In this article I will talk about how to choose your first designer bag.
Many of you have inquired about purchasing your first bag. So, in this post, I’ll discuss several factors I’ll use to select my first designer bag.
Budget
When it comes buying designer handbags, one of the first and most crucial things to consider is your budget.
If you have a lot of money to spend, that’s fantastic since you can buy practically any bag you desire on the market if you have a large enough budget.
However, if this is something you’re saving up for, I’d say a reasonable price for this is between $2,000 and $3,000.
When I first started collecting designer handbags, a budget of roughly a thousand dollars was more than enough to get your first excellent luxury handbag.
However, with brands continuing to raise their prices and everything simply rising in line with inflation, a reasonable budget is likely to be in the range of $2,000 to $3,000.
Purpose
After you’ve decided on a budget, think about what you’ll use the bag for, as well as the objective and purpose of purchasing it.
When it comes to buying bags, most of us fall into two categories. One is a bag for daytime, professional work, and everyday use.
Evening bags are the second sort of bag. This is your smaller bag for going out with friends, restaurants, and special occasions.
These are the two distinct categories in which I would place my bag while selecting what to do with it.
Size
After you’ve decided on the bag’s purpose, the size of the bag will be determined.
For a daytime bag, you’ll want to go with a size that’s a little bigger. You want to be able to carry everything you need. If you need to carry heavier items during the day, such as a laptop, ensure that the bag you choose can accommodate all of your belongings.
Evening bags are usually smaller, but when shopping for one, make sure it can accommodate a smaller wallet or card holder.
This will actually make things easier for you. You want to make sure it can hold your keys, a lipstick, a few extra coins, or something similar when you’re grabbing items.
Those are the kinds of things I’d think about if I were shopping for a smaller bag.
I normally recommend something like the Neverfull or the Executive Tote for starting, large-size totes. In general, simple tote bags like those that are reasonably priced and durable, and that are timeless classics that you can use for a long time.
I usually choose for a Chanel tiny flap for something more evening. However, the little flap is rather pricey, so if you’re on a tight budget, I wouldn’t recommend it as a first bag.
Smaller Gucci bags, such as the Marmont, are a good option. That kind of bag would be ideal for an evening bag.
Color
Another thing I think about while I’m shopping for bags is the color of the bag.
I used to buy a lot of colorful bags when I was younger and first started out with bags. I have red, pink, green, blue, and every other color imaginable.
However, as I continue to accumulate additional bags, I’m finding that I’m using my neutral bags more than my colorful bags.
I would advise you to start with more neutral colors when purchasing your first designer handbags.
Black, gray, brown, and even white are all neutral colors, though I would definitely avoid white for my first bag. You may also think about going nude.
When I’m looking for my first bag, I’m going to think about neutral hues that are easy to match with anything in my clothing.
Material
Another factor to consider while shopping for designer bags is the bag’s material.
As with the previous bag, you may want to choose a bag that will last a long time and will not show as much wear and tear as you use it.
Take a look at Chanel, for example. When it comes to producing bags, Chanel uses a number of different materials.
Whether to choose caviar or lambskin bags is a traditional question that individuals make.
Most people would advise purchasing the caviar since it is more scratch resistant, will last longer, and will not show as much wear and tear, making it a more durable leather.
Lambskin is quite soft and easily scratched, thus something like that would not stand up well. And as you use it more, it will begin to exhibit signs of wear. After years and years of use, you’re not going to like it.
This is a critical consideration for me when purchasing my bags.
Before I buy the bag that I want, I usually view a lot of videos about it, as well as how it will wear and tear.
So, if you’re looking for a certain bag or comparing several bags, the best thing I can recommend is watching YouTube videos or looking for other places where you can obtain feedback on the bag from individuals who have used it and how they feel about it before making a purchase.
Trendy vs. Classic
Classic versus trendy is another issue that many people think over while purchasing their bags.
As for the first bag, I always recommend going for something very classic.
It may be Neverfull or Chanel, in medium, small, or even jumbo sizes. These time-honored bags are sure to stand the test of time.
So they’ll be very stylish, very in, from the minute you get them, perhaps 10 years later, and that’s why we consider these bags to be classic bags.
When you’re looking for something more trendy right now, this bag may be something you don’t want to use yourself in a few years because no one else is using it. Even if you intend to sell it at that time, its resale value may be low.
So, for the first handbag, I’d go with something classic, something that you or someone else would want in ten years.
Resale Value
When it comes to resale, it’s likely that you’ll want to think about it as well.
I know a lot of us acquire handbags with the idea that we won’t sell them for years and years to come; this is something that will stay in my wardrobe for a very long time.
However, after a few years, you may find that this bag is no longer suitable for your needs; you may desire something newer or more suitable for your lifestyle.
So, when I’m shopping for a bag, I keep the resale value in mind. Especially if I had put money aside for a long time in order to purchase this bag. Then the bag’s resale value becomes more important to me.
If you’re thinking about reselling your bag in the long run, some things to think about include the brand, the condition of the bag, the material (which matters a lot), and how it wears and tears. Then, in addition to the bag’s traditional appeal, it will continue to be in demand in the future, whether it is in ten or five years.
When I initially started collecting designer handbags, I purchased an LV Speedy, which was well-received by many.
However, after a few months of use, I realized that the LV Speedy wasn’t the bag for me.
I immediately listed the bag for resale. I paid roughly $750 for the bag at the time. I sold the bag for roughly $550 six months later, after probably a good one to two months of wear.
As you can see, I didn’t lose much in terms of value when I resold the bag. It’s a timeless bag with a high resale value.
Another instance that comes to mind is when I resold my Chanels.
Many customers who purchase the traditional small or medium flap Chanels believe that they will never be able to resell the bag. I was thinking the same thing when I purchased the bag.
However, after a good five years, I decided to put the bag on the market for resale. The bag cost $2500 at the time I purchased it.
I finally sold the bag for $2500. So, during the five years that I used the bag, I didn’t lose any value, and it was excellent.
New vs. Second-hand
When it comes to buying a bag, another recommendation I can provide you is to consider whether to buy new or used.
For me, there’s something about buying new that brings a degree of enjoyment that can’t be matched by buying used.
However, logically and practically speaking, buying secondhand is likely to provide better value and save you a significant amount of money.
At the end of the day, the resale value, the value that you’ll be able to keep and not lose, will be much more significant.
Typically, I would advise you to go into the second-hand market since you’ll find a lot of fantastic finds there, save a lot of money, and it’ll keep its worth better when you try to resale it.
Buy What You Love
The last piece of advice I can give you about buying designer bags is to buy something you’ll like.
Something you’ll enjoy for years to come, something you like right now, something you actually desire, and something that will bring you joy.
Whether or not other people think this bag is unattractive, it’s something I would never want. At the end of the day, it’s what makes you happy.
That’s how I approach all of my decisions. Happiness always comes first, and the other considerations, such as logical thinking, are always in the back of my mind as I make judgments.
