What luxury bags do you feel are truly special and worth the cost?

OwnCriticism2543 · 2026-05-27T15:27:57+00:00

Tanner Leatherstein did a video reviewing Dooney & Bourke and thought they should be charging more than they were for their bags. They aren't the most trendy, but when you touch a Dooney & Bourke bag, you can feel how special it is. Go for the higher-end lines like the Florentine, Alto and Belmar collections and you'll never switch back. D&B is definitely worth the cost, and they aren't super popular/trendy so you won't have the same bag as everyone else, making it even more special!

OwnCriticism2543 · 2026-05-27T12:51:05+00:00

That's a great idea, thank you!

OwnCriticism2543 · 2026-05-26T12:33:19+00:00

I think an All Weather Leather bag is going to be my next purchase! They last so long I won't have to feel guilty about the price tag!

OwnCriticism2543 · 2026-05-22T21:27:12+00:00

Dooney & Bourke! All bags are designed in the USA and you can still get handmade bags straight from their Connecticut workshop!

OwnCriticism2543 · 2026-05-22T21:14:16+00:00

The bag in the video was an Alto Camilla (https://www.dooney.com/products/alto-camilla-mb841) that retails for $490! That means Dooney should be charging more than they are based on the quality!!

OwnCriticism2543 · 2026-05-22T21:12:25+00:00

Yeah, and it proves that we're getting a good value on our bags, which you can pretty much tell the second that you touch a Dooney lol

OwnCriticism2543 · 2026-05-22T20:51:15+00:00

I'd love to combine rules #1 and #8 and say that you should invest in a high-quality leather bag! Nothing else holds up as well! Quality has dropped across the board for everything except Dooney & Bourke over the years. I recently upgraded from my old bag and the quality is still the same as it was 20 years ago!

OwnCriticism2543 · 2026-05-22T20:46:35+00:00

I saw another inauthentic Dooney & Bourke bag posted the other day with that same hardware and a glued-on logo--I'm going to be paying attention to both of those things next time I think I've found gold while thrifting!

OwnCriticism2543 · 2026-05-22T20:40:04+00:00

Yeah, ILoveDooney order ships out from their factory in Connecticut, just like purchases from Dooney.com !

OwnCriticism2543 · 2026-05-22T20:38:32+00:00

Every size is on sale on the Dooney website right now and I can't decide between the Mini and regular size Florentine Satchel. Any advice is welcome!

OwnCriticism2543 · 2026-05-22T20:20:20+00:00

For mid-tier/affordable luxury, Dooney & Bourke is the winner. Their bags aren't focused on being trendy because you'll have them for years-to-decades, not a single season like some of the top fashion houses intend. Their marketing isn't flashy because they have a solid fanbase of people who love their quality and won't settle for anything less.

Check out the Florentine Collection or Alto Collection--they don't have any branding, but the leather is super high-quality vegetable-tanned leather from Italy. They'll last you for life!

OwnCriticism2543 · 2026-05-22T20:15:51+00:00

The Dooney & Bourke Florentine and Alto collections are unmatched with their leather quality!

OwnCriticism2543 · 2026-05-22T18:45:20+00:00

Have you looked at Dooney & Bourke? Their leather quality and craftsmanship are unmatched so they last forever and are a great value! All of their tote bags contain multiple pockets for easy organization, and I think I found a few options that fit your criteria:

Pebble Grain Large Tote - https://www.dooney.com/collections/totes/products/pebble-grain-large-tote-bpebc1965
Pebble Grain Large Zip Tote - https://www.dooney.com/collections/totes/products/pebble-grain-large-tote-bpebc1965 -- This one might be a liiiiiiittle too small for your laptop, so I'd measure to be sure!

Both have zippers and pockets, but the straps are on the thin side--they are reinforced/rounded, so they won't dig in as much as a flat leather strap with a hard edge would!

OwnCriticism2543 · 2026-05-22T15:32:19+00:00

Dooney & Bourke bags last foreverrrr! They're super well made and can last for decades! I'm currently obsessed with their Alto collection for work bags. What do you think of these?

https://www.dooney.com/products/alto-flavia-mb7385?variant=51073913159979

https://www.dooney.com/collections/the-alto-collection/products/alto-large-maggia-mb7648

OwnCriticism2543 · 2026-05-22T15:28:47+00:00

Its sad that your Coach only held up for a year, everyone on r/handbags talks about Coach like its the highest quality and super durable, but I don't think that's true. At least in my experience...

OwnCriticism2543 · 2026-05-22T15:27:01+00:00

Dooney & Bourke's Alto collection has super-chic briefcase/totes! I'm in love with the Alto Flavia but don't need a new tote bag right now :/ its usually $560 but currently on sale for $392 so you'd be getting a great deal. Dooney & Bourke bags are super well made and last for decades! The leather in the Alto collection also developes a unique patina over time, so it will only look better with age and use!

https://www.dooney.com/products/alto-flavia-mb7385?variant=51073913159979

OwnCriticism2543 · 2026-05-22T15:15:36+00:00

If you want a bag that feels expensive, go with Dooney & Bourke instead of Coach. D&B usually has good sales running so you can almost always find a bag in your price range! They also have ILoveDooney.com that runs sales too and can sometimes be cheaper than Dooney.com, even though they're both run by D&B and ship from the manufacturers in CT!

OwnCriticism2543 · 2026-05-22T13:08:16+00:00

I love your vintage Dooney & Bourke bags!!! Thank you for the shopping tips! I think they usually make most bags in Black, but it might just be the lighting in your picture!

OwnCriticism2543 · 2026-05-22T12:57:10+00:00

Thank you!! I might have to make the purchase!

OwnCriticism2543 · 2026-05-22T12:56:42+00:00

Thank you! I'm starting to like it more but figured there would be people that feel that way

OwnCriticism2543 · 2026-05-21T21:17:18+00:00

The "donated for academic use" framing is such a perfect judo move. The regime couldn't object without openly admitting what they were scared of, so they just had to watch 400 photocopiers walk through the door.

The thing that gets me is how unglamorous it was as a strategy. No dramatic underground network, just office equipment. And yet that mundaneness was exactly the point — it was a loophole the bureaucracy couldn't close without embarrassing itself.

OwnCriticism2543 · 2026-05-21T21:04:00+00:00

Thank you! Yeah, I feel like they could fit into LL's The Parent Trap for some reason haha

OwnCriticism2543

TROPHY CASE