Are you a bag person like me! Still I am not for luxury brands such as Gucci,Burberry, Hermes, Luis Vuitton, Armani, Valentino, Tori Burch, Chanel etc., because I am well aware, they are beyond my middle class existence. But what is the harm in trying out entry level ones such as Michael Kors, Kate Spade or Coach. I did just that last year after a lot of deliberation. I have been to the Outlet malls but studiously kept out of them for years. Then I checked prices in Amazon and found that their prices were slashed in sale. So why not? I decided to venture into Outlet mall once more where I found the rates to be much more compatible than online stores. I got my first Michael Kors last year both top zip tote and messenger cross body bags that I love. I am discovering their pleasant lightweight and long handle drops extending to 11 to 12 inches that is perfect for me, for that makes for comfortable carry. Algorithm lands critics in your You tube where every single luxury brand is denounced. I agree with the views to some point. Even if I am to be loaded with money, I don’t think I will splash it on the likes of Bvlgari or Christian Dior or Estee Lauder or Dolce & Gabana that are flooding the airport dutyfree. Love the window shopping though in the dutyfree. Never bought a single bottle. I know my range. Durability and affordability matter to me most over anything when it comes to bags. Sleek bags within my shoestring budget of $100 fit my bill. For the first time this year got my Coach station tote as I am a frequent flyer. Rare to find an external pocket in top brands but surprisingly this had one. I also find that the quality of fabric be it leather or canvas or nylon/polyurethane is too good in the luxury brands. The finishing is class and that is what the pricing is all about when it comes to elite brands. This year I have also made a few more purchases to complete my bag collection (!). I got them at excellent rates – not at all at overprice. I am happy with the entry level brands such as Michael Kors, Coach or Kate Spade. Elegant and minimalistic : two words for them.
In India I love Calonge (also comes without an external pocket) and Hidesign and Companero. The problem with the Indian brands is, the handle drop is not to desired length stopping short by 9 to 10 inches that makes carrying for too long the bags makes it tiresome for me. The finishing also leaves a lot to be desired for. Calonge is one Indian brand that is savvy and can match with any entry level luxury brands that you may find in the US markets. Its not on Amazon but available online from the outlet store. Hidesign is trying to go lightweight. Of late they are getting better although generally they are rugged in make. Companero is a big disappointment for me as this weighs literally a ton. I found out that Fossil is Indian and since the outlet is there in Chennai, I don’t look at Fossil in the US. Other foreign brands such as Coach are there in airport dutyfree wherever I go. The prices used to be a great dampener. In the US I have access to Amazon and outlet malls where sale makes it all affordable to you.
I too used to believe that luxury is sin and that things are overpriced – until a few years back. That is when I stuck to only garish Indian brands with uneven finishing. Then I developed an open mind. I don’t think its wrong to want value for your money. I like Indian brands that are good enough and competent enough. But just because something is Indian make, if its lacking in quality, I don’t want to pay for that.
Luxury bags have great styling and have stunning finishes, no doubt about that. For one thing, I don’t buy anything for brand’s sake. I look at the prices first. Then at the quality. Durability is extremely important. Only if all my conditions are satisfied I buy something. Entry level luxury bags are more than enough for me. They come in a vast range to suit all my needs – be it wristlets or wallets or clutches or crossbody bags or satchels or handbags or totes or hobos or curved zips or whatever. You name it I have it! As someone who travels a lot both within India and outside India, the bags are of vital significance to me. I have to factor in the monsoon season of India that can be relentless. At these times, waterproofs matter. I got a big polyurethane tote from Westside, India for this purpose. Have had a run with Aldo, Milano from Italy in Doha and Guess as well. Don’t miss them now. Calvin Klein could belong with this group. All faux leather but long lasting. Somehow the plastic in them shows. Canvas with logo still looks better on Michael Kors than on Guess, I guess! Me no expert in these matters. Just a casual connoisseur with acquired tastes that may not have aesthetic appeal at all!
Its a wrong notion to dismiss all the luxury brands as being vain and useless and overpriced. Wanting exclusivity if you are from creamy circle cannot be blamed. For middle class like us, and for housewives like me, the affordability of entry level luxury bags is still a blessing. Years back when I visited US for the first time in 2017, I didn’t know of Kate Spade. Big wallets sold at $7 at outlet malls then. I got a dozen for my friends back in India, not aware of the brand name. I never kept one for myself! I am getting brand conscious only in last few years. I like the sleek finishing of the entry level bags and the comforting handle drop length – main reasons for which I am shopping for them now.
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Many ladies have cosmetic fetish, shoe fetish etc. I could be rare woman buying only dour moisturizers from foreign shopping which could be very basic. Neither have I shopped so far for perfumes. Burlington and Costco tees are enough. I get my branded jeans from Mango, Zara, Marks & Spencers, American Eagle from Doha which are also entry level luxury apparel brands – not too fancy. I have found even cheaper alternatives that are as good in Pull & Bear, Bershka, Stradivarias and H & M. Here too I step in only during sales. Footwear is almost always Indian except for sneakers that is Skechers, also from Indian outlets.
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Brands don’t define who we are. Brands for me are merely best buys at affordable rates – value shopping, that’s all. I like the fit of Mango. I keep watching for Sale and shop only during the sale.
Brands that I shop for – back in India my friends are NOT even aware of. They already think I am a big spender! Well, they don’t travel like me. Travel makes you realize the importance of carrying a good, cavernous bag that can hold all. It has to be at the same time lightweight. It has to serve multipurpose. I need to carry my documents, keys, pills, wet tissues, hair clips, wallet, jewelry, charger, power bank everything in my handbag. I am fortunate enough not to add more than minimal cosmetics along barring from a hair brush to lip balm unlike most women who pack entire makeup stuff into large tote. So that bag has got to be a real good one. It took me decades to finally bring myself to shop for brands during sale. I won’t be discouraged!
But my friends in India do acknowledge how different bags may work for different reasons. For ATM/bank lockers, you need huge zipped totes with inner pockets. We ladies in India have to hurry scurry in crowded streets and market places on our foot, bargaining with subzi vendors and flower girls. We need a huggable dependable bag for that apart from a huge open tote. Many go for nylon totes for grocery shopping naturally. For provisions again we may need a canvas tote. Here I use the free canvas totes coming from silk sari shopping! They can carry some serious load! Same canvas totes also help me in stacking my clothes meant for pressing. Nalli and Kumaran textiles totes make for international headlines, with their air travel capabilities! They double up as cabin bags for small town people of India! Yeah, we have to make a mention of train totes here. Train travel is a big part of every Indian’s life. For temples you need again something you can hug to under your armpit, not coming in your way. With friends you need a light crossbody for lunch outings. Backpacks strictly for teenagers. For tours we need an assortment of bags starting from airport to catering to our day tours being lightweight. Totes to carry water bottles and sweaters can do well in hill stations. Not to leave out the assortment of pouches for every single little need for holding cosmetics to jewelry. Coin purses. Even Vibuthi pouches for temples! In India, our women are used to local nameless brands that’s all. They are affordable and are not so sleek when it comes to finishing. Extremely price conscious, my friends visit export company outlets to procure bags at economic rates. I too used to until a few years back!
(Most of my handbags have vibuthi/kumkum/haldi stains from temples and dried flowers! I take small plastic bags to hold these yet they spill out. All labels are one and the same and my son can’t believe I am buying a white Kate Spate tote to take to Kumbakonam temples. This one can hold a water bottle and ziplocks packed with vibuthi haldi kumkum hahaha! Kate Spade shall have a heart attack! Well, I have to send them pictures with broken coconut, betel leaves, flowers and other prasad from temples nicely stored in their tote! What a buy! If you are from India, you have to think a lot about these things! This 17 inch one with enormous holding space just suits me at $104 – a great bargain. To travel with me to temple, the bag/cow must be blessed in my opinion. Seriously, no kidding. Jokes apart, functionality of a bag matters. The white colour was the only one available. Let me try to find a black bag for the temple tours and spare poor KS!)
I think Hidesign made in India is a big hit with Indian ladies with its limitless range and affordable prices. Some bags in Hidesign may be too good and better than international brands – like those I have. Last year from Hidesign I got a self embossed airport tote with top zip that is both lightweight and sleek. Printed with leaf motifs on entire body, it makes such a fashionable statement drawing looks wherever I take it. But my preferred Indian brand will always be Calonge. Sophistication – to put it in one word. My suggestion to Indian brands could be to ask them to increase handle drop length to minimum 11 inches. Twelve may be even better. Zips are fine. I have no complaints. I have never had problem with Indian brands that I own for over a decade each bag. Finally I have to get tired of them and give away! There was this Indian brand Holi that used to be lightweight and colourful with ethnic motif prints. It is around no more and I miss it. I still have their bag.
Men keep asking, ‘how many bags will you have?’ Only if they have a clue!
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Middle class life is living from sale to sale that’s all. I don’t remember when I last shopped for something at full price. If I ever do that, I don’t think I can sleep for weeks.
vijiravindran's 