<p>I realized that I wasn’t getting use out of the purses I had, so I set up a rotation schedule whereby at the beginning of every month I changed. That made sure I wasn’t using black leather in July and beige straw in October! My current beige straw will go in the closet on Labor Day and be replaced with a pebbled camel hobo bag for early fall, then sometime in later fall I’ll go to a black leather JP Tod’s and in winter I have a several-seasons-back cute little Coach quilted fabric bag that has (faux) fur on it and looks great when there’s snow on the ground.</p>
<p>Vera is certainly popular among the older crowd–I play lots of bridge at clubs and tournaments, which are populated mostly by people a lot older than I am. I have lots of conversations about them at the table, especially when I run into someone who has the same exact purse as mine.</p>
<p>But I originally got turned on to Vera because one of D’s high school friends was a fanatic about them!</p>
<p>I’m enjoying this thead and I like all the brands mentioned here. Some of them I like a whole lot. However, I don’t want someone to look at my bag and pretty much know what I paid for it. Is that snobby?</p>
<p>so adding to my list in post #8:
unrecognizable bag Does this even exist?</p>
<p>momlive: Thanks for the brahmin suggestion. I like that line very much.</p>
<p>I think you (generic you, not you specifically) are kidding yourself that most people you see on the street are going to notice or care. I think you wear a nice handbag (or piece of jewelry or watch or whatever) because YOU like and appreciate the craftsmanship about it, not because other people are oohing and aahing and noticing.</p>
<p>It’s not, for me, a question of oohing and aahing. I absolutely acknowledge that most of the population probably can’t identify most handbags they see on the street. I am also pretty sure some people can immediately recognize most of the bags we are discussing and a price pops into their heads. Am I wrong? Isn’t that the whole point of all the advertising? That we recognize the bags? I used to only recognize a very few bags. Since I’ve started thinking about this I recognize a whole lot more. Now I can’t pick out a bag. Ignorance was bliss! ;)</p>
<p>I can admire someone’s bag but I have to admit if it lacks what I consider important functionality, then I am less likely to think highly of the user. Sort of like high heels. And if you spent hundreds of dollars on a low function bag, there goes a few more points. Of course, what’s important to me may be a low priority for someone else. Which is why there are sooooo many bags to choose from. </p>
<p>I still don’t know the difference in price of most bags, or their names. I just know what I like.</p>
<p>Sure. The bags that I linked in my first post are unrecognizable leather bags from Italy. Two of my favorite purses came from my mom’s trip to Belgium - Gobelins Arts- but they can also be found on their website,( or on Ebay.) [Gobelins</a> Art - Finest Belgian Tapestries - Bags and accessories Marquis - Dogs - Breughel - Boats - Immortelles - Keys](<a href=“http://www.gobelins-art.be/static/tissue.asp?family=2]Gobelins”>http://www.gobelins-art.be/static/tissue.asp?family=2) I thought they only appealed to older people at first, but I get so many compliments from young women, I’m surprised.
A tote bag I really enjoy was handmade here in Los Angeles. You can find all kinds of unique purses at all kinds of prices if you look outside the mainstream stores.</p>
<p>I don’t think the average person on the street knows Bottega Veneta, as an example. So in that regard it’s “unrecognizable.”</p>
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<p>Sample of one, I don’t really think about the price point. If something looks nice I admire it; if not, I move on. I don’t sit there and think, “Oh, she must have spent $XXX.”</p>
<p>PG, I had to smile when I read the purse rotation schedule. More power to you, but there is no way I’m putting in that much effort. I blow dry my hair. That will have to suffice. ;)</p>
<p>I am really wanting to go purse shopping after reading these posts, though, hee hee…</p>
<p>For example, I never wear anything cross body. I don’t like the feel or the look of that- for me! That seems important to many on this thread. There are SO many different tastes and requirements. I also insist on the bag completely closing either with a zipper or secure clasp. For shoving it under airplane seats or when it falls off the car seat, I don’t want stuff spilling all over. I also need to carry more than a few credit cards and a phone. I don’t haul around a lot of crap, but I do have some lipsticks, mirror, contact lens case, business cards, tons of credit cards (ugh), my badge for work, etc.</p>
<p>I like purses and will often see one that I admire–I don’t usually think about price. That being said, there’s one exception. Whenever I see a Judith Leiber clutch–I have to chuckle. I think that the vast majority of them are really tacky (yes–I’m sure there’s a great deal of work that goes into creating one) and I can’t believe someone would pay the price that most of those little bags command.</p>
<p>OK - what do you all carry? I carry a wallet, iPhone, little wristlet that contains iPhone charger and headset (mandatory), a little envelope for receipts, a combination lock for the gym, and my glasses and / or sunglasses. No makeup beyond a lip gloss. Too much for a flat-type bag.</p>
<p>My mother has carried the Le Sportsac Deluxe Everyday bag for years. She lent me a duplicate of her bag to take on a trip and I never gave it back, because it is the perfect purse for me. It is just the right shape–wide enough for a Nook or Kindle, not so deep that stuff gets lost on the bottom. It weighs NOTHING, has two exterior zippered pockets on one side (one just the right size for a phone, even my new Galaxy S4, one just right for keys), and one on the other (just the right size for your boarding pass or other 8.5x11 paper, folded in half), two main zippered compartments, one with a small zippered compartment at the top of the lining, perfect for my wallet, so I don’t have to dig for it. The strap is adjustable so it can go cross-body in a high-purse-snatching risk environment (or when there’s no place to hang it on the back of the ladies’ room stall door), but can be carried on one shoulder (my preference most of the time). Is it hip or stylish? No. But it really is exactly what I need in a purse.</p>
<p>If I’m being completely honest (and I am but hope to insult no one!!!) the one brand I cringe at and totally DON’T get is Coach. Remember, I am not a high end spender AT ALL on purses. But when I see a coach bag is SCREAMS “Look at me! I spent a lot of money on my bag!!” I guess it’s because most of them are screaming “COACH”. I also honestly have never seen a Coach bag I liked - totally not my style. My own opinion of course but since we were discussing the ohhing and ahhing I had to share. </p>
<p>What I keep in my purse?
Wallet, keys, headphones, work badge, Burts Bees, phone, reading glasses, a couple of pens, a little pouch w/ibuprofen, bandages, mini nail clippers and a spare elastic headband and a little pouch with gift cards (use a ton of gift cards for spending since we are registered with our school tuition $$ back program). </p>
<p>I would like to reduce to a smaller wallet. A requirement for a wallet for me - an easy access change spot on the outside of the wallet.</p>
<p>When I see Coach I tend to think “medium priced bag”. I think Coach has made some gorgeous bags in the past- classic leather. They really lost their way for a few years with all the bling-bling bags, but in the last couple of years there have been some more classic styles again. I have a tiny leather Coach bag (again- for concerts, sporting events) that is really, really nice and has 3 colors of leather. I got it 25% off before Christmas season last year.</p>
<p>The line I don’t get is Thirty-One. I go to the parties when I’m invited, and have bought a few things, but it is so “young mommy” in my opinion. The carry-alls and gear bags are OK, but the things that are supposed to be “purses” just don’t do it for me at all.</p>
<p>I carry a very cheap, pleather handbag which fits my Kindle, my phone and my wallet.</p>
<p>I recently received a gift of a classic Jafferjees totebag in the most scrumptious black leather with a two-inch band of red patent leather around the top and inside the straps. It is the most luxurious bag I’ve ever owned and I love it, but I am a total cheapskate and never buy luxury items like that for myself.</p>
<p>My D has a small Michael Kors totebag in the blue and white stripe pattern that I really like. Of course it will be dated next year, but perhaps she will hand it down to me!</p>
<p>I really admire women with beautiful bags and shoes. I always see it, like people with beautiful gardens, as a way of being good citizens because it gives other people something nice to look at!</p>
<p>@lefthandofthedog: I still use the word “pocketbook” although in my family it has been mutilated into more of “pockabook”, and yes, I hail originally from the Northeast. Nobody else around here knows what I’m talking about when I say “pockabook”. They say “purse” or “bag”. To me a purse is a small leather pouchy thing that has a brass twisty closure at the top and that you store coins in. Unless they’ve retro’d back into style, I’m definitely beginning to show my age.</p>
<p>“purse” was a little thing you kept your change in. Guess its a regional thing.</p>
<p>Audiophile - I’m sure factory conditions are bad overall, but I hope there’s a bit more accountability when a designers name is attached. </p>
<p>I’m fond of the old style Coach bags - the minimalist but sturdy ones. They were one step away from saddle bags.</p>
<p>Anyone here a collector of old mesh evening bags? I gave D one I found at Goodwill - a Whiting and Davis gate top. I just loved the opening mechanism. Was hoping mesh bags would make a comeback after the Great Gatsby movie came out but I’m not seeing it</p>
and I like all the brands mentioned here. Some of them I like a whole lot. However, I don’t want someone to look at my bag and pretty much know what I paid for it. Is that snobby?</p>
Does this even exist?</p>