Register Now!

Tools of Attraction: Expensive handbags

Five New York women on the most absurdly pricey accessory.

By Danielle Gibson

Kara, 27, assistant producer

Where did you get that bag?
I got it second-hand at Boys and Girls Club fair.

Nice. How much did you pay for it?
I only paid $150 and then I went home and looked up the brand online and the bag is $1,000.

What? That is insane. You must have felt proud of yourself. How much would you pay for a bag?
Depends on who makes it, how nice it is, and how nice the material is.

What's the dream bag for you?
Prada. I love Prada. But I already have a few.

So you're living the dream. How many Pradas do you have?
Four. A collection. The most expensive one cost $2,000. I wouldn't pay any more than that. But I like to mix it up — I also have bags from Target that are like, $20.

Women in the city keep their lives in their bags, pretty much. What's in yours?
I have my lunch, my hair straightener, my clothes for the night, and my shoes for the night.

I want to hear more about your "clothes for the night."
Well, I have a date tonight. It's important to have a bag big enough for your second outfit.

Dress: Lily Pulitzer, sunglasses: Ray-Ban, shoes: Sam Edelman, bag: Kotur

Commentarium (40 Comments)

Jul 06 11 - 2:37am
MoonageDaydream

Where are the Birkins?

Jul 06 11 - 3:28am
Jfs$2)

Does anyone in NYC or America in general have a real job anymore? Intern at Theory??? What the hell is that? Assistant producer? of What??? Hostess??? And the kicker is that all of them have expensive outfits and accessories. How can this country afford to do anything any more?

Jul 06 11 - 5:58pm
adrienne

hahahaha

Jul 06 11 - 6:11pm
Dea

It's NYC... everyone's an aspiring something (read: trying to be successful in some art or entertainment field while the majority of their time is spent doing something else to put a roof over their heads). Besides, what would you expect career-wise from an 18 year-old? Intern seems perfectly fitting to me. I don't see anything wrong with being a hostess (and a well-dressed one at that)... someone has to make sure people with "real jobs" can dine out comfortably.

Sep 05 11 - 1:08pm
DS

The investment bankers the screw a couple of times a month pay for it. This city is full of little sluts.

Jul 06 11 - 8:09am
T

I believe that Alexis' site is Haute Look, not HotLook.

Jul 06 11 - 11:41am
J

Yes, this.

Jul 06 11 - 3:48pm
PeterSmith

Fixed that--thanks for the catch!

Jul 06 11 - 8:19am
S

/The/ most absurdly pricey accessory? Methinks you've never heard of men's watches.

Jul 06 11 - 10:25am
Rj

Okay they're all wearing sunglasses, and Alexis is the only one not wearing Ray-Bans...

Jul 06 11 - 10:47am
Moops

A $1300 bag is an investment? Really? It's going to increase in value?

Jul 11 11 - 2:17pm
ETC

HAH! That's what I was thinking. That's a nice trick she has with the "divide the cost by the number of times you're going to use it" though. Only problem with it is how can you know whether it will hold up over time or whether you'll still like it in 5 years or whether some douchey roommate will walk off with it?

Jul 06 11 - 10:50am
Cait

I love Sabine's whole outfit!

Jul 06 11 - 11:45am
adam

Kara is too hot for words

Jul 06 11 - 12:16pm
Ebony

Alessandra is well put together. Love the dress. I like her name to!

Jul 06 11 - 2:25pm
Laura

The type of person I'd want to date wouldn't give a flying fuck over a ridiculously over-priced handbag.

Jul 06 11 - 2:54pm
Grady LaLa

Women's obsession with handbags is hilarious. They buy them in order to compete with each other — men don't care about them, and probably never notice them. It's the female version of penis competition.

Jul 06 11 - 8:38pm
KS

Yeah, that's what it looks like to me too.

Jul 06 11 - 11:42pm
completely

As S said, I'd say it's more the female version of men's watches.

Although I would say that most of what people wear for fashion they wear exclusively for fashion, and not to try to pick anyone up.

Jul 07 11 - 12:32pm
EMK

so true! but handbags are a hell of a lot cuter than penises...and you can keep your lip gloss in them!

Feb 29 12 - 3:44pm
Ana

Why is it that everything a woman does has to be for the approval of a man? These women seem to have bought their bags cause they like 'em.

Jul 06 11 - 3:10pm
MC

I have never understood the handbag thing. I never see handbags that I think are cute. I will drop serious money if I ever find a sturdy brown handbag that looks like it could go on a safari with me. I have a friend who just put a $1200 handbag on a credit card that she cannot pay off anytime soon. Fancy purse, nothing to put inside of it.

Jul 06 11 - 7:10pm
phineas

I really really hate those quilted Chanel bags, they remind me of some Dynasty era Kmart quilted bag knockoffs a lot of women had back then. The real ones don't look any nicer, imo.

Jul 06 11 - 8:33pm
GW

Agreed. The quilted Chanel bags look old ladyish to me. Yeah, yeah..I know it's Chanel, but the quilted purse has no appeal for me.

Jul 11 11 - 4:40pm
s

ditto.

Jul 07 11 - 12:12am
m

most of these bags aren't even that expensive. i am more curious about people who actually spend thousands on a bag (what are they thinking?) than people who spend 250 bucks on a $1300 bag.

Jul 07 11 - 2:15pm
Mark in DC

Wow, Kara is gorgeous.

Jul 07 11 - 7:42pm
Trent

lol. you need to get out more. gorgeous?!!!

Jul 09 11 - 12:06am
Trent's boyfriend

oh, Trent, I know you only have eyes for me. xoxoxox

Jul 10 11 - 6:12pm
Trent's girlfriend

...who's this guy? We need to talk

Jul 11 11 - 12:56am
Trent's lover

Who are these people?? We need to talk...

Jul 11 11 - 2:23pm
Trent's mother

A boyfriend, a girlfriend and a lover?! What have you been doing while you're in this fancy liberal arts college I pay for?! Not studying, I see! We need to get you back to church!

Jul 12 11 - 2:13am
Trent's father

Hello Trent's boyfriend..;)

Jul 14 11 - 11:43pm
Trent's neighbour

Last one naked in the pool is a wimp!!!

Feb 13 12 - 3:01pm
Trent's Twin

Hello ladies........ And gentle men........... ;)

Jul 07 11 - 6:28pm
jen

alexis' dress is from urban outfitters--well trained shopping eye

Jul 08 11 - 8:10am
Jux

Kara says she's carrying her "clothes for the night," but her bag looks empty. Must be a hot date!

Jul 12 11 - 4:48pm
Grady LaLa

Her clothes are so stylish that only the super hip can see them.

Jul 09 11 - 3:46pm
PP

Is it part of moving to NYC that all the sudden your bag budget increases tenfold? Because, seriously, I like purses... but I prefer paying my rent.

Aug 07 11 - 5:00pm
Straight Talk

Kara.. oohh Kara.. The things i wanna do to you...!!