Another handbag post

[geneg]

So for anyone who remembers my FUG ebay bag (I didn't buy it...), I was at a consignment shop today. One of those high end ones that sells full length furs and fancy bags, etc. Well, I found a bag I really liked (gorgeous, soft leather, nice detailing)...until I saw the price.

www.pursepage.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/fendi-rainbow-degrede-hobo.jpg

$700. For a USED bag. Not happening.

So, I'm still looking. Any recommendations on what to get? I tend to like leather and dislike obvious labels. Most of the <$50 bags I've seen have leather that is too rough or unfinished looking. I don't mind a used bag, but I'm more in the under $150 budget.

[steph96]

Have you tried looking at clothing stores like Express, Limited, Loft, etc? Aldo might be a good option.

I don't think you will be able to get nice leather for that price.

It's so hard too find one you are happy with when you are lusting over something that you can't afford. I hate when it happens to me

[Deleted]

I would start checking our stores in your area. You can buy decent leather handbags for $150. Also, I know a lot of people hate Coach, but the online Coach factory store has decent leather handbags too. It's invitation only, but they usually send out one invitation every week, on Wednesdays I believe. coachfactory.com (this is the real site, there are tons on fake sites out there, don't go to those!)

[suburbanzookeeper]

I've bought some nice bags at Express and you can use their coupons on them to bring the cost down.

Have you checked TJ Maxx or Marshalls? They sometimes get some nice leather bags under $150. I've found a few Marc by Marc Jacobs there.

[casmgn]

Fossil

[Norticprincess]

Oct 4, 2012 23:10:21 GMT -5 suburbanzookeeper said:

I've bought some nice bags at Express and you can use their coupons on them to bring the cost down.

Have you checked TJ Maxx or Marshalls? They sometimes get some nice leather bags under $150. I've found a few Marc by Marc Jacobs there.

I second the TJ Maxx suggestion. It does really vary by store. I have much better luck at the one near my MIL than I do at the ones closer to DC.

[ellipses84]

I second the Fossil or Coach Outlet stores. I'm not big on brand names/giant logos and I've seen some beautiful leather purses at both stores.

[my4girls]

If you have outlets check them, I just bought a Kate spade leather bag for $159 last week

[Deleted]

$700 for a used leather Fendi could be a fantastic deal.

But at any rate, I agree with the TJ Maxx recommendation.

[geneg]

Oct 5, 2012 6:57:38 GMT -5 v said:

$700 for a used leather Fendi could be a fantastic deal.

But at any rate, I agree with the TJ Maxx recommendation.

The purse was beautiful, but the Fendi name doesn't impress me. So even if it is a deal, it was still $700 for a used purse. I'll check out TJ Maxx and Marshalls. Is Nordstrom Rack any good?

ETA: Wasn't there a post here recently about things from TJX, etc being made just for them and weren't the same quality? Also, if anyone knows a good consignment or outlet store near the DC area (esp MoCo), let me know.

[CallingAllAngels]

I got a tote recently from Banana Republic that seems to be decent quality leather (I don't have terribly high standards though). With a 40% off coupon code, I got it for about $100. They seem to send those codes often, so that may be somewhere to check out.

[mbcdefg]

Most of my bags are from Marshall's or TJ Maxx. I've also bought bags from Dillards.com, Kohl's, and Overstock.com.

Most of my bags are by Nine West. I have a Fossil cross-body bag I really like, and today I'm carrying a Kathy van Zeeland bag my sister bought me.

[Deleted]

Oct 5, 2012 8:27:13 GMT -5 geneg said:

Oct 5, 2012 6:57:38 GMT -5 v said:

$700 for a used leather Fendi could be a fantastic deal.

But at any rate, I agree with the TJ Maxx recommendation.

The purse was beautiful, but the Fendi name doesn't impress me. So even if it is a deal, it was still $700 for a used purse. I'll check out TJ Maxx and Marshalls. Is Nordstrom Rack any good?

ETA: Wasn't there a post here recently about things from TJX, etc being made just for them and weren't the same quality? Also, if anyone knows a good consignment or outlet store near the DC area (esp MoCo), let me know.

There are some brands, none of them overly popular, that regularly show up at TJ Maxx year after year. Willi Smith being one of them. I think these are the brands that are making things specifically for TJ Maxx. They often have racks and stuff devoted specifically to their clothing/bags, week after week, same brands, same stuff.

I don't think a lot of the well known designer stuff is made for TJ Maxx. Most of the designer stuff I see there is stuff that was a season or two ago as part of the desginer's line and they only have a few of them. I would think if brands like Marc by Marc Jacobs, Cole Hann, Douney and Bourke, etc were making things for TJ Maxx, they would have more than one or two random purses here and there from those brands and they wouldn't be the exact item in their line from a few seasons ago.

[phoenixrising]

I also think that Tignanello makes nice leather bags at a lower pricepoint. I have seen them at most of our department stores here (Macy's, Bon Ton, Boscov's, etc.).

[GailGoldie]

i lucked out and got a perfect condition Michael Kors leather bag (that retails for about $400) for $15 at a yard sale a few years back. Now whenver that house has a yard sale - i'm going

[ondaflipside]

I walked away from a Badgley Mishka hobo for $99 at TJ Maxx, so I agree with the PP's. There was also a Rebecca Minkoff bag that hopefully can wait for me. But that was $250.

Sign up for Last Call @ Neiman Marcus online. Also look up 6pm.com.

[elizabethann]

I would check out Nordstrom Rack. I have frequently seen Marc Jacobs, Kate Spade and Cole Haan for pretty good prices. Good luck!

[Deleted]

I've paid less than 150 for each of my KS bags during secret sales. They always have a few basic ones.

[Deleted]

Oct 5, 2012 8:48:44 GMT -5 papiercherri said:

Oct 5, 2012 8:27:13 GMT -5 geneg said:

The purse was beautiful, but the Fendi name doesn't impress me. So even if it is a deal, it was still $700 for a used purse. I'll check out TJ Maxx and Marshalls. Is Nordstrom Rack any good?

ETA: Wasn't there a post here recently about things from TJX, etc being made just for them and weren't the same quality? Also, if anyone knows a good consignment or outlet store near the DC area (esp MoCo), let me know.

There are some brands, none of them overly popular, that regularly show up at TJ Maxx year after year. Willi Smith being one of them. I think these are the brands that are making things specifically for TJ Maxx. They often have racks and stuff devoted specifically to their clothing/bags, week after week, same brands, same stuff.

I don't think a lot of the well known designer stuff is made for TJ Maxx. Most of the designer stuff I see there is stuff that was a season or two ago as part of the desginer's line and they only have a few of them. I would think if brands like Marc by Marc Jacobs, Cole Hann, Douney and Bourke, etc were making things for TJ Maxx, they would have more than one or two random purses here and there from those brands and they wouldn't be the exact item in their line from a few seasons ago.

Coach has displays at mine. I'm sure they are "Coach for TJMaxx"

I only started noticing bc of the past on here about this issue a few weeks ago.

[Deleted]

Oct 5, 2012 20:12:03 GMT -5 farmvillelover said:

Oct 5, 2012 19:38:35 GMT -5 BirdGirl said:

I've paid less than 150 for each of my KS bags during secret sales. They always have a few basic ones.

Agreed. For a lower price point than most designer bags, Kate Spade is a good value. I like their stuff. Simple but stylish.

Even though I love KS, buyer beware with these sales. Often, the bags sold at those sales are outlet bags. My Stevie handle is falling apart. I'm pissed. I googled around, and yep, it's an outlet bag. Granted, it wasn't even $150 but I'm annoyed. Its also like, 4 months old.

[Deleted]

Oct 5, 2012 20:46:53 GMT -5 @iheartcosmos said:

Oct 5, 2012 20:12:03 GMT -5 farmvillelover said:

Agreed. For a lower price point than most designer bags, Kate Spade is a good value. I like their stuff. Simple but stylish.

Even though I love KS, buyer beware with these sales. Often, the bags sold at those sales are outlet bags. My Stevie handle is falling apart. I'm pissed. I googled around, and yep, it's an outlet bag. Granted, it wasn't even $150 but I'm annoyed. Its also like, 4 months old.

The Kate Spade outlet bag that I had pisses me off because even though it was like $90, I think at this point it looks cheap even for a $90 bag. It feels like a thin layer of leather over cardboard.