This post won't be for everyone and that's OK. This post is for all the bossbabes out there working two jobs and putting all of your money back into your business whether that is a blog, a store, a service or anything else under the sun. It's been almost 4 years blogging now and I finally wanted to make an investment into myself and my blog business that would serve me well and hold value with time. I figured a classic handbag would be the perfect investment. As I was new to the luxury shopping experience, I want to share why I decided to get a designer bag, which bag I chose and the resources that helped me make my decisions.
Expensive Taste
I have always had expensive taste but to be honest could never afford luxury pieces. I had a very low set income for years as a teacher and never had a secondary source of income and let's be honest adulting sucks! Bills, a mortgage, cancer, it all adds up. Resale shopping was and still is my jam, but I have started to develop a love for more quality pieces interspersed with my used pieces as a way to build value in my closet and invest in quality.
Turning my Passion into a Business
Over the past 4 years since my cancer diagnosis, changing jobs, and starting my blog I have turned my writing skills, the blog and my event planning into a business, all while working full time at my 9-5! This has allowed for a little extra income to help pay for hobbies, blog travel and the rest of my business expenses like web fees, graphic design software, etc.
There have been many time when times I wanted to quit, times I was overwhelmed, overworked and discouraged but I kept going. I knew my writing and my blog was making a difference and it brought me a great sense of fulfillment. The time commitment I give to my blog is precious. It's time not spent with my family, not spent exercising and not spent relaxing and that is valuable. It was time I invested in me and the blog again!
Taking the Plunge: My First Designer Bag
Many times before I thought about getting a designer bag but it was always for the wrong reasons. I wanted one because everyone else had one. I wanted one to fit in or I wanted one to project a certain image. It wasn't until this year when my confidence was finally at an all time high due to my hard work and success that investing in a piece actually made sense. This time the decision was all about me and my business instead of for others. In Episode 102 of the Becoming Fearless Style Collective podcast I talk with the founder Annie more about the topic of staying true to yourself and creating authentic content. It's all about being proud of you success but more so your impact!
What Type of Designer Bag to Buy
I did a lot of research on the investment related to designer bags. I watched videos, read articles and looked at pricing of vintage pieces to see which bags held their value over time. Chanel easily flies to the top of the list. Since the 80s and even before Chanel bags have been highly coveted and hold their value for decades.
When we went to Paris the summer after my cancer diagnosis Mac almost convinced me to get the pink Chanel Boy Bag but my practical side set in and I walked away to stay within our trip budget. GAH how I regret not taking advantage of his encouragement haha!
Doing some research on other brands I found that the staple bags from Gucci and Saint Laurent also seemed to hold great value over time. Prada, while gorgeous just didn't have the reputation for quality that I was looking for. There are tons of other brands and styles out there, but those were the main ones that appealed to me.
What Style Designer Bag to Buy
While there are some amazing fun styles out there with bright colors and designs, I knew I wanted my first piece to be classic. I wanted beige, nude or light pink. It goes with everything and never goes out of style. Due to an amazing giveaway from The Sweetest Thing blog a few years ago I already have the Luis Vuitton Neverfull so I wanted this piece to be something smaller and able to be worn crossbody.
Designer Bag Pricing
Designer handbags can range from $300ish to $6,000 depending on the brand and style you are looking for. Obviously pre-owned vs. new will make a slight difference in cost as well as the size and style. Money was a huge factor for me. I had a small amount from a bonus, a big job and was willing to invest a couple hundred. I decided to cap my purchase at $2,000. There were plenty of Chanel pieces I wanted that were in the $2500 - $3500 range but keeping it under $2,000 made more sense for me financially. Someday I'll get my Chanel bag, but not quite yet.
Where to Shop for Designer Bags
So when it comes to purchasing designer bags you have to be very careful where you shop. If you are shopping new you can go directly to Chanel, Gucci, Prada, etc, but then you are paying full price. I knew from the beginning I wanted to go pre-owned for a couple of reasons.
- The pre-owned standards are amazing. With so many reputable pre-owned retailers you can get amazing quality pre-loved pieces for a great discount and be assure they will be authentic.
- I love the idea of supporting sustainable fashion, meaning the purchase helps minimize waste and protect the environment.
- shopping pre-owned gave me a little less sticker shock. It was still a lot of money but the bargain hunter in me was happy!
Reputable Pre-Owned Designer Handbag Retailers
These sources come highly recommended to me by friends, and bloggers I trust..
The RealReal - Is a well known luxury consignment website that is available via desktop and app. You can sort by brands, styles, and pricepoint which I love. You also have the ability to save searched and see when new items are added. This is the retailer I ended up going with and couldn't be happier. My item shipped in two days and everything from start to finish was smooth and trustworthy.
In order to find the best quality look for items marked "very good" or "new with tags" and then look closely at the description of the flaws. My bag only had some very minor scuffing which I was willing to live with for the price.
Tradesy - Is very similar to The RealReal but I found they had a little more selection of the Chanel, Gucci and Saint Laurent pieces I was looking for. Their prices were slight higher than The RealReal and unlike The RealReal they do not have a payment plan option.
Fashionphile - I browsed their app but didn't find anything I loved. Many people recommended this resource though so I'd be sure to check it out.
Julia Rose Boston - SassyRedLipstick and Emily from the Sweetest Thing both long time bloggers I follow purchase from Julia and swear by her pieces. She has connections directly in Europe and sources from the best. She sells both new and pre-owned but her pieces go fast and you have to shop via her Instagram. I have a feeling my next piece will be from her.
Ebay Authenticated - Is a unique category which only includes luxury items which have been verified and authenticated by Ebay directly. I know many bloggers who have used this tool, but I just didn't find what I was looking for. They have TONS of Luis Vuitton if that what you're in the market for.
I am linking a few of my favorite pre-owned pieces from The Real Real and Ebay Authenticated below.
[show_shopthepost_widget id="3592167"]
The First Designer Bag I Purchased
After much debate, I decided to go with Gucci Soho Disco Crossbody Bag!!!!
I spent weeks/months contemplating what I wanted and while this pre-loved Chanel bag is still in my favorites, my budget would not allow for it at this time. When it came down to my decision the 3 factors below helped me make the final call.
- Is it cost effective for me right now!? I did not want to go into debt over the purchase or feel guilty afterwards.. I wanted the purchase to be a smart financial investment for my business.
- Was it a piece I would use regularly? While I loved the classic Chanel, I ultimately decided the Gucci would be better for everyday wear!
- Was it timeless? I wanted a piece that would go with everything, transition from day to night and hold value and style over time. The Gucci crossbody checked all these boxes.
I am so happy with my decision and the process I went through to decide on this particular bag. I couldn't be happier with the quality and the price. While I know not everyone made it through this whole post, I hope it was helpful for those who did!
Have you ever spent a significant amount of money on an "investment piece" and did you feel it was worth it? Also Raleigh friends, where do you get your handbags cared for? I want to make sure I care for my investment.
Breast cancer survivor, lover of style, beauty and all things pink! Inspiring you to thrive through adversity.
READ MORE
7 Comments