Every now and then, while scrolling through the perfectly polished self-esteem eroding hellhole that is Instagram, one standout post buried within an especially aggressive lineup of interchangeable blogger selfies makes me scroll back up. It’s usually a photo of a bag, and there is usually something profoundly strange about it, whether it’s the staging or the bag itself.
Maybe it’s being dangled in front of a wall by a disembodied hand at twilight. Maybe it’s neon green. Maybe the model is inexplicably supporting the entire bag in the weird space where neck meets shoulder. Or maybe the bag is just innovatively ugly or offbeat in a way that offends the eye and demands a double-take.
I don’t usually even like the bag in question. But it did its job as a social media hook: it piqued my curiosity, and I dedicated some valuable brain time to it.
That’s the foundation of my theory re: the direction many bag trends are moving in. With the fast-paced, scroll-based nature of social media changing the landscape of advertising, marketing, and consumption, brands often have only a fraction of a second to make an impression upon you…and that’s the space in which loud, attention-grabbing social media darlings like Off-White and Gucci really excel.
Sometimes I get the feeling that brands are becoming less invested in offering timeless and well-constructed styles, when they could instead become the next splashy, bestselling, viral phenomenon. So as customers, it seems we’re being asked to make more and more allowances for increasingly viral-angled bags despite price increases – in other words, being asked to shell out more and more cash for pieces with less and less wearability or longevity.
[sc_ic_ad1]This is where some brands are losing a lot of us lately. If I had to find a commonality between recent bag releases that PurseBlog readers have been generally unimpressed by, it’s that those pieces have been so eager to stand out from everything in your feeds that they don’t deliver on some fundamental, practical pillars of design. The Saint Laurent Americana collection, the Louis Vuitton love locks and Coddington cats, Céline’s surprising new love-affair with harsh logo hardware, Dior’s eye-popping patterned book totes, and just about everything Gucci has made in the past year and a half spring immediately to mind.
And that got me thinking: if I were a designer trying to connect with the widest customer base possible now, what else would I make? And as a consumer, what do I crave that I don’t see on many shelves?
Personally, I’d like to go back to basics. Most of the bags I currently love are not new releases, since my preference is for architecture and leatherwork to speak more loudly than embellishment and patterns (so part of me will always feel a twinge of “gone too soon” melancholy about Philo’s Céline). Right now, I feel a sense of brand exhaustion thanks to the saturation of social media feeds with a small handful of over-exposed styles per season, and I hope to see bag offerings return for a while to the kind of nondescript but patrician bag styles that quietly pack a hefty visual punch without screaming anything from rooftops. Some brands, especially giants like Chanel and Louis Vuitton, seem to be invested still in balancing trendier offerings with classics, but I worry the rest of the industry is moving towards viral value too quickly.
What about you? What do you wish designers knew about what you want in a bag?
original illustration by Kat J. Weiss
Quality, quality, quality. It all starts there. Premium designers need to up their inspection processes and take a harder line with the quality of the bags they’re releasing to customers. A $5000 bag should be FLAWLESS. No excuses. Artistry and pride in construction should radiate from every stitch, every piece of material, every closure, every corner.
After that, balance and appropriateness. Don’t put a thin, non-adjustable strap on a sizable bag that’s supposed to be a workhorse. On medium to large bags, at least one interior pocket should be zippable and the zipped pocket should be able to hold a wallet and still close. Evening bags need to be able to handle the most popular smartphone sizes as well as keys, lipstick, and a small credit card/cash holder. They’re still making evening bags that can’t hold anything bigger than Zoolander’s flip phone.
I feel like you’ve given this some thought…
Amen!!! I second every sentence you wrote!
A purse should not cost more than 100 bucks. Stop being chumps. If you pay more than 500 for a purse you have more money than brains.
If you want actual quality made somewhere other than a sweatshop you will never find it for less than $100. You will find many beautiful and useable bags for less than $100, but you are absolutely in the dark if you think they really have high quality. But, if you are happy with plastic bags made by children for $20, go ahead, I just hope that we outlaw garbage clothing and accessories at all price points before the environment collapses even faster.
So according to your ASSumptions all professionals and academics carrying high quality beautiful expensive purses have little brainpower. Does this extend to expensive cars, watches, jewellery and shoes too?
Show me a professional or an academic with a $5000 purse and I will retract ! LOL Why anyone would get their self esteem from an expensive purse is tragic! Don’t you see how you are being victimized by the idea of spending that much money on a purse when a less expensive one may be just as lovely to impress people who don’t matter? FYI: Jewelry is spelled Jewelry.
I was in time to read the troller’s comments about people in the academic community and how they are too smart to buy a $5K bag, but I couldn’t respond in time. Her post was pulled while I was typing.
Thank you for your response to her ignorant comment. I am an academic. I have three Bachelor of Art degrees and one post baccalaureate degree. I have a Chanel flap valued at more than $5K. Luxury handbags are my passion. I believe in freedom of speech, but those who want to use that freedom to make disparaging remarks should be prepared for responses.
Thank you again for your voice.
Damn, not in time to read the troller’s comment!!! Mmmmm, usually those kinds of comments come from angry people… But hey, we live in a free world so…whatever floats our boats! I am also an academic and I love luxury bags, so what?!!:)))
I’m an academic as well, and LOVE luxury bags as well. But. I need crossbody because I have a dog, it has to be really functional, it has to be lightweight. I don’t need any more bags to “go out to dinner” or ‘go to a cocktail party’. I spend a lot and I want to use the thing a lot. Have a new Chanel Gabrielle that hits the checklist.
You came to a blog about fancy purses, to talk down to people who buy fancy purses. what quality handbag is retailing under $100?
I suspect the people who come to this blog don’t spend so much on a purse and just love purses, like I do. At least I sincerely hope that is the case! I suspect “Passerine” really doesn’t spend $5000 on a purse and is just a poser. A fool and their money are soon separated.
I completely agree about quality!!
Good post and good comment!
And I’ll extend that zipped pocket to multiple interior pockets. I carry more small items than big ones and I don’t want to add a pouch or an organizer when the bag could just already have multiple pockets. And small bags are inconvenient for me because I carry bigger things as well. My ideal every day bag would be roomy, with an adjustable shoulder strap, multiple pockets and a top handle.
I’m with you on all of this (and LOL’d at “Zoolander’s flip phone” – now I want to rewatch that movie), esp quality. Premier bags aren’t cheap, and with those hefty margins, it can feel a little insulting when quality and attention to detail just…aren’t there.
Yes to the quality!!! Stop cutting corners, major designers! We can tell it’s happening!! And on top of that, small designers are making beautiful bags of wonderful quality for a fraction of your prices.
Hey Belle, this is a great comment and I agree with you. I’m a new, bag designer and i’d love to know how much loyalty you feel to these legacy brands. How and where do you discover new brands, and how open are you to buying their bags instead of the legacy brands’ bags? Are there any elements or qualities you look for in a bag from a new brand that you don’t in a legacy brand? Are you willing to pay the same amount of money for a new brand’s bag, or do you have a more conservative spending cap? I’ve read the sweet spot price-wise for women to buy from new designers is under $500. From your experience would you agree? If so, would you be willing to spend more for that brand over time after you’ve had time to test their quality?
I have so many questions!
Somewhat off-topic, but I love these new (I think they are new?) sketches/drawings on some of the posts.
STRAP LENGTH! I’m so sick of bags claiming to be crossbody and it sits up in your armpit. All crossbody bags need to have AT LEAST a 60″ strap. You can’t tell me it’s that expensive or difficult to add more strap length. 52″ is NOT crossbody!
Interesting observation!!
Strap length has always caused me grief when making bags!
In casual conversation about a bag someone will mention a strap length.
When I show up to take a measurement the strap length, the actual length turns out to be about 10 – 15 inches shorter than initially mentioned.
I made one crossbody with a 62 inch strap, she loved it and sang its praises.
Two weeks later she asked if i could trim it back. After several measurements the strap was cut back to 51″
When using a veg-tanned piece for the strap, depending on the piece and how it was cut the strap becomes a little longer after burnishing the flesh side of the strap, when unlined.
I just completed a crossbody messenger bag with a shorter strap that rode higher than normal.
It’s exactly what the client wanted for transporting jewelry.
This. I’m 6′ 1 tall and most crossbody bags and WOCs sit at my waist or higher. It’s not a flattering sight. LC LP Crossbody and MbMJ small Percy have straps that are long enough. I think it would be ideal to have adjustable straps with enough range to cater to all or have a range or strap lengths to choose from.
What strap length are you most comfortable with?
At least 26 inches, but the closer to 30 the better especially when it’s cold and I wear a thick jacket.
I wish the luxury houses would let us send our crossbody bags into them to change the drop length. I’d buy brand new every time!
Their refusal to lengthen or shorten bag crossbody straps because they want to maintain the integrity of designs, ticks me off. I don’t think there is a consistent design look for a bag that hangs below the hip on one woman and at the waist of another. It’s a different look.
I’d pay a premium to have the option to lengthen a strap.
Hey M,
Would you prefer having a strap that’s adjustable so you can change it yourself? Or would you prefer the brand have a service in which they permanently customize the strap length for you?
I don’t often love buckles because one side may roll up. But I like the pin hole style where you can slide into place. Preferably multiple options. I have a bag that offers infinite customizable lengths and adjustments. A,so adjustable with leather punch.
I’m guessing you mean one piece of the strap has a stud that is placed into a button hole on the 2nd piece?
I’ve made straps with two studs on one side of the strap where the holes on the 2nd strap are placed at equal distances so there are two fastening spots on the strap.
The only problem that arose was that after numerous adjustments ( the client shared her bag with her sisters, mom and friends) the holes eventually became worn and loose.
How do you feel about the conway buckles used in horse tack?
They’re slightly more difficult when adjusting and they always look like they’re inside out (i always place the spike pointing away from the clients body) but they work great.
Hey Roland!
I looked up conway buckles and this is a big help. Thanks so much!
Anytime,
I’ve used various unusual types of hardware for buckles and fasteners.
Take a stroll through your local homedepot in the nuts and bolts section and let your imagination run wild.
Hi Jame,
When you say “infinite customizable lengths” how is it done? Are there pin holes along the entire length of the strap? Does it double back on itself for shorter lengths as well? Is this bag currently being sold anywhere I could see it?
Thanks so much!
adjustable for sure
Hi Trish,
Thanks for the feedback! For adjustable straps what kind of strap configuration and customization hardware do you prefer? Like, do you prefer a single buckle on one end of the strap, or a buckle on both ends of the strap, or those little metal button studs instead of buckles? Or something else? Do you own or have you seen any specific bags that do this well in your opinion? Any that you think are getting it wrong?
Thanks for your help!
I have been dying for some designer to ask my opinion! LV has a newish strap on one of my bags that has two buckles—and I like that. I have Chloe bags with the little buttons and they are okay I guess–but for me, function over fashion. Function AND fashion is more like it. The dumbest design would be the older Balenciaga or the PS3 bags with straps you can’t adjust and they just hang all wrong, My new Chanel bag with the chains (Gabrielle) is adjustable SO MANY WAYS and I just love that. I also love moderately priced bags, even cheap bags, and my favorite is a Kipling that is completely adjustable and has tons of organization pockets. I wish somebody fabulous would knock that bag off in something fabulousl
Awesome Trish! Thanks so much! Do you happen to know the name of the Kipling bag you like? Or of a balenciaga or ps3 bag you don’t like? I’m still really new at this and it will help me look them up.
I so appreciate your help!
the kipling bag i love is called the Defea. I carry it all the time I am almost embarrassed to say. It weighs nothing and the strap is completely adjustable and I change it around all the time. The worst bags are the beautiful bags that weigh a ton before you even put a thing into them. That new designer at Coach is making some really beautiful bags..but they weigh a ton. I won’t use them. I am a complete and total handbag nut. I am also a Planner/filofax nut too. Other than that, I am normal.
HAHAHAHAHA! I think you sound alright. 🙂
At 13 x 9 x 5, or whatever, with the exterior pockets and hardware, I imagine it would be hard to make something like the Defea out of leather and keep light. I would have to do a lot of research on that. But I agree, it definitely looks super useful, and the grey one I saw is pretty sharp.
for short people, 52 inches can actually be too long. it’d be great if they added extra length but also made them more adjustable with more buckle options.
Hey Twirler,
What kind of strap configuration and customization hardware do you prefer? Like, do you prefer a single buckle on one end of the strap, or a buckle on both ends of the strap, or those little metal button studs? Or something else? Do you have or have you seen any specific bags that do this well in your opinion? Any that you think are getting it wrong?
Thanks so much for your feedback!
What I do wish is that a blog that I care about and trust ever since I was in grammar school would be a little bit more sensitive about racism in the fashion industry. Considering Dolce and Gabbana’s track record for extreme homophobia and racism towards the asian community, why would you use a Miss Sicily bag in your article artwork? Seems a bit insensitive to me. And this is EXACTLY the reason racist and homophobic people in the fashion industry continue to prosper. If any of you have any questions, look at @dietprada on instagram.
Wow, AB! You sure know your bags! I had to look the Miss Sicily up after reading your comment. Nailed it!
Wow, shocked by the replies on this. Not only a lack of empathy, but weak logic all around.
The Miss Sicily bag is a beautiful bag. This is a site about HANDBAGS it’s meant to be a place for people who love handbags to get together and have fun. Not everything has to be a seen as a freaking political statement.
YES!! Is there no sacred places left from politics to just be people…..humans…..friends….
collector’s? Why do we fight so much? We’ve become like kids in the sandbox, not wanting to play together anymore; being downright selfish & intolerant to each other! To hate our neighbor so much, is just wrong, & we’re the one’s who, right here on this blog, want to fix it. So Purse Blog is our happy place, & we look out for each other. Am I right?So, PLEASE everyone, no politics?on PB.
???+???=????????.
Here we go with the overly sensitive post about racism and bigotry. ? as mentioned before. Every brand has fuc*ed up in some way. Dior had John Galliano. Chanel and Fendi have Karl Lagerfeld. Not to mention who CoCo Chanel was as a person. Need I remind everyone that she sold out the Jewish people that were making her perfume to the nazis because she was pissed she didn’t make the right decision asking for more than 10% of the profits, not knowing how well Chanel No5 would sell. Come on. I hope you’re perfect. Those stones being thrown in a glass house will be the death of people.
Every brand has f**ed up. So if they eliminated all of the ones that have had major PC issues, faux pas, racial or cultural or sexist or size-ist insensitivities, etc etc there would be no designers to feature. Fashion and controversy go hand in hand, D&G is nothing new. I am not saying it’s acceptable or correct, but we all buy stuff from designers or houses that have propagated something insensitive or un-PC. Where D&G is horrible for what they did and said (more than once) my fear is that PC will take over tabs on sites for “women” and “men” b/c defining gender will be a reason to boycott. Gucci just got nailed last week for their blackface sweater, yet it was also featured this week. And no brand can compete with Chanel’s back history (both Karl and Coco), but that doesn’t stop people from buying. Cultural appropriation at Dior with JLaw, at Chanel with a boomerang. Everywhere you turn there are opportunities to be offended, and it’s exhausting. Maybe better not to let things that truly don’t matter (handbag designers) steal our joy?
I bought a beautiful D&G Sicily for my mom for mother’s day last year. I am not going to go take her bag and burn it. D&G has over 3k employees. I am betting many of them are nice people, working hard, who need jobs, all different races and sizes and backgrounds. Her bag is flawlessly made, and has held up beautifully. Someone working at D&G took pride in their work to make it. Although it’s disappointing their leadership doesn’t set a good example, boycotting the brand also hurts the people who work there.
Well said! I’m tired of living in a world where 1 person out of 999 has some “sensetivity” issue to something, so they scream & yell about it, find a Lawyer to argue their lawsuit, hold a press conference, drive a media campaign, & get their way, when the other 999 people don’t find any issue offensive, BUT NOW have to comply with some new rule, because 1 person out of 999 found it offensive & threw a fit!!! The 999 silent majority say nothing. Well….not anymore! We’re tired of having our lives dictated by a few cranky people! It IS exhausting
Unfortunately you are completely missing the point. It’s less than ideal but not shocking. You all need to get it together. This “it’s not offensive until somebody comes for me directly” bs is further proving my point. So thank you for making it so easy to prove my point
Oh by all means I get it. You said grammar school reading TPF, so that makes you very young, no? I think what you are striving for will no doubt elevate our ability in society to show kindness, acceptance, tolerance and discernment. 1) Strive to make everything about you 2) Desperately seek out opportunities to be offended “personally” and 3) demand apologies from those who have targeted you directly (maybe tea at their home?) so you can comfortably crawl out of your safe space. The new gold standard!
Yes! Not only limited to D&G in this article, but in response to this article as a whole. Designers, stop propagating such unhealthy and discriminatory practices! Why is everyone okay with Chanel being a Nazi sympathizer?? Why are the Slimane’s Celine models so unhealthily underweight?? Come on, this is the 21st century…
Chanel is owned by the Wertheimers. Their grandfather took control of the company from Coco Chanel after the war. Why would this Jewish family continue to use Coco Chanel as their Muse and profit greatly from her name for so many decades if she was a Nazi sympathizer?
Not a good idea to dispute facts on this one.
https://www.haaretz.com/life/.premium.MAGAZINE-from-nazis-to-churchill-the-stink-behind-chanel-no-5-1.5628612
I didn’t dispute anything. The owners of Chanel don’t seem to care, and I’m sure they’re aware of her history,
Seriously? Is this true?
Nazi sympathizer yes. She absolutely was. Implying she was not, no, that is false.
The fashion industry needs to step up its game.
Interesting Q – I didn’t pick the artwork so I’m not sure.
I have no problem spending money on a quality bag, however it must meet certain requirements. It MUST have an exterior pocket for my phone. It has to be comfortable and sit well on my shoulder, regardless of what I am wearing. It must have interior organization. I don’t need huge designer emblems of any sort. A quality bag doesn’t need it to be recognized as such. And please, can we have some nice looking dark brown bags? They seem harder and harder to find lately.
Yes, dark brown bags. They are so difficult to find nowadays.
I want the designers to understand the practicality of shoulder straps. As mentioned here, the length should be long enough for crossbody (comfortably), adjustable, and more importantly, if it is a large tote bag, wide enough so it won’t dig into the shoulder. I simply do not understand what goes through a designer’s mind when they pair a big bag with a super narrow shoulder strap.
Hey Jerri,
I asked her his same question of Twirler, but i’d love to hear from you (and everyone else!) What kind of strap configuration and customization hardware do you prefer? Like, do you prefer a single buckle on one end of the strap, or a buckle on both ends of the strap, or those little metal button studsinsreas of a buckle? Or something else? Do you own or have you seen any specific bags that do this well in your opinion? Any that you think are getting it wrong?
Thanks so much for your help!
I’m looking for great construction, practicality and comfort. And materials and details should be commiserate with the price. I.e. if a bag if over $1200 it should have a premium interior material. If a bag is a mid sized one it should have a slot for any sized phone. If a bag is small it shouldn’t have so many pockets and compartments it impacts usable space.
If you are making built in card slots – make sure they actually fit cards. Also on that top – card slots are not necessary for every bag, especially larger ones.
If you are a midsized or larger bag, exterior pockets should be at least phone sized.
I prefer adjustable straps. But don’t make them have a crappy connection so they easily disconnect from the bag.
Bags should offer one handed opening from the main carrying position.
How do you feel about a pocket lined for RFID protection?
I’ve never heard about any ID theft happening that way but several people asked for lined wallets with that protection.
Hey Jame,
What kind of material do you prefer for the interior of your bags, and why? If price were no object, what material would you choose? Do you have different favorite interiors for every day bags vs evening bags?
Thanks for your help!
i prefer luxurious feeling: leather, suede. Ideally nice microsuede on a lower end bag. In an evening bag, something that feels nice and somewhat thick. not flimsy cheap satin or cotton.
For evening bags are all satin interiors out? Even heavy ones? Or just the flimsy cheap ones?
Do you prefer interiors that give a pop of color, like a bright blue or pink, or do you prefer them to be more subdued?
Thanks!
Probably the best lining I’ve ever had on a bag was thick dark blue cotton. Well fitted it sits like a glove and feels nice.
Do you prefer dark colors or light colors for linings?
Thanks so much!
For the amount of money we spend on high end bags, I don’t think we should need to tell them. They should know. In fact, since this is their area of expertise, they should surprise me with features that I could never think of myself. I should pick up the bag and say, “Wow! What a great idea. This will make my life easier, and it’s beautiful. Thank you high end brand for thinking of this pocket and that strap.” Too idealistic?!?!?
Well…..
What one person would consider a great idea is sometimes considered a hindrance by someone else.
I’ve experienced that on several occasions when showing a work in progress or sketch to someone.
I usually just ask, what are you desiring in your purse/bag/wallet/bracelet/belt.
I agree – for those prices, & with their expertise, much of the onus should be on luxury labels, not customers, to impress their audience and really sell to them.
Oh my goodness this is so super great! Thank you so much, Albertine, for writing this, and to all of you awesome commenters as well. I’m a fledgling bag designer and for me this kind of information is pure gold! I so appreciate everyone taking the time to weigh in. I would love to hear more! If anyone has anything else to add, please do! I’m seriously going to print this whole screen out and hang it on my wall for inspiration.
Also, i’ve been thinking of limiting my business to evening bags only, but I also am a fan of dark brown bags for the day time. Perhaps I’ll have to make one for us all. 🙂
Where do you sell your bags? Daytime bags are great! I love large leather bags with pockets. The brand Lug does really good pockets and organization but they don’t do leather bags so it’s a trade off. If your making everyday bags in brown leather with loads of organization I’m going to be so excited !!!! ?
Hi Samantha! I don’t sell them yet. I’m waiting for my very first-ever batch to be delivered from my manufacturer hopefully by end of month. Everyday organized bags aren’t currently on my agenda, as right now I’m super into the idea of small brunch and evening bags. But I’ll let you know if that changes. Thanks so much for your feedback!
If you’d like to see what i’m up to, please check out my Instagram account. It’s @ForLoveAndLegacy. I’m rebranding in the next week or two, though, so that will change.
Thanks again! ??
crazy about your beautiful belts already!
Hi Jerri! Thanks so much for checking them out and for the compliment! I’ve had a great time making them, but unfortunately selling belts to women has been a bigger challenge than I expected. I don’t want to make belts for men, so I am pivoting to handbags. I think that ultimately they’ll be even more fun and I’ve got about a million ideas I can’t wait to try, but it’s a totally new area for me so I appreciate all of your feedback and advice. Please keep it coming!
Thanks again!
Thank you so much for your lovely comment & feedback!
You’re so welcome. 🙂
Qua-li-ty (I think people are sick of crappy quality that retails for 5K, hence the rise of smaller quality brands), functionality and a long strap:)
Hmm, during the holidays i strolled into one of the high end purse maker stores and struck up a conversation with one of the sales persons there.
Quality was one of the first things I noticed lacking in two of the bags i was looking at. Frayed thread, flaking plating, loose stitching….she said that quality was in serious decline.
Wow, it’s gotten that bad?
It some cases, it would appear so. I thought perhaps they were putting out lower quality merchandise for the holidays.
Who knows….
Hm, for a day bag, I’d like a shoulder strap (or long enough handles to carry on the shoulder, like with the Neverfull or Chanel Deauville), structure without constraint (so, not a rigid classic flap, but also not a shapeless pit), and discreet hardware/branding (prefer a recognizable silhouette/original architecture to a big logo). I’d love a really beautiful brown leather, something that wouldn’t stain from a few raindrops. In short, I’d like Phoebe Philo to be back at Celine, I suppose!
You said it all with “discreet”! I’m all about a bag that doesn’t scream at me from across the room and just looks luxe in a simple way. I’m also missing Philo x10000
More brands need to line the underside of their shoulder straps with suede so it doesn’t slip off shoulders when wearing a coat made of slippery material. All winter long I have to fight with all of my bags but one because of this. CONSTANTLY falling off and making my commute more of a struggle than it needs to be.
Hey Eleanor,
This is a great idea! Does the suede underside on your strap discolor or get dirty easily? Does it discolor your clothing at all? I would be kind of worried about designing a strap like that. Also, that maybe the suede would rub down in certain areas faster than regular leather and start showing wear and having shiny spots. Have you experienced anything like this? What color is the suede underside on the version you have?
Thanks for your help!
The one bag I have with a suede underside is a medium gray on a black strap, so it doesn’t discolor anything! I haven’t had it that long but I cant imagine it would wear down – it is not a plush suede so I think this reduces stress on the contact points. I’m not knowledgeable about textiles, but maybe a microfiber would work too if suede more easily succumbs to wear and tear.
….or a heavy canvas on the underside, only where the shoulder points hit.
Thanks, Eleanor. This is really helpful! Does the suede line the whole interior of the strap or is it just in the area that goes over your shoulder? Would you prefer it one way or another?
It lines the whole thing! I think it seems more luxurious that way so that would be my preference. I think there is also a way to make the linings fun as well as functional, by using contrasting colors, for example. Are you a designer? If so there are lots of great ideas on this thread!
Great! That’s a big help. And I agree, it would definitely be fun to play with contrasting liner colors. Thanks so much for the idea!
I’m a designer who’s just starting out. So this whole article and all of the comments are a HUGE help. I’ve responded to a bunch of other people on this thread as well, and I so appreciate you all taking the time to give your opinions!
Interesting comments. The funny thing is that customers actually don’t know what they want. Luxury is not about practicality and that’s what makes them appealing. They’re not perfect, they’re flawed. Like people. You don’t date someone based on their abilities, you date them based on their charm and charisma – how they make you feel.
If Chanel made the most practical bag in the world with everything you wanted, it wouldn’t have the same appeal. It’s like if Ferrari made a big family sedan with an eco-friendly engine – not sexy. If you want a practical bag, get a backpack – they’re perfect! Light, durable, cheap, comfortable, lots of pockets and easy to maintain.
Minimal branding and quality that at the least matches the price.The lining should be well fitted, not black and of a material that can take a beating. Also I like when the inside pocket can take both my wallet (whatever the size) and my key pouch and that pocket should have a zipper for those times I keep my bag open. Which takes us to another point; I love a bag that has a top zipper but also looks good when the zipper is open. Oh, and NO thin shoulder straps on large or heavy bags!
Do you prefer metal zippers?
I had someone complain that the metal ykk zipper wouldn’t match the bag.
A replacement zipper was located at a local craft store, i hated it, she loved it.
It should be durable. I can’t worry about bumping into someone on the subway and spending the weekend trying to buff a scratch out. I paid good money for it – a sense of peace should come with the bag.
So is the distressed look out of the question in a bag you’d choose?
I don’t need it to be distressed from the get go (never worn ripped jeans either). But if new it’s refined and elegant, it should at least take a rub from a stranger’s jacket before it goes into the casual category.
Both the post and the comments are extremely informative.
I’d like to see more posts in this vein.
Also, I’ve not seen a post concerning bags for guys in quite some time, any chance of a refreshed post on that subject?
No black lining, because you cannot see inside it clear enough, to find items. Also, please make the interior zippers of a good size, & not those little ones. Oh, & please don’t use chains on a larger size tote. It looks good, but slips right off the shoulder. Plus, you are constantly arguing with those chains, everytime you open your bag! Along with that, if you are going to use a zipper to close any kind of bag, please don’t cut it short of the bag’s top size, as it will do that ugly pull thing, when unzipped & pulled open to retrieve something. In small bags, the teeth of the zipper with constantly cut into your wrist & hand. If there are pocket slots on the interior wall, make sure one is lipstick high, & the other iphone 7 size. If the pocket is too deep, you will not be able to retrieve the item with ease. If the pocket is too short, items tip over & fall out.
Please don’t clutter up the inside with lots of pockets, & zippers. Leave a large open interior space for things like a wallet, umbrella, sunglasses in it’s case. The interior should look neat & clean, to keep everything in it’s place. Lastly, it may be thrilling to design these odd shaped small art purses (circles, triangles, miniature trunk cases), but they cannot hold much of anything!!! Style over function may be cute or clever, but it will just make us close our wallets & pass on this latest designer “museum” piece. Oh, & a few more things – NO MORE BIG FAT LOGOS ON YOUR BAGS! It’s just so tacky!! Must everything be made for teenagers? If you’re going to charge us $5000, you damn well better make sure the finest leather is used, every detail exquisite, every stich tight, & a VERY generous service warranty for the life of the bag, included!
I know my perfect bag. A medium sized satchel with top zipper with two long handles with internal zippered pocket for a wallet and keys, and pocket outside for a phone. Now there’re either open shapeless totes or satchels with two short handles and a long strap.
Lately, I’ve been purchasing older bags on the secondhand market because they are practical. Because they go with my style, a mix of edgy and classic, the bags don’t date. I get compliments on these older bags. I’m done with “It” bags. They’re not practical and too fiddle-y to get in and out of. They’re heavy (even the mini ones). I did buy myself a new bag from Marc Jacobs for my birthday and have been carrying it for a solid month. I love it and get more compliments on it than any luxury bag that I have.
A small bag with a zip pocket and a separate pocket for my phone would be ideal. It needs to be light with a shoulder strap and a top handle. A little bit of structure. Above all else, make it easy to get in and out of. It’s very frustrating to try-on a bag and can’t figure out how to open the clasp/lock.
Basically, I just described my PS1 in the tiny size.
I wish there were more posts from this author. Such a talented writer!
I think designers should be reading this blog to really get a good idea of what people want. But then if you go to Paris all the stores are swarming with buyers, so the message probably isn’t very clear to them. Even in Beverly Hills (my home stores), the shops are swarming with people wanting to buy (or at least look at) high end bags regardless of season/quality/designs. It’s all about those name brands.
I think quality should be job #1. And styles should be next. I think it’s fine to up your game with new designs, but again, the new bags should be really well made. I am at the point where I only want to buy and carry Hermés because the quality is the best in the business (also love Moynat for the same reason). I know I will respect the quality and beauty for a lifetime and for me that is worth the cost.
Love this article by the way! So timely.
1. Zippers. I don’t want things to fall out of my bag. I don’t want to be victimized by pickpockets either.
2. Better straps. Shoulder bag straps that sits comfortably and stays on the shoulder. Crossbody bag straps that aren’t too thin and has the perfect length.
3. Lighter bags. I shouldn’t have shoulder or back pains because of a bag that isn’t even full.
1. Quality. Nothing lasts forever, but a luxury bag should be perfectly usable for at least a decade.
2. Timeless design. I am so sick of these “limited editions” and “seasonal collections.” It’s a big marketing trap and so many fall for it. Fashion shouldn’t be disposable.
3. Less branding. The older I get, the less logos I want on my clothing and accessories. Elegance and discretion go hand in hand.
4. After sale services. If something goes wrong, I want the option to get the bag repaired.
For these reasons, I have moved on mostly to Hermès and Bottega Veneta.