So Out It's In: The Anti-"It" Bag
Considering the recent economic downturn, it may be time to give up on "it" bags. The seasonal crop of trendy bags from luxury labels like YSL, Marc Jacobs, and Balenciaga can cost upwards of $4,000 with some exclusive bags costing over $10,000. As banks start to collapse like starving runway models, should we be spending half-a-house's down payment on a bag that will spend its life stuffed under our armpits and crammed with newspapers, granola bars, and half-used tubes of lip gloss? It seems to me like any old sack with a shoulder strap could be put to use instead. It isn't the most glamorous or stylish choice to wear a practical, non-label bag...or is it?
So out it's in: the American-made, non-luxury, under $200, been-around-for-a-century-in-the-US leather or canvas bag or tote. Now that's a mouthful. I'm talking about bags from old-timers like Pendleton and LL Bean. If your first thought is "Sweet! I have a monogrammed LL Bean backpack in my closet I've been dying to re-use!" then you're missing the point. We're not throwing away the entire concept of fashion and going only for practicality, as your enthusiasm for the backpack might suggest. We're in fact trying to stay one step ahead of the trends and two steps ahead of the economy by wearing bags that have weathered a hundred years of modish whims and have remained genuine classics. It's time now that these bags get the attention they have worked so hard for since the early 1900s.
Pendleton, an Oregon-based clothing company founded by the Bishop family in 1909, began as a woolen mill that specialized in blankets and basic apparel for Southwest Native Americans. Their success led to expansions in menswear and womenswear and they now have a booming retail, internet, and catalogue business where, of course, you can buy your new fall bag. This might be an old concept for some of you out there in their, ahem, forties or so, but I guarantee it's an original idea for the goslings out there waddling about in fashion-conscious cities.
But be not afraid my little goslings, these bags are actually kind of cool in a so-out-they're-in way, which is in my opinion, the only way. I'm definitely getting this one.
Pair it with some grey skinny-jeans and a solid top and viola! (Note: I'd stay away from wearing your so-in moccasins when you're rocking the Pendleton--might become a little costume-y.) Since plaid is all the rage for fall, this bag will be killer. And by killer I don't mean it will slaughter your budget or that it'll become smelly carnage you'll want to throw out with last week's Mexican leftovers. It's timeless in style, it's well made and will last for a long time, and it'll look good. And take a look at this number for under $200!
LL Bean has a similar leather tote for under a $100 that's also ageless, attractive, and affordable. (I'm tempted here to call these the three "As" of fashion-finds in a fledgling economy, but I won't. But I guess I just did. Fact checker, help me on that.)
And believe it or not, I'm not the only one who has picked up on this un-trend. Style.com reports that Pendleton bags have been spotted recently on the streets of one of the most fashion-forward cities in the universe, Tokyo, and that the re-emergence of the relevance of the brand is imminent. Well!
So now may be a good time to sell those old "it" bags on eBay and take a trip to the nearest Coinstar--that spare change laying around could get you halfway to your new favorite fall accessory that won't break the bank.
Follow Lindsay Mannering on Twitter: www.twitter.com/LindsayVirginia
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Any bag that's costs more than $25 isn't just a waste of money. If it holds your stuff, that's all you need.
There's a store in my neighborhood that carries designer bags WITH certificates of authenticity for under $300. I don't understand it, are they fakes, knock-offs, copies, 'tributes' or are they cheap designer bags?
In a large dept. store downtown, I paid $40.00 for a Liz Claiborne and $45.00 for a Fossil.
The recommended Pendleton bag above is not stylish at all, forget it. I love my cheap designer bags.
The point is, a bag is something that you use everyday so it should be pleasing to look at. The point is if you can't afford too many new clothes, a designer bag will make up for it.
Paging the wives and mistresses of all the CEOs, ex CEOs of Lehman, Bear Stearns....lets have a garage sale of all the bags and shoes youve accumulated and donate all proceeds to the Bailout Initiative.
And in that vein...
http://www.occasionallyfunny.blogspot.com/
"So out it's in: the American-made, non-luxury, under $200, been-around-for-a-century-in-the-US leather or canvas bag or tote."
I'm not sure if this piece was aimed at the Cindy McCain crowd, but If you can afford to pay $200 for a handbag, you're still in the upper crust. Sorry.
I don't think I've ever paid $200 for a handbag and I make $70K a year. What's the point? It's not like your feet will hurt if you buy a cheap one.
The "Cindy McCain crowd"?????? Did you see the $14,000. Hermes bag that Martha Stewart, ardent Clinton supporter, carried on the way to court? C'mon, Huffington crowd, stop being so totally one-sided.
I have to say that if you think that people in the U.S. can afford a $200.00 handbag you need to get out more. I'm all for originality and fashion, but let's get real. I say for all the "goslings" out there, get with the program and learn to design and sew your own.
sorry to burst your bubble, fleaba, but i manage a store where at least 5 handbags over $500 are sold daily. unfortunately many americans are still getting themselves into debt to "signal" wealth.
it's a very easy & very common way to anesthetize our individual economic situations.
At the beginning of every semester, I have students approaching me, saying that they can't afford the textbooks. As they are talking to me, they have $300+ designer handbags dangling from their arms.
shilling for the banks, department stores, and credit card companies: priceless.
(GWBush: "go shopping!")
new rule: bag is worth less than contents, tap water, take pictures and leave footprints.
i love how an extreme economic downturn was needed for people to recognize certain things that should have already been inherently obvious: that no one should be paying more than half (& i'm being generous with that) of their weekly salary for something that's marketed as 'in.' fashion is an art-form, one unfortunately, that is commodified. but if we focus on the art aspect, & make objects interesting because they are inherently so, not marketed as such, well then i think that's what it means to really make a statement. & if you can find something that's durable & good quality, at that, then yay!
women work hard for their money. don't let that hard work be trivialized by consumer culture. buy things because you relate to them, because you love them, because they're beautiful. not because someone told you you would fit a certain socialized ideal with it. at any price.
While I've never been able (nor wanted) to own an 'It' bag, I must say that the anti-'It' bags that are cited in this article are pretty tacky. Maybe that's the point. If one is young, cute, and hip, a paper bag would look fine. But an LL Bean leather or Pendleton dual-wool tote? These aren't just tacky, but DOWDY.
A beautiful handbag doesn't have to cost thousands. My suggestion: visit the TJMaxxes in your vicinity. On a regular basis.
In my opinion, a beautiful Native American pattern (like the Pendleton bags') cannot possibly be "tacky". You speak with fork-ed tongue.
The coolest bag???
No label, no brand...
ore better yet.
no bag.
Hopefully one of the casualties of the economic downturn will be what I call the "Houston Look," Fake blonde highlights, fake tan, fake French manicure and pedicure, expensive cell phone, lots of attitude. Short-shorts and tee-shirt, with cheap flip-flops and $400 Louis Vuitton bag. You can also include the standard issue-boyfriend, with khaki shorts, baseball cap, and male flip-flops. Oversized SUV and tacky townhouse sold separately.
Ewww.
I think that look is otherwise known as
tacky.
Unfortunately, it's also known as ubiquitous.
$400 for a LV??
the only LV you can get for $400 would be.......COUNTERFIET!
unless you have a time machine to take us back to the 90s when they WERE $400!
They have a NEVERFULL PM Monogram LV's on their website for $650.
Check out
louisvuitton.com
CATALOGUE
Women
City Bags & Briefcases
(I did an art project on designer bags recently, so I have like a "Master of Designer Bags" degree.)
Houston? More like Dallas!
Except for the outfit I guess. Nothing cheap is worn in Dallas.
Nice description. :) I think I know a few of those.
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