Designer bags - worth the cost? - YouLookFab Forum

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Designer bags - worth the cost?

birdie99

Hello YLF community
After years of enjoying bags from brands like Furla, Coach and Kate Spade bags, I’m noticing that many women are now wearing much more expensive bags from the big end of town designers like LV, Chanel, Givenchy etc. Are these handbags much better quality or is there something else going on. I don’t know how they can all afford multiple designer bags - and whether there’s been a shift in the value given to spending money on these items? I’d love your insights …

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24 replies

Latest reply was from Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

Janet

(website)

Veteran

First of all, remember that there are a lot of counterfeit/fake bags with those logos. Not all the designer bags you see being carried are the real thing.

I’m not so sure the quality is a defining factor of those bags — it’s the name and the status that cause many people to carry them. That said, the designer bags I have (not on the level you mention, but Issey Miyake, Stella McCartney, and a secondhand Gucci) I bought because I loved the design. I don’t like visible branding or logos, but I am a sucker for really good design. Those bags happen to also be well-made, but not on a level far surpassing other mid-market brands I own.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Not worth it to me! My Kate Spade is my most expensive by far, and I’m not even sure it’s worth it. Might have a snap added to the outside pocket to make it functional.

cat2

Veteran

You may be seeing more because of the robust second hand market, which makes them less spendy. I would rather spend $$ on jewelry than a bag, but I know others feel differently.

Joy

Veteran

People do notice the bag you carry and sometimes give better service, but I do not want my bags to last forever, however it is annoying to have strap come undone. I find the expensive bags well made but heavier to carry. However I want real leather because pleather starts to peel after a season.

Jules

Veteran

I think social media aka influencers might contribute to more "every day" people wanting these types of items for every day use... as to how people afford them, I'm not sure (I was under the impression the resale market wasn't that much cheaper than new but I don't follow it myself). I like quality items but I don't think the quality increases as exponentially as the price when it comes to luxury items.

Anonymous

I haven't looked closely at designer bags to judge whether there's that much difference, but my Kate Spade and Michael Kors bags are fine for me. I don't like to spend a lot of money on things and worry about them being damaged.
Guessing the women you see bought second hand or else they're fakes :/
I'm with Cat2 on team jewelry!

JAileen

Veteran

I have a few thoughts about this:
1. I don’t want things that are too precious to use. If I had something very expensive, I would worry too much about wrecking it.
2. I don’t want things that scream look at me! It’s kind of showoffy.
3. I don’t like logos. If a company wants me to advertise for them, they can pay me.

rachylou

Veteran

I have a Gucci handbag that was worth it. I got it thirty years ago and it’s still going strong. I used to use it daily, although I no longer do. Excellent construction, amazingly light weight, superior details. BUT all that said, I would not buy one now, not new. The value for money is not there anymore in such designer pieces IMO.

kkards

Veteran

Well they might not be real
Can’t seem to link to the cut article, but goggle rich New York women who love their fake Birkins

But anyway, I’ve owned and used bags at from Prada and Target and at all prices in between. Are the designer bags better quality? Well that depends.
On what you are looking for, how you define quality and what the value of money is to you. The 1st Prada bag I bought functioned 100% better than a similar shaped bag I had, because extra thought was given to strap length and placement as well as inner pocket placement. Was the material better quality, probably a little better, but I valued function over material. Over time I’ve re defined what value I place on certain things , and so I while I admire many higher end designer bags, will probably not buy be buying any, at least not at today’s prices

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I think a lot of it comes from social media influencers. I see them actually advise followers to purchase these bags as investments. As in, literally the bags will appreciate over time like an asset so it should be part of your financial planning strategy (or at least, it "excuses" the gigantic purchase). Is it any better than the stock market? Who knows. But the first AND second-hand market for Hermes handbags is totally bonkers. I'm not really a purse gal, so I'll stick my money in a 401K, haha. But I haven't ruled out the possibility of picking up a Chanel 2.55 someday, because I love that bag. Maybe for my big 5-0.

Bijou

Veteran

I have a couple of designer bags and find that they are well made and will be used and enjoyed for years. I don't think of them as an investment as much like a new car, as soon as you take it out of the shop it has dropped in value.

Irina

Veteran

I find that high end bags are made of quality materials and often have interesting design but to me, it is about one’s personal price ceiling.
I used to think that I would pay whatever for a bag if I absolutely adore it but no, not my case, I’m too practical (or cheap )

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Interesting question. Or really two questions.
Why you see them more - as said above, maybe social media, maybe there are more fakes, maybe second hand market (not all designer bags retain their value like a Birkin).
Are they worth it? I have and have had a wide array of designer and non designer bags (all second hand, some bought specifically to resell). And the answer is - it depends. Furla, Coach, etc. are not cheap new, and are very good quality in general. I have and had a few vintage Gucci/Dior/YSL etc bags and would not say they stand out from the level of the Furla et. al. You are paying for the label, and in some cases design rather than the quality per se. Have not had any Chanel or Birkins to say about them - yet !

Sal

Veteran

I have also noticed that too - I think there has been a big push by designers in their influencer marketing - and I think it's a circular process.

I would never have thought of a handbag as a collectible, and I guess if you use it lightly or not at all it could retain most or all of the value. But there is a risk there as with all collectible items.

I can't see myself moving up from the Furla/Saben/Deadly Ponies/YuMei type level (some of those are NZ brands). I doubt there is much increase in quality but just increased "luxury" branding.

birdie99

Wow, such interesting and varied responses! Thank you everyone. I guess the social media/influencer thing is a big factor but I also wonder sometimes how many people are going into debt just for the outward image? Some designer items are absolutely stunning and unique but the more stock standard items seem like a walking logo more than anything else. I guess everyone invests in what makes them happy right?

Lana

(website)

Veteran

I think they are worth it if status is an important value to the buyer, and I say this with no judgement. Clothing can portray success and for some people this is important especially in certain professions. For me I would rather have more medium priced but quality bags because versatility and options are more important to me.

em

Of all my designer bags, only two were purchased full price from the shop--both are LVs, and believe it or not, 15 years ago, they were sort of reasonable.

All the rest were purchased on Ebay or resale shops. The Hermes I bought at auction.

And I love them all.

birdie99

Great perspectives @em and @lana. I’m glad to hear your investments are going strong! And agree on the need for options

Runcarla

Veteran

I don’t know about high-end designer bags, having never had the opportunity to study one. I do find a difference with some bag makers who have established their reputation by making leather goods - before branching out into other items. I’m a fan of Fossil, and Coach for well made, functional bags. I’ve sourced two perfect-for-me Coach bags (sometimes referred to as affordable luxury brands) at thrift for 10-20% of the price new, and love them because they tick all the boxes of my purse requirements: leather, light weight, wide adjustable strap, flap closure (no zippers which I find rough on my hands)

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MsMary

Veteran

I have four low-four-figure designer bags, all of which were bought on vacation. I found a Chanel evening bag in a consignment store on a trip to New York with, coincidentally, a passel of YLF friends in tow. Authenticating it and buying it was one of the highlights of the trip!

I bought a Burberry bag at the flagship Burberry store in London a few years ago and again, it was a fun experience as well as a great bag (which I still love and use).

And on my most recent trip to Paris I visited the Louis Vuitton store and a friend and I bought the-same-but-different-color crossbody bags. Again, big fun featuring doting salespeople and champagne.

Oh, and a few years ago a Pride-striped Etienne Ainger bag jumped out of a store window in Munich and followed me home.

These days it's usually cheaper to buy expensive bags in Europe due to the exchange rate and the VAT refund.

They are all beautiful quality and I would say a step above, say, Kate Spade. But really I treasure them largely for the memories they represent.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

MsMary, I remember fondly that bag purchase! What a great score!

birdie99

@msmary - your bags sound fabulous and a perfect souvenir from your travels. Thank you for sharing!
@Runcarla - your new bags are lovely and great to have two colours on rotation.

Mainelady

Veteran

I have handbags that range from TJ Maxx finds to designer. I love each handbag I have, for different reasons. My designer bags are happiness factors. An LV cross body and a small Gucci cross body were gifts from DH. A larger LV was purchased on a trip to Napa Valley and San Fran with my daughter. A Burberry was bought at a discount store while shopping in NY with my sister and a vintage Stella McCartney was a find and a celebration purchase while I was strolling Charles St. in
Boston after a very successful open heart surgery for DH. That one was a spur of the moment impulse buy, but I have not a single regret.
I don’t really consider designer bags investments, but I do like to think that down the road DD, DIL and my granddaughters will enjoy some of the happiness factors I have to pass along.

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

I used to have a couple of vintage bag styles on my "wouldn't say no to" list - the Chanel boy bag in a metallic blue-green or pearl color, and a Dior Samourai in just about any color. But even secondhand, these bags are thousands of dollars. I think they're stunning, but these days, I would rather put that kind of money into artwork, jewelry, or my garden.

I have a couple of vintage Versace bags, and I really love them, although I haven't really worn them in a few years. I think the quality is great, but honestly, not any better than the vintage Coach or Etienne Aigner bags in my collection.