I just saw this thread. I have never spent more than $100 on a handbag (and probably not even that), but if someone can afford it and that's what makes them happy, why not? It's their business. You could say, well, she should take that money and give it to the poor instead, and that's a valid argument. But you could say the same thing to someone who spends $800 on travel. Spending money on travel is not intrinsically morally superior to spending money on apparel. It's a personal preference (it also happens to be my personal preference).
That said, I hate it when media stories act like it's reasonable to call purses, shoes, shirts, etc. with three-figure pricetags "inexpensive." To me, anything short of maybe a winter coat that costs over $100 is expensive, period. And I believe that manufacturers have brainwashed the public into thinking that designer items are worth as much more as their prices would indicate. A $100 designer T-shirt is no doubt better made than a $25 Old Navy T-shirt -- but not four times better.
