Purse question

People buy expensive purses for one or more of those reasons. In addition, some are all about the brand name and some more discreet. Some buy them as a 'status statement' and some just because they shop in a more expensive market.  Only you can work out whether or not you want to buy a purse that you think is 'expensive' and which 'may' make you a target for thieves.

if it would make you self concious about carrying it, why bother?

Maybe having two purses would be beneficial to you so that you could feel more seasonal and not have to switch out too often?

Different strokes for different folks is how I view it. My DD buys only good quality leather handbags. I buy mine from Walmart, Target, or shoe stores. I spend tons on costume jewelry and clothing but carry the same purse until it wears out. My shoes match my outfit but my purse is always black. Maybe the people who carry handbags costing in the hundreds spend less on hobby supplies than others. Should we take a poll? It would be interesting.

ETA:  I wouldn't be embarrassed to carry an expensive handbag, but neither am I embarrassed to carry one that cost $15.00.  

I am so picky about purses, and haven't bought an expensive one since I used to get Liz Claiborne purses.

Dumb question! What is the difference between a "purse" and a "bag". Is a bag bigger than a purse?

I buy a purse with a list of criteria in mind.

First, there has to be that initial appeal that catches my eye and be either cute, classy, or fun, depending on the type of purse.

It needs to have a secure way of closing it, like a zipper, so my stuff doesn't fall out if it should tip over or be dropped by accident.

It has to be well made, strong handles and seams with a good lining material that won't rip apart the first few months of use.

It has to have a place for my cell phone so it doesn't get lost in the bottom under everything. If it is at the bottom, I can't hear it ring.

I want a strap inside to hook my keys to so I find them quickly.

I really like little feet on the bottom to keep the purse up off the countertop, especially in a public bathroom where the counters are often wet and yucky.

And there can't be too many compartments because I don't remember where I put things. I bought one like that thinking it would be really neat and organized. Hated it. My purse works best to be mostly just a single large compartment in it. I then use small fabric pouches or a clear zipper case to keep like things together. I want to open one zipper or strong magnetic closure and grab the stripped pouch for makeup touchups, the solid black one for my hearing aid batteries and remote control, or my rose colored pouch that contains post-it notes and a pen, or just my wallet. My purses rarely have anything loose in them.

When I find a purse that meets those requirements, THEN I look at the price/brand. Unfortunately, I always seem to pick the more expensive purses, but I know they will last. The last cheapie purse I picked up at Target was broken within the first month - cheap zipper that came apart. The pricier purses are built with better materials, typically, and I know I can still use them for years without them showing their age.

In Japan all my friends and I had fancy purses. I mean everyone. I like them and continue to buy them. I am good for LV ones for a while. There is a nice teal one I would like but really I don't need one right now.

There is a cute Gucci one I would like, but it's on hold right now as I am carrying colourful purses for summer.

posting before reading ahead...

This topic came up a few years ago on another forum I visit. There were several women who were soooo into status symbols that swore that it was only a quality issue. That expensive brands lasted decades! I pointed out that I was using my Target cheapo bag for over ten years. To which several replied that they would NEVER want to use the same style bag for more than 2-3 years. Which threw the lasting-decades excuse out of the window.

I like a few styles of expensive purses. If I could find them in cheaper brands I'd get them. I won't do knock-offs, but similar styles are great.

I tend to be an either/or buyer. When I look at a high price tag I think of all the other things I could buy with that money instead. Not that I actually go and buy the other things, lol.

I normally won't spend over $100 on a purse. I would always look at the last season purses that were on sale at a good department store. Normally, I could score nice purses for $50 to $75 on clearance. That limit bit me in the butt once, because I passed one up that I really liked. To this day, I could still kick myself for passing that one up.

Anyway, I found a Dooney on QVC that I fell in love with. Seriously had to have. Since my birthday was coming up, I splurged. It was just that fabulous, that I bought another in a neutral color a few months later. The quality is such that I feel they are worth it. There is another Dooney I have been eyeing. But, I've been good so far. Maybe for my birthday later this year.

I do not like signage or logos, as I am not a walking billboard.

I stay away from the super expensive bags, because I don't want to find something that I love and be tempted. Sometimes I can be stupid and allow want to overcome logic, says the person who has her first Mac.

Maryland, purse, bag, handbag, it's all the same thing. Maybe what's 'current', maybe regional, maybe the age of the speaker, but there's really no difference. A thing to tote your stuff around in.

I think I would almost be embarrassed to carry an expensive purse
Then you should not buy an expensive purse.

I feel like we beat the heck out of this subject multiple times a year. People buy what they like, what they can or are willing to afford. Different people like different things. Different people value different things. I don't see why anyone should be embarrassed by their bag OR explain why they chose it - no matter how much they spent on it.

But to answer the question- I'd rather have one great, durable, timeless, bag that cost more $, than 12 inexpensive cute purses. But that's because it's something I appreciate and value. There are tons of things other people spend money on, that I don't appreciate- so I wouldn't spend big money on it.

The highest I'll pay is about $200. Nice leather, cute, well made and functional is what I look for. It has to have a front or back pocket for my phone, have straps that will work with a heavy coat on, have a divided interior with an inside zippered pocket. If it doesn't, I won't even consider it no matter what it cost. I usually end up with Fossil, Tignanello, Calvin Klein and bags in that price range. 

I think of it as a shirt that I would need to wear every day. You bet I'd spend a lot of money on that shirt. I'd want it to be high quality, my style, and built to last.

I purchase 95% of my purses/bags from Target or Kohls. I am hard on them & change them every season or so. I'm currently carrying a crocheted straw bag from TJMaxx that I purchased for $19.99 a few months ago. The liner is completely torn up, there aren't any usable pockets, and it's unravelling in a couple places. It's time to buy another cheap bag!

I also have one very expensive Burberry bag. It comes out for date nights, trips, things like that. I have been very fond of the Burberry pattern for as long as I can remember. Still, I purchased it on one of those flash sale sites for $300 or so off list price. My daughter is only 7, but I can see that bag being in perfect condition when I decide to hand it down to her!

I have a beautiful expensive lulu Guinness I received as a gift the Christmas before last- I rarely use it as it's a very formal style. My favourite bag is a Karen millen, normally around £350 but bought secondhand from ebay for £30. I use that all the time as it's a big slouchy bag with very soft leather.
I really like Karen millen stuff although I don't think it's 'out there' designer stuff that's is craved like, for example ,Michael kors. They tend to be very thick gorgeous leather in slouchie styles.

I recently bought a bright red kate spade wallet ( we would call purse in the uk) off ebay for £25 ( the seller provided the original receipt for $195) it's really beautiful , then my daughter found a gorgeous black Karen millen wallet on ebay that matches my black bag which she got for £30 for my birthday and I love that: I won't be needing purses or wallets for a few years!