I need a new purse. Here's the thing - I go through purses about every 3 months so I don't like to spend too much money on them. And no, I would not keep it around longer if I spent more money... I tried that. So I went to the mall and I was thoroughly disgusted with my options. I don't want anything huge and most of the purses were huge. What wasn't huge was either vinyl or covered in rhinestones. I hate vinyl purses and I'm just not a fan of rhinestones on purses. So I found one purse that seemed to be the right size, leather, had the right amount of pockets, and not covered in rhinestones. $235. No thank you. Now I don't even know where to look.

I've found some cute ones at Payless

I'm the same way with purses, although I usually keep them about 1 to 2 years. But I like real leather, and under $100. Hard to find.... I did get one basic black one, the brand was Stone Mountain. I'm sure I paid about $60 for it, on sale.

the brand was Stone Mountain.

I have been buying Stone Mountain purses for about 25 years. The older ones had a lifetime warranty but I don't think they do that any longer. I have been disappointed in them the last few years, they have gotten more studded and fringed than I like. My last purse was bought online from eBags.com and I was very pleased with it. I need one big enough to carry my Kindle in a separate pocket and finally found one that I liked on their website.

I always hit the thrift stores & usually pay about $5 for one. Most stores have their better bags behind the counter but still WAY cheaper than original price!

That is a good idea... We have some high end consignment stores near me, probably can get brand new items some rich lady didn't want. They aren't always that cheap, though. I love the furniture consignment stores.

Check the thrift stores ... you can some great deals!

I usually get mine at Target.

DebBee

I got a new purse this year. It was $45 from a thirtyone purse party. The purse I was using before that was at least 10 years old. I paid about $40. I think it was from the BonTon. I guess I am in no position to offer advice on purses. However, I have to say that the thirtyone bag was pretty good quality for the price.

Heh. I'm like you, I change purses every few months.

I found on sale at Macys a small papillon shaped blue D&B purse with cupcakes on it. Less than a hundred. I've been using it for about half a year now. So many compliments, best hand bag ever! :-D Perhaps the sale section for Dooney is a place to look.

Also, don't discount places like Hot Topic. Sometimes they have cool purses, if you don't mind a more unusual bend to your look.

Looked at the Payless at the mall. All vinyl. :( They used to carry some leather but not now or at least not at that store.

I will check out ebags in the morning. Thanks!

All the ones at Target were vinyl, too. I was surprised at the amount of vinyl purses and the lack of leather. I guess it could be a regional thing... maybe they were selling more vinyl in this area so stopped carrying leather.

I happen to have a lovely knock-off Louis Vuitton. Came into our synagogue's rummage sale. It's a pretty good knock-off, had to do some googling to be sure it was not authentic. Message me if you want a pic or two. And it won't be $235. (Or the $1100 it would be if it were real!)

Macy's was the one and only place I found a purse I liked... that was the one that was $235. They had a couple of clearance tables but the stuff on the clearance tables was junk, at least today it was.

Also, don't discount places like Hot Topic. Sometimes they have cool purses, if you don't mind a more unusual bend to your look.

I glanced in Hot Topic and didn't see anything of interest. I glanced in Charlotte Russe, Pac Sun, Wet Seal, Journeys, Maurice's, Forever 21, New York & Co, Limited, and even some store I'd never noticed named "Trinkets." I looked extensively in JC Penney, Sears, and Macy's. I'm in a really bad mood from my shopping experience today. I went through the whole mall and all I left with was a small bag with a couple of See's candies for my husband and daughter.

Monday I'll probably check Kohl's but I usually forget to go there because it's not in a convenient place. I told my husband I'm so disgusted I'm just gonna buy the next Hello Kitty purse I see and call it good because that will match my clothes about as well as the junk I saw at the mall today.

I will think about that, thanks. I'm going to see what Kohl's has and a local store called Bag Lady Boutique. I've never been in there but judging by what's in the window, it's probably full of those rhinestone purses. But maybe I'll get lucky.

The dumb thing is that over the summer, I bought a purse from Eddie Bauer that I love... it's the right size, has the right amount of pockets, the right length strap, and everything. But it's nylon, which is actually why I bought it at the time. I wanted a purse that I didn't mind getting wet when we go to Silver Dollar City. I just wish Eddie Bauer carried the same purse in leather. :)

I am a purse-a-holic. I used to carry nothing but Coach; however, I found I only carried the bags about 6 months to a year and rarely used them again. Also since the economic downturn of 2008, I saw the quality take a dip.

I started buying Vera Bradley bags and have totally fallen in love with the purses I used to hate! Most of the patterns are not for me; but, I wait for the bags I like. VB also has a line of black bags in a very nice fabric if you are not a fan of their patterns. The best thing about the bags are all the great pockets. My stuff never gets lost in a bottomless pit anymore. VB runs a lot of sales, so if you think you might like them, get on their e-mail list and if you live within a reasonable distance of an outlet, be sure to shop there if you don't mind patterns and styles a season or two behind.

I am also a big fan of Longchamp Le Pliage bags too. They are mostly nylon and lacking in pockets; but, they are waterproof and look very chic. They are perfect for travel too since they fold up very compactly when not in use.

I went to the website and there are some cute bags. Unfortunately, there are no outlets in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, or Oklahoma. Oh well.

I did see some promising bags on kohls.com. I prefer to buy purses in person because more than once have I bought a purse without trying it on and it hung funny on me and ended up giving me a sore neck. So I'll go to the store Monday... or today if I feel brave. People have already started Christmas shopping and weekends are crazy.

That sucks! Small Macys? What about the local Bloomingdales? Sometimes their sales are good.

Nothing wrong with a Hello Kitty purse, maybe Kuromi even! ;) (I can sympathize, it sounds like your purse search is similar to my clothing searches, everything that fits well and looks good is expensive, while everything that I can afford isn't so hot. So, denim, t-shirts, running shorts and tank tops for me mostly)

Shark Girl's Vera Bradley suggestion is good if you don't mind fabric. Some of the patterns are cute. And some Hallmarks carry them.

Do you have a TJ Maxx or Marshalls where you live? They get leather bags there for good prices. They will also get designer bags and have them deeply discounted. They may be online. I did read an article about stuff carried in designer outlet stores. Some of them have a line of lower end that they sell at the outlets. So a leather purse may actually have vinyl parts. Watch what you get at outlets.

People have already started Christmas shopping

Ummmmm......I am finished, going to wrap packages this weekend. I hate Christmas and crowded stores after 25 years of working in retail and get it done as early as possible.

Mine's a thirtyone as well. I got the one where you can change the purse skirt, so I don't have to buy a whole new purse every time. Ive had it about 2 1/2 years and have two purse skirts. I don't change mine as often. I would like to get a new one for spring though.

Success! Surprisingly, I actually settled on a vinyl purse. When you first look at it, you cannot tell it's vinyl, and those are the ones I hate. The ones that when you look at them you think they look like they are plastic. I ended up getting this purse which actually says it is "online only" but they had 2 at my store so I don't know if they were both returns or if my store just got them for some reason. Or maybe they were in stores but are now online only and my store still had some left. I only saw it at my store in the cognac but that's ok because I like that color. The handles are long enough that I can sling it over my shoulder but short enough that I can keep it on my forearm. Plenty of pockets. Just the right size. The only other requirement I had was a cell phone pocket on the outside and technically this one has 2. I'm not completely fond of the fact that they are on the side but I'll probably get used to that. At least for the 3-6 months that I will carry this thing before I go in search of the next purse. :)

I even found a wallet that I liked, also in cognac. My checkbook cover was falling apart and I can put my checkbook in this wallet so it works out.

Small Macys? What about the local Bloomingdales?

No Bloomie's here, our "city" is too small for that. I think the Macy's is probably small for some areas but it's a decent size for here and 2 stories plus they bought out the store next door and use that also.

everything that fits well and looks good is expensive,

I'm with you there. I have been on a weight loss journey this last year and have lost so much weight that nothing from last year fits. I'm restocking my wardrobe entirely about every 3-4 months. I have 22 pounds to get to my goal weight. I can't afford to buy the really nice stuff since I'm still losing. Thank goodness I know how to crochet and knit because I can buy yarn at Hobby Lobby and Joann and make a really nice sweater for about $10-$15, which is equivalent in looks and design to sweaters at the mall that run $80 and up.

I thought about TJ Maxx and Marshalls. Our Marshalls is kinda gross though and I just went there the other day for a yoga mat and didn't notice anything that caught my eye just cruising through. TJ Maxx is a good idea when I'm on the hunt in 3-6 months again. Our TJ Maxx (and Marshalls) are super small though so it's not too often that I see anything I like. I mean these stores are so small, they are about the size of Joann, if not smaller. And we don't even have a very big Joann.

Ummmmm......I am finished, going to wrap packages this weekend.

I don't buy much for Christmas anymore. Hubby's family doesn't exchange gifts with us so we don't have to worry about them. My family is so huge that we just do a single gift gift exchange and the rule is that it either has to be $25 (or less) or you are allowed to spend $25 on supplies to make something... and my family would rather have something handmade than a $25 store bought gift. There are so many kids in my family that as moms we all decide on a specific store each year and everyone buys $5 gift cards for each kid so they can put all their cards together and get themselves what they want. My son is an adult and he'd rather just have money so that's easy. I really only shop for one gift for my husband and a few for my daughter... she is at the age that she'd rather have a few really nice gifts than a slew of less expensive things. We are buying her a laptop this year so I'm waiting to see what's on Black Friday. I should be able to do all of my Christmas shopping in a day.