Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with purses

Are there any Canadian websites that sell designer replica handbags?

LiquidKarma — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:19:30 -0800

Like many, I like designer handbags...though not so much the price tag. Anyone know of a good website that sells good replicas that is based in Canada? There are some good American and International sites but I'm worried about getting hit with duty when it crosses the border. I'm close to Toronto but don't really want to go to Chinatown to search. Any suggestions?

Help me develop eyes in the back of my head.

invisible ink — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 19:56:19 -0800

How do I guard myself against purse snatchers? I've lived in the suburbs all my life, and am used to strolling down the sidewalk in oblivion, my purse strung loosely over my shoulder. Now, it looks like I will be moving to either the DC area or San Francisco for my job. For those of you that live in a big city, what tips and tricks do you use to protect your belongings? Are some styles of purses less attractive to thieves than others? Should I use a messenger bag instead? When it's raining/snowing, how do you handle the challenge of protecting yourself from both the elements and purse snatchers?

Difference between a bag and a purse?

TheOnlyCoolTim — Sat, 24 May 2008 20:06:36 -0800

What is the difference between a purse and a bag? It is 11 PM on Friday and I need to know this. My friend has a bag which I say is a purse. When I saw it I thought at first it was some girl's purse. Men can carry purses, and purses are subsets of bags, but let's have a logical definition.

My theory is that a purse is accessed while being carried/worn, while backpacks and messenger bags, for example, are generally removed before opening.

Are expensive handbags better?

ThePinkSuperhero — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 08:09:28 -0800

I'm tired of cheap handbags. Will buying a more expensive bag eliminate the problems cheap handbags bring? I tend to buy cheap purses every 3-4 months or so; and they look fine for a month, and then they begin to fall apart. Stuff falls off, the zipper rips, the handle breaks. Right now I have a designer knockoff I bought in Chinatown, and the handle is thisclose to falling off, because the fake leather is cracking and ripping. I speak at conferences on behalf of my company, and I would rather not look foolish carrying a bag that is stapled or glued together. If I bought an expensive bag, would these problems continue? I really want to buy something that will not fall apart, ever- is that an unrealistic expectation to have of a bag I'll carry everyday? What should one look for when "investing" in a handbag? What are the elements of design that will indicate a bag will not fall apart quickly? What's the life of an expensive bag? I don't want to have unrealistic expectations. I'm thinking of something like this.

Hey lady, what's in the bag?

jbickers — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 04:30:30 -0800

Ladies, what do you carry in your purses? I'm guessing there is My wife has battled for years with the perfect purse configuration. She goes back and forth between large ones and small ones, between carrying everything and carrying just the bare necessities.

She's frustrated, not even sure what her "bare necessities" are. So ladies, what do you not leave home without - makeup? cell phone? daytimer? or just your driver's license and a debit card?

And by comparison, how big is the wallet inside that purse - do you work to keep it thin, or do you welcome wallet bloat? Men have it easy, we can go for a simple, elegant money clip with a few necessities and that's it - what's the female equivalent of such minimalism?

Can a consignment shop get away with selling fake designer purses?

anjamu — Sat, 12 Aug 2006 21:18:05 -0800

Is it legal to knowingly sell counterfeit handbags at a consignment shop? Is there a reasonable expectation of authenticity that the consumer has? I recently visited a resale store that touted itself as offering designer and name-brand items.

While I was browsing, I noticed a wide selection of Louis Vuitton bags and a few Chanel ones. All were originally priced at either $60 or $40, depending on size, and all had since been marked down 50%. When I asked the owner whether the bags were real, she said without hesitation that they were all fake, and that "some lady had brought them from New York." She went on to tell me that she sold everything at 30% of retail price, and that a Chanel bag would cost several hundred dollars in her store were it real.

Obviously, "caveat emptor," "if it's too good to be true, it probably is," and all that. But does the consumer have a reasonable expectation of authenticity? If her price had been more in line with what I expected, like $300-400, could she still justify selling fake ones? Does it matter that she was selling other pieces by well-known "names" at far below 30% of their retail (ex. a Theory button-down for probably <5 % of its retail price)? and further, is this legal? lvmh obviously a href="http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/jun2006/pi20060613_187965.htm?chan=topStories_ssi_5">felt very strongly about Sam's Club selling fake Fendi. Does a consignment shop have the same obligations toward authenticity? The bags were not marked as fake, nor were they obvious fakes like, say, this one.

For what it's worth, I ended up deciding not to buy anything at the store, because I just didn't feel comfortable supporting a place that knowingly sold fake bags while boasting of its selection of designer apparel. I'm pretty confident that the girl who tipped me off to the store didn't know that she'd bought a Chanel fake, and it bothered me.

Help me reclaim my door knobs for their intended use.

moonshine — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 21:14:06 -0800

Do you have a good way of storing your bags, totes and/or purses? Right now I have more than a couple of bags (6, to be exact) that are hanging off of all available door knobs. I don't have a lot of room for storage which is why they got relegated to door knobs, but I don't like this because it looks kind of messy. Oh yeah, and it makes it hard to turn the door knob. heh

I know someone who bought a canvas hanging-shelves contraption and stores one bag per shelf, which they say works well, but unfortunately I don't have the closet space.

Does someone here have an ingenious method for storing their bags? Thanks in advance.

Need a Bag/Purse

miltoncat — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 22:33:42 -0800

Help a girl who doesn't really like purses find a bag to carry. I've tried every bag out there. Here's what I am looking for: A lightweight bag that has at least one outside pocket. An adjustable shoulder strap (to where I can wear it across my body if I want) would be great. Nothing frilly or with buckles and such that have no purpose... but I don't want a sporty bag or a bag that's too masculine. Fanny pack is out of the question, ick. A bag that can take abuse but also look good. I'd prefer it not be made out of leather and be priced under $200. And it should be a bag that can't be found in every mall in America.

I can't make one myself. I can't even sew on a button.

I carry the basics... wallet, 2 moleskines, pens, asthma inhaler, pads/'pons. I don't want a HUGE bag but I do like a bit of stashing room for things I come across such as newspapers or a water bottle.

Contrast stitching remedy?

crapulent — Thu, 16 Jun 2005 10:42:12 -0800

I loathe contrast stitching. Can I just cover it up with a marker? I recently bought a purse that is perfect except that it has brown leather trim with white stitching.

Will it work if I just color over it with a brown marker? Anyone tried this? If so, what kind of marker should I use? Do they make special markers for similar purposes and where can I get them? Or is there another more suitable substance, something along the lines of shoe polish?

I don't want to ruin my purse.

iPod and accessories travel kit

grabbingsand — Thu, 29 Jul 2004 05:13:53 -0800

We've had several "need a bag/pouch/case" questions, but I don't believe we've had exactly this one ... My newish employer smiles on the idea of music while you work, so I need a means of carrying my iPod and all of its accessories (headphones, iTrip, AC adapter) back and forth to work. Right now, kit and kaboodle is in a Royal Crown-esque drawstring bag, but it is showing wear & tear quicker than I'd like and it is no safeguard against banging around. Ideas?