Never Mind What's in Them, Bags Are the Fashion (NYT)

[kimair]

are the reiss bags in nyc different than the uk? Those are definately one bag i throw away. bah the brown print does my head in.

you mean the psychadelic brown/bronze print?
i like the pattern, but it will give you a headache after a while...

you see lots of people in sf with the gstar bags and luluemon ones...
i don't really like the latter...

lostinnj...i love the prada bags right now...
gotta get one of those...

 

[mkd1187]

"In cities like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, customers have begun treating shopping bags as disposable purses that can be reused for weeks, if not months, to carry laundry to the cleaners, books to the beach or lunch to the office."

I HATE in NY that so many people use high end shopping bags as their everyday bag - its so tacky. On the train theres always someone with a Gucci or Louis "bag" which on first glance it appears they just bought something there. But then you notice the bag packed with papers, water bottles, a sweater etc. Its like GOD - you just really want people to know that you ONCE bought something there (which isnt necessarily true with the xoxo bag on the other arm. Ill stick to Duane Reade bags if I happen to have too much stuff to haul around =)

On another note - I love saving bags too cuz theyre pretty - I just dont carry them around.

Chrome Hearts shopping bags are the best <3<3 - plus they include a matching chrome hearts water bottle and matchbook!

threewood.jp

 

[LostInNJ]

"In cities like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, customers have begun treating shopping bags as disposable purses that can be reused for weeks, if not months, to carry laundry to the cleaners, books to the beach or lunch to the office."

I HATE in NY that so many people use high end shopping bags as their everyday bag - its so tacky. On the train theres always someone with a Gucci or Louis "bag" which on first glance it appears they just bought something there. But then you notice the bag packed with papers, water bottles, a sweater etc. Its like GOD - you just really want people to know that you ONCE bought something there (which isnt necessarily true with the xoxo bag on the other arm. Ill stick to Duane Reade bags if I happen to have too much stuff to haul around =)

On another note - I love saving bags too cuz theyre pretty - I just dont carry them around.

Chrome Hearts shopping bags are the best <3<3 - plus they include a matching chrome hearts water bottle and matchbook!

threewood.jp

So true

 

[stylites]

Of course it seems as though it would be more ecologically friendly to make the bags stronger and reusable. The important thing should be whether they are made from recycled materials. Which of the big luxury brands do this?

 

[ETROsexualJ]

I can't imagine keeping bags and boxes everywhere...they are packaging that you're supposed to throw away. I can't stand it going over to some wannabe Queens house and his shelf having his cologne boxes, his LV wallet box on it, his Gucci scarf box and all that crap.
I agree with MKD about reusing bags...when I lived in Santa Barbara I saw this girl walking around with a Neiman Marcus bag. The closest one was in Beverly Hills 1:45 min away.
I will admit though that yesterday to take a banana, apple and yogurt to lunch I threw them in a small Barneys bag that the Lanvin scarf I bought was in...although that was because I wasn't carrying any bag for the day and wanted to bring my breakfast to work and wasn't going to put it in my coat pockets.

 

[calim00nchild]

I love the shoppers with longer handles so you can put them over your shoulder while shopping. Chanel is excellent about this (their black bags, not the white), and Saks as well.

I bought some perfume at Bond NYC recently and was very impressed with their packaging and bag. Beautiful and sturdy.

I keep dustbags for handbags and shoes, and the boxes from Chanel make excellent storage containers.

It adds to the experience of buying quality goods. I like it to an extent, if I keep the items.

But not when its wasteful and superfulous, just to present the image of luxury,yknow? I believe Sephora has gotten to this point. I wish one had the option to opt out of the gift bag / box.

 

[styleoverfashion]

I only have two premier designer purses, so I've kept the boxes and all of the little tidbits they come with. I think they're great for storage once you haven't got too many and/or have the room.

After I have a few more, I'll only keep the dustbag.

For shoes, I usually throw the boxes away and keep the dustbag - I store them on a rack.

 

[Amywilliams]

I have always wondered though, i notice that when i buy some bags, for example LV, my bag didnt come in a box, but i have noticed that other people got boxes for theres!? Do you have to ask, or do they just do it in some stores and not others?

 

[Katie123]

"In cities like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, customers have begun treating shopping bags as disposable purses that can be reused for weeks, if not months, to carry laundry to the cleaners, books to the beach or lunch to the office."

I HATE in NY that so many people use high end shopping bags as their everyday bag - its so tacky. On the train theres always someone with a Gucci or Louis "bag" which on first glance it appears they just bought something there. But then you notice the bag packed with papers, water bottles, a sweater etc. Its like GOD - you just really want people to know that you ONCE bought something there (which isnt necessarily true with the xoxo bag on the other arm. Ill stick to Duane Reade bags if I happen to have too much stuff to haul around =)

On another note - I love saving bags too cuz theyre pretty - I just dont carry them around.

Chrome Hearts shopping bags are the best <3<3 - plus they include a matching chrome hearts water bottle and matchbook!

threewood.jp

oh god, that happens in london as well, but i was seeing lots of "kate moss for topshop" ones..everywhere! honestly if i need to carry loads of stuff (for instance, art materials to uni) i just get the biggest shopping bag i have, or a canvas one. i'd actually feel embarrassed to walk around with a fancy bag if i hadn't just purchased in the shop!!

 

[Ianastar]

I dont carry mine on a daily basis. They are actually all in the back of my closet.

I like them because they are usually pretty sturdy, and I can use them when I need to carry something (like board games, books, wine, etc over to a friends house)

 

[Naimah]

It's not designer but I look forward to Free People's new shopping bag each season. They are small enough to stuff in my purse without causing much obstruction and they are strong enough that they can carry a night's worth of groceries as well. I love how they pretend to be unpretentious (of course you can make them yourself.) I have, in the past, given them as informal gifts and they have worked beautifully.

I love retailers who understand the value of great merchandising!

 

[KhaoticKharma]

Im suprised people are some people out there are just noticing it ...when I was in middle school all the kids cared about was the bag no matter what was in it and the fancier the better- I like the LV bags the most though, their just so classy

Too true! I live in the suburbs, and everytime anyone has to bring in a project or food or something to school, they try to pull out their best shopping bags... not just your standard grocery store plastic! For the most part, that means Abercrombie and Fitch, Hollister, or American Eagle Outfitters, but lately I've been seeing A/X Armani Exchange, Bebe, and other high end mall store bags.

 

[seanutbutter]

^ I live in the suburbs, too, but that's definitely not the case around here. People in my school usually carry Red Apple or Safeway bags, if that.

 

[Ianastar]

I take my lunch in Shaws Market bags.

 

[Dkammern]

I have always wondered though, i notice that when i buy some bags, for example LV, my bag didnt come in a box, but i have noticed that other people got boxes for theres!? Do you have to ask, or do they just do it in some stores and not others?

i thought every store did that! quite surprising, because every Louis Vuitton that i bought came in a bag AND box.
The bags (big ones and pochettes), the wallet, the scarves...
Even the keychain or the Paris Carnet de Voyage, they did come with a box.

(the last bag i bought was a pochette for my mother, and it came in a RIDICULOUSLY BIG box, it was a little funny to see her face when she opened the huge box an the petite petite bag inside )

 

[Wantons4U]

omg...me too! Everytime I'm done shopping, I leave the bags at home untouched for weeks! lol The clothes in them are still folded and wrapped in tissue paper. I don't know why, but I just like them that way!

I totally agree with you about the D&G bag. The handles drive me crazy!

i usually keep my bags around for quite awhile cos i can't be bothered to toss 'em out and i hardly ever use or wear anything i purchase immediately. they just sit there all packaged up.
i actually prefer the oooold louis vuitton shopping bags. they had, i believe, blue handles and were a lighter color. i also quite like chanel's bags ...they always stick a little white camelia on them.
the worst bags i've come across are probably d&g... they're these big horrible plasticy things that are terribly impractical. i also dislike the fendi bags... the handles are really uncomforable and awkward

 

[Trista]

Too true! I live in the suburbs, and everytime anyone has to bring in a project or food or something to school, they try to pull out their best shopping bags... not just your standard grocery store plastic! For the most part, that means Abercrombie and Fitch, Hollister, or American Eagle Outfitters, but lately I've been seeing A/X Armani Exchange, Bebe, and other high end mall store bags.

See I can understand using Abercrombie bags-yes, it is a walking advert, but their bags are extremely durable. Now that they have switched to new handles, I could almost see myself using it as a beach bag. Hollister bags I find to be durable as well.

I admit, I do save many of my bags. I use Victoria's Secret regular size bags frequently because they perfectly fit a pair of my size 9 shoes as well as a thing of Vitamin Water and a frozen dinner entree. My Hollister bags are really good to tote things around when I have a lot of either gifts or need a change of clothes, but at the same time I don't think my mom would necessarily want to see some of the Abercrombie bags. If all else fails, I recycle the worst bags by putting the family newspaper in there.