Every new fashion season, there is a rush to get the newest, trendiest ‘It’ clothing and accessories. One ‘It’ product that almost always has a waiting list for purchasers is a popular handbag. For instance, in one episode of Sex and the City, one of the characters is put on a years-long waiting list for a Hermes Birkin, a bag that has a long history as a popular handbag. A recent column from the Wall Street Journal looks at the ‘It’ bag phenomenon and discusses whether the idea of must have designer handbags is falling out of favor:
“While the IB (‘It’ bag) has fallen out of favor, its legacy is that the consumer now knows the value of an expensive bag and is almost instinctively on the lookout for the “next big thing” in the bag world. And that’s where the good news begins. All of the attention lavished over the past decade on behalf of luxury-goods companies in the quest to create and sell “the world’s most desirable bag” has led to the construction and revamping of some pretty thoughtful, well-put-together classics, with a degree of longevity one would never have attributed to the IB.”
The point that this column makes is showing the difficulty that consumers have when purchasing handbags over any other kinds of fashion items. The price of handbags is concealed inside the bag, forcing the shopper to actually pick up the handbag and spend some time opening it and looking at it. This process has been going on for years, but consumers are becoming more selective of their handbags, especially due to the rising prices in a tough economy. However present this ‘sensible bag evolution’ is, the column does gloss over the opposite side of the spectrum:
“The flip side of the sensible bag evolution is that bags have become so important and such style signifiers that these days they are the easiest way to switch up an outfit. YSL’s ’70s-inspired clutch (£1,195), with heavy silver studding, is a case in point. Whilst your little black dress might be somewhat staid, this bag is anything but.”
When you are looking for a new western style handbag that may be a bit out of your price range, you should choose one that is sensible and goes with a number of outfits that you already have in your closet. Having to choose between several purses on a limited budget doesn’t have to be a hard choice.
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