This post won't be for everyone and that's ok. I was never one to dream of designer bags but with time, I started appreciating the quality and durability or more investment pieces. As I have established myself as a business working two jobs for 8+ years, I wanted to purchase a designer bag as an investment 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 classic bag, which bag I chose, and the resources that helped me make my decisions.
Tips for Buying Your First Designer Bag
Expensive Taste
I have always had expensive taste but, to be honest, could never afford luxury pieces. I had a very low income for years as a teacher and never had a secondary source of income. 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 8 years since my cancer diagnosis, changing jobs, and starting my blog, I have turned my writing skills, the blog, and my content creation 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, travel, and other business expenses like web fees, graphic design software, etc.
There have been many times when I wanted to quit, when I was overwhelmed, overworked, and discouraged, but I kept going. I knew my writing and my blog were 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 I don't spend with my family, exercising, or relaxing, and that is valuable. It was time I invested in myself 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 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 your 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!
Researching other brands, I found that the Gucci and Saint Laurent classic bags 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 many other brands and styles out there, but those were the main ones that appealed to me. Styles have changed over the years, so I recommend a classic bag style. For example, the Bottega Veneta line is very popular but their bags were more trendy than I wanted.
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 and a big content job, and I 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 financially made more sense for me. Now I am kicking myself because Chanel prices have increased astronomically in the past few years.
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..
RealReal is a well-known luxury consignment website available via desktop and app. You can sort by brands, styles, and pricepoints, which I love. You also have the ability to save searches 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. [Update: I have sold multiple bags back to TheRealReal through a seamless process and made a good chunk of my investment back].
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 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 slightly higher than The RealReal's, 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 (long-time bloggers I follow) purchase from Julia. She has connections directly in Europe and sources from the best. She sells both new and pre-owned and can source unique or sold-out designer bags and clothing items.
Ebay Authenticated - This is a unique category that only includes luxury items that 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 Louis Vuitton if that's what you're in the market for.
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 the classic Chanel Flap 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.
[2023 Update] After saving many times over for a Chanel designer bag and spending it on my kids, I decided to make the investment. I purchased this beautiful pink bag. While it's a smaller size than the classic flap bag, I find I can wear it with anything and it still fits the essentials. I bought this Chanel bag new because it was a better price than the "vintage" or pre-owned bags at the time. As the price in Chanel bags goes up, the resale market has become less reasonable.
Have you ever spent a significant amount of money on an "investment piece," and did you feel it was worth it? Also, Raleigh friends, if you want to protect, repair or care for your designer bags, I recommend Santana Leather Care. They fixed a scuff I got on my Gucci bag a few months after purchasing it.
Breast cancer survivor, lover of style, beauty and all things pink! Inspiring you to thrive through adversity.
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