PurseBlog Asks

What Bag Purchase Underwhelmed You the Most?

It's not always a match made in heaven...

As a handbag lover, is there anything more exciting than finally walking into a boutique and out with the bag you’ve been pining for, for months or even years? It’s a rush; not everyone will understand, but those of us who know, know…

You’ve got an extra pep in your step, swinging that Louis Vuitton orange, Chanel black, or Gucci green shopping bag alongside you. The thrill is only matched by the very first time you take your new bag out for a spin. Creating an outfit styled specifically around complimenting your new handbag is exciting.

Buyer’s Remorse

As equally thrilling and hard to match as the excitement mentioned above is, there is no worse feeling for a collector than realizing that the very thing you’ve wanted most isn’t all that exciting anymore. It’s happened to me, and it’s likely happened to you.

In 2010, I was preparing to study abroad in Europe during the summer between my sophomore and junior years. I spent the entire year babysitting and saving up my extra spending money to purchase a new bag in Paris. I watched the EUR/USD conversion go up and down the entire year, carefully eyeing it to ensure I had enough money saved. At the time, the EUR was stronger (around 1.25 to every USD), meaning I had to save up even more in order to afford the bag I wanted.

Overwhelmingly Underwhelmed

I was able to gauge how much I would need to snag the bag of my dreams by swapping the Louis Vuitton website for the European site to see the bag’s price in Euros. By the time I got to the Louis Vuitton Store in Paris that summer, I had enough to buy the bag I had been yearning for, The Louis Vuitton Damier Ebène Verona PM. Of course, I didn’t wait until I returned to the states to use it. I carried it out to dinner on my last night in Europe.

I was so blinded by the excitement of it all I barely realized how difficult the bag was to use. However, when I got home and began using it in my day-to-day life, I quickly realized how underwhelming the bag was. It was incredibly cumbersome to get in and out of, for starters. Also, the straps looked too big to be top handle straps and felt too small to be worn over the shoulder. The bottom of the bag was also too wide so that the bag couldn’t sit snugly under the arm. As it would turn out, I was less than thrilled by this bag, despite really loving the look overall.

Louos Vuitton Verona PM
Louis Vuitton Verona PM image via reddit

A major bummer and, of course, a lesson, no matter how much you plan for a bag, sometimes it’s just not a good fit. Had I tried on the bag in the store and thought it out more, I may have been able to change my mind in time.

Sharing these stories not only helps to ease the pain, but they have the potential to save a fellow collector from making a purchase that they, too, may find incredibly underwhelming. What bag purchase did you find to be the most underwhelming?

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