Should i have a original or replica Louis Vuitton handbag?

esmecullen

FelinePrincess wrote: »

The problem is it's almost impossible to get a real leather handbag for under £25, I don't wear fake leather and I'm not keen on most fabric bags. Even leather bags in high street shops aren't cheap. I have a leather hobo bag from zara that cost £100 so in a way it makes sense to spend a bit more and get something extra special, plus a good quality handbag will last foever while a cheap one will fall apart after a few months, in my opinion.

This is my excuse for not buying cheap bags and I'm sticking to it!!
Feline Princess

Mine too:D

You cant beat the real thing.

Also, most designer bag shops offer repairs if they are needed, cant do that with a fake bag.

tara747

FelinePrincess - you can get leather handbags for £25 and under - in the sales!

I agree with you about buying good quality. Your Zara bag sounds lush.

I have a mix of classic good quality leather bags and cheap pretty ones which I know won't last forever (although I do treat them well and they last years). I refuse to pay £££s for a badly made or poor quality bag but will happily pick up nice beaded and embroidered bags in Accessorize 70% off sales for £7-8. :beer:

absolutebounder

Seeing as my last tongue in cheek post got shot down. i will give a serious question.
What would either a real or fake bag do for you?

londoner1998

esmecullen wrote: »

Mine too:D

You cant beat the real thing.

Also, most designer bag shops offer repairs if they are needed, cant do that with a fake bag.

I agree with this, I will not buy a handbag that is not leather. Can't stand plastic and I like to invest in good materials. However, I personally find it very hard to justify hundreds or thousands of pounds for a designer label. I have bought the nicest and most original handbags in street markets and small shops. I hunt for handbags everytime I got home to Bilbao in North Spain. I know a shop run by a lovely Moroccan family in Portobello in London where they have really nice and original leather handbags and rucksacks (you just have to smell them to know is geniuine leather- the strong leather smell lasts for days after taking them home!! then it disappears completely)... for about 35 quid. That's what I call a bargain. I think it is possible to find lovley things if you take the time to look around. I agree with the comment that a bag is a bag, no more. I can't justify that kind of money. BUt I do agree that if you really like it and want it, save for it- it will be much more satisfactory once you get it!

glowgirl_2

Being the bag lady that I am I would say save up and go for the original, the feel good factor and investment will make it worthwhile, something you could think about if you do decide to buy designer is maybe choose a more classic/flexible design that way you get your moneys worth.

I have a friend who sells fake designer bags, they are top quality and unless you are a serious bag person you wouldn't know the difference with the real thing, my friend earns unbelievable money from selling bags and purses, so someone is buying them, he says people travel to him on purpose, put in special orders and he even supplies celebs, I did once buy myself an Ugg bag from him but it felt just wrong, sorry everyone not in a moral way, just in a I'm a cheapskate way. If the OP would like a fake bag and would be happy with it then you should go ahead and buy it, we don't know the true source of everything we buy and we never will do this includes normal everyday stuff not just designer knock offs, one person not buying a knock off wont make a difference and being realistic people who already do buy such products are unlikely to stop as my friends thriving business proves:)

Toothsmith

glowgirl wrote: »

my friend earns unbelievable money from selling bags and purses,

Which I'm assuming is properly declared and taxed???

glowgirl_2

Which I'm assuming is properly declared and taxed???

I am assuming so too.

Mutter_2

I don't see the point of a fake anything. If you do, you're just a wanabee, not you personally.
The thing with real stuff is, do you mix with the crowd who'd know, or are they faking it on the local market? Also, does it matter to you?

I'm ancient now, but what I always strived for when young, and still do is to be original. I may buy a dress from the high st, but I'll rip the cheap plastic belt from it and put on a good leather one and maybe change the buttons too.

Why don't you try scourcing the best bag from Italy for instance, that none of your friends have? A little known label, that you discover instead of following the herd.
Just a suggestion.

Mutter_2

glowgirl wrote: »

Being the bag lady that I am I would say save up and go for the original, the feel good factor and investment will make it worthwhile, something you could think about if you do decide to buy designer is maybe choose a more classic/flexible design that way you get your moneys worth.

I have a friend who sells fake designer bags, they are top quality and unless you are a serious bag person you wouldn't know the difference with the real thing, my friend earns unbelievable money from selling bags and purses, so someone is buying them, he says people travel to him on purpose, put in special orders and he even supplies celebs, I did once buy myself an Ugg bag from him but it felt just wrong, sorry everyone not in a moral way, just in a I'm a cheapskate way. If the OP would like a fake bag and would be happy with it then you should go ahead and buy it, we don't know the true source of everything we buy and we never will do this includes normal everyday stuff not just designer knock offs, one person not buying a knock off wont make a difference and being realistic people who already do buy such products are unlikely to stop as my friends thriving business proves:)

I witnessed my staff oooohwing and aaaaaaaargring over two people's LV handbags. The customers paid from rolls of banknotes. I sat back and chuckled.

JoolzS

DevonGirl wrote: »

Don't want to sound holier than thou or anything (!) but just to point out that if you buy a fake, chances are it would have been made in some foreign sweatshop where children as young as 5 are making these bags for 14 hours a day with no breaks at 50 cents a day. Sorry to spoil things - just looking at the wider picture.
DG

Chances are if you buy a real, designer bag, it would have been made in some foreign sweatshop where children as young as 5 are making these bags for 14 hours a day with no breaks at 50 cents a day. Sorry to spoil things - just looking at the wider picture.

I have no idea why DevonGirl thinks that real "designer" bags are made in any better conditions than the fakes.

Julie