It's in the Bag

As you may have read in a post a few weeks ago, luxury doesn't necessarily mean quality, especially when it comes to handbags. A few weeks ago I was having a conversation with my hairdresser about expensive handbags.
Bottom line of the conversation, most of them are not worth their expensive price tags. I might insert one exclusion here, the Chanel 2.55 will always have my heart and someday I may justify the ridiculous price and buy one.

In the meantime, I thought it would be good to share a few of the brands that I think have prices and quality that match up.

1) Kate Spade
My first "expensive" handbag purchase was actually a Kate Spade Sam Tote. I bought it my Sophomore year of college. This is what it looked like. It was pretty much the signature Kate Spade bag and everyone had them (everyone being lots of girls in my sorority).

I think it was around $125. It was a big purchase for me. I remember eating s**t on the sidewalk outside of the YMCA in Tacoma, WA (I attended the University of Puget Sound) and scraping up my hands and knees, and more tragically, getting a gigantic scuff on the coveted bag when it was just a few months old. It was a sad, sad day.

Back to Kate Spade. Since then I have purchased a number of Kate Spade bags. The quality of the bags are excellent, most of the designs are timeless and they are functional for everyday use. And, they usually have at least 20% off one to two times per year. Here are a few of my favorites from the current collection.

 Bow Terrace Justine $328

 Cobble Hill Clarke $278

Cobble Hill Curtis $348

2) J Crew

J Crew's bags are on-trend, well constructed, functional and fashionable. They too have frequent sales that allow you to get the bags at a lower price (not something the luxury brands ever do). I don't actually own one, but I have many friends who do, and they having nothing but good things to say. Here are a few of the bags that I would gladly add to my collection.

 Tartine Satchel $325

 Biennial Satchel on sale $278

Biennial Hobo on sale $260

2) Cole Haan
I definitely have an allegiance to Cole Haan. In my Nike days, I received an employee discount that made the bags hard to pass up. While Cole Haan is no longer owned by Nike, I still believe the quality of their bags makes them worth the price. I have multiple bags that I have used and abused for years, and they are still in fantastic condition. And, they also have frequent sales of %25 off or more.

 Belport Leather Crossbody tote $348

Crosby Bucket Bag $298

Village Satchel on sale $229.95

I know there are plenty of other brands out there that offer beautiful bags at reasonable prices. Which are your favorite?

Let's Talk Luxury

Before I began writing this blog, I read a fascinating book called Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster. I highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in fashion.

Here is a quick book synopsis: 

"Once luxury was available only to the rarefied and aristocratic world of old money and royalty. It offered a history of tradition, superior quality, and a pampered buying experience. Today, however, luxury is simply a product packaged and sold by multibillion-dollar global corporations focused on growth, visibility, brand awareness, advertising, and, above all, profits. Award-winning journalist Dana Thomas digs deep into the dark side of the luxury industry to uncover all the secrets that Prada, Gucci, and Burberry don’t want us to know. Deluxe is an uncompromising look behind the glossy façade that will enthrall anyone interested in fashion, finance, or culture." 

The book, for me, was a wonderful education on the history of the world's most premiere luxury brands: Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci, etc. I also learned random tidbits such as the fact that Emilio Pucci went to Reed College here in Portland where his first designs were for the ski team. 

At the time I read this book, I didn't own anything "luxurious". I have since acquired a Louis Vuitton handbag, wallet and duffle. Unfortunately the quality of these items hasn't impressed me. I've had to exchange one bag, have had the second repaired, have a faulty zipper I've yet to deal with and the wallet has started to fall apart in a few places. It is clear that the quality of Louis Vuitton leather goods is no where near what they were decades ago, but the prices have continued to rise.

So where does that leave me? Honestly, I don't know that I will ever buy another item from Louis Vuitton. I know that I can get higher quality products for less money. As for other luxury brands, I think I will stick to buying on consignment only.

Has anyone else had a similar experience with Louis Vuitton or other luxury brands?