Handbag trends for spring?

[Anonymous]

Ok - I have so much to worry about - seriously. Unemployed spouse, three kids, two with attention issues, etc etc etc. That being said, I am OBSESSED with the Kooba London bag! I have never spent more than $150 on a bag (I have lots of old school coach), and I realize that this is insane to dream about owning a $600 bag, but oh boy do I want that bag!

[Anonymous]

Seriously, do you all just buy these purses because of the brand name??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seriously, do you all just buy these purses because of the brand name??

PP here - I don't lust after the Kooba bag just because it's a Kooba. I actually don't think it is a particularly known brand, and certainly doesn't have the immediate status-y thing that a LV or a Gucci or Prada bag does. I just flat out LOVE this bag. The leather is gorgeous, and it's just the right size and would last a million years. Believe me, I normally schlep around with my $20 target faux leather bag which looks ok from a distance - but when I see a delicious, beautifully crafted and luxurious bag, I swoon a little bit. If only it was $100 instead of $600...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seriously, do you all just buy these purses because of the brand name??

Partially. I know certain brands are very durable, which is important to me if I'm spending that kind of cash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously, do you all just buy these purses because of the brand name??

Partially. I know certain brands are very durable, which is important to me if I'm spending that kind of cash.

But, as the name of this thread implies, they're trendy, and may be "so five minutes ago" next season, how durable do you need them to be? For me the money down is not worth it b/c it's not like these bags are an "investment."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously, do you all just buy these purses because of the brand name??

Partially. I know certain brands are very durable, which is important to me if I'm spending that kind of cash.

How about a bowling ball bag? I bet they are durable.

[Anonymous]

I inherited some great handbags from my mother and continue to collect them as well. A great handbag never goes out of style. Some of them get put away for a couple years and then come back out.

In terms of the Kooba bags, like many other really nice handbags, the quality of them is amazing. The upscale bags have a much better design and function to them with details you only see in more expensive bags. It's not the name we love - it's the design. You get what you pay for.

For me, I don't buy trendy - I only buy bags that are modern now and will continue to be appreciated in the future. Many of the bags I've bought date back 10 - 15 years and still look like "today." Think how inexpensive each one becomes when you own them that long and use them often. Higher quality wears much better.

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to thank whoever posted about the seatbelt bag.

Ordered one from Zappos in black/grey/beige and boy, it's so pretty!

Even DH had to agree in spite of the price. I have a 20 month old DD so I hope it's true everything washes right off.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like the D/B handbag in white, but in terms of a brand or "image" it is maligned by the more "urban" types as very surburban, not hip, ala Coach. Buy what you like.

OMG - really? I think Coach is fugly and cheap looking.

Just to clarify, I am saying that Coach is maligned as NOT hip by more urban types.

[Anonymous]

I've got kids and am pretty hard on bags and shoes, so I don't usually have white ANYTHING, but I saw a really cute off-white bag today. I might get it since it wasn't too expensive.

[Anonymous]

Fun thread, and yes, I do have a lot of more pressing and serious things to worry about -- that's why this is a welcome distraction:

re Kooba -- I have a beautiful Kooba bag that I love -- russet color and I wear it all winter, but it is not functional at all, so I would disagree with PP who said higher-end bags are more functional (or maybe she would disagree with me that Kooba is higher end);

re Coach -- everybody at the mall has one; only vintage ones can even begin to approach hip or interesting;

re Doonny&Burke -- I've always considered them matronly (proof: my mom had a D&B bag in the '80s), but I saw a lady wearing one the other day and it was fabulous -- black matte small tote -- maybe they're coming around;

re white or off-white bags -- don't do it -- they get really grimy and I can't even blame it on my kids -- they're in middle school and high school; just got a new leather cleaner at Fortuna's and the lady there swore it would clean up nicely -- hope so.

[Anonymous]

I like bags with good leather, simple shapes, and without lettering. I only buy bags on sale. As a result, I have over the years collected a few very nice Furla and Coach (this would be "vintage"--almost 20 years ago!) bags, and a few Cole Haan and lesser known bags. I have a couple of all of my purses/bags don't scream a brand helps a lot in ensuring their longevity.

[Anonymous]

Here is my new favorite bag

http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod94730148&parentId=cat8380746&masterId=cat5100733&index=5&cmCat=cat000000cat000141cat000149cat000226cat5100733cat8380746

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is my new favorite bag

http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod94730148&parentId=cat8380746&masterId=cat5100733&index=5&cmCat=cat000000cat000141cat000149cat000226cat5100733cat8380746

excellent taste. way out of my price range, but you go get it, it's fab!

[Anonymous]

The only bags I've loved (and bought) in the past 2 years have been Michael Kors.