I’ve noticed lately that many of the “bridge” designer brands have been taking design cues from European houses like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Prada, Balenciaga, Chloe, and others. (“Bridge” is an industry term for those newer, more affordable designers- think Kate Spade, Tory Burch, and Rebecca Minkoff- who use quality materials and are considered designers in their own right, but mass produce their products as opposed to each piece being created by a craftsman somewhere in Europe.)
Anyway, I thought it would be fun to do a comparison of some of these “true” designer vs. “bridge” designer bags, because while I’m always crushing on a few Chanels and Vuittons, their price points aren’t usually very realistic for me. While I do have a few faux-leather bags that cost me under $50, I really appreciate real leather for the way it wears, and that’s where some of these “bridge” pieces strike a chord.
Similar, aren’t they? And Check out Goodnight Macaroon’s “Anja” Suede cross body compared to the Chloe “Faye”:
Chloe “Faye”: $1,390
“Anja” Suede Crossbody: $98 (I snagged it on flash sale for $48!)
To be honest, I have mixed feelings about some of these “designer dupes”; I think there’s a fine line between “inspiration” and “copying”, but sometimes a gorgeous leather handbag for 1/10 of the designer price tag is too hard to resist. For a select few bags though, I’m willing to save up my hard-earned cash for what I feel is a lifetime investment.
What’s your take on designer bags? Is it worth the splurge to get the “real deal”?
Designer handbags, such an arm and a limb to pay for right? Bridge brands are okay, they’re great alternatives for everyday people. Sometimes higher tier designer bags fill our heads with palpable desires with unrealistic price tags. Good work with comparisons (and price points!) this should help someone decide the right bag for them ????