STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Lilykind · Hermes

Somebody talk me out of a Balenciaga! (or not)

exsupahero · Kate Spade

I used to like the Balenciaga bags but now it seems like they're everywhere! And everyone wants one. And I don't like that.

I'm being biased though. I don't do well with mainstream stuff (scared of looking like everyone else).

I would tell you that the bag is reallllllllllllly pretttttttttty (because it used to be) but I'm kinda burnt out with it.

BUT I think you should get it because you obviously have a liking for it. There are many fashionistas who consider the Balenciagas to be classic. Do what your heart tells you. If you loooooooooooove the bag, GET IT!

Karina · Chanel

i would get it. i looove that bag.

gypsyfreak · Coach

I love it! Get the medium.

lynnie · Chanel

I also think its pretty trendy. If you go to www.luxuryfashion.com every other post is about a balenciaga or getting the knockoff version of it. Maybe it'll be fine in a few years, but I always get annoyed when things I like become trendy (I also liked the bag originally). At the height of the trend though, I don't even like something anymore- so I am also biased. If I was going to spend that much money, I would get a Chloe bag (even though I can see those being everywhere too) or a Mulberry bag. But then, those are also more my style. It's hard to spend that much money on a bag without ending up with an "it" bag, because thats basically what expensive bags are. *Sigh*

rlutz · Chanel

I say get it...it is incredible

halleybird · Hermes

It is really, really pretty -- I have the Lush version (small) and I love it. BUT I think it's trendy, and I think that you're going to see more and more knockoffs. If I had tons of money to drop on bags, I'd get one, but if I was only going to get one really nice bag for a long time, I'd skip it.

I am probably the lone person who voted for the midrange bags, but I would probably get bored with only one or two bags. If you want to spend the money, I'd get the Alma that I know you love, or maybe a Celine.

fashionista L · Coach

I LOVE IT AND WANT TO GET ONE MYSELF. GO FOR IT. IT IS A PIECE THAT WILL LAST A LONG TIME AND IF YOU GET A LOT OF USE OUT OF IT IT WILL BE WORTH IT!

CarrieS · Marc Jacobs

I say get it. I'm in love with it myself, and while the Lush ones are great, I'd rather have the real one. But since there's no way I could ever justify buying the real one right now, I'll have to live vicariously through you.

Also, I think if you're getting black, I wouldn't worry about it's longevity. I know right now they're hugely popular/trendy, but the style itself is classic. It has some elements that make it a little more unique, but not enough to have it be "out" in a few months.

So...ya wanna buy me one? My b-day is in less than 2 weeks

LOL, j/k.

Buy it and enjoy it!

-- Edited by CarrieS at 18:01, 2005-02-05

Chic · Marc Jacobs

I don't think that they will be as chic in 10 years. I have a LV Monogram Vernis Houston in Blue that is 10 years old and I just pulled it out and it still looks fresh to me. I know you said that you were not interested in LV or Chanel.

Mia · Kate Spade

Lilykind - The fact that you love it so much is an obvious "you should get it!" indicator. My personal feeling on the Le Dix bags, though, are that they are super trendy and won't be classic. Nobody can predict the future and who knows if I'll be right or wrong but I can see this bag being the LV Murakami print (i.e. WAY overdone, WAY knocked off, completely ubiquitous and owneed by everyone and their dog) of 2006/7 (imo it kind of already is).

This is really a personal call on your part. If I loved something enough, I would buy it regardless of any other factors.

Vanessa · Kate Spade

Lilykind, I have a moto Le Dix in espresso and I love it. Every season I somehow manage to pull out my moto bag and feel so happy and chic carrying it. I honestly can't say that about any other bag I own- and I own plenty "good bags". I also think it's particularly cool that my bag is three years old now and it's still current and stylish. I still get as many compliments on it, if not more, as I did the first time I carried it. It's also aging beautifully; it still looks brand new and I wish I could say that about my MJ bags.

You do have to ask yourself how much you truly love it... would you love it as much if no one else carried it and it wasn't all over the media? Personally I am in love with the style and when I bought it I never anticipated it would be so popular today. I honestly wasn't thinking that far. Let's face it, it often doesn't matter to me on such an emotional purchase as is a designer bag (well at least that's the way I see it, LOL). If you MUST have it, can't stop thinking about it and the style is really calling out to you, then go ahead and make the splurge when it's your turn on the list. I for one, don't foresee ever getting rid of this bag. People kept saying three years ago that it was too trendy and it would be out of date in one season. Look at it now. I'm so glad I didn't listen. It rocks.

honey · Gucci

if you really love the bag, get it. while this bag is uber hot right now, my understanding is that the style has been around for awhile, so i don't think longevity is going to be a huge issue. though i do think it might be a piece that may need to be retired for a few seaons and then resurrected.

i personally would get a couple of mid-range bags, but that's more of a function of my lifestyle (i use a bag 1-2 times a week, the rest of the time i use totes) and other personal factors. but that's just me.

dot · Marc Jacobs

it's really funny. i have been thinking myself about doing away with all mid-range bags and only get like one expensive, AT MOST, a year. i have also been lusting after a balenciaga moto bag. i think everyone has brought up really great points. i do think that now feels like a very big point in their popularity, but i don't feel like that should really turn you off from it. it's a great bag, and the style has been around for a while now.

i agree with honey that it maybe one of those items that you can wear for a few years and then give up for a few years and resurrect in time.

it's so funny. a little bit before the time i graduated from college, i was giving the opportunity to buy a very expensive bag of my choice. i was debating buying this very classic black monogram gucci bag or a louis vuitton stephen sprouse limited edition speedy. i decided not to the the stephen sprouse because i thought that it was too trendy and too popular to get then (much like the murakami is now... actually murakami is probably a million times more successufl than stephen sprouse ever was.. unfortunately.). when i think about what a stand-out piece the stephen sprouse would be now.. i seriously want to kill myself. i personally have a big passion for graffiti so maybe that's what drawing me to it. anyway, that stupid gucci bag gets NO USE! i haven't used it basically a year after i got it. if i could go back in a time machine, i would totally change that decision. anyway, moral of the story is don't be afraid of too trendy. it may comeback as an icon piece! :)

ps i think i'm going to get one as well. i'm debating on color. blue, seafoam, grey, or black?!

Lilykind · Hermes

Thanks so much for your opinions, girls! All of you have brought up great points!

I am trying to find a bag that will goes as well with my trashed Converses and flip flops as it will with ballet slippers, work pumps and black leather knee high boots. This will be my everyday black bag, which I'll switch off with my LV Speedy (Speedy = brown bag days), so I will get a TON of use out of it.

I like the styling of the Balenciaga regardless because of how versatile it would be with what I own. It's punk, boho, and urban all at the same time, which is a perfect reflection of my personal style. I have found no other bag that really fits my style in the same way.

I looked at Prada, Ferragamo, Gucci and Jimmy Choo and while those bags are amazing, I feel like they're not my style (can't imagine punk-ifying them up at all...). I can't really picture carrying a black Chanel quilted or the red LV Alma with flips on, even though I've hungered after both bags for years. Miu Miu's styles were in general too structured and the materials were too wild for me (I don't do snakeskin...). Plus, no offense to anyone, but I've heard too much about the bad quality issues around Marc Jacobs handbags for me to sink 1k on them. The Chanel Cambon styles would come close to fulfilling my criteria, but the appeal of them has been ruined by so many tanorexic Paris wannabes carrying them around LA.

The other style I was seriously considering was a Celine boogie, but then to me in a lot of ways it's just a basic tote...a very well-crafted basic tote, but it would be kind of staid and boring in plain black leather IMO.

Quality is a huge issue for me, especially since I am hard on my stuff in general. Vanessa, it's very comforting to know that your Le Dix has stayed in such good condition over the years.

Dot, I can't justifying buying a colored Balenciaga, but you have to see the teal IRL...it's very much a blue-ish teal and in stock at Barneys in Beverly Hills (so far as I know...I saw it myself on Friday). You should get that so I can live vicariously through you. Or you could get the black too because that rocks. I personally think the seafoam and gray could get too dirty too easily.

Now I just have to sit tight! I hope it comes before my birthday at least (June 15).

halleybird · Hermes

Congrats! I forgot how young you were graduating...consider it a reward for years you would have spent in school if you weren't a freakin' genius.

We will all expect to see pics the minute you get it

bean · Kenneth Cole

I really like that bag and other Balenciaga styles but (even IF I would afford one - ha) I wouldn't get it because I've seen way too many knockoffs or obvoiusly inspired-by versions. it's kinda like you said - I think it'll be remembered as the "it" bag of 2005. that wouldn't bother some people, and that's great, but personally I would rather get a less exposed bag. If we didn't live in LA where certain fashion gets overplayed, I might feel differently.

the Celine boogie bag is awesome too. and I love Kooba.

ShanKel · Kenneth Cole

I think you should go for it. I have been in love with these bags for a while now but really haven't heard anyone talking about it until I joined fashion forums like this one. We all have heard about it because we love fashion but the average person probably wouldn't know anything about it. I live in Baltimore and work in D.C. and can only remember seeing it maybe twice. Go ahead and treat yourself to something nice for your graduation.

Although there are alot of knockoffs out there I dont think it will be overdone like the LVs because there are no logos all over it!