Buying Your First Luxury Handbag
Everything you need to know about buying your first luxury designer bag and recommendations on what to buy!
The time has come! After years of walking past those boutique windows and thinking 'one day', you can finally buy exactly what you want. Your first designer bag is more than just a bag, it's basically a milestone, and one you'll remember forever. With so much to consider and so many "rules" to follow, this guide will help you get started...Dos and Donts
I personally don't consider myself to be a hoarder (others may disagree), but I do believe some things are meant to be kept forever, and your first designer bag is absolutely one of them! In this case, especially If you're dropping hundreds or thousands of pounds on a bag, it's important you get the right one, which can be done with some simple do and donts. It may be self explanatory but don't live outside of your means. It's easy to be caught up in the life of social media, your favourite influencer may have just unboxed her 3rd Chanel of the week, but if that's not the life that you're living, there's nothing wrong with that. A bag is not necessity (especially in this cost of living crisis hun), so if you know this isn't something you can afford right now, add it onto your wish list and keep saving, praying and working hard until you can. Don't kill yourself for the lifestyle! Picking a bag with an all over monogram is not always the best idea as it may be hard to match or place with your style. Pieces that are "Trending" also probably aren't the best way to go because as soon as they go out of style, you'll be kicking yourself; wondering why you chose to follow everyone else. In both these cases, you could potentially be looking back in the next 5 years with only one thing on your mind, 'who let me buy this?!'. Instead, choose bags that are versatile, that you know you'll get the most wear and use from even when your style goes up and down. For your first, textures and neutral colours are your best friend (blacks, greys, nudes; whites), then as your collection grows, you can add splats of color and frivolous designs. Finally, enjoy the experience! Being able to do this for yourself is actually quite a big deal; not just shopping. Walk into the boutique and take your time. Try on the bag, test out strap sizes, ways to wear it, think of outfits, literally everything. Some boutiques even offer free champagne, give you a private room and bring out all your options. And if you're as extra as I am, maybe consider purchasing in Europe. This way you're getting an even better experience, plus lower prices and tax return on top of that. Soak it up! Perfect Pick!
No shade to the LV toiletry pouch girlies but we're choosing timeless quality from now on! Consider this list a guide for your big purchase (with very reasonable pricing) to help decide what's perfect for you. Small- Mini bags may not be the most practical but they're definitely the cutest. I love the Jacquemus Le Chiquito because of it's structure and the gold hardware makes it easier to style . Alexander McQueen Small Skull and Gucci Dionysus Super Mini are also great mini bags that are perfect for special occasions. Medium- Everyday on the go bags are always best in medium because you can throw everything inside yet they're not absurdly large. Celine Classique Triomphe is gorgeous and perfect for that, because of its neural colors, minimalistic style and size. Large- On the pricier side are unfortunately larger bags, they provide the most use and space but can also be clunky. I'm not the biggest fan of designer tote bags because they seem a little...takky? Plus, they're not actually the best quality, so instead something like YSL Small Manhattan is great way to get the size whilst keeping the quality and timeless style. Take care
The thought of spending so much money on a bag and not taking care of it literally makes me cringe, it's pointless! Before you even walk out of the boutique, quality checks are absolutely essential. Does the stitching line up? Does the zip open and close easily? Is the hardware scratched? And neverrr under any circumstances, accept the display bags! They always have more in the back, regardless of what they say. To ensure it always looks as good as the day you bought it, clean it regularly, stuff it to keep structure and shape AND keep it in the dust bag and box to reduce risk of discolouration, scratching and dust, (unless of course you're displaying it). Using bag holder hooks, also preserve quality as you're not putting your bag on the floor when dining. Taking extra care of your bag also helps retain its value, if you ever choose to resell -but that's a different conversation!. It's obviously down to you what bag you take home but make sure you're choosing wisely and enjoy what you've been able to do for yourself. Choose something you'll love for a lifetime and if you look at it and don't instantly fall in love?..it's not the one!