A New Handbag

I have three great bags - a Coach that is larger so I use it for when I need a laptop bag when I'm meeting with clients, and two Kate Spade handbags that I switch out between fall/winter and spring/summer. Love them all!

My faves, in this order:

http://www.coach.com/shop/women-handbags

http://www.etienneaigner.com/handbags

http://www.stonemountainhandbags.com/handbags

:)

It depends if you follow a favorite designer and your preferences.

I have a couple of very pricey bags, the Coach fall bag is a classic and I use it every winter season. The Coach is a classic Legacy bag not seen everywhere,

I regret the tote type Michael Kors that I paid upwards of $300 for spring 2 years ago. I see too many of them while shopping and I lost interest in Michael Kors and it is going on the online sale soon because it's rarely used.

Right now, I have an adorable purple tote from Charming Charlie for less than $30 that's fits me perfectly!

If I soen a lot of $ on a bag I will use it for years, I hope. I'm unhappy with Michael Kors but I Love the Classic Legacy Coach my hubby bought for me around $450 and I've used it at least 6 years!!

i love tory burch and kate spade. never pay full price for them. usually their website will have 30 or 40 percent off. same thing with kate spade.

Target & J C Penney do have nice labels. If I want to splurge, Nine West is my label, but they last forever !

I discovered Brahmin, and I haven't bought anything else, since. I only have 2. They are not cheap, but they are classically styled (in fashionable colors, or in standard browns/blacks), hold what I need in them, in an organized way that suits my needs, and they are well made. The one I carry right now was a Mother's Day gift last year (I saw it on a steep sale when I was shopping, but cost more than I wanted to spend, so husband decided it would be my gift, and made me put it away for 3 more weeks!!!). My first was discounted down to $123 (after clearance and special store discounts). The second was discounted down to around $250. The type I prefer normally runs around $325-$375, and they are excluded from most department store sales (only Charity Day sales usually allow them to be included).
My wallet is a Hobo, and it has held up well also. I'm particular about my personal items like this, that carry my daily essentials. I don't swap bags out to match outfits, either. I buy one that works with everything, and if not, too bad. :)

I don't like having to keep a handbag because I paid a lot for it. I like change. I'd rather have a nice $40 purse that when it gets shabby, I can toss it and get another. I'd hate carrying the same bag for 10 years!

i am so picky when it comes to my handbags. i prefer to find a good pattern and modify it to my liking then make the bag myself. its got to have a cell pocket on the outside, a pen pocket and organizing pockets inside, and handles have to be a certain length. so yeah... this picky woman makes her own.

If you're okay with "new to you" instead of truly new, eBay can be a great place to find purses. Just be sure you know what the ones you're interested in cost new so that you can make wise choices about how much you would be willing to pay for a used one, and only buy from those with excellent feedback ratings. Also be aware that there are a lot of fakes of popular name brands floating around on the secondary market.

I agree with AC. There are lots of great bags at all price points. And PVC (faux leather) has come a LONG way.

Try going to Macy's. They have so much for such great prices. You will find great stuff there.

My favorite brand is Furla. It's from Italy. I must have 15 of them. I'm a bag girl, what can i say. I often buy them from ebay - either new or very lightly used.

Currently for work I have a Calvin Klein tote that I bought at Macy's. Originally it was 185 and I got it on sale with coupons, etc. for $80. It's a work horse and holds so much!

I do have a Louis Vuitton that the hubby bought me when we were dating. It's still in great shape but was so expensive.

I also have a summer Dooney and Burke that I love. It's a well-made tote. And Ivanka Trump makes a nice PVC bag, too! Lots to chose from.

Happy shopping! And be sure to hit TJ Maxx or Marshalls for great deals on stylish designer bags!! I got a great Kate Spade there a few years ago for $99 that I still wear quite often!

I don't believe that cost always equals quality. Believe it or not the best bag I have ever had was a $20 target satchel/sleek messenger like bag. It was faux leather with a belt style strap, a zip top, and 2 draped studded straps across the middle. I had it for almost seven years. It finally started to peel and look very ragged.

My mom and aunt love coach. I also have a few friends that swear by the brand. My aunt will use one bag for five years, buy a new one, and then hand off the old bag to my mom who uses it for another five years. Personally, I would rather spend $20 on a bag than $300+, in the event it falls apart, gets snagged, spit up on, stolen, etc.

I generally get a Baggallini, use it 7 or more years and get another one when the lining starts falling apart.
I'm hard on my purse so I have to have one that can take a beating.

http://www.baggallini.com/crossbody/everywhere-bagg/EWY57...

I love Michael Kors. I have both leather and the monogrammed canvas type of purses. Coach is another brand I like and I have both leather and monogrammed bags from them too. Both brands can be purchased for about $150 for a small/medium leather bag, if you go to an outlet and buy them on sale, and monogrammed canvas purses tend to be cheaper. I like to go during the Christmas season, because that is when the prices are very affordable and they have the purses out for the new year too, so you get their latest style at a great price. You can also buy them online, on Amazon or eBay.

I also own Cole Hahn, Ferragamo, Kenneth Cole Reaction, and Dooney & Bourke. All of these brands have lasted me for years (over 10, and still going strong!). I may pick up a no-name cute bag, but I won't spend much, especially if they are PVC, because they start to tatter and break into pieces after a year or two, no matter how much care you take. I don't throw away any of my purses and actually like the vintage ones, they go with my artsy style of dressing. Whenever my mom and sister feel that a purse is no longer "fashionable" or they find something new that they like more, I get to inherit them. Can't say no to free purses!

Lug. Sturdy and practical.

Get on to the Kate Spade website and sign up for e-mails- she will have "surprise sales" from time to time and the products are all 75% off. (She's also a Kansas City girl!)

Also check the 'Retail-me-Not' app/website, too.

I also have had great luck with Dooney and Burke and I have a few Coach bags as well. I believe it's worth it to spend the extra money- they really do last longer. I usually purchase timeless styles and colors (i.e., black), but with the Kate Spade sale I was able to get a darling bag in a beautiful berry color.

Have fun shopping! Good luck!

I made a knock off of a Coach bag out of green leather about six years ago and it still going strong and I use it daily.

If you cannot afford a named brand leather bag get a good leather bag which will cost you around $150 or so. Dillards should have several to choose from.

the other S.

Coach is without a doubt my favorite brand and all of my bags look new despite being many years old. I also have a fendi wallet. It looks brand new and they still make the design....I bought it when I graduated from college 25 years ago.😳 It was expensive but I certainly have gotten my money's worth out of it. Good quality hand bags pay for themselves over time.

I like my Longchamp. I think I spent about $150 five years ago. I have it in large, but they have various sizes. I have a 3.5 year old and a 15 month old so the large is big enough to fit everything and then some -- extra diapers, kids' snacks, water, liner, wipes, my stuff, and their jackets/sweaters when they want to take them off.

Some commenters mentioned Coach, but one thing I don't like about Coach is that they're on the heavier side.

How much are you planning on spending? Louis Vuitton bags are also good. You can use them for casual or fancier. Plus, they will really last a life time. I have one that's still in good condition, although I've had it since 2002. They're easy to clean and pretty light weight.

My favorite is whatever is $5 or less at Goodwill.