My faux pas at the Christmas gathering..

[SoCalDem]

All the other presents were wrapped and under the tree. We were at our son & daughter-in-law's home along with the 50+ family members (hers)..

On top of a big box was this "bowling bag"..

I commented to our son:

Who bought Maria (his wife) a bowling bag?

I was shot an immediate glowering look from her sister..and some laughter from our son..

why?

She (the sister) and her fiance bought it in Paris last week and were too proud of it to wrap it.. The irony is that most of us thought it was a bowling bag..not a $2,350.00 designer handbag..


This is the "bowling bag"



Latest IT Bag The Celine Luggage Tote : Fad or Fab?

http://www.mywomenstuff.com/2012/06/latest-it-bag-the-celine-luggage-tote-fad-or-fab/

[Fumesucker]

1. <snort>

[liberal N proud]

2. The joke is on them...

They paid $2300 for a bowling bag.

Was it filled with gold?

[malaise]

3. Delish!

[madrchsod]

4. looks like a bowling bag to me.

[SoCalDem]

5. with an ironic face & floppy ears

[Phentex]

10. First thing I noticed was the face..

Looks quite perplexed. Am I a bowling bag? Lol.

[annabanana]

26. ^^ +1 . . . n/t

[ewagner]

6. I would have said the same....n/t

[LeftofObama]

7. Someone paid $2350 for that!?

Why? Does it do anything besides sit there?

[eShirl]

17. I don't get it either.

[Xipe Totec]

8. Strike!

[Berlum]

9. This is a situation that calls for some big balls

[woodsprite]

11. Sheesh! That was my whole Xmas budget and

I bought for 22 people, made gifts for another 32 and
made a donation to Heifer Intl in their name (work).

I agree with the bowling bag. I see a face on it too.

[SoCalDem]

13. Our "Xmas" budget is actually ZERO..

I buy things as I find them and give them immediately...just because..

I found a gorgeous leather jacket for my best friend, but I gave it to her in October..

Scored a good price for some Coach tote bags & got one for each daughter-in-law and sent them out right away..

Opened a bank account for the son who's expecting a baby soon & sent them a debit card so they could choose what & where..

[SoCalDem]

12. much cheaper on ebay for this one..(probably under $20.00)

[hobbit709]

14. They paid big money for THAT?

Candy, birth and time.

[IDoMath]

15. "Too proud to wrap it"

American consumerism run amok.

[SoCalDem]

16. It was like a big ole trophy..perched atop a box

for all to marvel at... unfortunately, most of us were wondering which box had the bowling shoes in it

[IDoMath]

22. She needs some religion

You need to take her to Rev. Billy's Church of Stop Shopping for some enlightenment. Are you anywhere near manhattan?

[SoCalDem]

23. They have a house in Vegas & one in Miami and they work "online"

so they travel all over..

[kentauros]

31. You should take them bowling.

And see how many people compliment her on her nice bowling bag

[Barack_America]

18. No. THEIR faux pas in Paris.

[LibertyLover]

19. Good heavens -

I'm almost 60 and all the handbags I've ever bought in my life wouldn't amount to almost $2400. But yeah, it's a bowling ball bag.

[SoCalDem]

20. I am a purse-a-holic, but I buy most on ebay

I got a gorgeous Gucci vintage handbag from a lady in Israel.. for $50 ...SCORE !!!

[kentauros]

21. I'm confused about the "IT" part.

Is that supposed to mean "it" or IT as in "information technology"? I can see it belonging to the latter if it has plenty of internal pockets for gadgets, tablets, laptops, software, and spare hard-drives

[barbtries]

24. lol

that was good. the bag looks like it belongs in a bowling alley. someone paid over 2k for it? lol

[KatyMan]

25. Perhaps some things

are better thought than spoken.

Agreed- it is expensive, but that is their choice. It's not a handbag or purse- It's a weekender type bag.

To each their own.

Sometimes we are a little judgemental.

[eilen]

78. It wasn't rude if the person saying actually believed the bag was a bowling bag.

Particularly since it was not wrapped so umm, no mystery to spoil. What if it was a bowling bag and Maria was not one known to bowl?

edited to add: I think it was rude to tell people how much you spend on a present.

[CrispyQ]

27. It looks like a monkey's face to me. -nt

[SoCalDem]

32. like this little guy.. I see it too

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7pqc9QOd3Q0/TxAnfiPteTI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/5TMx5ianzoM/s1600/s.+boliviensis+handsome.jpg

[CrispyQ]

37. That is a cute little guy!

The bag, not so much! Especially with that price tag! It's the "speak no evil monkey." The zipper, the closed mouth.

Lame I know.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

28. looks like a face with a little something dangling from the lip

like maybe a drop of blood...

[socialindependocrat]

29. Looks like a bag to store Cool Aid n/t

[Siwsan]

30. I found an incredibly 'vinage' bowling bag in the basement. Hmmmmmmm

Maybe if I clean it up and throw on an extra strap, I can make some serious dosh on Ebay????? Ok, probably not but I bet it is better constructed than the $2,350 dollar bag.

[ananda]

33. Expensive designer stuff can be SO ugly.

I can't believe what people will buy these days.

Mary-Kate's and Ashley's stuff is even beyond ugly.

[catbyte]

34. Sorry, Maria, but that is one ugly bag. And it DOES look like a bowling bag.

[Nay]

35. Oh, jeez, that's funny. It looks like a bowling bag to me, too. It goes to show how a price tag

can blind a buyer into thinking something is attractive and worth the big bucks.

[lonestarnot]

36. Could double as a barf bag.

[PennsylvaniaMatt]

38. They spent $2,350 on a designer bag?

I have one question: Are they Republican?

[SoCalDem]

39. I have no idea...I know they have money and spend a lot on everything

Money does not necessarily equal taste though

[PennsylvaniaMatt]

40. Very true!

[smirkymonkey]

75. I'll say. It is quite unattractive and very tacky of them not to wrap it.

[DapperDon]

60. I have a Prada bag, and guess what? I am not Republican.

Buying fine things does not make one a Republican.

[janx]

67. Please define "fine."

Does "fine" equal expensive? In this case, obviously not.

[DapperDon]

68. No, fine doesn't have to mean expensive. I consider

"fine" to mean high quality. Mostly it is expensive but not always. I am always looking for a good deal on some fine things. Many can be found in thrift stores.

[davsand]

42. Shoes to compliment her new bag:

[Baitball Blogger]

43. It looks like it has an anime face on it!

[Honeycombe8]

44. LOL! Too funny! Well, you just innocently called it like you saw it! nt

[pink-o]

45. So about 4 years ago, I'm in Chinatown, NYC...

And someone stops me on the street, takes me into a shop where they have a false wall, and behind it sits an old lady with a handful of cash and boatloads of knock-off Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Burberry and Prada handbags. I bought a Louis and a Prada for about 30 dollars total.

The next year, I'm in Paris, walking down the Champs Élysées and I strollinto the Louis Vuitton flagship store. I see the real version of my bag, and it costs €2500.00. And the best part? The Parisian saleswoman couldn't tell the dif between them!

Moral of the story? Spending a bundle for a hunka leather makes absolutely no sense. I
And in principle, I don't love stuff you know is sweatshop made, the irony is just too delish. I love seeing that snobbery taken down.
(Edited for the bloody auto correct!)

[bettyellen]

48. the Paris saleswoman knew the difference, they are just more polite than the OP

They are pretty well trained, and definitely not allowed to rudely comment on customers dress or accessories except in a positive way.
BTW, a good knockoff that would fool anyone who knows what the original looks like would cost 10-20X more than what you paid.
Not commenting on economic inequality or anything, just being real about it.

[pink-o]

50. You could be right about the woman in Paris...

However, I bought my friend a Faux-lex at the same time, and when he went into the jewelry store to get it sized, the jeweler appraised it @ 4500. I paid 60 for it.

Some of these knock offs are better than you think! (But the real ones last forever. Mine fall apart after just a few years.)

[bettyellen]

53. but if you tried to sell that watch, the jeweler would't give you five bucks. again, he was

being polite. this is what good retail associates are trained to do, humor the customers.
Trust me, they've seen loads of idiots haul in bags that cost 10X the knockoff you bought, and try to return them.
Those people they are only slightly less polite to, as they show them the door.

The thing about luxury products is, the people who make and sell them really do know the difference. And there is a huge difference that's not apparent to you an I even on close inspection. No moral judgements.

On a side note, I knew a designer who was into every scam... she used to buy expensive clothes, then have very very similar ones made up (out of cheap materials) adding back every label and tag where it originally appeared and go "return" it. That fooled the people at Macys, because it was the better, but not top merchandise. Sold by Macy's regular staff.

If she tried that at LV or Chanel she would have been completely busted AND blacklisted forever. Because those sales associates are trained to be totally on top of the lines they sell.

Sorry, I work for a retailer, and we see it all!

[lunasun]

52. The stitching difference alone would stand out

[bettyellen]

62. there are amazing knockoffs in Chinatown that are very expensive and hard to find

the vendors are completely hidden in back allies and you have to be vetted and trusted by their spotter. I know a few people who were unsuccessful in finding these guys. Because the NYPD has been cracking down- just not on the 10-100$ models.
The 300-600 knockoffs are what the designer companies are worried about. That is where they can lose revenue and degrade their reputation. Those knockoffs would totally fool us- but not the designer sales people. There's always a tell.

[lunasun]

74. interesting info thank you however in this case the bags were $15 each

so I stick by my comment
yes they should be worried if it is a well down knock off because it already has a market -fans of the original design & quality

[eilen]

79. Most of the bags are made in China anyway

my friend's husband travels there frequently for his job and buys them for her there. The last one was a Chloe bag TRT (the real thing). Don't kid yourself, the "design houses" aka flagship/front companies have their luxury goods made in third world factories often under sweatshop conditions just like Walmart. They may be made with quality materials and have different specs (like more seam and stitch lines) but they are certainly not made in some Italian or Parisian Workshop by master leather workers and their apprentices.

[bettyellen]

82. mostly true, and China has better factories that do meticulous work that Walmart cannot afford

they farm out the cheap lower profit stuff to Vietnam and other smaller Asian countries these days. China can copy anything these days.
LV shoes are one of the few that is actually made in Italy. Most designer "made in Italy" gear is cut in Italy and the components sent to eastern europe for assembly. Their are a lot of pipelines, and they are always changing. If Africa could get their shit together and create a reliable infract structure to ship, they would build a million factories there in a heart beat.

Sorry, I know waaay too much about this shit, LOL!

[ellenfl]

46. i've seen those on ebay. eom

[Hassin Bin Sober]

47. I hope it came stuffed with $2300 in 10s and 20s.

Did you ask them if it came with a free bowl of soup?

[stuntcat]

61. Right? That's the only way it'd be worth it.

Humanity's f'ing lost it.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

49. $2,350 and it didn't even come with a custom ball!

I'm so glad I'm not the only person who accidentally says things like that at family gatherings. Not that this is in anyway your fault, it 100% looks like a bowling ball bag.

[friendly_iconoclast]

51. Yup, it's a bowling bag.

[lunasun]

54. The faux pas was not boxing the item....

I am sure they were trying to bring what they saw as a latest fashion trender when they were traveling but just a little too proud about it.

[a la izquierda]

55. Oh honey, you didn´t commit the faux pas.

That bag IS a faux pas.

[appleannie1]

56. A leather Frownie from Eat and Park

For those that do not know what that is, it is a brownie with an icing frown face used in desserts at Eat and Park restaurants.

[DollarBillHines]

57. Looks like a cartoon character...

with its tongue hanging out.

I am totally into custom boots, bags and murses, but that is one of the most gosh-awful things I have ever seen.

[Hekate]

58. It's giving me a funny look....

What a strange little face it has! It has to be a status symbol, otherwise, it's kind of homely-looking. I hope she enjoys it a lot, wherever it is she hangs out.

[DapperDon]

59. The bag is fab. The colors are not. I prefer solid colors.

[Zorra]

63. LOL! Looks like a designer bowling bag by spongebob. nt

[DirkGently]

64. That is simply hilarious. Reflexively truthful reactions are priceless. (nt)

[NBachers]

65. I know just who could use that bag

[janx]

66. How gaudy! And how representative of our messed up culture!

A dear friend of mine gave me a Bocelli bag--slightly used. It is simple, black, gorgeous leather, and practical. I can haul my work in it with ease, and I am so grateful that she gave it to me.

I should take a pic of it to show you the difference in priorities, but you can probably imagine those.

[putitinD]

69. they could have fed alot of homeless people for $2300. instead of purchacing that hideous bag

[demtenjeep]

70. My new Christmas present. a LOT less in price and a hell of a lot prettier

Legacy Signature Stripes, along with classic Coach details like tubular handles and hand-finished leather trim, give this simple, slouchy design a rich heritage look. The secure zippered closure and convenient shoulder strap add everyday practicality.

•Signature fabric with leather trim

•Inside zip, cell phone and multifunction pockets

•Zip-top closure, fabric lining

•Handles with 6" drop

•Longer strap with 12" drop for shoulder wear

•12 1/4" (L) x 9" (H) x 5 1/2" (W)

http://www.coach.com/online/handbags/-handbags-us-us-62-en?t1Id=62&t2Id=62&viewType=viewall#117512











SILVER / BLACK / GREYin stock

[Raine]

71. Hahahahaha oh geeesh that is so funny

. Sorry to laugh at your mistake but it just strikes me as so funny when someone is showing off and gets "nailed" that way.

[Spider Jerusalem]

72. You know...

I look at that...the cost and the sheer fucking ostentation of "oh we're not even going to wrap this because we want everyone to see how expensive and trendy it is"...and I can only think "first against the wall when the revolution comes".

[pinboy3niner]

73. Heeeeeeeyyyyyy. Who stole my purse?!!!

Now I'm really pised!!!

[xchrom]

76. Shrug. I love it.

I prefer Celine products to say Vuiton.

My personal tastes for leather goes more rustic - but for modern tastes that's pretty cool and understated.

I have leather bags I paidmore than that.

I.e. My leather gym bag.

[marybourg]

77. Looks like a "cyberman" face to me.

[eilen]

80. You know, it's not a horrible bag

but I would not every consider paying so much money for it. For a leather bag like this, perhaps I could understand about $300-$500 in a higher end shop depending how large it is. I prefer to carry a leather handbag and I usually manage well under $100, but then I guess I am tacky and buy QVC Tiganello bags when they are on sale. But they are leather, they are good quality and hold up well. We have a Coach outlet in my area and lots of nurses I work with love going there. I don't want a bag with big letters or someone's initials all over it. I do have one Coach bag and it is no better than the ones I purchased from QVC. But then, I am not wealthy, I have no social pressures to keep up with those in higher income levels aka the jet set. There are women who have purse fetishes like shoe fetishes and it is nice that your relative is able to indulge, get pleasure from the purchase and have this experience. You never know, money has a tendency to vanish but she will always have this memory of shopping in Paris and buying that bag that fascinated her.

[renate]

81. that external zipper ruins it for me

Well, that and the price tag.

Other than that zipper, which just seems like a stupid addition (you couldn't put anything in that pocket or it would ruin the lines of the bag), I can see how it could be considered cool and modern and structured.

I wouldn't feel too bad about what you said. People who buy stuff like that enjoy feeling that we little people are a bunch of yahoos who just "don't get it."