How To Buy A Designer Handbag

So you finally have some extra money to spend and decided that you want to succumb to your first luxury purchase. If you are into fashion and like to follow the trends, this can be really exciting, yet overwhelming. Which bag should you buy and which should be the criteria when choosing? Should you buy online, or visit the physical stores? You are paying a decent amount of money here so you need to think carefully. After all, you don’t want to end up seeing your luxury purchase sitting on your closet’s shelf. This is why I thought as a good idea to share some tips on how to buy a designer handbag. I am sure they will make your life easier.

how to choose a designer bag

How To Buy A Designer Handbag

I am by no means someone that has a huge amount of designer goods, nor I have the ability to do so. Since I love fashion, I like to own stuff that hold a value in them and elevate my high street clothes to another level. This is why I like to succumb to luxury purchases here and there. Handbags are one of my favorite accessories, this is why I decided to share my knowledge on how to choose a designer bag and use it to death. I hate spending money on things I don’t use, especially when they are expensive, so I created a checklist that is extremely helpful to use when deciding on a new purchase.

Keep reading to discover them all.

How To Buy A Designer Handbag Checklist

Make sure you tick all of the boxes before you go and spend your money so that you get the use out of your investment. And remember. Don’t purchase something just because it is trendy or because everyone is buying it. Most likely it will end up in the back of your closet sooner or later.

√ Usability and Functionality

The first thing to consider is if the style you are thinking of buying fits your needs. Does it align with your personal style and lifestyle? Will you be able to rock it daily or reserve it only for special occasions? The years that we used to keep our valuable possessions only for special events are long gone. It is pointless to own a beautiful and expensive designer bag and not put it to use often.

buy a designer bag

√ Cost Per Wear

And this leads to my second point. If you are paying hundreds or thousands for a luxury item, the only way to determine if it is worth it or not is the cost per wear. Will you be wearing your bag a few times a year or almost every day? The lower the cost per wear the more successful and valuable is your new purchase.

√ How Timeless The Design Is

When you are trying to decide which bag to go for, make sure to choose a style and design that you feel will be around for a long time and that you will want to wear for the years to come. Avoid trendy bags, of weird colors and designs that will not last after the season’s end. Preferably go for a size that you use daily and a color you love to wear. I suggest you go for colors like black, white, tan, nude or red.

√ Durability

So is the bag you are thinking of purchasing made of good quality and durable materials that can handle a lot of use? Or it is made from a material that is delicate and will show signs of wear pretty fast? This is also an important thing to consider because there is no point in investing in a bag that will shred to pieces after a few wears.

√ Versatility

You want to be able to wear the bag you made it rain for with every possible outfit and in every possible way and occasion. This is why I suggest you put some thought into the versatility of the design. Can you wear it from day to night? Can it be worn both with casual and formal wear? Of course, a single bag can not tick all of these boxes, however, find one that ticks as many as possible.

gucci marmont outfit ideas√ Price and Quality Alignment 

Make sure that the bag you are thinking of purchasing is made of impeccable quality and craftsmanship that justifies the price. How many times have we stumbled upon videos and posts that claim that their designer bags were not that great, or fell apart after a few wears? Before you buy, I suggest searching for reviews of the bags you have on your wishlist.

√ Know the return policies

And the above leads to this point. Sometimes, even the best of the best can be defective, like having a minor scratch or their hardware to lose their color. You need to make sure that the return policies cover cases like these and you get a refund or replace it with a new one.

√ Resale Value

We have the “it” bags and the investment ones. The first ones are the current trendy new designs “of the moment”, that have a huge success and sell like crazy and on the other hand, we have the investment bags. They are classic pieces that have been popular since their launch and their prices increase over time. So when you decide to buy a bag make sure it has a good resale value (if not profitable). You are putting a lot of money here, so in case you get bored of it, having the option of selling it and scoring a good deal is a good idea.

√ Follow your heart

Everyone has an opinion about everything and the same goes when buying a designer bag. So ignore the noise and go for the style that makes your heart jump and you know you’ll wear for the years to come. You are the one who’s paying for it, so you need to feel comfortable and satisfied with your purchase.

And now a last question is remaining. Should you buy the bag online or visit the store? Well, that depends on many factors. If you live close to the physical store, I suggest you go there. It is much better to see what you want to buy up close, try it on and have the whole experience, than ordering online. Of course, this is up to your personal preferences. If the option of going there isn’t possible, then be aware of the scams. Make sure to choose a website that is legit.

…and remember to enjoy your new purchase. Have fun styling it in every possible way! 😉

gucci designer handbag

So I hope my tips and my checklist on how to buy a designer handbag prove to be helpful in order to choose the best option for you. I personally recommend taking some time to think well about your options and don’t make an impulsive choice.

You Can Shop My Bag Here. (I can make a review of it in the future if you like.)

Question of the day: What is the first thing that comes to mind before deciding which designer handbag you will go for? Can’t wait to hear in the comments section below!

xoxo kate logo

 

 

 

(*Disclaimer: The links of the products are affiliate links which means that when you buy something through them I earn a little commission, which keeps this blog running. That, of course, doesn’t affect the price of the product.)

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22 Comments

  1. Anthony Hu
    January 30, 2020 / 4:37 pm

    Thank you for your post. My wife’s birthday is coming soon and I plan to buy her a handbag for her birthday, but I have no time to do the research. Here comes your article, which has all I need to purchase her a handbag. I particularly like your description: How to buy a designer handbag checklist. This includes all the necessary information. I know she wants to have a nice and very expensive handbag for special occasions, such as a wedding. It is going to cost thousands of dollars so I want her to use it several times a year. I am going to use your instructions before I buy it, so I think it is kind of you to share this useful information with us.

    • Kate
      Author
      February 3, 2020 / 7:13 pm

      Hi Anthony!
      For start, I want to say that your wife is very lucky to have such a thoughtful husband. If you use my checklist you will probably end up with a purchase she will enjoy for the years to come. Just make sure that it aligns with her taste. 😉 Thank you for stopping by.

  2. Feochadan
    January 30, 2020 / 4:54 pm

    This is an excellent checklist of things to think of before buying a purse or, frankly, any piece of clothing.  I have found that the classic designs made by upscale brand names tend to be made to last.  They also never go out of style so you will get much more use out of it than the cheaper, seasonal items that are really only made for the cliche of the day and then fall out of favor.  Durability and style are my favorite factors that I take into consideration!

    • Kate
      Author
      February 3, 2020 / 7:14 pm

      Hi dear!
      Thank you for your kind words. Indeed more expensive items tend to last and be used more than the trendy, cheap ones.

  3. Danny
    January 30, 2020 / 5:53 pm

    Hi Kate. I stumbled across your post on How to Buy a Designer Handbag and I read all of it! Kinda just to see what ideas you had on the subject. Now I’m wishing I had stumbled across this post 2 years ago when I bought a friend of mine a handbag for her birthday. I never had any idea of all the intricacies that you mentioned here so I just chose from what appeared to be the best looking ones. With the help of the store clerk of course.

    The end result was that the handbag didn’t end up lasting my friend very long, and it was not because of overuse either, I’m sure. By the way what brands would you recommend buying?

    • Kate
      Author
      February 3, 2020 / 7:17 pm

      Hi Danny,
      I wish I had written about it sooner. I personally find more important to go for a classic style that people buy and will keep buying for years than to go for a certain brand, however, I believe Chanel or Louis Vuitton to be some of the “safe” designer choices.

  4. Rhain
    January 30, 2020 / 6:01 pm

    Truly, it is an overwhelming experience trying to decide the designer bag to get especially when you’re not used to making those luxury purchases. So many variations that seemingly need to be satisfied, coupled with the deadly fear of making the wrong choice. However, I can say for certain that these tips actually simplify the process. Like you said, the potential choice might not check off all the boxes, but it should check off as many as possible. This has been really informative and helpful. Thanks for sharing 

    • Kate
      Author
      February 3, 2020 / 7:25 pm

      Hi dear,
      Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on my post! I really hope these tips will prove to be helpful to you in the future!

  5. MrBiizy
    January 30, 2020 / 6:21 pm

    Hey Kate, so I thought I’d be able to follow these tips you have shared to get a designer handbag for the love of my life, but guess what? I got disappointed. She’d be the only to mark those check boxes. However, I find these tips very useful in purchasing almost anything and everything. I have some clothes I purchased and never wore for long; following this checklist will stop this from repeating itself. Thanks!

    • Kate
      Author
      February 3, 2020 / 7:29 pm

      Yes, indeed, this checklist can be used in any other purchase apart from handbags. Thank you for stopping by!

  6. Henry
    January 30, 2020 / 8:07 pm

    Hi! Thank you for these great tips. Yeah, I’m super excited I have more money this month than I expected, LOL. Hard work seems to finally start to pay off and I just need to treat myself. And what better than affording a designer handbag. I never thought this moment would come!

    One of the most important points for me is how timeless the design is. Probably because this will be my first bag!

    • Kate
      Author
      February 2, 2020 / 9:33 pm

      I hope you enjoy your first purchase! You are worth it 😉

  7. Christine
    January 31, 2020 / 4:53 am

    I have been looking for a handbag for a while, but I couldn’t decide which one to get. I need it to be practical, but also pretty. So, your first point, usability, is definitely important to me. That’s one of the first things I check. I intend to wear it every day, I don’t see the point of buying something and then just leaving it for few occasions (unless it’s a cocktail dress 😉 ), so a handbag is used on daily basis with me. I like your tips, they are very useful. Some designer brands are more recommended than others for handbags. Which brands do you think are good ones? Are there any websites where I can get designer handbags at good prices?

    • Kate
      Author
      February 2, 2020 / 9:29 pm

      Hi Christine,

      You can always buy a designer bag from a second-hand store and this way will be cheaper as well. I personally like brands like Chanel (they increase in value over the years), Louis Vuitton (they are a classic) or Gucci. For example, the one I am wearing in this post is very durable and versatile, so I believe it was definitely worth it! You can always check the stores for discounts on your favorite brands.
      As far as the places to shop, I usually prefer to visit the physical stores, however, Matchesfashion, Bloomingdales, or Saks Fifth Avenue are some online stores I recommend.
      I hope I helped 😉

  8. February 1, 2020 / 6:51 pm

    I always think about cost per wear, I find it’s a great way to help convince me to buy a more expensive product!

    Have a great weekend! 🙂

    Amy x Wandering Everywhere

    • Kate
      Author
      February 2, 2020 / 9:23 pm

      Yes indeed, cost per wear is one important factor to take into consideration!

  9. February 3, 2020 / 10:55 am

    I love your tips dear, especially with the last one. At the end of the day, we pick things we like! Have a beautiful day!

    Jessica | notjessfashion.com

    • Kate
      Author
      February 3, 2020 / 7:18 pm

      So glad you enjoyed my list! 🙂 I hope you are having a great week so far!

  10. February 25, 2020 / 6:25 am

    I always consider usability and resale value these days when I look for my next designer bag. I learned that I have many bags that I only get to use when I take pictures for the blog. Great post from you!

    http://www.busyandfab.com

    • Kate
      Author
      February 25, 2020 / 3:53 pm

      I realized that I sometimes do the same thing too, so I am currently trying to wear everything in my everyday life as well! Thank you for stopping by.

    • Kate
      Author
      February 26, 2020 / 2:34 pm

      I hope you manage to buy the bag your dreams!

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