My last purse was black and pretty cool, but not very sleek and it had seen better days. When the zipper broke and the strap was about to come off (held on with two safety pins), I had to get another one. The black one hit the trash, though... only one purse at a time for me.

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Originally posted by Jezabel:
You know, I just can't understand the attraction for Kate Spade or other expensive bags. What is the point? I mean, if you are wealthy and into image, I guess that's one thing, but I know people who have Kate Spade bags and no money. Why spend moola on a purse if you don't have any money to put inside it?

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Or if you're afraid to take it anywhere, lest someone steal it or it get dirty or any one of a million things that could happen to A Really Expensive Purse. I feel the same way about expensive shoes. I find it ludicrous to spend $400 on a pair of shoes that involve fewer materials than a $2 pair of flip-flops and match even fewer articles of clothing. AAAGGGHHHHH!!

*hides*

No seriously, it is the first one I've ever bought, and I am 29 years old and have been working professionally for 4 years post-graduate school. I am supporting my 2 boys, and I frankly don't buy a lot of designer items. But for some reason, I had decided that my one splurge purchase was going to be a Kate Spade. Because I thought I deserved something nice and not necessarily essential. Besides, it is a baby bag, for chrissakes. Even though I got a designer item, there was a small nagging voice in my head that told me that I should at least get something "practical." I think in my case, it's a little different-I am usually toting Quincy around, so I don't think it's a big deal to wear my kung fu pants, flip flops, and a tank top and sport my KS messenger bag.

I drool over Louis Vuitton bags. I will own one, someday.

I bought a $200 leather tote yesterday, on sale for $98. I was actually proud of my "deal". Kip is aghast that I would spend that much money on a purse, but the truth is, expensive bags are higher quality and typically last longer (IMO, with the exception of Kate Spade--the corners get ragged.)

I feel more put together with a designer bag. Even if I am wearing sweats.

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Originally posted by hermia:
Am I a bad person that I adore bags and shoes?

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Well, if you are then I am too. I have over 40 purses/bags currently. Granted, they are not designer bags, but mostly because that's not the style I perfer. I generally don't like anything with a logo on it, but that's just me. Mine are mostly vintage or somehow kind of quirky... either with funky designs or colors or something of that ilk. And of course I have my "professional," more conservative bags as well... and my fancy dress-up bags... and... and...

And yep, I actually use 'em all. I change bags usually about 3 times a week. There are usually about 4 stacked on the stool of my vanity table because I'm too lazy to take all the stuff out of them and put them back in the closet.

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Originally posted by MissMel:
BG, where do you get your funky bags? I'm getting tired of carrying the same black tote bag every where.

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Well, I inherited a bunch of vintage bags from my great aunts, and that's what pretty much got me started on my "collection." I shop at a lot of vintage stores and little independent stores that generally seem to have different stuff. That probably doesn't help too much since it's not a specific place, but my sources are pretty varied. I've bought a couple at Urban Outfitters. They usually have some fun stuff.

Oh... and of course I bought a kick a$$ bag from hotgluemama's site. I get tons of compliments on that one.

I don't think the girl was being disrespectful to the purse... Who cares as long as she's not trying to impress the hell out of someone with her fashion sense?

I will admit to drooooling over some BCBG $98 wedges that I am dying for. YUM. I can't stop thinking about them!! I have never spent that much on shoes, ever! Never! However, I am thinking about the practicality of buying one pair of versatile, decent shoes instead of 3 pairs of cheap ones. This may just be that time. hmm.

People can spend their money however they want...and that's what makes it interesting.

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Originally posted by val3ntine:
In the dining hall yesterday, a girl walked by carrying the cutest Christian Dior baguette. Not just a handbag with a discreet label on it. I'm talkin the big flashy gold "D" charm hanging on the front.

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Ever since I moved to Hong Kong, when I see flashy logo bags I assume they're fake. Even the real ones (of which there are many here too, it's a very, very label town) look fake to me now. It's just that the fake ones are everywhere, and if I see that little LV logo anywhere in the world I automatically assume it cost 5 bucks from a HK street market.

I have two purses, both on the verge of falling apart. My wallet is on its last legs too. It takes me FOREVER to find new ones - I comb the mall for hours looking for exactly the combination of pockets I want. One purse must have pockets x, y, and z, be able to hold this, not have a pocket for that, have a zipper here but not there, have a strap like this, not be leather, be waterproof, not have obvious logos. Purse B must easily accomodate my wallet, keys, and a pen, but must not be able to hold anything else, to keep me from carrying dumb shit like a crescent wrench around, and also no logos or leather. Meanwhile they must both be cheap. Wallets must have a clear pocket for my bus pass, and a change purse, and no logos, and no key rings, but lots of card space, and an inner pocket for emergency quarters and stamps.

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Originally posted by yam:
I start to fill it up with 8 million things "that might be useful to have!" (Like matches AND a lighter! Even though I don't smoke or know anyone who does!)

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Originally posted by briddy:
I recently attended a fake bag party where they had the best fake Spades I have ever seen. I bought two. I am throwing a fake bag party in a few months. I can't wait!

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That sounds so cool! Who does the fake bag parties? Is it like a Tupperware kind of thing?

I usually have little beaded bags. I'm a sucker for anything sparkly, and my favorite bags are little homemade ones. Girly bags. My very favorite - how's this for conceited? - is one that I made a few years back, but I broke the handle and have been too lazy to fix it. It's a flat shape, about a six inch square, and is made completely of clear, bronze colored beads. Then, it's lined with a piece of black velvet that I hacked from the bodice of a hideous former ensemble dress. The beads were all in this lacy woven pattern that I'm not entirely certain I could duplicate again, but you had to have a lining for it because it was full of holes. It was sturdy, though. I mean, if you took the lining out, it held it's shape and everything, but it would have been useless for holding anything because it had 1/2 inch holes all in it. Anyway. Yes. I like little girly bags and I use them - as inappropiate as my mother thinks they are for daytime - any time I want except for when I'm in my running gear or something. Ma calls them "evening bags". I won't tell you what I call her.

I actually am having a difficult time finding a work bag. Something funky, but stylish, and can hold a three inch binder when I go to meetings. It wouldn't be a stand-in for my purses, but a stand-along for when I'm lugging stuff to meetings. Anyone know of anything like that? Coach has some really nice leather ones that are perfect, albeit a smidge conservative for me, but they're like $200 even at the Coach Outlet. No thanks.

Edited to apologize for hijacking yet another thread.

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Originally posted by emcarb:
I usually have little beaded bags. I'm a sucker for anything sparkly, and my favorite bags are little homemade ones. Girly bags.

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Originally posted by briddy:
Pinkegrl--I'll totally invite you when I have it if you are interested! Let me know!

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Don't know if this will be funky enough for you, but I've got an Eddie Bauer briefcase that I really like. oodles of pockets, can fit my laptop - plus other goodies at the same time and expands with this cool zipper thing that I try to keep always zipped in the un-expanded position to curb my tendency to over-pack.

Here's the link. http://www.eddiebauer.com/eb/product.asp?product_id=21690&nv=5|214|1216&cm_cg=C 1216&tid=&c=&sc=

Also, I think InStyle magazine had something in their August or September issue about choosing bags and had some cute laptop carriers... the stuff they have in there is always beautiful, but alas, out of my price range.

hope that helps a little

Edited to ask Briddy about this "fake bag" party. Sounds fabulous. After your party, you'll have to tell us how to throw our own. Sounds like a fabulous time!

I was trying to figure out how much money she makes on average. She probably buys the bags for about $20 apiece, then sells each one with a $20 markup. She sold 40 bags at the last party I went to, so that is an $800 profit, in a few hours. If she throws maybe 2 or 3 parties a week, that's $6400 to $9600 a month! That's not bad for jetsetting and selling fake handbags to suburban moms! Minus travel expenses, the rest is money in the bag (all puns intended)!

If any other Denverites are interested in coming to my par-tay...let me know!

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Originally posted by LimaEchoPapa:
Ugh. I am such a self proclaimed shoe/handbag slut. My newest handbag...a Loop cosmetic bag (with a handy wrist strap) that I use as a clutch (the print on it is modified airline rescue card stuff...it's hilarious...check them out at www.girlshop.com in the Loop boutique.)

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It holds A LOT in those 2300 cubic inches. Yamsized amounts. But, because I'm in school, it's basically like a locker that I cart around.

I got it for ten dollars when a friend with access to the LLBean employee store spotted it. It had someone elses initials monogrammed on it, and I picked them out with a safety pin. I LOVE THIS BAG.

I just bought the shoes I was coveting, my sassy BCBG wedges...oh they are pretty.

True to form, I did not pay full price. I magically received a 10% off coupon 2 days before I planned on buying them! Plus, I saw them at another store for $12 more. So, I saved $22 (or 44 Yamdollars), right? :P

alas, no online link found to these beauties.