Guess what!?? I grabbed a bargain bag! (Guess Spendor Hobo Handbag)

Member Name: Homer213

Product:	Guess Spendor Hobo Handbag
Date:	23/06/09 (153 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Loads of pockets, great design, sturdy, durable, attractive

Disadvantages: Very expensive if you pay the current retail price!!

I was lucky enough to visit New York in December last year, and my boyfriend was unlucky enough to be dragged to Century 21 to participate in bringing home some great shopping bargains!!

Century 21 can only be described as one HUGE TK Max - it's a department store selling brand and designer names at discount prices. I'll tell you more about it another day.

I didn't really go to Century 21 with a plan - other than to buy anything that was good value within budget and that I couldn't get in London!

Century 21 have a HUGE bag sections - sorry boys!! And it was like Primark on a Saturday at lunchtime, and yes the crowds/customers were just as aggressive!! But I digress, so on to the important issue - the Guess Splendor Hobo Handbag and the reason why I decided to purchase it and write this review.

Whilst I wasn't intentionally looking for a bag, I came across this Guess Spendor Hobo Handbag in what I would describe as patent grey. The texture is similar to that of crocodile skin or similar but it's synthetic, not leather. Besides I don't think I could walk around carrying a crocodile skin bag!! This bag also came in a yicky apricot colour, but I won't bore you with that!!

What attracted me to this bag, besides the colour, was the number of outside pockets and a bigger inner. There are 3 outside pockets - 2 on the front with magnetic clips (as pictured above), and 1 zipper pocket on the reverse. I really like outside pockets for number of reasons, as I like to store my tube ticket, my work ID and my key essentials such as tissues and lip gloss in a quick and easy to access place. This bag seemed to meet those criteria straight away, and whilst I only store tissues in the front pocket, the zippered pocket on the back is great for my passes - safe and secure as it's always resting against my body.

The main section of the bag is a big "bucket" section, with a number of pockets including a zippered one, mobile phone pocket and pen holder. In other words more than plenty for me! It has a lovely light grey lining with the Guess logo printed on it, and the lining really does compliment the bag.
The great thing about the size of the inside is that it carries everything I need for the day - eg a book, shoes, purse, makeup - so it holds a lot!

As I tend to "overload" my handbag with unnecessary "stuff", it tends to get quite heavy so a thick durable strap is also important. This thick since handle/strap is attached to the bag with 2 strong metal D rings and is well attached, which was another selling point!

Now I'm not the biggest "brand" or "label" fan. I can take it or leave it. I purchase things I like and can afford. So the fact that this was a Guess bag was nice, but I wasn't really that fussed. What I was attracted to the features I listed above and the selling price of USD 60! Now I didn't know how much Guess bags were going for in the UK at the time, but I certainly knew they cost more than GBP 40!!
I was happier to get a bag I like that cost only around GBP 40!!!

So that was December 2008, and my bag is still going strong after being dragged to work on a daily basis and fighting the daily battle of the London tube - it even survived getting stuck in the tube doors the other day!!

But I had to write this review to tell you about my bargain! As I was looking online the other day and was so surprised to see my bag retailing in John Lewis for GBP 135!!!
www.johnlewis.com/230552289/Product.aspx
That's is more than 3 times what I paid!!! And I'm so glad I didn't pay GBP 135 for a non leather bag, just because it has the name Guess on it!!

I'm giving it 5 stars cause I love the bag and it's lasting and wearing brilliantly!!
5 stars for the bargain price I paid!
But 1 star if I had to pay the current UK retail price!!

Summary: A designer bag at a Primark price!!