Designer Handbags for Teenagers?

People get emotional on the subject of designer handbags for teenagers. People meaning teens. And also their parents.

The following passage originally came from a Wall Street Journal article on the targeting of teens for luxury items like designer bags, cars, etc.

Driving the shift is a generation of young people often called the teenage “millennials” — the adolescents and young adults born in the late-1980s to mid-90s. Of course there have always been teens who were focused on the “right” designer names, and marketers striving to sway them. (Remember Brooke Shields in her Calvins?) But apparel makers and retailers say the affluent millennials are particularly notable for their brand consciousness. Surrounded by brand references from Web sites, rap music, movies, magazines and MTV — and showered with the best of everything by their baby boomer parents — these young consumers have grown up knowing the difference between Prada and Ralph Lauren from an early age.

Wall Street Journal

So let’s get right to the essential question: does a 13-year-old need a Louis Vuitton purse?

Teens & designer labels

I agree that teens wanting designer labels isn’t anything new — I remember begging for a pair of Gibraud jeans and working my butt off for a Ralph Lauren Polo button-down shirt.  But I’m concerned about the apparent entitlement that many teens feel in regards to designer labels and the apparent lack of a backbone by parents to say no.

It’s the job of teenagers to push and it’s the job of parents to set boundaries. However, when it comes to designer goods, it seems like parents just can’t say no anymore. For example, one guy in the WSJ article even stated “If they keep their grades up, it is hard to say no.”

I was a straight-A student, got a full academic scholarship to a great school, and my parents had absolutely no problem saying no. In fact, I think they secretly plotted new and creative ways to say “no” to my irrational, teenage requests.

I mean, why does your 13-year-old (or a 20, or 30, or 40) HAVE to have a $700 handbag or a BMW before they even learn what a responsibility it is to drive? Plus, always rewarding good behavior with an extravagant gift probably doesn’t teach a very good lesson to your teen. There are times in life that you do good things and you receive no reward other than the fact you did well, which apparently doesn’t compare to a new Dooney & Bourke bag.

As parents, you can reward kids for good grades in other ways. Try going out for a nice dinner with the whole family or taking a hike together, for example. Fun activities for teens don’t have to involve consumerism. Thinking it does probably creates a generation of spoiled consumers with very unrealistic expectations about life.

Designer bags, and then what?

Anyone who’s ever watched MTV’s Sweet Sixteen knows exactly what I’m talking about. A $50,000 party and new Jaguar for a spoiled 16-year-old? Please. What do they have to look forward to when they graduate from college? A small town and a Rolls Royce? If you have a million dollar bar (or bat) mitzvah, are you going to have a $2 million wedding? Where does it end? Seems like everything else in their lives will be downhill in comparison.

Designer items are not a human right. They are nice and I love a good bag as much as the next person, but I also have a job.

Which handbag brands do teens love most?

This post was original published on Budget Fashionista ages ago, but it’s still relevant today. You can even find stats on which designer bags teenagers love most. According to Statista, the most popular handbag brand among teens are:

• Michael Kors, preferred by 18% of teens
• Louis Vuitton (16%)
• Coach (14%)
• kate spade (12%)
• Gucci (6%)

I will say I find the list surprising. Michael Kors, for example? Those bags seem so subdued in style that it’s odd teens love them so much.

How to buy designer handbags for teens

Perhaps you came across this post in need of a reasonable, teen-appropriate handbag. Now that I’ve vented on what NOT to buy (a $300+ bag with a logo), let’s get to the question of what type of handbag you could buy a 13-year-old.

Practically speaking, her tastes are going to change fast. Maybe before this season’s over. But you can’t buy a super-cheap, fast-fashion bag from Walmart or Target because her friends will call her out. Kids are mean that way.

Sadly, you probably should also steer clear from designers’ bridge lines — these are the lower-end versions of designer labels. Examples: Lauren by Ralph Lauren and Armani Exchange.

If your teen is a creative individualist, you might get away a quirky (and more affordable) brand like Betsey Johnson or Fiorucci. If you shop the sales, you *might* keep your outlay down near $70. Also see this designer handbag buyer’s guide for more ideas.

A second option is to shop the stores that carry designer brands for less in hopes of finding a gem. Try:

• Marshall’s
• The Outnet
• United Apparel Liquidators
• Neiman Marcus Last Call
• Saks Off 5th

Of course, going this route doesn’t really send the right message unless you tell your teen you bought it at a budget store. Same goes for buying used at TheRealReal or Poshmark. In other words, if you can’t tell the kid that a $300+ bag is not an option, you’re better off giving her a gift card. The smart and determined ones will save up the gift cards to get the bag they want.