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!

(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!