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