The Latest $2000 'It' Bags...Or Maybe Not

THIS fall more than ever, luxury brands are hanging their profits on the handles of some seriously tricked out, dare we say ugly, "It" bags. As the market becomes overcrowded with satchels, hobos, totes and clutches, designers are upping the wow factor with the kind of extraneous straps, buckles, silver plates and zippers one might sooner expect to see on a kustom car. By late July, Prada and Versace already had their bags of the season slung over the shoulders of celebs, building buzz weeks before they even hit stores. Of course, the labels' PR machines duly sent out photos of Madonna, Katie Holmes et al., bags in hand, to magazines and newspapers worldwide. In the coming months, luxury brands will actually host "bag parties," a trend that began last season when Yves Saint Laurent threw a Champagne-soaked party in Beverly Hills, where the guest of honor was the Downtown bag. Luxury megaliths Gucci, Chanel, Prada and Chloe are old pros at this game. But this season, it's not just the usual big-label suspects who are in the running. Now even jewelers, boutique dressmakers and stationery makers are getting into the status bag game. But before you open your old "It" and pull out the plastic to buy a new one, we gathered them all up to evaluate their design, value and, well, OK, practicality. All in all, it may be a good season to buy shoes.

Read the entire article here.

Comments

[Macready]

What a waste of money . . . says a lot about the true values of our society . . . all flash no substance.

[Libsrule]

As it was pointed out recently, it's the whole keeping up with the Rothchilds and the Vanderbilts thing that has gotten completely out of hand.

The Freepers will say it's the old jealousy thing but it really isn't for the vast majority of us. It's a matter of thinking these people really could do something better, but they have reached this stage of unreality that is hard for 98 percent of Americans and most wealthy industrialized nations to understand.

They don't care. Look at Ms. Hilton. She COULD do more good with her money, looks and name and STILL be able to go party abeit not as much.

Look at that fat disgusting head of Exxonmobile who retired last year with a half billion dollar payout.

Hell look at Bill Gates. The guy could probably do pretty good with..oh say 10 BILLION Dollars and use the rest to make a difference. I mean a real differnce. None of this handing out computers to schools or trying to get Big Pharma to give cheap meds to Africa, but really make a diffference.

Is there really any reason to pay 98 million for a painting?

Do some of the wealthiest people in the world really need to outdo each other on who has the longest most extravantly decorated yacht?

I do not have any solutions about what is wrong but this statement is perhaps the greatest reason why there needs to be some sanity in the world with regard to economics.

"You can have great concentrated wealth in the hands of a very few or you can have a democracy, but you cannot have both"

---Supreme Court Justice Brandeis

[tmt35]

Am I the only one thinking it is obscene to pay 2000.00 for a bag? Whether you can afford it or not it is a purse! If I met someone bragging on their 3500.00 rabbit hair Gucci bag (sweet Lord), I would think they were just vulgar.
All of this celebrity driven excess is ridiculous.

[MissFortunate]

No, you are not the only one. I about fell over when my husband spent 15% of that on a bag for me for my birthday. Although he had to make up for no Mother's day present!