost everyone responded that the bag, while having a fab print, read as "dated." However, Angie's response was that bags don't date.

Angie, I would love to see a bit more explanation and argument for this. I feel like some styles do read a bit as dated (my really oversized mint envelope clutch I posted recently is another example), but would love to be proved wrong, as I own a couple that don't feel current to me but would like to use them again.

Care to expound? I'd love to hear from others too, from either perspective.

7 years ago

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5 replies

Latest reply was from Isabel

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Ah! Actually my response on your thread was, "bags aren't dated", and I was referring to the bags up for assessment.

Bags DO date. But neither of your animal print bags looked dated to my eye. FWIW, your oversized mint clutch isn't dated either. Sufficiently current for sure. Whether YOU are still feeling those bags Janet, is another story. People's threshold for what is dated is quite personal these days. And fashion professionals will also differ in opinion.

I'm finding that in the case with bags generally - the mainstream classics look more dated than anything else. There are sooooo many old Coach, Brighten and Dooney & Bourke bags that I pass on when I review closets because they don't look current at all - despite being in good condition. Yet as soon as there's a very old vintage bag from the '50s and '60s in the mix, it looks hip all over again. Old Chanels, Hermes, Fendi, Prada and Gucci bags tend to hold their own forever too.

Take my Valentino below. Some Fashionistas will tell you it's dated. But I will carry it forever because it's avant-garde enough to hold its own. Its sentimental value also means more to me than anything. I am NEVER passing on that bag.

Hope that makes sense.

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by Angie

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7 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Aha! Thank you for the clarification, Angie! That makes sense. I'm starting to be more cautious about purging items that I've seemingly fallen out of love with. Sometimes I see them in a different light after a year or so of non-use. I have holding zone storage space, and it is wise for me to use it.

I agree with you about the really mainstream classic bags looking a bit dated right now. Bags are kind of weird. Certain shapes and styles trend and wane, and I seem to have swung from unstructured to structured bags, and now I'm reaching for unstructured ones again (must be the boho influence so prevalent now). And remember how really big bags trended a few years back but then went away in favor of increasingly smaller bags? I have a beautiful large, unstructured, navy Lockheart bag with a sort of corset-laced style detail on the front that was a gift from my husband. I haven't used it in a couple of years or more because the size and the style seemed a little off (during my more structured, tailored bag phase), but I'm thinking of pulling it out and using it again. It suits the more maximal, boho vibe going on now, and is consistent with the casual part of my style.

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7 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

I don't know much about handbags, Janet, but to me, the bag you just posted does not look dated to me at all. It seems to fit Angie's criterion of being avant-garde enough that it doesn't date. If I saw someone carrying that bag, I would think it looked really interesting and stylish--not dated.

7 years ago

bj1111

Veteran

i have an old old coach that i just rescued from beneath the bathroom sink because the shape seems more current.

nowadays, my tolerance for heavy bags with a lot of metal decorations are at a low. i've switch to a longchamp pliage neo because of the weight. so reluctant to purchase new bags.

7 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

My heart dropped when I read the title to this. I have always been a more classical type of bag person. And I they are nice, leather and good quality. And I see NONE of mine as dated. LOL. So I was so relieved to read the criterion too.. Phew.

7 years ago

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