We are diving into the world of luxury today! Handbags have always been my thing. From when I worked at Forever 21 in high school and bought every $30 purse I could afford, to now. My taste has upgraded just a bit, but I still enjoy a fabulous handbag. I own a few luxury handbags so I wanted to share some tips that I’ve learned along the way for anyone looking to make their first luxury handbag purchase.
Tips For Buying Your First Luxury Handbag
Do your research!
Spending $2K-3K on a handbag (OR MORE) is not something everyone can do without blinking. It’s an investment and a commitment. Read the reviews online. Go to the store and try the bag on in person. Try every size, if applicable, to make sure you fully understand your options. Are there previous seasons, colors, collections that may not be represented on the selling floor or online? This is your first luxury handbag, so take your time and make sure that you love your purchase!
For example, I considered several sizes in the Gucci Dionysus shoulder bag before deciding to get the medium. Even though reviews said it was heavy, when I tried it on, it wasn’t too heavy for me and I loved the larger silhouette.
Classic vs. Trendy?
It is important to determine what is important to you. Are you looking for a timeless classic or something more trendy? I was extremely hesitant when the Gucci Marmont bag came out. I could not determine immediately if this bag was just the trend for the season, or if it was a true classic. Time definitely proved me wrong and this “it” bag continues to shine. I got the black classic leather in size small. The same can be said for the LV Neverfull. At this point it’s a classic, but it’s also a bag that literally EVERYONE has. And I mean everyone! I’m not one to want to have the same bag as everyone else, but I know how popular it is too.
The Chanel boy bag or classic flap bag are more great examples of classics. Dior’s recent reprise of the saddle bag is another one! There are so many amazing options out there. First determine what you are looking for. Classic or trendy … or a little bit of both!
Budget For Your Purchase
This was a question on a Q&A I did awhile back. How to budget for your first luxury handbag purchase. Everyone’s budget looks different, so it is important to have a solid understanding of how much money you make vs. how much you spend every month. In doing so, you’ll be able to know how much you can realistically set aside in order to buy something. If you have a job that provides lucrative bonuses, then this is another way to treat yourself! But a personal rule of thumb that I’ve learned over the years is if I can’t pay cash for it, I don’t need it. Don’t go into debt trying to buy the latest handbag. It just isn’t worth it.
Resale Websites Are Your Friend
I know that there is a lot of joy that comes from walking into a luxury store and buying the item you’ve been saving your money for. Trust me, I get it. But there are also SO many great options when it comes to buying items second hand. You also save A LOT of money when you go this route. I should note that this is in most cases. Sometimes buying new is a better choice but if you follow my first step “do research” you’ll be fine. A few site that I like to browse:
Where else do you guys like to shop? I know there are a lot of options out there. Thank you for reading! I hope you found this helpful. Let me know in the comments or via email what additional topics you would like to see on the blog! I added this post to #STJHOLIDAY as well because I know many of you like to treat yourselves during the holiday season!
XO – Steph
