I have come to the conclusion that we wear branded bags to show off in some way or other. I say in some way or other because it is of such extreme levels that some may get offended, especially those who are extremely wealthy whom everybody already know can afford 100 Birkins, so what else is there to show off, right?
If it is not to show off that one is wealthy, for example, then it stems from some level of insecurity that we have that we must show that we are able too to carry a branded bag. It is like an emblem of arrival.
If what I say isn’t true, then wealthy people would be carrying brandless bags around or even recycled bags for that matter, and some actually do! Most don’t so why don’t they? They need to keep up with the crowd, the Joneses and what everyone else is saying about them. It is a competition of the riches. If you refute, then I would ask why you don’t sacrifice each bag to feed another child instead.
Let me share my personal experience. Growing up, the elders were already all about branded bags even though my late Mom personally was never into them, but her class could pass off a guni sack as a branded bag! Me however, I had an eye for a classic black Chanel Flap Bag since I was a teenager, maybe even before. I just loved the way the gold chain interweaved with the leather and I always fell in love with every image that passed my eye. To be honest, it was probably more the design I was attracted to than the brand but since Chanel developed it, I always thought I’d have a Chanel bag one day.
My late Mom used to scowl and scorn at my expensive taste in bags reinstating that she would never, ever pay so much for leather and my ears were deaf. I would work hard just to earn a new branded handbag. I loved fashion. I loved style. I loved handbags.
The day came when I could finally afford THAT Chanel handbag. Soon after I was a Chanel bag collector and then I purchased my first Hermes Jypsiere for RM35,000. The what???? I didn’t do the Birkin because I honestly found it quite ‘Aunty’ for my ‘young’ self then and as luck would have it, my dearest friend from London gifted me her old Kelly bag which I love, love, love!!! Suddenly thoughts of owning a Birkin crossed my mind and I started searching for one but the head still has a hard time accepting paying 6 figures for a bag!!!
I asked myself, why do I need it? What joy do I derive out of carrying a branded bag? My husband reminds me frequently that I have RM300,000 worth of handbags that I hardly even use. Whoops. He keeps track! He has that money software where all my handbags get tossed into one category because I always use the investment strategy with him. To be quite honest, I do love my Chanel bags. If I were broke and needed money, I would sell them but I would be sad. That is how strong my love is for my bloody Chanel bags. But for the Hermes, not so much. Weird, huh?
Carrying one would certainly show that I could afford one but why is that important? To show that I am fabulous? Amazing? Clever? Accomplished? Rich? Capable? What? I don’t need any of that. I think that when you don’t have it and you can’t have it, then you want it more, but when you can, it no longer appeals so much anymore.
These days, I am moving towards the minimalist life with the hope of decluttering all my wealth and giving away all my STUFF so that I have only memories and stories and lots of love and laughter to go by each day. It is enough. After all, we can’t take all our Birkins to our coffin, right?
So should I get one? As much as I think it is a crazy waste of money, I have an inkling that I would succumb to it one day. It is just a matter of when and when I am lucky enough to find the right size and colour. For what is a life of charity if we cannot even live a little to stroke our own ego? Since nobody else is doing it for me!
What is your take on women carrying branded bags? Is it necessary? Isn’t it a waste of money? Why are women so stupid?
**************************************************************************Who is Mamapumpkin?
Mamapumpkin spent 7 years in London committing crimes to gain her Bartlett degree in Architecture. She then spent 7 years as a Stay At Home Mom raising her children as documented in this blog of over 15 years thereafter returning to the Corporate World stronger than ever as the Country Director of a British Multinational. She sets out to prove to all, that you can have anything and everything that you want; if you have that fire of desire burning within and the drive to work hard. Even better with much love.
Mamapumpkin has not only grown corporate businesses successfully in the past but has grown not one but TWO network marketing businesses in the notorious MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) industry, achieving success in under 2 years. She believes in the MLM business model but realises the DRASTIC PITFALLS and great stigma attached to it, understanding EXACTLY WHY the majority would shy away (or RUN for their lives) from ANY MLM business. But open your eyes and take time to understand it intellectually, remove your hang-ups, confirm your research, and you may just want to seize an opportunity. She did. And no, she never went about chasing people for sales. She had a sophisticated system work for her through technology and a smartphone.
She now impacts lives authentically with proven strategies amassed through the last decade of her own transformation offering online coaching programmes and always supports the underprivileged. She believes that we can all have a life of our own desires to enable real contribution into the world. But first, one needs to understand what this all means.
A beautiful life without limits.
If you wish to learn some tools to propel your life forward guaranteed, be brave enough to make contact as her life's purpose is to build people. She operates through a discovery call after which she will commit to helping you. Or not.
Most lose out on an opportunity because they are afraid they would be sold to, conned or whatever fear resides in their brain without even trying. And that's on them.
Mamapumpkin is a living testimony that women really can have a lot. Being financially and time free has enabled her to travel the world anytime, anywhere, doing anything, and she spends most of her days with her children, having fun, and supporting others wherever she can. Also having fun.
