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)
Where are the Birkins?
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?
hahahaha
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.
The investment bankers the screw a couple of times a month pay for it. This city is full of little sluts.
I believe that Alexis' site is Haute Look, not HotLook.
Yes, this.
Fixed that--thanks for the catch!
/The/ most absurdly pricey accessory? Methinks you've never heard of men's watches.
Okay they're all wearing sunglasses, and Alexis is the only one not wearing Ray-Bans...
A $1300 bag is an investment? Really? It's going to increase in value?
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?
I love Sabine's whole outfit!
Kara is too hot for words
Alessandra is well put together. Love the dress. I like her name to!
The type of person I'd want to date wouldn't give a flying fuck over a ridiculously over-priced handbag.
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.
Yeah, that's what it looks like to me too.
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.
so true! but handbags are a hell of a lot cuter than penises...and you can keep your lip gloss in them!
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.
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.
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.
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.
ditto.
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.
Wow, Kara is gorgeous.
lol. you need to get out more. gorgeous?!!!
oh, Trent, I know you only have eyes for me. xoxoxox
...who's this guy? We need to talk
Who are these people?? We need to talk...
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!
Hello Trent's boyfriend..;)
Last one naked in the pool is a wimp!!!
Hello ladies........ And gentle men........... ;)
alexis' dress is from urban outfitters--well trained shopping eye
Kara says she's carrying her "clothes for the night," but her bag looks empty. Must be a hot date!
Her clothes are so stylish that only the super hip can see them.
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.
Kara.. oohh Kara.. The things i wanna do to you...!!