Tips on Buying Your First Luxury Handbag

Following the amazing response for my last post about starting out a luxury collection and a poll on my Instastories, today I wanted to share with you a more in-depth look at the thought process and research that goes into my decision when settling on buying a designer bag. Now, I am only starting out in collecting designer bags but I watch so many videos on YouTube that I really consider myself lucky in having access to such a treasure trove of tips from my favourite luxury handbag YouTubers (I will be linking them all at the bottom of this post).

My first ever delve into 'designer bags' was Michael Kors when I visited London in 2015. At the time, I couldn't afford to spend thousands of Euros on a bag but I really wanted the experience more than anything I think, so, while we were in London for Mario's graduation, I went into the Michael Kors section at Harrod's and I bought the Jet-Set Tote in a gorgeous navy blue colour for €320, which for me, at the time was still a lot of money. I still wear the bag to this day though and it has worn pretty well with neglectable signs of wear on the hardware and it is often my travel bag of choice so I guess it was worth it in the end. I don't consider Michael Kors bags as high-end luxury bags, in fact, the brand is regarded as cheap in Europe, but it was my very first experience of the sort and I'm glad I bought a bag that has lasted me all this time and I can see myself wearing for many more years to come. The only regret I have is that there are way too many rip-offs of MK bags and consequently, the brand seems to have lost value.

My first ever 'designer' bag is now 5 years old and I still wear it to this day

Fast forward to 2017 and Mario proposed to me on NYE which was our four-year anniversary and apart from the engagement ring, he got me the YSL Wallet on Chain which I was looking into buying (in fact, he likes to credit himself for getting me my first ever luxury designer bag, and I don't complain 😉). Then, last year in October 2019, I got the My Lady Dior for my 30th birthday.

My first ever luxury bag came courtesy of my now husband as an engagement gift

So how do I decide what to get considering how expensive these bags are? First of all, I think it is important to know your own style and aesthetic - colours you wear more often, preferred colour of hardware (gold, silver...). All of these tips hold true for all my luxury purchases really, so without further ado, let's get right into it!

My Lady Dior which I bought for myself for my 30th birthday. It is my most expensive bag to date but it is so worth it!

As a general rule, I personally prefer classics over trend pieces and if I happen to like a newly released bag, I like to wait it out before diving in head-first. I like to see how well it wears, if I'm going to like it the same way I do in a few years from now (or if it will be a forever bag in my collection). This is where the research starts. I watch as many YouTube videos as I can on a particular bag I am after and I look for thorough reviews and one year wear videos etc as I like to know both the pros and cons of a bag before I fully commit to it.

As for colours, I tend to stick to neutral colours because first of all, they are always in fashion and secondly I am only starting out my collection. Furthermore, if I'm spending that much money on a bag, I want to buy something I am going to love and wear for years to come. Hardware also plays an important part in my choice of bag as I am not really into the whole mixed metallics trend. Thus, if I'm wearing gold jewellery, the bag's hardware has to match and so on.

YSL's grained leather is one of the most durable leathers you can get and the price point is fair for most of their bags when compared to other designer brands

When it comes to material, I prefer pebbled or textured leather for the simple reason that it is much more hard-wearing. The grained leather on YSL bags, for example, you could say is indestructible. The only exception to the rule is the smooth lambskin leather used on Dior bags such as the Lady Dior - they wear really well and are quite durable too. Canvas or coated canvas such as most Louis Vuitton bags is another option to look at if you're looking for something that's durable and more affordable.

My Lady Dior is made out of lambskin and it is much more hard-wearing than say Chanel lambskin which costs twice the amount

In Malta, we don't have any of the boutiques for bigger designer brands so it's hard for me to have a feel of the bag before buying but I make good use of my shopping time when I am abroad to make up for this and I ask to try the bag in the colours I like as well as different sizes to make sure I buy the right bag for me. I also like to Google pictures of the bag and see how other people style it. I then shop my own wardrobe for outfits to see if I will get a lot of wear out of the bag or not. My YSL, for example, has turned out to be an all-rounder - I use it for weddings, when I'm travelling, going out with friends, date nights... As for the Lady Dior, I do baby this bag when I use it and I tend to use it when I'm going out for lunch for example.

The pre-loved market is also a good route to take when there's a good discount vs buying brand new and the bag is still in good condition. However, I'm not much of an expert in the pre-loved market as I have only ever bought brand new.

Lastly, when it comes to size and shape, I prefer structured bags that are small/medium in size and I decide between the sizes of a particular bag depending on whether or not it holds my phone and the basic essentials that I always carry with me.

I hope you found this post helpful if you're also starting out on collecting luxury handbags 😊 These are my favourite YouTube channels for anything luxury, and my points of reference when deciding on a new bag to add to my collection:

Caitlin Pawlowski
Mel in Melbourne
Fashionably Amy
Lydia Elise Millen
Sophie Shohet
Anne Doctor
Chase Amie

In the Frow
Isabelle's Style

P.S. Please stay safe during this whole Coronavirus outbreak and STAY INSIDE! I cannot stress this enough! Social distancing works wonders in flattening the curve and not overwhelm the healthcare sector capacities. Let us not get to the point where we choose who to care for as other countries had to do. Let's protect each other and together we can win over Coronavirus too!

Luxury Unboxing | Saint Laurent Envelope Wallet On Chain

Surprises are always welcome, especially when they come in chic, black packaging signed Saint Laurent. My better half is definitely a keeper; he surprised me over the weekend with the YSL wallet on chain that I have had my eyes on for the past few months. He was able to get the last one in black on their website and after just three days (he ordered it on Sunday evening and it was delivered on Wednesday), my baby is finally here!

About Saint Laurent

As much as I love the Italian way of dressing, my heart has always favoured French designers more, maybe because of my love for their capital; thus, YSL or as it has recently been rebranded, Saint Laurent is one of my favourites.

The French fashion house was established in July 1961 by Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé making it one of the 'youngest' French luxury brands when compared to Chanel, Balmain and Dior for example, yet the brand is intricately etched into the history of Parisian high fashion. The house of Saint Laurent has revolutionised fashion from the very first of their creations and continue to do so to this day. In remembrance of such a legacy, the Fondation Pierre Bergé - Yves Saint Laurent opened a museum last year in the very heart of Paris, housing over 5000 garments, sketches as well as the designer's working tools and some personal artefacts.


Unboxing 

On to the fun part, unboxing! Everything comes packaged in Saint Laurent's signature sleek black box including receipt, return forms, authenticity card, care instructions as well as a personal message from my beau :) The bag originally comes with a styrofoam sleeve around the chain but I have already taken it off.

The designer name of the bag is Saint Laurent Monogram Envelope Chain Wallet In Black Grain de Poudre textured matelassé leather which essentially means that the bag is made out of grained leather and has a quilted texture. I chose the one with silver hardware but it also comes with gold hardware or black chrome hardware. Other colours are also available but since this is my first luxury handbag, I opted for black to make sure I get maximum use out of it.

The bag is the perfect size to carry around when all you need are just a few essentials. I intend to use it mostly for weddings and special occasions so the size is perfect for me. Also, compared to my petite stature it looks perfect. It is made in Italy out of 100% calfskin leather and features a snap front closure.

The inside features one zip compartment, a bill compartment at the very back and 6 card slots. There are no other compartments on the back of the bag. The chain is made out of the same leather as the bag and silver-toned metal. I favoured this strap over the one made entirely out of metal because I think it is more comfortable. The chain is not adjustable but can be removed to use the bag as a clutch. Alternatively, I like the look of the bag when worn across the body for a sportier feel.

What fits inside the bag

Let's have a look at what fits inside the bag now. Having six card slots, I will probably skip carrying around a small wallet but for the sake of this post, I will be using a small card holder just to show you what I can fit. Basically, I can fit my mobile phone (currently Samsung Galaxy S6), card holder or small purse, tissues, one lipstick and keys. I think that is more than enough to carry with me.

That's it for this post :) Do let me know if you have any questions about this bag. I also intend to post an update when I have used the bag enough to be able to address how it wears etc. but in the meantime do let me know what you want to know more about it.