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Pretty Little Details

  • Blog
  • Hello!
    • About Us
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  • Style
    • Fashion Hair & Beauty Luxury Handbags Shopping
      How to wear a smocked top // Summer fashion trends 2021

      Summer Fashion Trend 2021: Smocking

      How to wear white in winter: three tips to master wearing winter whites

      How to Wear White in Winter

      How to wear snakeskin this fall // 2020 fall fashion trend

      Snakeskin Print // Fall Fashion Trend 2020

      Pretty Pastels in Havana, Cuba

      Caudalie Premier Cru the rich cream review

      Beauty Review: Caudalie Premier Cru the Rich Cream

      The prettiest silk scarves to wear in your hair // hair scarf styles // scarf hairstyles // silk scarves for hair

      The prettiest silk scarves to wear in your hair

      Pixi Beauty Liquid Fairy Lights & Glow-y Gossamer Duo review and swatches.

      Beauty Details // Pixi Liquid Fairy Lights & Glow-y Highlighter

      The best skincare products for dry winter skin.

      Winter Skincare // The best beauty products for dry skin!

      GG Marmont matelassé leather super mini bag review

      GG Marmont matelassé leather super mini bag review

      Beige pink large Prada Galleria bag.

      Prada Galleria Handbag Review

      Gucci GG Marmont Small matelassé shoulder bag review

      Gucci GG Marmont Small Shoulder Bag Review

      How to choose your first designer bag // Flatlay image with red Chloe Drew bag and sparkly accessories

      How to choose your first designer bag

      Gift idea for your sister: Trinny London makeup stack and a white Instax camera

      Gift Ideas for Everyone on Your List

      Beige pink large Prada Galleria bag.

      Prada Galleria Handbag Review

      The best places to shop for mommy and me outfits.

      Where to Buy Mommy and Me Outfits

      Gucci GG Marmont Small matelassé shoulder bag review

      Gucci GG Marmont Small Shoulder Bag Review

  • Travel
    • All Travel Destination: America Destination: Asia Destination: Europe
      Hiking at Mont Tremblant is the best way to see fall colours in Quebec

      Where to see the best fall colours in Quebec

      Cherry blossoms in Paris. Photos of the springtime sakura bloom in France.

      Where to stay in Paris, France

      Winnipeg Summer Staycation

      Cherry blossoms in Paris. Photos of the springtime sakura bloom in France.

      Cherry Blossoms in Paris // Spring Photo Diary

      Hiking at Mont Tremblant is the best way to see fall colours in Quebec

      Where to see the best fall colours in Quebec

      Pretty Pastels in Havana, Cuba

      Rainbow buildings in Havana - how to spend 48 hours in Havana, Cuba

      How to spend 48 hours in Havana, Cuba

      Where to eat, sleep, shop and explore in Scottsdale, Arizona.

      The Pretty Guide to Scottsdale, Arizona

      A blogger's guide to Seminyak Bali. Where to eat, sleep and play.

      The Pretty Guide to Seminyak, Bali

      Thailand Travel Inspiration

      Our trip to Thailand // A cinematic journey through Bangkok, Chiang Rai & Chiang Mai

      Tips for visiting Wat Rong Khun - the White Temple in Chiang Rai Thailand

      Visiting the White Temple in Chiang Rai // Thailand travel diary – part 1

      Ubud’s Rice Terraces & Waterfalls // Bali Travel Diary – Part 1

      Cherry blossoms in Paris. Photos of the springtime sakura bloom in France.

      Where to stay in Paris, France

      Cherry blossoms in Paris. Photos of the springtime sakura bloom in France.

      Cherry Blossoms in Paris // Spring Photo Diary

      The most charming city in Europe: Brugge, Belgium

      Traveling to Europe with a baby. Mom and baby girl in front of Eiffel tower.

      Traveling Europe with a Baby // My Experience & Tips

  • Decor
    • Design Inspiration My Home Tour Parties & Entertaining
      Flocked pink and white christmas tree.

      The best flocked Christmas trees

      Neutral desert inspired home office inspiration photos | One room challenge spring 2020

      Home Office Refresh: The Inspiration

      The best pink coffee table books for decorating.

      The Best Pink Coffee Table Books

      Little girl swan nursery inspiration. White and gold baby room.

      Baby Girl Nursery Inspiration

      Feminine Boho Office and Guest Bedroom // One Room Challenge makeover reveal

      Feminine Boho Office and Guest Room – The Reveal!

      A bright modern living room with a blush pink sofa. Inside the home of Canadian decor blogger Jennifer Ashley of Pretty Little Details.

      Statement Furniture: My New Blush Pink Sofa

      A cozy and glamorous white, black and blush pink bedroom.

      My Cozy Glam Bedroom (+ How to Add Hygge to your Home)

      Little girl nursery reveal. White and gold kids bedroom with dusty blush pink accents and subtle swan theme.

      Emilia’s Nursery Reveal

      How to host an afternoon tea

      How to Host an Afternoon Tea

      Unicorn themed girls first birthday party.

      Emilia’s Unicorn Themed First Birthday Party

      Holiday bar cart inspiration. A whimsical woodland tea and dessert station.

      Holiday Bar Cart Inspiration

      Sweet summer brunch party filled with peonies, lemons and pretty dresses.

      Sweet summer brunch // with local boutique Mad About Style

Luxury HandbagsShopping

How to choose your first designer bag

November 4, 2020

If you have been dreaming of purchasing your first luxury handbag, today’s post is for you!  Choosing to purchase your first designer bag is a big decision, so I’m sharing all the questions you should be asking yourself when choosing which bag is worth spending your hard earned money on.

Not sure if you should actually spend your hard earned cash on a designer bag? Read this first!

How to choose your first designer bag // Flatlay image with red Chloe Drew bag and sparkly accessories
(above: Chloe Drew bag & Chanel card case)

Six questions to ask before buying your first designer bag

How well will the bag hold its value?

When you are choosing a designer bag there are several things you may want to consider.  The first is how well the bag will hold its value.  If you are specifically looking for an investment bag, you want to choose a purse that is a classic style from a legacy designer such as Chanel or Hermes. However, if you never plan to sell the bag, truly loving the bag is way more important than choosing one based resale value.

Is it something you will actually wear?  

If you have nowhere you can wear your designer bag it will likely just sit in your closet gathering dust. Make sure to choose a bag that is suitable to your lifestyle. If you work in an office and rarely go out in the evening then consider choosing a designer tote instead of a luxury evening clutch. Likewise, make sure the colour and shape of the bag is one that fits with your current wardrobe. While black is a classic choice, perhaps there are other colours that would compliment your current closet even better. 

How durable is the bag?

While some people are willing to baby their luxury bag, many will want a bag that is easy to care for.  Two things to take into consideration are the materiality and the colouring of the bag.  If you want a bag that doesn’t show the inevitable small scratches that handbags acquire over the years,  consider choosing a bag made with a textured or tougher material. Some examples of handbag materials that hold up to everyday use are saffiano leather, calf skin or canvas.  If you are looking for a bag that feels extra luxurious and are willing to take extraordinary care of it some beautiful options for fabric are soft velvet or lambskin.

The second consideration when discussing durability is the colouring of the handbag.  Caring for a light coloured handbag is much more difficult than caring for a darker toned bag.  Light coloured bags can easily pick up dye from dark blue jeans or other highly pigmented clothing items.

Is the bag the right size for me?

One thing to look at when considering the size of a luxury handbag is whether the scale of the bag suits your frame.  The right size bag should feel in proportion to your body – not too big, not too small.  However, even more important to consider is whether the bag is large enough to hold are your things.

When purchasing my Chanel vanity case, I debated between purchasing the small size or the medium size of the bag.  I liked that the small size had a longer chain so it could be worn cross body but the medium size was only a bit more money for a significantly larger bag.  In the end the deciding factor was when the sales associate pulled out his iPhone 8+ and held it up for size reference against the smaller bag.  I realized if I ever decided to upgrade my phone to a device larger than the one I currently had it would no longer fit in my bag.  For that reason, I opted for the medium sized bag and I remain happy with my choice!

How important is the experience of purchasing the bag?

I realized that for myself the experience of actually buying the bag is very important to me when purchasing a designer bag.  Unboxing the bag from the pristine luxury packaging is all part of what makes the experience of buying a designer bag special. The second designer bag that I purchased I bought second hand from the online luxury resale seller the Real Real. Opening the package to see the Prada bag just sitting inside the plain brown shipping box made me feel instantly disappointed. For that reason I don’t think I will personally be purchasing second hand designer goods in the future. 

How exclusive is this design? 

Can you buy it later?  Most designers release new colours and styles of their iconic designs each season.  If you have your heart set on a style and have the money to purchase it then buy it now!  Or risk never having the chance to purchase it again.  One such bag I have been dreaming about for years is this YSL suede fringe bag.  I so wish I would have purchased it when I first saw it as it is no longer available anywhere except for the occasional second hand store.

The best classic choices for a first designer bag

Depending on your personal style, I would recommend any of the below designer bags for starting off your designer collection.  All of these styles are timeless and great choices for any designer aficionado. And if you are looking for a designer bag under $1000 check out the best options here!

How to choose your first designer bag was last modified: November 4th, 2020 by Jennifer Ashley
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13 comments

Lizzie November 4, 2020 at 9:43 am

These are such great tips for first time buying! I think the portion about holding it’s value is important since there are bags that hold value better than others! And of course, choosing one that goes with goes with your wardrobe!

Lizzie
http://www.lizzieinlace.com

Reply
Stephanie November 4, 2020 at 7:31 pm

I sure do hope I get to invest in at least one designer bag in my life. Maybe one day! The Chanel Boy bag has always stood out to me because it’s classic and iconic. I just can’t see it ever being a purchase I regret. Thanks for sharing your wonderful tips!

Reply
Kileen November 4, 2020 at 10:30 pm

These are some really great tips on picking out your first designer bag! It’s always smart to completely think through all of these points.

Reply
Sarah Lindner November 5, 2020 at 7:00 am

Great tips. Much better than impulse buying and getting buyer’s remorse! xoxo, Sarah

Reply
Rach November 5, 2020 at 11:54 am

These are great tips! So helpful!

http://www.rdsobsessions.com

Reply
Ashley Hargrove November 5, 2020 at 9:16 pm

Such a great post with amazing tips!! It’s definitely smart to think through such an investment!!

Reply
Greta November 6, 2020 at 4:45 pm

These are great tips! I’ve been slowly saving for a Chanel bag and hope to have one, one day!

Reply
Jaimie Tucker November 9, 2020 at 1:37 pm

These are great tips! I love my bag collection and feel its an investment of sorts. Many bags hold their value if well cared for. xo Jaimie

Reply
Laura Leigh November 10, 2020 at 9:58 am

these are such great tips lady! definitely appreciate you sharing them!

xo Laura Leigh
https://louellareese.com

Reply
messing oppvaskkum December 5, 2020 at 2:58 am

thank you very much for sharing this awesome article with us.

Reply
grifo monomando de latón December 10, 2020 at 5:53 am

Such a lovely blog!

Reply
altın mikser dokunun December 13, 2020 at 10:31 pm

Loved the article! I will now be back to visit more often

Reply
distributeur de savon en cuivre December 28, 2020 at 10:20 pm

Thanks for posting this valuable article.

Reply

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