So Louis' new bag is $2300. I actually saw someone carrying this bag. She was incredibly thin, looked very unfriendly, and was trying to play with a stray cat that was even unhealthier looking than she was. She looked creepily wicked, in a way. And I didn't even notice the bag until my daughter practically hit me over the head with her own fake Prada.
What makes a woman want to spend $2300 on a bag? That's more than my brand new Ford Pinto cost in 1972. Does anybody really need a bag that costs more than a car?
Just the day after we saw cat-woman with her Louis, my husband arrived in Maui on the way home from Korea where he had gone on business. My husband, you must know, is not a shopper. His idea of going shopping for a wardrobe is to walk into Macy's, grab any number of polo shirts and Dockers, shoot them, strap them to the hood, and race home after the hunt. The entire process takes about 15 minutes. That's when he's moving slow.
But on this trip he'd had some extra time, and bless his little heart, went to the night market in Seoul. He not only shopped, he knew names. He not only knew names, he remembered color preferences. He not only remembered color preferences, he haggled. Yes! It's true.
The darling came to Maui with a carry-on bag packed to the zippers with Prada, Burberry, Coach, and Gucci for my daughter and I, all for [he says] less than $300 American. Seriously!
The squeals of delight could be heard on Oahu!
What about counterfeit bags? I know they're illegal. Time was you could go to Chinatown in New York and find beautiful fake Chanels, Guccis, Pradas. You could haggle the afternoon away in some metal trailer of a shop and come back with some real loot. Now those days are gone, police are cracking down, counterfitters are being prosecuted, fined, jailed even. Sigh.
I know it's not right to rip off some designer, to pretend your stuff is theirs, to sell or buy cheap imitations of beautiful handiwork.
But who doesn't have a fake? Louies have become so ubiquitous now you can spot them anywhere: Wal-Mart shoppers. Davis High School sophomores. Backyard Center moms. Everyone and their dog seems to have a Louis--and I mean that literally. (Those Puppy Purses are so cute I'm tempted to borrow a puppy just so I can carry one around. ) But come on! You can't tell me all these women are actually paying money for the real thing!
"Handbag Parties" are becoming a thing of the past as the "real" fakes disappear. Now the knock-offs have funny-looking little 'c's as opposed to the real Chanel. The stitching on the Dooney & Bourkes is bright yellow and obnoxious-looking. The Burberries have a tag that says "Bunberry" or some equally misleading but humorous attempt at faking the fake.
But on the other hand....what right has a designer to sell a bag for $2300? Ok, it's nice leather. But what? From the underbelly of some prized Mongolian goat that was fed caviar for it's entire pampered life? Ok, it's a nice design. But who can't design a purse, for god's sake?
I hope I don't get arrested with my new little pink plaid Burberry, but I wear my fakes proudly. I sort of like to think that anyone who charges upwards of $2000 for a bag sort of deserves to be ripped off. And anyway, I didn't buy them, my husband did. And my goodness, did that man score points that day. Lots of 'em.
What are your thoughts on fake bags? Do you have one? How much would you pay for the real thing?
What makes a woman want to spend $2300 on a bag? That's more than my brand new Ford Pinto cost in 1972. Does anybody really need a bag that costs more than a car?
Just the day after we saw cat-woman with her Louis, my husband arrived in Maui on the way home from Korea where he had gone on business. My husband, you must know, is not a shopper. His idea of going shopping for a wardrobe is to walk into Macy's, grab any number of polo shirts and Dockers, shoot them, strap them to the hood, and race home after the hunt. The entire process takes about 15 minutes. That's when he's moving slow.
But on this trip he'd had some extra time, and bless his little heart, went to the night market in Seoul. He not only shopped, he knew names. He not only knew names, he remembered color preferences. He not only remembered color preferences, he haggled. Yes! It's true.
The darling came to Maui with a carry-on bag packed to the zippers with Prada, Burberry, Coach, and Gucci for my daughter and I, all for [he says] less than $300 American. Seriously!
The squeals of delight could be heard on Oahu!
What about counterfeit bags? I know they're illegal. Time was you could go to Chinatown in New York and find beautiful fake Chanels, Guccis, Pradas. You could haggle the afternoon away in some metal trailer of a shop and come back with some real loot. Now those days are gone, police are cracking down, counterfitters are being prosecuted, fined, jailed even. Sigh.
I know it's not right to rip off some designer, to pretend your stuff is theirs, to sell or buy cheap imitations of beautiful handiwork.
But who doesn't have a fake? Louies have become so ubiquitous now you can spot them anywhere: Wal-Mart shoppers. Davis High School sophomores. Backyard Center moms. Everyone and their dog seems to have a Louis--and I mean that literally. (Those Puppy Purses are so cute I'm tempted to borrow a puppy just so I can carry one around. ) But come on! You can't tell me all these women are actually paying money for the real thing!
"Handbag Parties" are becoming a thing of the past as the "real" fakes disappear. Now the knock-offs have funny-looking little 'c's as opposed to the real Chanel. The stitching on the Dooney & Bourkes is bright yellow and obnoxious-looking. The Burberries have a tag that says "Bunberry" or some equally misleading but humorous attempt at faking the fake.
But on the other hand....what right has a designer to sell a bag for $2300? Ok, it's nice leather. But what? From the underbelly of some prized Mongolian goat that was fed caviar for it's entire pampered life? Ok, it's a nice design. But who can't design a purse, for god's sake?
I hope I don't get arrested with my new little pink plaid Burberry, but I wear my fakes proudly. I sort of like to think that anyone who charges upwards of $2000 for a bag sort of deserves to be ripped off. And anyway, I didn't buy them, my husband did. And my goodness, did that man score points that day. Lots of 'em.
What are your thoughts on fake bags? Do you have one? How much would you pay for the real thing?
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2 comments:
What about borrowing? All the label...almost none of the price: http://www.bagborroworsteal.com/
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