Let's talk about Lazarus and Purses...namely Coach, Dooney & Burke, and YSL

[Jay2]

Well, not to be the “rotten apple in the basket” here, but I’ll clue you ladies in on something…about purses… and the insane markup on them.

About 25 years ago I went to a “damaged freight” liquidation auction with 3 buddies. We combined our resources, bid, and won the contents of a small shipping container.
(This container ((about the size of a small in-town delivery truck)) had a huge gash ripped in the side. The declaration said “A large amount of water was gushing out of it when lifted from the ship”.)

The insurance wrote off the contents, and put it up for auction. One of the terms of the auction was the bids were “sight unseen”! Our container’s only description was “fashion accessories”. We had NO idea of the condition of the contents.

24 crates each containing 50 Gucci handbags. 300 purses for each of us!
After hitting every “boutique” within 50 miles, and selling them off (in lots of 10 minimum) I cleared over $20,000 - and bought my 1st house.

(Now remember, this was early '80’s dollars )

The store owners stuck 'em on the shelves starting at $375… $300 bucks pure profit minimum on each one sold.

Why anyone would spend 3 - 4 digits for a leather sack with a name on it is beyond me… but I’m glad you do!

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

I was absent the day they taught math—what did you sell each purse for individually?

 

[jc-servant]

Quick update that’ll make you all giggle and say “told you so” to me. It’s ok, I’m a big girl – I can take it. Besides I am laughing at myself.

So in my second post defending the fact I am not a racist and don’t live in a bubble: I mentioned a lady I had met at the gym I would like to befriend. I called her last night.

I told her I would love to hang out with her and have our kids hang out. She was up for it and liked the idea. I mentioned my purse philosophy and she got to laughing and then said “well I only carry a Coach purse because my MIL gave it to me!”

ROFL



You carry a Coach purse? I didn’t notice!

She said: “Yeah well, I know exactly what you are talking about…even if I do carry one!”

OK so I am not as far-off-base as I thought (and not as purse-obsessed as you guys thought! But to be fair, she isn’t the kind of momma who holds it up like a shield either!) and I REALLY look forward to our upcoming friend date!

Thanks for weighing in your opinions everyone.

Glad things are looking up for you.

I think that I’m sort of glad that I don’t live in California (beside the earthquake thing). I know some women in Dallas do the whole name-brand thing, but we also have a reputation in this area for being proud of scoring a bargain.

I know some women who are really well-off who love nothing better than shopping the outlet stores for everything from home fixtures to jewelry and clothing. Nothing will score you points faster in the bargain shopping game than finding a really expensive item at garage sale prices around here.

 

[jc-servant]

Why anyone would spend 3 - 4 digits for a leather sack with a name on it is beyond me… but I’m glad you do!

Some people are just too lazy to look around for a deal or they don’t care. I would probably be hunting the bargain bins even if I had Bill Gates money. It is hard to get over childhood lessons about being wasteful with money.

Around Dallas we know the neighborhood “garage” sales to hit for gently (or brand new) fashion items at ultra cheap prices or we go to an outlet store. I pay full price for little to nothing. I guess you could not have built your house on my fashion shopping.

 

[locket]

I can put together a nice looking outfit for little money, but I have decided on buying less clothes of a higher quality, nicer design, and better fit. I think this is prudent. Why should I buy a shirt at H&M for $30, when I can go on ebay and get a superior item for the same price? It’s not that I am a snob, and that I need expensive clothes for expensive clothes sake.

I like many high end designers, but I hate having labels on my clothes where others can see them. I find it vulgar. Like Louis Vuitton bags with labels all over so that others will notice and think, oh wow, she can afford a Louis Vuitton.

Also I am a bargain hunter. I will pay money for items that are worth it, but I have a knack for finding authentic designer items for very low prices. My latest purchase was a pair of MaxMara sunglasses for $7. Come on, you can’t buy a pair of sunglasses from the drugstore for that price.

Money does not buy style. There are people who pay hardly anything on their clothes and look classy and elegant. There are others who pay thousands and thousands and look like prositutes.

I don’t see the need for me to spend $10,000 on a handbag. But I am saving up for a nice bag that costs about $1000. It is a classic style, high quality, and I hope it will last me years. I do not think that is a bad investment.

I hate fakes. Aside from stealing people’s designs, many of these bags fund things such as terrorism. Just for the purpose of trying to look like a rich socialite or whatever.

Coach’s are hardly anything nowadays. Everyone and her mother has one. If people think that they are special because they paid a couple hundred on their handbag they are deluding themselves. Anyone who thinks they are better than others because they have money need to get their priorities straight.

I love quality, well done work (in all areas, not just fashion). I love haute couture. Certainly I can’t afford it, and even if I could I don’t think I could justify spending thousands, hundreds of thousands on a dress, however spectacular. But I find it inspiring that there are people working in an atelier, handstitching, hand embroidering & beading clothes with such care and attention to detail, creating things of beauty. Nowadays everything is so throwaway. I am tiring of the mediocrity that is constantly being offered today.

Sorry this was so disjointed… fashion is my hobby and my business, and I can probably talk on and on about it…

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

What I like in a handbag now is pockets. Lots of pockets. And light weight. I put enough stuff in a bag without the bag starting out heavy to begin with.

I also change bags a lot, so $15 Target bags are just fine. Right now the craze is for certain colors and shapes and all rattling with charms. So fine, a $15 invetment for a couple of years (less if I catch a sale).

When I’m done with them I donate them and they’re always in like-new condition. And if carpet salesmen are going to judge me on my Target bags there’s always Home Depot.

 

[AngelRose81]

You’re probably going to think I’m terrible, but I have several of the name brand purses that have been mentioned . Purses are one of my favorite accessories. I do carry a Louis Vuitton purse and I love it. I can fit everything in it and yes I did pay full price for it. I also carry a Dior purse sometimes too. They were all gifts from my husband because he wants me to carry nice purses. I also have a few Coach bags, Brighton bags, and Kate Spade bags. Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t see anything wrong with having them. Yes, some of the prices were very high but as was mentioned before in this thread, an LV purse holds up through just about anything and it matches everything. Coach and Brighton bags are the same way. I have bought purses from Walmart, Target, and some more inexpensive brands at Macys but none of them hold up as well as the names I mentioned. In many cases, you get what you pay for. I don’t go out and blow every penny on them. I’ve only gotten them for Birthdays, Christmas, and my Anniversary as gifts. DH’s only requirement is that I alternate in carrying them, which I do, that way he hasn’t wasted the money on them. Is this so bad?

 

[lizaanne]

I refuse to buy low priced (cheap) clothing and accessories because you get what you pay for, and I can not afford to repurchase a wardrobe every year. I also will not buy trendy items that are only good until the next trend comes along in three months. Only classic lines and styles that I can wear for years, and yes I take very good care of my clothing. Matter of fact, I have a jacket that I still wear that is 10 years old and you would never guess that I didn’t just buy it last week. You pay for quality.

Most of my clothing is Liz Claiborne, Ralph Lauren, GAP, Express, Eddie Bauer, etc. My husband wears mostly Banana Republic, JCrew, Burberry, and Polo.

That being said - I have never ever paid full price for one single item. I shop resale shops and estate sales. I am a vicious clearance rack shopper, and I know where the good sales are. I’ve purchased Coach purses for $5 each, and found a stunning Prada evening gown for my mother to wear to our wedding for $45.

So - even though I may dress like I have money - that is hardly the case. So when you see me at Mass, please don’t let your jaw drop too hard and fast until you ask me where I bought it - it may have been previously owned by the lady in the other pew who DID pay full price for it!!

~Liza

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

You’re probably going to think I’m terrible, but I have several of the name brand purses that have been mentioned . Purses are one of my favorite accessories. I do carry a Louis Vuitton purse and I love it. I can fit everything in it and yes I did pay full price for it. I also carry a Dior purse sometimes too. They were all gifts from my husband because he wants me to carry nice purses. I also have a few Coach bags, Brighton bags, and Kate Spade bags. Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t see anything wrong with having them. Yes, some of the prices were very high but as was mentioned before in this thread, an LV purse holds up through just about anything and it matches everything. Coach and Brighton bags are the same way. I have bought purses from Walmart, Target, and some more inexpensive brands at Macys but none of them hold up as well as the names I mentioned. In many cases, you get what you pay for. I don’t go out and blow every penny on them. I’ve only gotten them for Birthdays, Christmas, and my Anniversary as gifts. DH’s only requirement is that I alternate in carrying them, which I do, that way he hasn’t wasted the money on them. Is this so bad?

Nothing terrible about that!

I have a couple of decent bags, but mostly for the inner pockets (I like a REALLY organized bag).

But I also like the cheaper, trend-monkey sort of bag; I can readily afford to donate them in good shape once they start to make me feel silly.

 

[happyseppy]

Hi, KC the Mommy,

What struck a chord with me while reading your post and the thread is that I have a similar social environment here on the oher coast where I live.

I generally don’t have “stuff” and what I do have I am comfortable with, but I definately don’t project a “fabulous” look. Over the last several years I have been working on just trying to live as simply and modestly as possible.( Anyways I have always liked a backpack or satchel or other utilitarian type bag.)

But the real issue is that the area I live in is 1. metropolitan, and
2.in my immediate parish area, a very narrow “style” prevails, which includes a certain way of dress, comportment (or lack thereof), attitude and mode of speech. It is not something I fit in to, or want to! It is difficult to separate what is just my own personality and tastes from a feeling that I am being judgemental. Mass can sometimes be excrutiating because of the (mostly women) modes of dress and the behavior that goes on! Especially the special masses, Easter, Christmas, Confirmation, etc. Sometimes after we have attended one of those, both my husband and I are greatly disturbed and don’t feel as though we have been to a mass, but more like a show.

We are definately the odd ones out around here, plus we have a daughter of a different race, and in our immediate neighborhood at least, that shakes things up a bit, too.
But that said, we feel like we are called to live right here, stay in our parish, and live out our faith and values as best we can. There, of course are some really nice people, our kids attend good schools,we are blessed in *many *ways.

But I identified with feeling kind of like a Beverly Hillbilly of sorts, with not a whole lot in common with my equivalent of purse Mommies around.

Peace,

Kelly

 

[Jay2]

I just can’t “go here” anymore… it’s still a sack with straps!.. what makes it worth several hundred dollars??

(I’m glad I made my $$$$$ when I did… offloading crates of stitched cow-skin pouches with a “trendy” name embossed for a rediculously and willingly paid profit… to merchants that themselves made a rediculous profit!)

Justify it as you will, but I can carry everything I need in a $12 wallet… I don’t need a $500+ sack to tote my stuff around.