STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

poptart · Coach

Fakes poll

JoceyBaby23 · Gucci

I voted Fakes are Fakes.. I am just so against them.. Plus I think this bag has become so huge that it will a trend. If I were you, I would just look for some really unique non-leather bags.. I will look to find you some other options.

Meow · Coach

I think it really depends on where you live. Where I live it would not matter if I carried a real Bulga or the Melie Bianco version because I can guarantee you that I am the only person in my town that has heard of a Bulga (I'm not being snobby--just telling the truth). In my situation, I would get the fake simply because name brand bags just are that important to me. I tend to be more of a clothes/shoe person so that is where I put my money. But if handbags are your thing, you might be happier with the Bulga. However, I don't want my handbags to look cheapo so I would make sure the fake looks good. I voted for you to get the green Melie Bianco.

-- Edited by Meow at 16:00, 2005-06-10

-- Edited by Meow at 16:01, 2005-06-10

rocky · Coach

I voted no just because I really don't like fake leather. It bothers me more than the fact that it is a knockoff. If you are against leather I see some really cute canvas bags out there that are classic too.

janey831 · Kate Spade

hmmm is it just me or does the leather for the brown bulga look a little....fake? or at least not as soft as the real one. i say if you decide to get a fake, go for the green one, IMO, when fake bags are brown or black, t he leather qulity has to be up to par, otherwise, the 'fake' qaulity of the bag looks more noticeable. the green one is v. lovely though.

Farrah · Marc Jacobs

I voted no because I really do not like fakes at all. If the only reason that you do not want to get the bag is because of animal rights reasons then I suppose it isn't all that bad. It just totally annoys me when people BRAG about their fake bag.

domkfox · BCBG

I really don't like fakes, so I voted "no".

luckylily · Gucci

I voted no. I don't like blatant ripoff fakes. IMO, there are a lot of affordable unique bags to be found.

poptart · Coach

Hmmmmm.

I think I am just frustrated because I don't really like canvas and every nice leather bag that I consider, I worry that I will feel guilty and not be able to carry it because I feel guilty, and then I will have wasted money. So I never buy them, I'm just endlessly considering them. But I really hate the idea of fakes, too. I was thinking these might be okay because they aren't pretending to be the Bulga (i.e. logo, etc.) But maybe not.

-- Edited by Lisa at 16:35, 2005-06-10

laken1 · Hermes

I voted green fake - I must admit I am just not a purse person - I can't pay a lot for purses, as a matter of fact, I can't justify paying kind of a lot for a purse. I switch them out constantly. I agree with Meow about it depends on where you live & if people would even know it was a fake. I must admit that since I've been on this board I have come to realize that I own 3 or 4 "fakes" that I bought just because I thought "hey, that's a cute purse" and it turns out they look like MJ knock off, & I own one scarily similar to that one on the Lucky designer bag give away they just did? I didn't even know they were fakes. I wish I could afford $300 - $400 - $500 for a purse, but I just can't, so oh well.

So I think it's a personal thing & I guess when you ladies who hate fake purses have been talking about me in the mall & I didn't even know I owned fakes!

halleybird · Hermes

Lisa, I think it's fine. I have a Lush balenciaga and don't regret it at all.

I think fakes are tacky when you're trying to pass them off as the real thing, or when they have fake logos like LV, but melie bianco bags are just "inspired by" and I don't see a problem as long as you're not running around saying, "Look at my new Bulga!"

Also, as Meow pointed out, in many areas, people don't even understand what a real one looks like anyway.

Not everyone has $500 to drop on a trendy bag...especially if it's one that makes you uncomfortable because of the material.

MissMee · Kate Spade

I bought that bag in white, and it doesn't look cheesy or fake-y at all. No one's going to know what it's a knock-off of anyway. I didn't, and I'm a purse fanatic! I would have gotten that green one, but I also ordered the ethnic print one in mint (see "weekend shopping" thread).

I don't see the big deal about buying a fake. Well, as long as they look decent. There are some really crappy fakes out there that I can't believe anyone would even bother carrying/wasting money on/ to think they look real. I especially hate those XOXO bags that are imitating D&B bags I have a couple of fake LVs, but I made darn sure that they were as real as possible, right down to the inner lining.

I say go for it! Why blow half a grand or more on one stupid trendy bag????

RyanJ · Coach

Lisa wrote:

Hmmmmm.
I think I am just frustrated because I don't really like canvas and every nice leather bag that I consider, I worry that I will feel guilty and not be able to carry it because I feel guilty, and then I will have wasted money. So I never buy them, I'm just endlessly considering them. But I really hate the idea of fakes, too. I was thinking these might be okay because they aren't pretending to be the Bulga (i.e. logo, etc.) But maybe not.-- Edited by Lisa at 16:35, 2005-06-10

I know exactly what you mean. I will find a leather bag that I want and then end up feeling guilty about buying it, so I return it or just don't purchase it in the first place.

I know that this isn't a Bulga but I really like Un Apres Midi De Chien bags. They are not leather and they look cute. They also hold up very well because I beat my purses up and thses bags can take it.

kealoha · Kate Spade

I'm with halleybird & Meow on this one. I don't care for fakes, but I can't see dropping a ton of $$$ for a trendy bag. And like others said, it's not like you're trying to claim it to be a Bulga.

honey · Gucci

i don't like fakes. however if you're looking for a bulga style bag, f21 had some white ones for like $20. also if you're looking for nice non-leather bags orla kiely makes some really nice canvas and other material bags. her site is www.orlakiely.com and www.flight001.com has some too. i have this bag

in cream with red trim and it's really cute. i'm not sure exactly what material it is, but it's not canvas (or if it is, it's the treated kind like the lv monogram stuff). if you see anything by her that you like, let me know. this place in nyc routinely has sample sales for orla kiely bags, and they might have a style you like at a really great price. hope that helps, and i admire your ethics.

-- Edited by honey at 12:22, 2005-06-11

hotcocoa · Kate Spade

i don't like fakes either.

i don't know your style that well, but honey's suggestion of orla kiely is a good one. i think they are very nice bags. also, check out lill studio: Lill Studio which has some very cute styles and you can choose your own materials and fabrics.

dixiegirl · BCBG

i really hate fakes as far as monogram bags such as LV & coach & those are concerned...but for something like the Bulga I would definitely carry the Melie Bianco one because I've never seen anyone here carry one of those (real or fake)...so no one would know the difference.

Lilykind · Hermes

I don't like fakes, mostly because I think that a lot of companies make really cute leather and non leather bags for the same price as buying a fake of a trendy, most likely overexposed purse. Plus, I hate hate hate the logo fakes because they are cheapening the value of my baby Speedy 25...at least the leather handles are aging very well so no one ever questions the authenticity of mine.

I saw at least five people wearing Bulgas in a two block area of LA this weekend so the appeal of them is lost on me. It's hard to carry a fake in LA...I swear fashionistas are counting how many real and how many fake bags they see in one day or something. But if you live somewhere where no one's ever heard of Bulga, I guess it would be okay to carry these...

BTW, I totally admire your stand on animal rights and not wearing leather.

blink · Coach

I voted sure why not. I could care less that the design is a more affordable copy of an expensive designer, the only fakes I really don't like are those that appear to copy the actual logo, like the LV fakes, now those are just stupid. And who cares if someone spots it as a fake, what then would they think of you...and aren't you okay with that? Anyway, you probably want to carry this bag because it looks cool, not because it is/or looks like a certain brand, so if you like it, go for it.

poptart · Coach

I love being able to ask opinions and getting such thoughtful ones.

My decision was to order one of the apres midi de chien bags (thank you RyanJ!) and the green melie bianco as a "for now" trendy bag. Yay!

Thanks too for all of your support for the animals! I am by NO means a perfect spokesperson; I own leather shoes and even some bags, but I am really trying to make choices that are better aligned to my values in this area, at the sacrifice of some great stuff (like DC's gorgeous Charles David pumps on ebay ) -- so I appreciate all the suggestions for non-leather stuff.