Which Longchamp Bag?
 

This will be my first Longchamp. I'll use it as a handbag -- but a roomy handbag, for toting around wallet, glasses, sunglasses, guidebook, arrondissement map, small notebook, tiny camera (now you know where I'm heading!) I want long handles, but am torn between the medium and large size bags. Don't want to get the large if the medium will suffice. You Longchamp lovers out there --- any advice?

Oh -- and am I complete idiot to buy it in the States? I can't imagine they would be THAT much cheaper in Paris -- but if they are, it might be worth waiting.

Thank you!!

Lounge topic????

Mime is 9x11 crossover.

Tedgale, I think she wants to know if she waits, will it be less expensive in Paris.

Since it is light fabric, the large wouldn't be any heavier than the medium to carry and the bag takes its shape based on what's in it so the large isn't much bigger to carry either. For price comparison, Nordstroms has the long handle medium for $125 and the www.longchamps.fr website has the same for 62 Euro.

Uggg! I really hate those nylon Longchamp totes. They are everywhere.

I was in Barney's on Madison Ave. yesterday (went to the Biennial at the Whitney) and saw this bag:

http://tinyurl.com/ylyktlq

GORJUS!!!!!!!!!

So much nicer than Longchamp. More expensive, yes, but this bag will turn heads.

Thin

oops, mine is not a Longchamp but a Prada. It's wonerful because I can wash it and not worry about getting caught in the rain. I have a small size for when out dancing or dining.
Thin, the totes you are thinking of is called Piage by Longchamp.
I prefer the PSI than the one you linked.

Well, Mimi, I like the PS1 bags, too.

And I love the Givenchy Nightengale with the metal stars.

So many women on Madison with their Goyard St. Louis totes.

I also saw a few women with the blue leather Speedy from Louis Vuitton. Very elegant.

The Countess de Billy was in Manhattan to visit her sister-in-law so we went to the Biennial then to lunch at Cafe d'Alsace on Second Ave/85th. We had a very good time.

We then went to Takashimaya, but no Farmacia Santa Maria Novella was on sale yet. The head of the perfume dept. told me that there would be a sale at the beginning of May, but doubted the SMN line would go on sale. Oh, well.

Your friend,
John

Thanks so much to those who gave practical advice. As for the unsolicited editorial comment on the ugliness of the Longchamps -- well, kinda rude. Surprising. And I can't afford a $1,300 handbag. For me, the Longchamp would be a splurge.

It's more fun to buy a French bag in France; more colors, more styles to choose from, lovely shops in Paris or in Aix. Wait until you are there. Each season they come out with new designs-----
But that's just me.

oh, I see you are talking about the ones that fold up. sorry. I have a very large one that I bought many years ago that I use for weekend getaways. Not a handbag. If you don't want to go for all leather they do a heavy nylon hobo with leather features, handle, etc. I would choose that over the travel nylon bag and the price point is not bad at all. You will probably find those at the Galleries Lafayette all over France.

LOL! Thin thinks that the "head turning " is the goal. (There may be reasons heads are turning besides the "glamor" factor she thinks she is sending off)

I have the Longchamp being discussed. I love it because I can carry tons of stuff in it!

Thin... quit name dropping. The only person you are impressing is yourself (and perhaps your active imagination?) :)

Hit send too soon.

Please remember Thin lives to provide "unsolicited" advice that she believes makes him/her look special. Just consider it part of the entertainment at Fodors.

Carol and Justine:

FYI: Thin is a man...

yes, I know; John is usually a man's name. I think that he's fabulous and made no comment to him or about him. I was just trying to help out a fellow shopper.

Sorry don't know a thing about the brand, but if you wait until you get to Paris, what are you going to use for the first part of your trip? Then you'd have 2 handbags with you??

kaggo- I am a huge fan of these bags and have used them for years. Get the larger size. These have gotten very popular with college girls who can tote books and such in them. The nice part is that the handles are stitched so well that they never pull away with the weight of heavy stuff. If you use the large you can also tuck in a travel umbrella and anything you purchase. The only thing I don't like about them is that there are no zip interior compartments.I take one of my smaller ones for a purse and actually carry it (with wallet,keys,etc.) inside the larger one. Then I can put maps,guidebooks and so on in the larger one also.

They are not cheaper in France. I check everytime I am there.
Nordstrom is a good place to purchase. You will love it.

Mimi, check out www.jerome-dreyfuss.com. His shop is on the Rue Jabob in Paris. He is married to Isabel Marant.

I read in the New York Times that he is opening a shop in Manhattan.

Thin

http://tinyurl.com/yez4fhz


Thin

The larger size with the longer handles goes for about 69 euros-just bought another one last week over in Paris.They are still way cheaper in Europe than they are in the US.I love them because you can take several with you on a trip if you want different purses and they don't take up alot of space.

Lynnaustin-you must be my long lost twin sister as it is a real joke in my family how I do a "stacking doll" thing with my different size Longchamps within each other.It works for me!

thin, dryfus site is amusing but I'm saving for a chanel classic knowing it can be sold

Kagoo, if you fly AirFrance, you'll get the least expensive large tote.

No one asked me but, I don't get the appeal of these bags for use as handbags. There are no pockets inside. I do have two of the short handled ones (one given as promotion from a French company) that I take along to carry home extra purchases. But as a handbags, those bags do not seem practical to me.

If you know anyone headed to China, he or she can pick up an excellent copy for about $10US.

I 've been know to purchase a few Lancel purses when in Paris. Always get compliments in San Francisco as they are difficult to purchase in the states.

http://tinyurl.com/y3gutdr

I really like this bag from Luisa Via Roma.

Thin

Mimi, will you buy your Chanel new or from a consignment shop in Boston?

eskscrunchy, did you have a good time in Asia? I think I read that you went to Bangkok.

Thin

The appeal for me is that the handles never rip and also that you can just wipe them off. They last forever and can hold a lot of weight. They fold easily, weigh very little and never look worn. They are great for travel.
It would be nice if they have inside compartments.
A $10 knock-off would probably last only about 10 days.

dutyfree- as your long lost twin can you tell me if we have any really wealthy relatives?!!

About not having all the zippered compartments in the handbag: I used a nylon, over the chest bag for traveling for years because it had lots of little compartments. Last year I bought a new one (Eagle Creek) after much angst about getting the perfect one, including asking on here.

Here's my point: I realized I rarely took the time to actually compartmentalize anything! Grab my change and dump it in the purse.

So now I'm just going to look for lightweight--maybe I'll even carry one of my Vera Bradley's because it weighs nothing. Can you imagine how "American" I'll look? Horrors :) But I'm all about the comfort now.

Long before there was ever a Vera Bradley, there was Pierre Deux. So, Vera Bradley's bags aren't really American at all.

Thin

Off topic (and I am purchasing a new longchamp bag when I get to Paris) has anyone ever priced Chanel shoes in France and in US? I want to buy classic ballet flats and they are selling for $550 right now in Calif (yikes!). Can't seem to find any pricing for them in Europe.

There are many different styles of Chanel shoes, even ballerina flats, so hard to say, but that price doesn't sound unusual. That would be about 400 euro, and I've seen Chanel shoes marked 250-500 euro in Paris. They have Chanel shoe boutiques in Galleries Lafayette and Bon Marche.

mac, they are priced $550 here in Boston.

Thanks, Thinster--I did have a great time and am only now getting over jet lag/excitement of travel! One of these days I will get around to posting a trip report! Take care!!

Yes, I want to get the classic beige with black toe cap. I looked at a pair two years ago at Bon Marche and I think they were around 300+ euros. Even if they are close in price, it will be fun to buy them in Paris. Also, I assume I can get the VAT back. Does anyone know the process for that?

You must get the form in the store where you purchased the item. They will fill out and stamp the form. Don't lose it.
When you fly home from the EU there will be a customs area where you will show your form, it will be stamped and then you can mail it for your refund (this is done at the last airport in the EU). You can select to have it refunded directly to your credit card. You must also have the item purchased with you to show the customs agent so don't pack it in your checked luggage!
Munich airport now will give you the refund in either cash or on your credit card at a booth in the airport. I don't know if CDG is doing this.

Now the toe is more pointy. I'm looking for the vintage round toe

thanks so much, Lynnaustin. I need to keep better records of my purchases in Europe. We are flying home via Frankfurt, wonder if they give the refund?

Cigalechanta, are you looking for a vintage pair?

Thanks, everyone! Who knew there would be so much good advice and conversation generated from my little question? I'm leaning toward buying the bag here (for the very if-I-don't-what-will-I-carry-TO-Paris? reason), but may well bow to economy and wait anyhow. At any rate, thanks to all....

LOL! What a thread. Did it go around in circles or what? I needed my daily laugh. Smiles. And Thin, the Jerome Dreyfuss store on rue Jacob, and the second one around the corner from rue Jacob on rue de l' Echaude, is fabulous. The apartment I rented was about a 15 second walk from it. As for Balenciaga(sp?)... never been into it. Smiles. Happy Travels!

kagoo

My girls and I have several Longchamp bags - mostly Pliages but I have a couple Planetes which are pretty too (I don't like the new colors this year, though). I found them to be cheaper in France or the Eurpean continent for that matter, than here. UK is also cheaper than US.

I have one gorgeous cream leather one (I don't know the model name) which was around 250 euro - a splurge for me but I love it.

We have several of the larger tote sizes to use as bookbags, carryons.I also have several smaller makeup bags (or whatever you want to call them) that I use inside my "purse" size bag to keep organized. They are very sturdy. I would wait until I got to Europe. They usually have many more colors and styles to offer.

I have a black leather shoppers tote and I love it - great for travel and just about everything else. It goes with everything, is a classic bag - understated, elegant at the same time.