Tips on Curating a Designer Handbag Collection
"I like my money right where I can see it, hanging in my closet" —Carrie Bradshaw Sex and the City
My love for handbags started when I was a little girl admiring my mom’s Gucci and Dior pieces. A classic luxury bag can elevate and transform your look instantly. I don’t spend a huge amount of money on one item of clothing or a pair of shoes, but I will splurge on a timeless bag. If you buy smart, they will will last you a lifetime and you won’t have any regrets. Personally, I follow a few rules before considering a purchase, because as much as I wish I was Beverly Hills housewife, I don’t have that kind of cash flow. You want to consider not only what you love, but think about what will have longevity and versatility with your wardrobe and what works with your lifestyle. You don’t need an excessive amount of luxury handbags to have a well rounded collection. Whether you are thinking of buying your first luxury handbag or already have a collection, here are a few tips I follow before taking the plunge:
GUCCI Medium GG Canvas Web Boston Bag purchase in 2011 $1,000
Do not get yourself into debt.
No matter how much you want it, don’t convince yourself to buy something if it will be a struggle to pay off or will get you into debt. A roof over your head, food, bills, and your well-being are the biggest priorities. Have a game plan and save. With the exception of my most recent Dior and Louis Vuitton purchases, I usually wait a few years before adding another piece to my collection.
I started slowly building my collection back in 2010/2011 and I’m happy with keeping my number of purses below 10. Realistically with my storage space and funds, that makes me more picky and mindful of what is worth buying.
Stick to neutrals.
Even though, I would love to eventually add in bright, vibrant hues, my collection still feels whole.
Whether it’s black, brown, beige, white or cream, you will never regret a neutral color purse. Styling your outfits will be easier and you’ll have more opportunities to take your bag out. I prefer to prioritize the basic colors first, especially if you are just starting to get into luxury handbags or want to buy one special item. Also your personal style and what you admire changes, a neutral bag will most likely evolve with you and your taste.
DIOR Medium Bobby Oblique Jacquard Shoulder Bag purchased in 2020 $3,851.75
CHANEL Calf-skin Single Flap Shoulder Bag purchased in 2016 $3,153.85
If you’re not absolutely in love/obsessed, it’s not for you.
A recent example was when I was looking into my first Dior purchase. The most iconic Dior bag is the Lady Dior, the purse that was gifted to Princess Diana by France’s First Lady. As much as I can admire the bag and appreciate the story behind the purse, for me I’m not obsessed with it.
Before Youtube, blogs and influencers, I started my luxury collection solely on, as Marie Condo would say, what sparked joy for me. These items didn’t go viral on the internet, they weren’t heavily advertised, I bought hand bags because I absolutely fell in love with it. To this day even with my style changing, I‘m still obsessed with what I have.
Louis Vuitton Boite Chapeau purchased in 2021 $2,785.88
Look for Versatility:
Versatility means an item can transition from day to night, can serve you for variety occasions or if it can be worn in different ways: as a top handle, crossbody, shoulder bag. Something simple like tucking in the chain to turn it into a clutch, even the ability to add a chain to adjust how you can wear it all adds to the versatility.
This also keeps me mindful of future purchases as well. I try to not repeat the same types or shapes of purses in my collection.
Practicality: Buy the bag for the life you have, not the lifestyle you aspire to.
I gravitate towards beaded, sparkly purses that look like jewels, but owning an array of high end evening clutches isn’t functional for my current lifestyle.
You want to add things that complete not compete with your closet. If you can’t wear something more than 5 times a month or with at least 7 or more outfits, then it may not be a good fit. Think about cost per wear: COST OF ITEM x HOW MANY TIMES YOU WEAR IT.
YSL Medium Vicky Matelassé Lambskin Crossbody Bag purchased in 2018 $2,810.35
Invest in a bag that will fit your your everyday essentials.
Mini bags have been popular for the last couple of seasons and we’re still seeing them on the runways. For example, I’m in love the the Louis Vuitton Petite Malle. To me it’s a gorgeous piece of art, but to spend $5,000 on a bag that only fits your phone, a few credit cards and a lipstick, it wouldn’t be practical to use as often as I would like.. For that price I’d rather put money towards a Chanel. The same can be said for a bag that’s too big. My first luxury buy was a Louis Vuitton Delightful PM that I purchased in my early 20’s. I took it everywhere and it was well-loved. It was similar to the LV Neverfull, where you could pack everything into it. Unfortunately, because of how big it is, it’s not something that I gravitate towards. Great for travel, but not necessary for any other time.
Be careful with some of the seasonal pieces.
Designers will come out with unique patterns or loud artwork on purses for their Spring/Summer or Fall/Winter collection and while they may have an appeal, it’s something that can look outdated in the next few years.
But there is an exception to the rule…CHANEL. A Chanel classic flap is one of the most coveted purses to own. The demand is always high and Chanel price increases are making it harder every year to get your dream bag. For those still longing and working towards a Chanel, I highly recommend looking into their seasonal pieces.
For a milestone birthday back in 2016, I fell in love with my Chanel as soon as I saw her in the boutique. Even though it’s seasonal handbag, it’s also a timeless design… quintessential Chanel: CC turnlock, calf-skin, single leather flap with aged gold hardware, diamond quilting with a “reasonable” price tag of $3,154.85. Even though “reasonable” still cost an arm and a leg, Chanel is a brand that will hold their value for years to come.
Don’t be quick to jump on trends.
It can be difficult not to influenced by social media, especially if you’re seeing an item constantly. Anything super trendy can get old and dated just as quickly as it came. An example would be the Bottega Veneta purse, whether it’s the Cassette bag or the chain pouch. For me, I could never justify the price. It’s a trend that will last only a couple of seasons and you may or may not still love it after the hype has died down. The good news is there are plenty of cheaper dupes and alternatives out there where you can have the designer look without the price tag. It’s also a good way to try out the bag, so if you’re still itching to purchase after the trend has died, you know it’s true love.
The same applies if a bag you’re lusting after is no longer trendy. A perfect example would be the Chanel boy bag, which was a such a hyped, sought after design when it made it’s debut in 2011. While it’s considered a classic in the Chanel house and was seen everywhere on everyone for a number of years, nowadays it seems to be “out of date.” BUT if the style still appeals to you, whether it’s trending or not shouldn’t be a deciding factor.
