PU Handbags: How much would you spend? - YouLookFab Forum

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PU Handbags: How much would you spend?

rae

(website)

Veteran

I've admired the Marc Jacobs Dotty on Rita and Natalie, but it's a little too expensive for me, so I've been keeping my eyes peeled for a white snake embossed bag to do a stiped DIY version - my striped b/w just recently died, so why not replace with striped snake? However, I've had a terrible time finding snake embossed leather. I found this one, but it is PU and not bargain basement prices. How much would you say is a good price for faux leather?

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26 replies

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Sarah A

Veteran

Not much help, because I have decided I'm not buying PU no matter the price. I will wait until I find real leather. Sorry...

Anonymous

It is beautiful. I have a hard time spending a lot of money on faux leather. I just don't think they will hold up long enough so that I can feel I "got my money out of them." If I had to name an amount, I would say spend around or less than $100 on faux leather. And I would really have to love it.

christieanne

Veteran

Around $40? Well made PU can last a long time (and there are tons of people carrying PU out of choice these days).
Did you check ebay?

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

All I can say is, Don't Do It. Plastic bags are bags of regret. As much as I love Dotty, I know she is not for the long haul. The only PU bag that I would consider buying again is one that I won't use much.

rae

(website)

Veteran

I did check ebay first thing! There are some things that *almost* hit the mark, but I demand crossbody capability these days, which makes it harder.

Sarah, that is help in itself! I normally have the same policy, but for some reason the real leather options either aren't around or are even further out of my price range than the dotty.

Mary, that is the worry. The dead b/w bag was PU also... it did last me 6 years, but I wish it had lasted even longer.

Diana

Veteran

Hmm, maybe no more than $50 (or less depending on quality), although honestly I hesitate to buy PU at all these days. It just has a gross plasticky feel that I do not like. Funnily enough, I would spend more (and am a lot more willing to buy) for fabric or coated canvas bags (like a Longchamps) even though they probably are not that durable either. But they don't feel gross.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Just on the side note on PU bags: my shake print "Monty cousin" set off chemicals alert in the airport so they searched me and all my hand luggage. The guy told me afterwards that they had these cases before and most likely the chemicals in my bag are at fault.
As for the feel of them some PU bags are very much like leather and I have hard time to determine is it PU or leather. I also can endure PU in a bag bit not in the clothing or shoes.
I would not pay more that $50 for PU bag.

jayne

Veteran

I have paid a pretty penny for PU since my daughter currently forbids leather. I have paid 150 for one and 120 for another. I love em both.

Victoria

(website)

Veteran

If I see really cute PU bag for under $40, I may get it. I refuse to spend more than that because they never last long

Meredith1953

Veteran

I have a couple of faux leather bags and I like them. I don't expect them to last as long as leather so I don't think I would pay for then around $50-$80 for one. My orange bag is some form of faux leather and I am having fun with it.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I think my limit for PU would be around $40 - $60.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Thank you for your answers here - everyone has been in line with my initial feelings, so that is good. I have traditionally been very miserly, so there are times when I wonder if my judgement is impaired.

I will hold off on the white snake project - it can wait for the perfect item at the perfect price. In the mean time, I can do some other art projects I've had in mind.

Isabel

Veteran

I am not any help either...but not too long ago, I mentioned here how expensive bags were getting. It is amazing the number of PVC bags that cost over $100.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Isabel, I agree! I think it is the fact that they can now market them as "vegan" so as to make them sound like a "specialty" item rather than a budget item. :/

Anonymous

Hard to know Rae. It all depends on budget. For me, I'd say no more than $ 80 - $100.
I say this with a huge disclaimer since I might have a poisoned eye for PU. I have thrown money away on them like it's nobody's business. They start cracking and peeling off on me just by looking at them. I would not invest in one, unless it s a hard design to come by, like Dotty, or if is something cutesy like a clutch that I will not use heavily.

MsMary

Veteran

I bought a tan "ostrich" PU bag at Target for $39.99 and felt like that was a decent price. Although I am already kind of regretting not holding out for leather.

velvetychocolate

Veteran

I would spend up to $40-$70.

I have to tell you something - I was in Palm Springs last spring, and my Mom and I were shopping at Marshalls (or maybe it was Ross, I can't remember) and I found this really amazing bag...I think I paid $30-something for it. It was this beautiful stone, mushroom-y colour and had a gorgeous blue paisley lining. Anyhow, I ended up buying it - and my Mom teased me and teased me ...saying it was a "Sex and the City" purse. I am not sure what she meant by that and if it was compliment or not.

It had a tag on it, saying it was "vegan" - ie. not leather. But the thing is? It's a really nice handbag, and whenever I wear it, I get all kinds of comments on it. Even my hair stylist noticed it and said, "I love that bag....where'd you get it?" and so on. It was more than $30, but less than $40 is all I can remember. I get questions and compliments about that bag all the time, and I picked it up out of the blue at either a Ross or Marshall's store in Palm Springs.

I'm not really a 'bag person' (not quite yet, but it's sneaking up on me) - yet it's kind of funny that the one non-leather bag I have gets the most compliments,

If it's all kinds of fab, then I'd spend $40 ...maybe even up to $75 or more for a non-leather handbag.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Wow, VC, that bag sounds like a deal! Now that you bring it up, my two synthetic bags (map bag and yellow floral bag) get the most compliments as well. Of course, both of those combined were still less than the white one I posted. Great point that the synthetics can be just as fab!

velvetychocolate

Veteran

Rae - I just went and grabbed the bag out of my closet - the brand is "Urban Expressions" ...very stylish looking bags, if you ask me. Usually priced quite a bit higher (which I only just found out now after looking up the brand online) - but I know I got it from Marshall's or Ross for between $30-$40. I don't have a picture of the exact bag, and can't find the exact style online. Still, you might want to look into "Urban Expressions." I've been very happy with the quality of this bag, and I *love* the blue paisley lining.

I can't seem to access Urban Expression's web site without signing up/registering, but here are a few links, to give you some examples of their bags. I'd recommend them.

Urban Expressions on DSW:

http://www.dsw.com/shoe-brands.....06/page-1/

On ebags:

http://www.ebags.com/brand/urban-expressions

Here's a link to the Urban Expressions website: (when I tried to navigate the site though, they wanted me to 'sign up') - but still, you can get an idea from their front page:

http://urbanexpressions.net/

Very nice bags. I just happened upon one of them (didn't even look at the label) while shopping...bought one, and have been extremely pleased with it. It's only now that I'm looking inside the purse to find the brand. Like I said, the interior of the bag has this really pretty blue/mustard/cream paisley satin-y lining too. The outside looks beautiful - and I've had tons of compliments on it. It's very well made.

Enjoy

eta: it looks like leather too, it's very hard to tell that it isn't. These are good bags, imo.

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

I guess I am in the minority here. I don't really care whether my bags are real leather or fake, as long as I love the design. Many of my favorite bags are vinyl/PU like Dotty, my Kate Spade Japanese floral, and my red snakeskin WHBM bag. They were all less than $150 though (got Dotty on eBay). The only problem with Dotty is that when I wore blue jeans with it, the blue from my jeans started rubbing off a little onto the back of the purse. Rita, have you noticed that problem with yours? I am going to have to be careful not to wear it with dark clothing!

Rae, how about this Isaac Mizrahi bag on QVC for $95? It's real leather, white with snakeskin print. It looks so plain by itself--just begging for a paint job!
http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp......54-D61-000

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velvetychocolate

Veteran

I found another online store that has a large collection of these 'Urban Expression' bags:

http://www.baghaus.com/shop-by.....sions.html

The bag I got looks a little bit like this, but not exactly - mine's a bit rounder, has different handles and no front pocket. It's also a bit more grey/stone than taupe. But the general idea is the same:

http://www.baghaus.com/urban-e.....roup=Brown

Take a look through that site above - you'll see a good 6-7 pages of this brand's clutches and bags and get a good idea of what their styles are like.

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Deborah

Veteran

Im with GP I dont mind what my bags are as long as I love them and I think they look good (not cheap). I also like variety so faux leather prices make that possible. I am thinking $50\$60 max unless a bag is particularly special! I actually bought two new bags today (both faux) on sale and got both for just over $50:) I think an item's worth is really down to how much you like it, want it, how much it suits your purposes etc.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, VC. I do like those styles a lot, though I don't see what I am looking for. I will keep them in mind for the future!

Natalie, I am impressed that you found Dotty for $150! Since I've been looking, all the prices hover around $200. I do like the leather one you posted, too, but I do need a crossbody strap.

I found something in leather I think will work; just waiting to get a reply on a question I asked the seller.

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Oh good, I hope you find the right bag for you! Can't wait to see the DIY version!

I got lucky with my eBay bag--the seller was from Arizona so I wonder if she got it at Last Chance? I always wonder where these eBay sellers get designer things to sell, because I assume they're selling for profit.

rae

(website)

Veteran

I ended up getting the cream version of my beloved snake bag! Real leather, nice texture, love the size and quality - and less $$ than the PU one I originally posted. Should be a bit lighter than the pic below. Leather paint is on the way, too, to make her into Dotty's cousin, Stripey!

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Anonymous

Ummm delicious. What's the make and model?