iOffer Bags, LushFashions.com, etc. (December 2003 - February 2009)

[voodoo_mary]

i'm confused, i also got an email from nbf about the bubblegum pink. but i thought it was a magenta they were working on? anyways the bubblegum pink looks pretty, but not quite me..

[babybluestar]

I don't mean to sound snobbish, but I'm starting to be off replicas. Yes there are many lovely ones out there, but the thing is, even if it's a GREAT replica and 95% of people won't know the difference, I'll know the difference. And no matter how great a replica is, there will always be little differences and I notice them.

I guess I'm just getting to the point where I'm figuring out my style and taste and so I'd rather have say, 5 bags that are all authentic, than 15 that are replica.

I have so many replicas that I've forgotten about or don't use. I feel like it's a waste because I didn't want them enough to spend money on the real thing and then I didn't appreciate them.

I'm starting work in July and will be making good money. If I save up, by Christmas I can buy any bag I want (well, except an Hermes Birkin, hehe). If I have all that time to save and think about it, I'll end up with a bag I REALLY, TRULY HAVE TO HAVE.

It may not make sense to you guys, but I love my Mahina from Catty so much that I want the authentic one. Yep, all $3,100 of it. Like I said, I can have it by Christmas and I'll like the feeling of being able to walk in that Boutique and plunk down the money for it. I'll also feel proud carrying it knowing it's authentic and that I worked hard to get it.

I'll never leave this forum because I love talking with all of you. But I think I'm heading off into authentic only territory.......

One more thing I should add, I live in an area where rich people are EVERYWHRE!! Flip open a W, Vogue or Bazaar magazine and look at the glossy ads for the top designers. At the bottom of the page where the locations are listed, you'll often see "South Coast Plaza." Guess what? South Coast Plaza is 10 minutes away. People here KNOW their handbags and because of that I can't carry around a fake without wondering if everyone looking at it is finding what makes it "off" and knows it's fake. It's not that I care what they think of me, it's that I really love certain designers and don't want to be carrying around a copy of their work esp in a place where it's obvious.

Again, I know not everyone will understand this, but I hope some of you will!

[PinkPrincess113]

siren- happy bday! i can't wait to see your beautiful day! i was looking at nbfs ioffer store and they have natural up. does anyone have any info/feedback/comments about it? is it more a creamy white-ish... or more of a light khaki? i can't tell from the pics!

[nicky25]

^baby blue star, to each their own, and it's nice to share your thoughts. . I can afford a real one if i wanted, but i choose not to out of principle. These bags are mass produced and machine produced a lot of the time, mostly by underpaid workers and in no way warrant their price tag> unless it's a Birkin. I know what you mean about the luxury or the feeling of carrying a real one but at the same time i personally think it's more of a kick to have a great replica which looks 99% the same, knowing that you didn't get sucked in to the marketing. I do get a lot of comments from my family who would never buy anything replica, but it makes me even more determined to find a good one
I would pay for real shoes or even sunglasses, as much as it hurts because it's important to have the comfort in those, but handbags are so versatile and get thrown around a lot half the time.
I think like Miz mentioned once, we are so into this world we forget the average person has no clue how much replicas differ from the real thing, let alone half the people out there not knowing what Prada is.
I would think if you live somewhere where people carry these bags daily (and i do, friends of mine have all sorts of designer bags) then you can carry off a replica much better than being around people who don't have any designer stuff so that if you carry a say, Chanel bag will ask you straight away if it's a fake.
But i do look forward to your real Mahina and Catty Mahina comparisons <img>

[bmini]

very good post nicky25. There are definitely good and bad parts to both sides of the argument.

All this mahina talk.......I can't stop thinking about this bag!!!!!!

[babybluestar]

Originally Posted by nicky25

^baby blue star, to each their own, and it's nice to share your thoughts. . I can afford a real one if i wanted, but i choose not to out of principle. These bags are mass produced and machine produced a lot of the time, mostly by underpaid workers and in no way warrant their price tag> unless it's a Birkin. I know what you mean about the luxury or the feeling of carrying a real one but at the same time i personally think it's more of a kick to have a great replica which looks 99% the same, knowing that you didn't get sucked in to the marketing. I do get a lot of comments from my family who would never buy anything replica, but it makes me even more determined to find a good one
I would pay for real shoes or even sunglasses, as much as it hurts because it's important to have the comfort in those, but handbags are so versatile and get thrown around a lot half the time.
I think like Miz mentioned once, we are so into this world we forget the average person has no clue how much replicas differ from the real thing, let alone half the people out there not knowing what Prada is.
I would think if you live somewhere where people carry these bags daily (and i do, friends of mine have all sorts of designer bags) then you can carry off a replica much better than being around people who don't have any designer stuff so that if you carry a say, Chanel bag will ask you straight away if it's a fake.
But i do look forward to your real Mahina and Catty Mahina comparisons <img>

Very good points. However, I think anyone who buys a replica is just as sucked into the marketing as anyone else. Paying more for the authentic is worth it to me now just to know it's a genuine designer item rather than something copied from a genuine designer item.

[ashionista]

Originally Posted by babybluestar

I don't mean to sound snobbish, but I'm starting to be off replicas. Yes there are many lovely ones out there, but the thing is, even if it's a GREAT replica and 95% of people won't know the difference, I'll know the difference. And no matter how great a replica is, there will always be little differences and I notice them.

I guess I'm just getting to the point where I'm figuring out my style and taste and so I'd rather have say, 5 bags that are all authentic, than 15 that are replica.

I have so many replicas that I've forgotten about or don't use. I feel like it's a waste because I didn't want them enough to spend money on the real thing and then I didn't appreciate them.

I'm starting work in July and will be making good money. If I save up, by Christmas I can buy any bag I want (well, except an Hermes Birkin, hehe). If I have all that time to save and think about it, I'll end up with a bag I REALLY, TRULY HAVE TO HAVE.

It may not make sense to you guys, but I love my Mahina from Catty so much that I want the authentic one. Yep, all $3,100 of it. Like I said, I can have it by Christmas and I'll like the feeling of being able to walk in that Boutique and plunk down the money for it. I'll also feel proud carrying it knowing it's authentic and that I worked hard to get it.

I'll never leave this forum because I love talking with all of you. But I think I'm heading off into authentic only territory.......

One more thing I should add, I live in an area where rich people are EVERYWHRE!! Flip open a W, Vogue or Bazaar magazine and look at the glossy ads for the top designers. At the bottom of the page where the locations are listed, you'll often see "South Coast Plaza." Guess what? South Coast Plaza is 10 minutes away. People here KNOW their handbags and because of that I can't carry around a fake without wondering if everyone looking at it is finding what makes it "off" and knows it's fake. It's not that I care what they think of me, it's that I really love certain designers and don't want to be carrying around a copy of their work esp in a place where it's obvious.

Again, I know not everyone will understand this, but I hope some of you will!

Just thought I'd add my thoughts on this. I have a few authentic bags. My "authentic" collection includes an LV Speedy 30, LV Denim Baggy PM and a Blueberry Fendi Spy. I agree that the replicas can never take the place of the real thing as far as quality is concerned. However, I find that because the authentics cost so much, there are many times and situations where I don't want to take them out for fear that something may happen to them, i.e. they get spilled on, etc. I would be SICK if my $2K Spy Bag had anything spilled on it. Even in the grocery store, I am so careful if I have one of my authentic bags, because the littlest things like setting it in the grocery cart where they may be a bit of dirt, can be stressful. That's why I feel much better about my replica purchases because if anything did happen to one of them, I wouldn't feel like $2K was wasted.

I understand your point about having so many replica bags that you don't really want. I think that's the beauty of buying replicas. I've gone through tons of replicas and when I decide I just don't want one anymore or the bag isn't as practical as I thought it would be, it's so easy for me to sell it off to someone on CraigsList or whatever. I don't feel guilty because usually I can recoup my money and then put it towards another bag.

As for other women who carry designer bags, what I've noticed is most women who carry authentic bags are NOT obsessed with the details. It's quite the contrary. The people who know all the small details about bags are usually those who carry the Replica bags. That's why I have a strong suspicion that there are quite a few members of TPF who carry replicas, but of course, claim they only carry authentic.

Anyways, my thoughts are be proud of whatever you wear or buy. If you love it, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. I have the confidence that if someone sees I am carrying a replica, so what? I'm not embarrassed by it and why should I be?

[Alejandro]

omg i am so heartbroken...wholesalecn is down! i just went to the site and it says their domain account has been suspended. i guess they got busted?

[Alexis1983]

I own several real bags and I love them including one real balenciaga twiggy. But considering my money situation at the moment, and being out of a job...and having a fashion and shopping obsession on top of that, its nice to know I can till shop for a "balenciaga" even if its not real (as long as its good quality). I'll never love a fake like I love my real bags, and a fake bag I don't have to worry so much about when I throw it around (my real ones I'm very protective of), so thats why I don't mind fakes.

Eventually I'd like to purchase another real balenciaga...but since money and finances are rough right now....i go for a fake



with that said (hahah, topic change)....has anyone purchased a balenciaga from catty?
If so, how was the quality?

[quizvan]

^Alexis, I bought a light pink (maybe bubblegum!) Voyage from Catty over a year ago, and it is lovely -- the leather is a bit thick, but it is very squashy and distressed, and it looks great. I took a chance on it because the pic she had on her site looked good, but I can't vouch for any other b bag that she might be selling now. Most non-NBF replica b bags are far off the mark, but every so often there are excellent ones which are every bit as good as NBF's -- but it's hard to identify them, and you could get stuck with some bad ones along the way -- that's why I generally stick to NBF for b bags. Last spring a couple of the sellers had some terrific goatskin Work GGH b bags for about $120, and I bought the dark brown, natural, and caramel -- the leather was great (especially on the dark brown), but the zipper broke right away on the caramel.

[quizvan]

Originally Posted by Alejandro

omg i am so heartbroken...wholesalecn is down! i just went to the site and it says their domain account has been suspended. i guess they got busted?

Was this Eric's site? I had browsed it, but never bought from him -- was his stuff good?

[sahrieswirl]

Paying for the authentic version of a $1,500+ bag if you could get an exact replica like the type we've been getting, does not make sense to me.
Look at the world we live in. There are hundreds of billions of dollars just recycled in the fashion designer world, it's disgusting. I don't want to be a part of that sickness. The sickness of where things just come in and out of style and people will give every other paycheck to be on top of it. There are so many other important things in this world that having something authentic just really doesn't cut it. I'd love to have the $1,5000 that a Balenciaga costs, to go on vacation, or pay for a class of grad school, or buy lots of outfits over a period of time. I have an amazing Balenciaga replica because I love the style of it. I'm not saying that designer names mean ZERO to me or else I wouldn't be here...but sometimes you have to just step back and look at the bigger picture.

[sahrieswirl]

...i should have added that I'd never buy an authentic designer bag that costs over $3,0000 or so, just so I wouldn't have to worry in my own mind that people were "questioning its authenticity"...when in fact, they really probably aren't.

[SoBeach]

Originally Posted by sahrieswirl

...i should have added that I'd never buy an authentic designer bag that costs over $3,0000 or so, just so I wouldn't have to worry in my own mind that people were "questioning its authenticity"...when in fact, they really probably aren't.

I wouldn't either I have some authentics, but I actually enjoy the quest of finding the "perfect" replica. As well, when it comes to the trendy bags, as opposed to the classics, I only buy replicas. A good example is the Chanel Melrose Flap -- there's NO WAY I'd spend 1400.+ for a vinyl bag, but 115. for a near spot on from Jacky if fine by me...

[kikidee]

yah, i don't think there needs to be an 'all or nothing' declarative decision regarding fakes or no fakes.

i'd have to say i'm very much a 'no fakes!' kind of person but am very intrigued with the replica world and all the nigglie details we obsess about on this board. I own just 3 fakes but only because they are beautiful and functional bags of great materials and in the normal retail world i'd pay twice as much for an exact no-brand version.

I actually respect the TFSers on here who appreciate and purchase authentic bags, but then dot their collection with some high-quality replicas. Just like how I respect fashionable/stylish people who wear designer clothing and dot their wardrobe with perfectly fine items from H&M/Target/vintage/etc. Being flexible about high and low allows people to fully attain stand-out personal style that is, imo, priceless.