Snob Essentials

Kirstin Cavallari’s Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Q Huge Hillier Hobo

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I see the Marc By Marc Jacobs Classic Q Huge Hillier Hobo ($498) that Kristin Cavallari is sporting all over the city. I know a lot of people think that Marc by Marc Jacobs is a great mid-range bag line, but I just consistently find their bags to be poorly made and over-priced. While this bag is not outrageously expensive, I wouldn’t for a second think it was $500 if I didn’t know it was Marc by Marc Jacobs. The rings look so cheap and there is nothing sumptuous about the leather used. For a simple everyday bag I do think it works. I just also think the same level of quality could be found for less at a place like J. Crew or Zara.

What do you think about Kristin Cavallari’s M by MJ? Snob or Slob?

DO YOU LOVE IT OR HATE IT?

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28 comments

  1. This bag looks more like the Crew or Banana but in general I love Marky Marc Jacobs. I have the Super K Posh Turn Lock Satchel and I love it. I love the glazed leather and the aged finish on the hardware. I sometimes look at it and just smile. I get compliments on it all the time, which also makes me smile.

    This price range is all I can afford or am willing to spend on a handbag so I wouldn’t just buy a label. It has to be quality. So, depends on the bag.

  2. My good friend has this bag in a beautiful, autumnal wine color with goldtone hardware. I think it’s a very nice bag, and I have to disagree with you on the leather–it’s a pebbled, soft calfskin and I don’t have any issues with that. I “pet” it all the time!

    I LOATHE the name plate. It is absolutely atrocious and that would be the only thing holding me back from wanting it myself.

  3. I had the smaller Hillier in blue, and the color started rubbing off and bleeding and showing a strange neon-blue underneath. This happened within 2 weeks of my owning the bag. I returned it no problem, but I have never heard of anyone having this same problem. The store was also shocked. Never again will I buy one.

  4. I don’t think Marc by Marc Jacobs bags are worth the price, but $1,000+ bags usually don’t look like they would cost that much either.

  5. Agree with write-up on the bag. However, check out the new drawstringy! – The leather is to die for!! Only one problem: the bag weighs three (3) lbs. empty!!!!!

  6. I loathe the LARGE, LOOK AT ME name plate also. I don’t mind the leather but the garish lining, UGH! I do agree about getting a JCrew bag instead…the quality of the leather is about the same, slightly lower price point and without the lame nameplate and hideous lining.

  7. @ MeganP – i also have that bag color and i absolutely love this bag. i dont mind the name plate, i just switch it so it won’t show if i dont feel like seeing it. i haven’t changed my bag since i bought it (like a month ago?). it goes with everything, well at least with all my clothes so far. it is actually a good buy.

  8. This is actually the Marc by Marc Jacobs Dr. Q Lil Riz bag, not the Hillier hobo! (Check the top of the bag and you can see the difference)

  9. And I just wanted to point out, J. Crew actually copied Marc Jacob’s design. The Hillier hobo was released in 2008 and it was just recently that you see J. Crew’s reincarnation.

    In my opinion, MbMJ is well worth the price – great leather and designs I would never think twice about buying it.

  10. I’d just like to echo that this is clearly not a Hillier bag. While such a mistake would be understandable if made by an amateur, tsk tsk Bag Snob.

  11. I bought this bag in the regular large size, not huge size, last year in 2008 when it was a new style. I got the tan leather with gold hardware. I loved it so much I considered getting another color this year when I saw they brought the style back again. However I totally agree with the quality issue– something happened between last year and now bc the new bags are not as nicely made. I was lucky that mine had the soft buttery leather… all the ones I saw this year looked cheap and def not worth the pricetag. I’d say this is true for most of the Marc by Marc line lately.

  12. I bought this bag in the regular large size, not huge size, last year in 2008 when it was a new style. I got the tan leather with gold hardware. I loved it so much I considered getting another color this year when I saw they brought the style back again. However I totally agree with the quality issue– something happened between last year and now bc the new bags are not as nicely made. I was lucky that mine had the soft buttery leather… all the ones I saw this year looked cheap and def not worth the pricetag. I’d say this is true for most of the Marc by Marc line lately.

  13. I really hate the color of this bag. I have never bought a bag from the Marc by Marc line, although I have seen some styles that I liked. I have bought Marc Jacobs bags from his high end line. In recent months the Safety pin Stam in black with the pinky beige edging. I adore this bag! Marc Jacobs is brillant. He will go down ,as probably, this generations greatest designer, in years to come. I am not sure he has any input in the design of the Marc by Marc line. The economy may have affected the leather and workmanship recently. I would love to hear Sharon’s comment on this.

  14. Fist off, the bag is not a Huge Hillier…the fold over top looks more like a Riz.

    Aside from that, it’s a fun casual bag. That’s what MbMJ is about–fun! They’re not designed to impress the snobby side of anyone. The bags come in colors and styles that are youthful, edgy, and whimsical.

    Also, Marc Jacobs is brilliant! From his own line premium MJ to LV it’s all good…

  15. I also bought the smaller Hillier hobo in 2008, cream with gold hardware and I still get compliments on it every time I wear it! Its too bad that the leather quality has gone down in Marc by Marc, I think for 500-ish dollars you should be getting something decent that doesn’t feel like its from Aldo.

    I have a question for Tina and Kelly:

    >> How do you clean/maintain a cream colored leather bag?

    Are you supposed to take it to the dry cleaner? My bag just doesn’t look as ‘bright’ as 2 years ago, although it is still in great condition. Also, there are some small blue stains on parts of the bag that rubbed against my jeans when I wore it with the cross-body strap.

    Thanks!

  16. I was looking for a sturdy, casual bag and bought the Classic Q Hillier Hobo in brown. Within a couple of months, I started seeing areas where the color in the leather was coming off. I thought at first that I might have scratched it accidentally. It was later on that I found out on The Purse Forum that this problem is quite common. I wrote to MJ Repairs and they can not do anything. They suggested that I return it to the store but now I can’t find the receipt. Surely MJ knows that there is a problem with their leather and yet, why have they not done anything about it? I don’t think I will ever buy anything from them.

  17. I purchased the black hillier in 2008 and sharon is right – the rings ARE cheap. the bolt/screw fell out of the rings within 6 months of wearing the bag. i gave up and threw the bag in the closet. save an extra $500 and put it towards a MJ blake