My Thoughts on Choosing Bags
I love bags! Way back when I was in College, I am not particular with brand names, as long as it looks nice and within my budget, with no hesitation… I buy it.
Then when I started working, I learned about brands like Guess, Marithé et François Girbaud, Aldo, CLN etc. then some office mates introduced me to Mango, Zara, Nine West and the like.
Then as time goes by I learned about Charles Keith, Kate Spade New York, Tory Burch, Coach, Furla, Michael Kors up to designer bags like Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Givenchy, Balenciaga, Yves Saint Laurent and other French bags.
I also learned to spot fake bags from authentic ones.
disclaimer: bag for photo opp only. It’s a friend’s LV bag that she bought from Greenbelt
From colorful designs, my taste evolved to classic simple designs.
One of the things I love doing when in malls is looking at the bags of passersby or mall goers. At Greenbelt, I always like to do window shopping from outside of these designer bag’s stores.
Here’s a confession, I had a fake bag from Divisoria before, as far as I can remember the brand was Longchamp. I think I got it for only P300, authentic ones price starts at $95 up to $2000 (depending on the style).
At that time, I didn’t know how to spot a fake one yet until someone was looking at my bag and has the look of disgust. Oh! ramdam mo yung tagos sa kaluluwa yung panghuhusga sa’yo.
From them on, I told myself that I will not buy fake bags anymore. I told myself to purchase good quality bags and don’t just base it on brand names but rather purchase within my capacity and lifestyle.
I always tell my friends (those who can afford expensive bags) whenever they tease me to get one that I need to have my own car first before buying a luxury bag kasi ang sagwa na naka LV ka tapos commute commute ka lang via jeep. If you will search for Givenchy, Prada and the like, their prices ranges from P50,000 and above tapos bitbit mo sa jeep? Nakakatakot! Ang biro ko pa nga, kahit authentic bag ko magmumukhang fake kapag ako may bitbit hahaha.
If you want leather bags, these are some of the local brands that I like Niqua , Tannery Manila, Vedasto, Leather Collection, Katre
Yesterday, I was doing some online window shopping and I saw that Kate Spade has a 25% discount on any purchases. I excitedly looked for bags on sale and saw these two.
I like the color and bag’s texture
It’s now okay to purchase internationally as long as the items are not above 10,000 if you want it to be Tax free. But unfortunately, Kate Spade New York does not ship to the Philippines 🙁 sayang!
There are a lot of online sellers now that sells luxury bags a little cheaper compared when you buy it at stores here, but if you don’t know them personally ang hirap magtiwala plus if you don’t know how to spot a fake one maloloko ka.
Sometimes they use original picture of the items pero pag dumating na sa’yo, fake pala. That’s why for me, I’d rather buy from the store pa’rin or their official site to be sure it’s authentic.
For me, it’s better to buy original bags kahit walang brand name as long as maganda ang quality. Rather than pipilitin ang may tatak tapos Class A,B,C or anything na fake naman. Sabi nga asa nagdadala yan.
Bags are one of women’s weaknesses, better to be knowledgeable and practical in buying one. Good luck!
great post thanks for sharing
Nice
You choose such a good collection of all bags that hit me, and i like it more in all of bags.
Sabi nga ni Miriam Quiambao sa Extra Extra dati, kung gusto mo ng pamorma pumili ng bags na pasok sa budget na mukhang class at maliit lang ang pangalan. Kasi nga naman kung fake at binandera mo pa sa mall yung mga magagaling mag spot ng orig to fake eh kitang kita ka. Basta ang importante yung kaya ng budget na matibay tibay, meron namang mga ganun. Dapat meron kang bag na pang harabas usually backpack, meron pang araw araw at meron pang malakasan hahaha. I have Nine West bags BUT bigay lang sa akin ng tita ko nung umuwi sya from the US, medyo mabigat bigat din sa budget ang ganung mga brands sa mga average income earner na tulad ko 😉
Yes, indeed, it is my weakness! 🙁 I used to buy bags sa SM mga 2-3 times a month depende sa mood ko at ng mata ko. Hahahaha! We have a lot of good bags naman with good quality and can afford 🙂
I don’t invest in bags. Most of my bags were given as a gift.
I also love bags 🙂 and as much as possible I do not use replica kasi before I am selling branded bags from US.
that’s good to know
I like bags which are light, spacious and durable, kahit ano pang brand. If may nagbigay ng fake, carry pa rin basta pasok sa qualities that I like.
yes pag bigay wala tayo magagawa kapag fake, but still I will not buy one.
For as long as your comfortable in using the bag kahit ano pa brand yan, basta matibay din. Also a color or design that you can pair with any hues of your clothes.
I also love bags, but I don’t have a lot of them. One local brand I really like is Secosana; their bags are stylish yet affordable. I don’t buy expensive ones; I let hubby do that for me. Lol!
I’m glad that I’m not into the luxury bags. Ubos siguro ang ipon pag ganun hehe. It’s good to have a nice sturdy one though, even if not branded.
I have a friend who buys fake bags but ang galing lang talaga magdala. Haha! For me, if you can’t afford it, don’t force it. Bags go through wear and tear too, kaya better to go for sturdy ones 🙂
yes may mga ganun, kaso di ba nakaka kunsensya/guilty bumili ng fake kasi parang ninanakaw mo ang name ng brand.
I’m with you on this one. I don’t like buying fake bags not because of the “branded” mentality but out of respect also for the original manufacturers. I’d rather buy an original of cheap brand than buy a fake.
Luxury bags are not that appealing to me. I still love to buy locally made bags, those with tribal or traditional designs. But if someone would give me a luxury bag as a gift then I would wholeheartedly accept it =)
I’m seeing the importance of good bags, now more than ever. However, the kuripot in me would not buy any good bag – hubby buys tuloy for me.
Madali ako magsawa sa bags kaya yung mid- or low-price bags lang binibili ko. Wala ka gym bag/baby bag/camera bag ko. :p
I agree, kahit na di kilala basta orig. I really don’t see the point of buying fakes.
Agree! Buy local brands if you cant afford those expensive ones. Kesa bumili ng fake, halatang halata naman. :p #supportlocal nalang
It’s really better to buy “non branded” good quality bags. There are so many nowadays. Buying fake bags won’t just expose you to criticism, it’s also supporting illegal replication of goods. Watch out for sales and outlet stores too.
Hi Mommy Levy. I’m more of a backpack girl than a handbag lass but I enjoyed reading this. I do have some Kate Spade and Michael Kors and Longchamp but all are gifts. 🙂
Yay! Im a self proclaimed bagaholic though most friends told me im a bag addict. I love bags, and i dont just love it because of the brands thpugh i really collect authentic signature and high end bags because i swear by their durability. I can use them for decades and i really get what i paid for. I also buy bags that doesn’t have a brand or none famous ones as long as i find them cute and i love the color and design. It doesnt really have to be expensive amd always signature. Its how you carry it with confidence and how you smartly mix and match it with your outfit and lifestyle 🙂
di ko pa yan naexperience- yung najudge sa bag, haha!Or baka manhid ako. Although I don’t get fake ones, mine are mostly generics, hahaha!
guilty kasi ako kaya feeling ko alam nya fake bag ko noon hahahha
I am not so into bags but I like classic ones. I think I’ve only bought ukay bags that are not branded and one recently at the mall. Usually, relatives living abroad give me bags as gifts, sometimes hand me downs but often new ones. I really don’t mind as long as they are in good condition. I agree about having an LV bag but riding in a jeep. I think it calls for a certain lifestyle so that everything feels authentic and not just the leather.
I don’t mind unbranded bags as well as long as they have good quality, basta it’s not fake okay lang.
Natawa ako sa naka-LV tapos commute sa jeep. 🙂 I was a bagaholic back in college. And I do commute with original branded bags. My gas money for the car kasi comes from my school allowance and sometimes, I just can’t take the car. Hahaha! Yes on originals! Original branded ones are most especially sturdy that’s why I liked them. I paid for their quality, after all.
As long as the bags are not worth 30K and above for me okay lang mag commute. Nakakatakot lang mag jeep tapos ang mahal ng bag mo.
Hindi talaga ako mahilig sa bag. I appreciate good bags pero ako basta pwede ko ilagay ang gamit ko, carry na. Hawaan mo nga ako ng konting hilig sa bag.
dyan naman ako bilib sa’yo e, masaya na sa isa kahit afford naman bumili ng iba 🙂
I’m soooooo glad that I’m not a bagaholic. Otherwise, oh no. Patay ang budget haha. 🙂 But I agree, best talaga to go for originals rather than replicas. Kahit gaano pa yan ka-AAAA quality.
Ako ang motto ko for buying stuff like bags, ‘if I can buy at least 5 of that kind without hesitation, I’ll buy it. Pero kung bibili ako ng isa para lang masabing meron ako, and then magigipit ako in the end, wag na lang.’ Thankfully, c hubby yung gumagastos for my branded bags. hihi. ;))
I like your motto, may point ka.
Cute ang Kate Spade bags. I like Cath Kidston because I love floral, chic designs. I don’t own a lot of bags pero you’re right, what’s important is the quality of the stuff we buy,in the long run, it saves you money because you don’t have to keep buying since matibay ang bag mo. BTW, that LV bag is simple but elegant 🙂
Used to love bags as well. My mom shares the same fascination. She would buy me bags I cant afford. Friends coming from abroad know her weaknesses and would often offer her authentic bags. She would readily buy. After all, she has the resources to splurge. And I am just thankful she shares her good buys to me. Ehehe.
lucky you
Like you, napabili din ko sa Divi before ng bags kasi yun pasok sa budget ko (student life) but when I started working, I buy bags sa malls or store na kahit hindi branded basta hindi fake. 🙂
agree, di bale ng hindi mamahalin basta legal ang pinanggalingan