By Anya
I read an article today in the Wall Street Journal that caused me to shake my head. Apparently, with the “recession lifting” (good to know - I don’t think everyone has gotten the memo), some women’s retailers – mall staples such as Talbots, Abercrombie & Fitch Co.’s and Ann Taylor are now carrying handbags that range in the $300-$450 range.
Is it just me or does anyone else consider this an exorbitant amount of money to spend on a purse?
I know I am not the type of consumer something like this is being marketed to. I am sure there are many middle class women who do spend this much on a handbag, but I am just not one of them.
Now, I have eyed an expensive leather handbag a time or two and spent a moment caressing the softness and admiring the craftsmanship, but that is as far as it has gone between the two of us! I can easily think of ten ways to spend $300 and none of them involve buying a new purse. I am certainly not a cheapskate – I have my hair colored in a salon (could do it at home) and favor department store make-up over the drugstore. There is just something about spending triple digits on a purse, however, that seems ridiculous to me. The logical part of me says skipping the salon visits for six months would pay for a nice purse, but I am sooo not willing to do that!
I think we often bargain (ha!) with ourselves as to what is an acceptable expenditure and what is not. Handbags aren’t my thing – maybe they are yours. How much do you typically spend on a purse? Do you have many or do you have one or two dependable ones in black or gray?
By the way, I got a great new purse today at Marshall’s – black (goes with everything) and a great deal – $20 bucks! 
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19 Responses to Would You Pay $425 for a Handbag!?
If it was a famous movie prop carried by someone like Audrey Hebpurn, then yes. Otherwise – no way!
Anya, your new purse sounds like a great deal. I don’t mind investing in good dresses or suits. There’s not enough quality in that purse to justify the cost. Like you, I can think of lots of other things to do w/$300-400. That’s not my type of splurge.
I am fairly cheap on purses ($50 is the most I can imagine spending, and I usually spend less) and shoes (at least with shoes I think sometimes you do get what you pay for, at least in terms of comfort – I’ve worn some really uncomfortable, cheap heels in my day).
One of my issues with the expensive handbags I see carried around by celebrities is that a lot of the time I think they are ugly. If I had the money, and I really liked a bag/purse, and it was nice soft leather, I *guess* I can see spending a couple of hundred on it. But usually I find that I can get what I want for $30, so why spend 10x that?
Purses are a weakness of mine! I absolutely love them.
Yes, I’ve paid that much, and more. Not on a regular basis, but often enough to realize it’s a silly indulgence.
Any other purse-aholics here? I can’t be the ONLY one…
I am not a purse-aholic. I am more of a purse illiterate. I just don’t have a clue and don’t really care . If I could get along without one, I would. I just can’t manage to do that. Too much “stuff” to carry around.
I will buy one purse for around $ 50 and use it until it doesn’t look nice or I get tired of it. I don’t match my purses with what I am wearing. I hate carrying it.
So I guess you can tell my answer is a big NO. But I will say that I admire people who do have nice purses. LOL
I read the article you are referring to as well.
I have spent more $ than I should have on purses but not $300+. I love to look at purses & dream of the day I can once again carry the cute little hand bag. For now I tote around a back pack (it’s my baby bag). I didn’t spend an arm & a leg on this purchase either, it was recycled from my time in grad school. I believe the article pointed out that women may not be willing to purchase handbags for so much $$ since they don’t carry the big name labels that people notice.
I am a purse-aholic and purses are my weakness. I however, do not like expensive purses. I am always looking at the sale racks. I don’t think it’s money well spent for a $300 dollar purse (or anything higher than $50) when it’ll surely get ink-stained and messed up with all the kids’ stuff in it.
I do however have a Coach purse that was given to me as a gift. That’s the only way I’ll carry an expensive handbag, if it’s a gift. I’ve since retired ol’ Coachie (full of crayons inside and wipes) and am using a favorite…$25 Tommy Hilfiger I bought last summer on sale and with my $10 Macy’s family & friends card.
I don’t judge anyone (like happy.mom) for having a weakness for nice purses. Heaven knows I spend money on many things other people would find pointless! Skin care products and makeup, for example. How many shades of eyeshadow do I really need?
I think most of us have our areas of indulgence!
Purses happen to one of mine. I don’t ONLY buy the super expensive ones, I’m pretty much of an equal opportunity buyer. I have found great purses at places like Ross, and I love them too.
I find it interesting the things we can “justify” as being reasonable expenses. My husband is ridiculously cheap in most areas. But he’s a geologist/weather nut and thinks nothing of spending several hundred or thousand dollars on the latest gizmo. Frequently! But he’ll wear clothes until they’re tattered, and when I replace them he doesn’t seem to understand why. I’m very cheap in many areas, too. I have a mind that memorizes prices when I’m shopping for everyday items, and I’ll go to specific stores to pay less.
It makes me wonder what areas other people are cheap and/or indulgent in!?
My husband and I indulge ourselves in electronics and computers. I just received an IPad from my husband and I love it. I did not really need it. He has five televisions in one room.
And I’m too cheap to buy an iphone!
I think it would be interesting to start a topic about areas in which we all have our quirky spend/save areas.
Oh, I guess this IS that topic…
It’s fun to see how similar and different we women can be!
We can do it here or do it in the lounge. I will put up an open chat in the lounge area tonight.
Pam,
Please, I was just curious and thought it was interesting.
No need for a new topic, this one seems to be fine.
Gosh, I truly wasn’t trying to create extra work for you.
Sorry.
Ok , I posted something up in the Lounge. Please come over and join in.
LOL, No this is what we like to do. We love to discuss. No problem and it is a good discussion to open a new lounge chat.
Happy. Mom
Please always feel free to suggest and write for us. We are always looking for new ideas or topics. You can also email any of us. My email is pam@imperfectwomen.com
Thank you for being so gracious.
I do love purses. But I cant see spending more than 50 on one and even that is pushing it. I love stores like TJ Maxx and Marshalls- I’m the discount queen. I don’t think I could enjoy a very expensive purse, personally I would probably feel guilty every time I loked at it.
I actually did indulge myself this year and bought what I felt was a very expensive purse……..a healthy back bag from LL Bean……..cost $80!!!……..I’ve never spent that much on a purse before but have wanted one for a long time, so finally broke down and did it. The most I’ve ever spent on a purse before is $40, mostly I’ve stuck around $20. I would never pay $200 or more for a purse, ’cause I’d feel I’d have to carry it until I die to justify the price……..lol
NO WAY…..
i would never spend that much, not even half the price, the most expesive i have gone, was a $100, marked down to 40 with money froma birthday