The bag is 19 years old. Even then it was a fortune, but I had no husband, no children, and no bills. It was, therefore, no problem. I used it for a while, then forgot about it or moved onto something else. Who knows. It’s been in the back of several closets across southern California for the last decade-and-a-half, that much I do know.
The shoes are six months old and are the same ones I gushed about a while back. I love them and wear them all the time. They sit at the front of my closet for easy access. Those weren’t cheap, either, but I did get them on sale.
I think it’s funny that the new shoes are scuffed and the old purse is pristine.
If I had one complaint about my shoes, it’s that I didn’t have a bag to match–not that I cared enough to buy one. Over the years, I’ve come to the conclusion that status-symbol handbags are the teeniest bit lame. Instead, I’ve been buying solid, well-made bags from large brands and independent brands. Again, not cheap. Not crazy-expensive like that bag in the picture, but not $20, either. Funny enough, I have red bags, green bags, and gold bags…but no brown bags.
If you are reading this on Saturday, I’m probably outside fighting off the jackals at the largest garage sale we have ever held. I had no mercy when I went through the house looking for things to get rid of, fueled as I was by my desire to pare down our possessions to those things we love and use often. The closets took a huge hit, and it was during a cleaning rampage in Nicholas’s room that I found this old bag.
It matches my shoes perfectly. Not too perfectly, but just perfect enough. I now have a bag I can wear with my favorite shoes, and all I had to do was shop my home. Talk about fortuitous.
The bag isn’t the height of fashion right now. It’s small, whereas most people are still carrying parachutes with handles. The hardware is minimal and the label is discreet, like a good plastic surgeon before reality tv. There is nothing trendy about it.
But here is the thing–everything I pulled from my closet was cheap or trendy. Sometime after I bought that purse my shopping habits changed. I went from buying a few select, expensive items to many inexpensive, almost disposable goods. And because they are inexpensive, I bought more than I’ll ever need. Or, I replaced them often enough that I should have stuck with its more expensive counterpart. I don’t want to point fingers (Target t-shirts) but there are some things in my closet that haven’t lasted 3 months before pilling, fading, or turning threadbare. I should have bought a couple of $20 t-shirts instead of an embarrassment of $5 t-shirts. Either way, I’m out $40. Had I gone the expensive route, I might actually have t-shirts to show for it.
California is notorious for trend shopping, but I think I’m going to go back to my roots: classic cuts and fabrics with made-to-last construction. I want quality pieces that see me past a season or two. Heck, at this point I would be thrilled if my t-shirts lasted more than three months.
I don’t believe that something is better made because it is expensive. The price you pay is as much about good marketing as it is good quality. Still, more often than not, well-made won’t come cheap. And maybe if I bought a couple of appropriately-priced, quality t-shirts I would be more respectful of my money and my possessions.
One final selling feature: I won’t have to clean out my closets and get up at the crack of dawn for another garage sale for at least a couple of years.
I’ve been doing the same thing with clothes and shoes lately. It’s so easy to get caught up in the “but it’s so cheap” route, but none of that stuff has lasted mote than a season or a half season for me. So, I’m going back to the brands that cost me a little more, but last forever.
Hi!
I noticed at SFS how well the shoes matched the bag, amazing how many years apart you purchased them!
Congrats on simplifying your life and “stuff” – I try to do the same (also due to lack of storage space), but I’d rather have a few, well-made things than a bunch of crap. I have been known in the past to buy 2 pairs of the exact same pair of shoes (very classic), knowing that I’d wear one thru and have a new pair waiting for me a couple of years later. Some may think is boring and un-fashion forward. Tant pis!
One other thing I’ve noticed is how hard it is to find things made locally (US or Europe) – we were in a shop in Oregon a few years back and only one single item was “Made in the USA” – a jean jacket. We bought it.
Bon weekend and good luck with the sale!
I know what you mean Jules. When you get too good of a “deal” on cheap junk…you get too many things. And then all you have is too much cheap junk. Bah! I like your thinking on this one. Although, you can get the more “expensive” stuff at places like TJ Maxx and Ross and Marshall’s! Do y’all have those?
We do! The problem is that their prices are too low, and I end up getting sucked into buying more than I love.
oh how I agree with this wholeheartedly, and may, with your permission refer back to it on my blog at some point in time. With my background, I firmly believe you get what you pay for. Quality in construction and fabrications don’t usually come cheap, especially if they’re made in the USA (or Europe). Sure, I love me some Forever 21, but usually only for trendy tops that I know will not be in style 6 months from now, and since my life is firmly planted in the ground of fashion, I do still need some trend items . BUT, you will never see me buying staple items like shoes, bags or even dresses from there. You need those things to FIT right (fit is another thing you usually have to pay more for), and last. While overall I “bargain shop”, so many of the items in my closet that I truly love and have lasted for years, were not cheap, and yes, some of them were even designer. Love for logos or not, you cannot stomp on the classic statement that a nice Louis Vuitton bag makes (and the quality, oh the quality!). I will pass the 3 LV bags I own proudly onto my daughter, and tell her how damn hard I worked for them before she was born! One last thing, in my Playgrounds & Lollipops posts I always shy away from featuring things that are too “pricey” and always go for the bargain items, because I’m afraid my readers will think I’m snobby or judge or whatever. But the next time I feel like wearing my Tory Burch flats in a post, I’ll just refer them back to this little gem of a post if that’s alright, because you have said it perfectly.
Oh, and girl, you know where to come now for quality T-shirts! I’ll hook you up with my discount and that super soft, super comfy, made in the USA T-shirt will go from costing you $65 to $16!! I have drank the kool-aid and those t-shirts are da bomb.com!
Post away! :) And I would LOVE to buy some of those t-shirts at that price.
dude, look at the website, tell me which style and color you want, and I hook you up! for reals! Yes, I am pretending to be some rap personna right now. It’s all fun and games when it comes to T-shirts, until someone gets hurt by a shrunken fit.
I totally agree. Although, I’ve always been a bit of a throw-back … never really one to follow the trends, unless they mirror classic fashion of the 20s-50s.
And your comment about the parachutes with handles made me chortle (that’s right, chortle) … if anyone mocks my current purse I tell them it’s actually a cleverly designed safety device. Should I ever fall from tall heights I can use it as parachute.
Apparently, clever minds think alike…
Three cheers for independent designers! Thank : )
This post really helps me focus. I*know* great brands wear well and last, but it’s always the initial shell-out that makes me second guess myself. Case in point= Hanna Andersson. Wears like iron and is soft well designed and looks good. Need a small loan to buy enough for three boys’ outfits.. Sigh.
p.s. if you sold the clock hat today I hope you got a farewall pic….lol.
Jules~~
I totally agree… I find that I frequently buy very cheap tops for summer wear. I don’t know what it is, the short sleeves, the breeziness, but something about those summery tops always means a grease stain or some other blemish. I recently tried to purchase only nicer tops..but then found I was very stressed when I was looking for something other than a t-shirt to wear because I KNOW I will get something on it. I’m rather obsessive about my clothes and it stresses me out to have a stain or to get a stain.
Shoes, however, I feel absolutely no problems with clunking down ridiculous amounts of money and time…. Yes, I admit, I still have not worn those beautiful cobalt blue silk d’orsays with rhinestones on the top, but let’s be honest here: shoes of this caliber need a certain dress, and this outfit is worth waiting for!! LOL… Shoes and handbags…money is (almost) always worth it. My favorite bags are same ones I grab for every year, regardless of the trend.
I think that I waste a lot less time in searching for the perfect bag or shoes to wear for the day than for the perfect shirt.. could this be a coincidence? I think not.
P.S. I find T.. Burch shoes horribly uncomfortable, so proceed with caution if your little toe is actually little and isn’t like a normal appendage. This may account for you as well, Jules, as I see we are both vertically challenged. I also do not like bags with labels all over them…they should pay me to wear it, if I will be doing their advertising for them.
As a side note, I found some fabulous T. Burch ‘look-a-likes’ at Dillard’s..beautiful creamy off white and they fit midget feet perfectly! You should go get. On sale now! Also purchased some shamrock green flats from Nine West, cheap, but really cute and comfy. (I think that Nine West sometimes gets an unneeded bad rap.) If you have really little feet, then ask the associate for shoes in your size, and they will probably have many in the back as they remove shoes from the floor when only a couple sizes remain. I have found that smaller sizes sell more slowly.
Oh, and to anyone who is reading, I mean no disrespect using the word midget..if you saw my toes, you would understand. They were definitely stunted in growth.
You didn’t know? These bags are totally in style again, no joke, I will have to send some links.
I am totally with you here. The purses that I inherited from my mom or aunts that were expensive (but well-made) are my favorites. I always buy a few trendy pieces, but they’re just to complement and eventually float on by the anchors of my closet that are more expensive and timeless. I’m this way about shoes, too… I buy expensive, timeless loafers and wear them until they wear out, and then buy them again. They go with everything!
I’m with Miss B: That bag looks just like the ones that everyone has been clamoring over for the past couple of months. How great is that??
I’m finally to the point where I’m ready to buy the more expensive staples. I can do this…just have to convince myself that I really will save money in the end. That, and I’m so tired of having a bunch of clothes that don’t fit right…but I need them because otherwise I’d have to do laundry twice a week….