Tell me why I need a *good* purse (or do I?) - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Shopping

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Tell me why I need a good purse (or do I?)

Ann in New England

I've finally become resigned to spending around $100 for a good pair of shoes, but I just can't bring myself to purchase an "investment" purse. Do I need to have one? I typically buy bags at TJ Maxx or Macy's on sale -- usually leather, but typically under $50. I tend to carry the same black bag in the winter and a bag with some color in the spring/summer. And then the next fall I get a new bag and donate the old.

I'm trying to figure out the benefits of an investment bag. I'm sure it's better made, but beyond that I don't see a lot of difference other than maybe the feel of the leather. There are so many inexpensive bags that are basically knockoffs of the original. But I know that investment bags are very popular, so maybe I'm missing something?

Shopping

31 replies

Latest reply was from Gaylene

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I don't buy into the bag hype, but I did buy what was, for me, an investment bag 2 winters ago. My Fossil Sutter I got at Endless maybe? or Piperlime? Anyway, one of those places for $70 instead of the $100+ it was going for. I love it and it's my main bag 99% of the time. I have to admit, I don't care that it's Fossil or whatever, I just like the style. Like I said, I don't buy into the bag hype, but I know a lot of ladies here love their designer bags, and that's great - for them

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I've never been a "bag lady" either and before YLF I would use the same one...um...forever. But I am coming to understand their appeal and the usefulness of having a bit of a bag wardrobe. (I am still in the process of building said wardrobe...so far, I have a grand total of 3 bags.)

I don't think you need an "investment" bag if bags don't appeal to you. But you do need a bag that looks really good, makes you happy, holds your stuff, and doesn't annoy the pants off you! So whatever it takes to get that, go for it.

Anna

I don't have expensive bags either, primarily because I'm fickle and I like to try new styles. If I spent a ton of money on a bag, I would feel compelled to keep it and use it, even if something for $30 at Target caught my eye. So I just go for what catches my eye this season and I don't feel guilty if I'm tired of it in 6 months.

MsLuna

Veteran

I've never owned an "investment bag" until a year ago. I decided to shell out some cash on an Onna Ehrlich bag (on sale, of course), and I never looked back. I tote the bag with me everyday, wherever I go and after almost a year, it's never fallen apart on me (I have a 6 month lifespan on purses)!

What I find is that when you do invest in a bag, you must keep in mind the following:

1) Purse-toting habits - How do you prefer to carry your purse? Do you like to keep one hand on the purse or would you rather go hands-free (this was true in my case, hence I needed a purse with a cross-body option). Do you use outside pockets to store keys, cell phones and other daily necessities? How much stuff do you tote around daily?

2) Lifestyle - Do you work in a corporate job or a more relaxed environment? Are you a stay-at-home mom? How versatile would you like the purse to be? In my case, I work in a casual work environment so I ensured that my everyday investment purse was professional enough for work yet casual enough for weekends.

3) What's your best neutral? Your best metal? - On my first investment bag, I had to purchase it in a neutral. In my case, it's good ol' black. it would've been better had the hardware been bright silver, but I was able to live with the gold hardware.

Of course, you dont' have to spend a lot of money for these purses. There are sites such as Hautelook that sells brand names for a bit less. I am sure there are other places you can shop at that many YLF'ers can recommend.

Good luck and let us know what you decide!

PS. I'm not a purse person - I only own 2 purses and 2 clutches. So yes - I am as picky as it gets with purses!

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I don't think you need an investment purse if it doesn't suit your lifestyle - I think a lot of people like them to show off

I personally use Fossil as my go-to bag, but I recently bought a bright neon bag off ModCloth and love it!

deb

Veteran

I do not know what price range you consider 'investment' bags. My bags are usually $300 or less. I have multiple colors and styles, I polish them regularly and rotate them. I am changing them more often now since reading YLF and found a nice organizer/insert. I wear minimal jewelry (stud earings, a ring on each hand, and a watch ocassionally) so I spend my money on bags and glasses. Some of my bags I have had for 30 years or so. I guess I do not feel bad about spending on bags is because they can last forever and I know my girls will use them in the future.

Carole

Veteran

I have found a great bag can really help elevate an otherwise ordinary outfit (same thing with shoes) I have found some fabulous and stylish bags at Marshall's and TJMax , so you don't have to spend alot. One thing I insist on for myself is "quality", no cheap Target bags or pleather types. Good luck!

Debbie

Veteran

For me this is not question of need. It is a want. As my husband frequently points out I could use a reusable shopping bag. Never happening. I watch flash sales. Check the bag sales at Macy's Nordstrom's and Dillard's often. I love Kate Spade so I keep an eye on the website.
The bag I am currently lusting after is this one:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/re.....sultback=0

I turn 60 in a couple of years and I told my husband I want a Chanel bag for my birthday.

If I had the money back that I spent on cheap bags I could buy a investment bag easily.
I think it is just a matter of personal preference.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I agree with Carole - quality is the key. In my mind it's not a question of designer it's a question of quality; so in that sense I believe in investment pieces.

Echo

Veteran

I tend to agree it is personal preference. If you are happy with what you are doing now, there is no reason to change. If your tastes frequently change, then there is no reason to invest in something you might tire of in short order.

I enjoy a nice bag and I have invested in several. And now? I've found that those I have are all quality-made, styles that work for me and colours that I need. I haven't bought a bag for quite a while because those that I packed away last season are still beautiful and ready to go for another year. For me, quality bags are not only an investment, but they are a money-SAVER for me. I rarely even look at bags anymore because I mostly have what I need.

But this goes back to fashion "must-haves" for me. I find lists of must-haves to be ridiculous because what works for one woman will not necessarily work for another. Just because an investment bag might be a good purchase for one person does not mean it is necessary for everyone. It might very well not be worth it for you, and that's fine as long as what you are doing works.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Just an aside, I don't think I've ever had a bag 'break' on me or otherwise become unusable. I just eventually get tired of it. I often carry one daily for several years before I move on to another. I wonder if the type of bag (over the shoulder, crossbody, satchel) makes a difference in durability?

Aziraphale

Veteran

Mo -- does a bag become unusable when some random stranger vomits all over it?

(don't mind me; I still haven't quite got over that)

OK, here's my two cents. Keep in mind this is coming from a shoe, not bag, enthusiast. It seems to me that bags can vary A LOT in cost. What exactly IS an investment bag? Is it a nice Fossil one for two hundred-odd dollars? I doubt it, but that's roughly what I just paid for the replacement to my ruined-by-vomit bag (which was a decent, sturdy Roots one that lasted about five years and took a lot of abuse). I had trouble forking over that much for a bag, except that I know I like good leather and I want something that looks cool, not ratty, when it gets a little beat up (which it will, because I'll use it every day for the next five years). Vinyl just does not look good when it gets trashed.

I'm wandering. Back to my point. You can pay THOUSANDS for an "investment" bag. And it's true they can be beautiful. There's something to be said for quality materials and great craftsmanship. But what it comes down to this: is it important to you? I personally am quite happy with my nice, serviceable Fossil bag. $200 is an investment for me. But it wouldn't be an investment for those who value a Chanel bag. From the sounds of it, a Chanel bag would be of no value to you either. In your case, as in mine, an "investment" bag would be one that doesn't look like crap halfway through its first season. And the really cheap ones generally do. That's why it's not a bad idea to "invest" in a decent, but not astronomically-priced, bag.

I keep using "invest" in quotes because it's not an investment in the usual sense. I mean, your bag isn't going to make you more money when you're done with it, which is what investments are supposed to do.

Scarlet

Veteran

You can definitely find nice bags at Marshall's or somewhere like that. If bags are not something you really enjoy I would look for quality at lower price points.

soobee

Veteran

I agree it's personal preference. My preference is to have a complete wardrobe of handbags, as I live in a climate which is mostly tropical and use my bags to add colour as there is no need for toppers - blazers, jackets etc. I have limited my bag cost to no more than $80 each (well, sometimes a little more if it absolutely breathtaking), otherwise we may end up living in a cardboard box!

Ann in New England

Thanks, everyone. I think I've been reading too many "What every girl needs to have in her closet" magazine articles.

rute

Veteran

I'm a bag lady! The important is the quality, not the brand.
If you have a leather purse with good quality , you do not need to pay a lot for the brand (mine are usually around $100).
A bad bag can ruin an outfit! The first thing I notice is the bag, it should be well made and in good conditions!

April

Veteran

Ann, here is my two cents. I was never a bag lady. Before YLF, I would have one bag (often black) use it until it fell apart, then buy a new one. Now my eyes have been opened to the pleasures of beautiful bags, but I would still not consider myself a bag lady. I have about ten bags and that's fine for me.

My bag-buying is completely guided by the looks of the bag and not its investment potential. It just doesn't interest me that much to think about still using a bag in 20 years.

The thing is, at the lowest end, it's hard to find the look I want (minimal bling, no visible branding, not too much stitching or external pocketing, nice-looking leather, and -- this one is key -- hardware that doesn't look cheap). So I go to the medium range (between $100 - 150), and watch for sales.

I like changing my bag now, but I don't do it daily. This happy medium works for me.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I don't feel the need to spend over $100 on a bag either. But I have in the past. I've had a couple of Coach bags over the years back when I worked in an office environment. I've been torn recently because I thought I might want a "better" bag and I found what I thought could be "perfect" until I realized that at the price, I'd feel sort of trapped by it. I ended up passing on it. I decided for the price I could get an evening clutch and another day bag and maybe even a new wallet.

I also like to change out my bag from time to time - and I also have not really had one wear out. Oh, wait, *except* for one of the expensive Coach bags that I ended up sending back to Coach with a long letter after only one year of use and it was losing the piping and the metal coating on the hardware - on the sides of the bag (not the bottom or edges). They sent me a certificate for the full retail price (very nice gesture indeed) but still, the bag was obvioiusly not built to last. SO, you don't always get what you pay for, even with reliable brands.

For me, the size, style, color and features of the bag trump the price every time. My current favorite purse is a used $50 "bargain" because I love it so much and it just feels good to touch and use.

eperdu

To echo nearly everyone, you don't NEED one. You can look as stylish with a $25 purse as a $2500 purse. IMO, with the latter, you risk looking like you bought a knock-off if the rest of your "life" doesn't match the cost of the purse.

That said, 10 years ago I bought a $250 Dooney & Bourke purse. I carried it daily for 8 years. It still looks brand new. I now alternate it with two other Dooney purses. It's still my favorite and one I reach for the most. Even if jeans & a t-shirt, I look pulled together with the classic purse. I think shoes and purses are important to elevate an outfit.

To me, $200-$500 for a classic purse is an investment in my good looks. I get a little squeamish over that range but know that purses can last a long time.

I think that you also have to factor in how much you like a purse. I looked for a long time before I bought that purse because I wanted something that would last and that I wouldn't grow tired of. If you like new purses and want to update with styles then an investment purse is probably not the way to go. I'm still not tired of looking at or wearing my first Dooney. I love it. Honestly, if I could only have one purse I'd be fine if that was it. But, that takes a certain mentality too.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

eperdu - any chance you would share a pic of your favorite D&B purse?

eperdu

Certainly. It's black with brown trim. It is a slight U-shape with a medium length drop. Over the shoulder, it sits just below my bra line. It's the perfect drop (for me) since I can easily keep it close to my body when in situations where I want to death grip it but otherwise it's just hangs nicely without any effort. I would like to send it back to D&B to be cleaned and have the trim worked on but it still looks great for nearly 10 years of neglect and every day use

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

cinnamon fern

Veteran

Hmmm, I must be doing something wrong - I've had lots of bags wear out. Often just a matter of things coming unstitched, which the cobbler can fix. But I've also had a number of bags just get sad and grungy looking over time.

Either I am a complete slob, or I have an unusual fondness for the pale suede bag.

eperdu

I don't buy anything in suede, personally. I think it gets too mangled too quickly.

My other Dooney is a different leather---it's this one in black:
http://www.qvc.com/Dooney-&#03.....03807.html

I love the purse and wanted to buy it for a long time but worried that the heavy lock closure would be awkward and the flap top would be as well. I ended up not buying it and then a friend gave it to me and I was right .. hah! I still love it but I tolerate it--not adore it.

Elly

Veteran

Hmmmm . . . I'm willing to pay in the 100-200 dollar range for something like fossil because I am picky, want real leather that will scuff up nice, am all about function, but also want style/nothing like my mother would carry.

That said, I currently don't have a everyday purse. When I do, I typically have 1-2. One that is larger and goes to work that I can put folders or a full-sized notepad in (although style is important here, I am willing to go for something more functional or use a computer bag to avoid heaviness with leather), and a smaller cross-body that would go shopping and out on weekends and traveling with me. Sometimes I just use a wallet as a clutch, and other times I have a coin purse that goes into my back pocket or coat pocket with ID and cash. I also have 1-2 clutches or wristlet type bags for weddings and the like.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

The term "good" doesn't necessarily mean expensive. To me "good" means well made, suitable for my lifestyle, works well with my wardrobe. I'm someone who has thrifted probably half of my handbag wardrobe, all for under $20, and yet I consider these all to be "good" handbags.

That having been said, I recently purchased two better handbags (Fossil Re-Issue Vintage and Elliot Lucca snakeskin) and feel like they both elevate my outfits. I automatically feel more put together when carrying one of these bags with even the most simple combination of jeans and a tee.

Buy what works for you - style wise and budget wise - and enjoy!

rachylou

Veteran

I think if you carry a purse, it could be worth it. I mean, there's something about the noise the crinkly plastic grocery bag makes when you come into the office that drags a gal's presentation down... haha! Just joshing...

But ya know, I think the main point is to keep everything on the same level of nice. Investment bags can be found on bargain.

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

I don't think it's how much you spend; but a cheap bag usually looks cheap. Plastic just cannot be made to look like leather.

Even if the bag was inexpensive, if it has some style and panache and goes with the vibe of an outfit, the cost hardly matters, does it? I often see ladies carrying sad-looking black faux leather shoulder bags; very practical but I do think it detracts from the look and brings the whole thing down. I enjoy looking nice - it makes me feel good. To add a sad, cheap-looking bag that doesn't have any style to my outfit seems counter-productive!

ETA - the sad "everyday" black shoulder bag is especially a travesty when you need to dress up. Recently this was something I noticed a lot people watching at the opera; ladies who wear the best duds and the top if off with the scuffed, heavy black shoulder bag (usually also overstuffed). No bag would be better, an put everything you need in the coat pocket!

Ann in New England

I confess I never notice anyone's bag. Well, until now, I'm sure.

JAileen

Veteran

My perfect bag is (in general) a cross body with a zipper top. I love vintage Coach bags. Simple clean lines, quality materials. I still have some I bought in the early 80 's and they look great. Their new bags are not my cup of tea. At. All.
Anyway, when I consider the cost per use, it must be mere pennies, or maybe fractions of a penny.

Lately I've been buying good leather bags at thrift stores and cleaning them up. Sometimes they don't need any cleaning at all. I bought a nice black leather Kate Spade hobo bag for about $15. I don't know if it would be considered to be an "investment " but it's a pretty nice bag for practically nothing.

12