My Longchamp bags collection
Since Designer Ella asked to see them, I’ll show off my bags just this once.
If you’ve been reading for a while, you’ll know that I’m obsessed with Longchamp bags. They’re one of my few splurges, and I make a whole bunch of budget trade-offs to afford them. I’m a tightwad about things that are no fun so I can buy things that are — life’s too short not to have some luxuries.
But enough talk, on to the bags!
Firstly, this is the whole collection - a whopping three bags. I am on a budget after all!
My first Longchamp bag was the one below. I a finalist for an industry award and had to look nice for the ceremony just in case. Instead of spending my budget on a dress I’d wear once, I bought this bag (AU$225) and some nice heels to dress up something I already owned.
I didn’t get the award but I’ve still got the bag!
My second Longchamp bag was a great sale find. I’d been using the one above every day for a year and it’s fantastic. It’s great for both day and evening, and the perfect size for a wallet, phone, PDA, makeup and keys.
The only downside is that A4 papers only fit in it if they’re folded. I spent a year carrying a daggy plastic file envelope in my hand all day when I needed to take papers with me. The obvious solution was to buy a cheap disposable tote, but with my newly-developed taste for Longchamp, no cheapie was worthy of my arm.
Then I found the one below, reduced from AU$500 to AU$200. Due to all my other budget finds, I had the money to grab it on the spot. Fantastic!
Finally, less than a month after I bought bag #2, Mr Bargain Queen decided to buy me a super-nice Christmas present. He took me to a duty-free store in Noumea which has a WHOLE WALL of Longchamp bags and said I could choose anything I wanted. In a mere hour — surely a record for a Libran — I picked the one below. I’ve carried it practically every day since. It was about AU$500 duty free, which was able to come from Mr BQ’s clothes budget because I’ve saved him a lot on his jackets, suits, shirts etc. by finding them in the outlets.
This is the only one of my bags that I know the name of: it’s a Longchamp 4×4 in chocolate.
The photo doesn’t really do it justice — the leather is gorgeously soft, not plastic-y like it looks here. (
For that matter, all the photos are a bit crappy. Sorry about that!)
So yes, I’m human, I have vices and I REALLY like Longchamp bags. If you want more Longchamp porn, they have a fantastic web site with pics of their whole range. Yummo!
Or if bags aren’t your thing, no problem. Everyone has different priorities and as long as your spending reflects yours, you’re doing great.
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Thanks for sharing!
I am also able to spend a bit of my husband’s clothing budget, but not as much as he would like. Unfortunately, his sizes aren’t as available at a discount as mine are (he’s 6′3″). But he is willing to get by with not too much, and he really doesn’t like me to spend much on him.
It’s great to be married!
I enjoy seeing and reading about the special items like these — it’s so personal and individual. I would need to think long and hard before I could come up with the pieces that are my obsessions … I really like my Viv Tam and Milly apparel, and I guess they are my biggest clothing/accessory splurges. Hooray for well-planned budget compromises!
Yep, thanks for sharing. :-)
Rebecca - Mr Bargain Queen’s 6′3 too and there’s always great things in his size at the David Jones warehouse near our place (David Jones is an upmarket department store here). Maybe there’s something similar near your place?
Mr Bargain Queen’s very slim though (34″ waist after putting on weight!) so he fits into the designer left-overs. I’ve helped bigger boys shop before too and it’s so much harder! So Mr Bargain Queen’s not allowed to gain weight lest I lose my reputation ;)
Henri-V - We don’t get Viv Tam in Australia so I took a look at her web site and the clothes are gorgeous - so feminine and classic. I love designers whose work never screams ‘this season’ but makes you look like a well-dressed woman instead.
Thanks for sharing!
Bags are definitely my thing… though before today I don’t think I’ve ever spent more than $50 on one.
Yes, I have a bit of a confession to make. I’ve been eyeing this Longchamp bag for a few weeks and kept quiet about it because there was only one left and it was 72% off the original price of $525 (i.e. down to $149, plus about $11 shipping).
I absolutely love purple, and pink is also a favorite, so I couldn’t help but fall in love - especially since it lets me wear pink away from my face where it works better on me.
Well, I am happy to say that earlier today my wonderful husband bought it for me. And since I never spend this much on a bag, I am thrilled to know that Longchamp bags have your approval.
Ooooh, love the bag, Meg!
I’ve actually bought a hot pink Longchamp since I posted the collection above, too!
I love Longchamp bags… so pretty and they’re great quality so they really do last forever (which is the only way I can justify spending even AU$200 on a bag!)
You’re definitely going to love one of my newest finds then ;)
Fortunately, there’s more than one left this time.
Yay! :)
UGHH!!! why are they so expensive
I hear ya Kim! I wish they were cheaper, too. We sometimes find ones for a good price (not necessarily for cheap, though).
The bottom line is, quality costs. Whenever I find something that is cheap that I like, I have to ask myself, “Why is it so cheap?” Sometimes I am just lucky — maybe I’m the only person in that size who likes that color who saw that shirt and therefore it went on clearance. Most of the time, though, there are a lot of corners cut. That’s why many clothes don’t fit well, and why clothes and accessories both can fall apart for no apparent reason.
Ok so just a note, Longchamp do personalised Le Pilage bags scary thought, you can get your initials embossed etc pick and a whole lot more take a look, Yes i am a bit obsessed since i went to paris! All i can say is GOD HELP MY BANK ACCOUNT!