Are designer lux bags worth it? Think Birkin, Kelly, YSL. I can afford them, and don’t mind investing in a few good pieces I’d use regularly (though color selection is hard when you only buy a few). But is it really worth it? Feel bad not investing that money but at what point do you buy yourself something nice?
Also, concerned about image, like I want to look like someone who owns a real bag, not just a suburban mom wearing Coach/Michael Kors who upgraded. How to deal with imposter syndrome?

Like other people said, it’s worth it if you genuinely care about brands and image.

For me it isn’t, and I personally buy unbranded bags from local artisan leather crafters. The price is less, the quality is usually great, and they’re local so if I ever need a repair, I can just call them and drop it off a few blocks away. And I have been able to ask them for custom pieces before. Like if I want a specific shape or feature on a bag.

For imposter syndrome, you should make a list of things you like/want and consider if you actually like each item or if you like it because other people like it. Note the items/qualities that you actually like in a bag or any style purchase, and align your decisions to that. If you’re doing it for you and you alone, you don’t need to impress anyone else

It takes more than a bag. Then comes the shoes, clothing, outer-wear, car, home, vacations, jewelry, never ending if you are doing this for image. Might as well start buying pieces now. For me? Rule of thumb: wealth is silent.

My husband and I make 7 figures. and I find no joy in buying designer things. I find much more joy in taking expensive trips, giving money to my mother, and donating to charities, but everyone has their own preferences.

They are only worth it if it's worth it to you. They are not really worth more than the sum of their component costs + cost of labor and distribution. I don't own one and I feel fine. I also buy my clothes at TJ Maxx.

I never think spending thousands on a bag is worth it. You could take an amazing vacation with that money. But you do you.

A bag is not an investment. Neither are 99.9% of cars. Buy what you want but don't confuse it with investments.

Up to you. I don’t think you should be seeking anyone’s opinion on this. If you like it, can afford it and want it. Buy it. It’s really that simple.

If you are worried so much about how you will look, then maybe you need to look further inwards than buying a bag.

If I was about to drop thousands on a purse, I personally would go to a local leather shop and ask them to make me a custom bag in my vision. I honestly think a lot of designer bags are pretty ugly especially considering the wildly inflated prices. I think the ultimate show of style/wealth is being able to have bespoke pieces made for you that reflect your own personal style.

When I see someone with a ysl bag, etc. I instantly think penny rich, dollar poor. To me, thats significantly worse than owning a coach bag - it suggests poor judgment and short sightedness. Go for something mid range.

As my mother told me, if a designer wants me to wear his/her logo, they are going to have to pay me to do it. I am not a brand ambassador nor a Nascar driver.

I calculated the money I spent in luxus fashion items per year and now invest that amount in educational projects rural areas in Africa. Makes sense and me way more happy.

And I live in a city where everyone is obsessed with brands to an extend that I feel more special not to care.

🤮

I used to love luxury bags. Then one day someone tried to rob me and it was really really scary. For that reason, I’ve basically quit all luxury brands - particularly ones that are obviously luxury.

Im on a bag rant, again. Women’s bowl and fashion bowl must think i have no style, but, I say it again here-

Wtf is a “real bag”. I have lovely and functional leather bags that have lasted me forever. No brand required. And I have a good career and life without it.

Regarding quality, designer bags don’t have some magical resistance to ever getting damaged or stained any more than a vinyl bag from tj maxx would. And guess what- they hold sunglasses, a wallet a couple pens and tampons just as well.


If an employee or client judges me because I’m not carrying a bag that costs more than their paycheck or last invoice, then they have a problem. Also most of my clients and colleagues are men and they would only know the value of the bag if their wife had one. And it might not bring them happy feelings.

The only thing it might be good for is setting my rate higher hr (because, well, I have to pay for this ridiculous bag.) Maybe it’s a negotiation chip. But honestly, that would make me the imposter. Same great service, higher cost because I gotta have a status symbol?

Does it make me happy looking at a bag sitting in the closet? Not really. Maybe this does for some women, but I pay too much per SF of my home to pay to store it too. If I want to look at something pretty, I’ll buy a painting. Or better fly to Italy and watch the sunset from amalfi.

It’s worth it if you like it

Never.

I have a YSL and Chanel flap bag. I love both but I don’t consider myself really into luxury bags. Both have meaning to me - YSL was a gift from my parents, and the Chanel was a gift for myself to celebrate a new decade and promotion. The external factors don’t really matter to me so I can’t really help with the image part.

Id go for an investment piece if you’re going to buy one - the Chanel flap bag has appreciated faster than S&P, so you could definitely use the purchase as an investment vehicle if you have the extra cash lying around.

I will have to say though, it’s a little annoying using a luxury bag. Every time I wear one I worry that it’ll get stolen or dirty or damaged in some way, that I’m not really in the moment. I don’t bring them to work to prevent getting judged, so I rarely wear them except for special occasions

Came to a similar crossroads (Rolex GMT)

Thought about how much it cost (plenty of cheaper options), the fact that it’s a blatant status symbol (unwanted attention), it’s practicality (my phone tells the time), safety (theft on the rise in my city), etc

In the end, I bought it because to me it reps a big milestone and it’ll be something I can pass down at some point. My fam doesn’t really have anything like that. And nobody really notices it or cares, maybe 1/100 people I talk to will mention the watch (fellow watch geek).

Unless you are close with an SA at Hermes how tf are you getting a Birkin without buying one on the secondary market for 200k+?