Luxury handbag is an ultimate eye candy that one should at least own one in their lives. It is more than a symbol of wealth and status, to me, it is a representation of your own style and taste. While you may be hesitant before investing a huge amount of money in it, as they come with a huge price tag, there're few factors you may need to know before making a decision on buying your first luxury bag.
1. Research on the Brand's Style
I do not consider myself as a luxury bag enthusiast, but I do appreciate the savoir faire and artisanship of luxury brands. I adore their history, culture, style and most importantly, their artistic vision and work.
There may be a few brands you resonate yourself with more than the others. For example, I'm drawn into brands like Chanel, Dior and Louis Vuitton as my style is on the same path as the maison's - classy, elegant and timeless. So consider which brands share the same style with you and research a little on the brands before making a purchase.
2. Research on the Style and Price of Bags
Nowadays, many luxury brands include a price catalogue on their website. So you no longer need to go to the store only to find out the scary price later. I know, going to a store to ask about the price is intimidating! so do remember to find out the price of the bags you are looking for before heading to the store if you feel uncomfortable.
Sites that do not include a price are : Chanel (they only display around 10 items for each category) , Hermès (well, this is another story, you simply cannot just walk-in to buy a bag even you have the money)
Take some time to browse their online catalogue and see which style and budget will fit you the most.
3. Long Term Investment - Classic and Resale Value
Remember, a luxury bag is more than an accessory. It is there for a lifetime. With its expensive price, it also comes with excellent quality that can last a lifetime when you take good care of it. So choose something that is timeless and will not go out of style.
It is safe to choose a classic and what the house is known for, for example, Louis Vuitton is famous for its LV monogram canvas, so you can look for the Monogram Speedy Bag, Neverfull and Alma as a starter bag.
One of the reasons people line up outside luxury shops is because they are purchasing their iconic bags as an investment. While stocks will have risks that go up and down, bags have a reputation of holding values. Since luxury brands will increase the price almost every year, it is safe to say that buy early, enjoy early. If you decide to buy one in your life anyway, why not buy it at a "cheaper" price now than to wait a few years later only to find out the price has gone up! So choosing a bag that holds the resale value is one of the factors you may need to consider before purchasing.
4. History of the Brand/ Bag
The more you know about the brand and the particular bag, the easier you will be to make a purchase. Before buying my Louis Vuitton Alma BB, I learnt about the history of Louis Vuitton, on how he founded the maison.
Louis Vuitton History:
Louis was born in a farming family. He had a stepmother when he was 10 and decided to leave his hometown after his father passed away. At the age of 13, he decided to take on a journey by foot from the forest where he lived to Paris, taking jobs along the way. When he was 16, he got to Paris and found an apprentice job on box making and craftsmanship. After 17 years of experience, he gained reputation in the field and he started to grasp the growing trend of the travelling elites and started his own box making workshop, but it isn't that easy... (More on his story HERE)
Learning the history of the brand makes me understand more on what I am spending a large amount of money on. Other than that, I discovered the history of the particular bag i wanted to buy too:
ALMA BB History :
"Alma was originally made for Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel as a custom order in 1925 already. Coco gave permission to produce the bag for the public later on. At first, the bag was called the "Squire bag". Afterwards, the name was changed to “Champs-Elysées”, after the famous street in Paris. But only the third adopted name “Alma” was a success and has been used ever since. “Alma” is named after “Place de l’Alma”, the tree lined square in Paris, where the Avenue Montaigne meets the Seine."
Review on my Louis Vuitton Alma BB Monogram Canvas:
To Love:
Its iconic monogram canvas is scratch resistant and waterproof so you can use water to clean it. The structure of the bag is wonderful, it can stand very elegantly.
The design traces from its pedigree to an Art Deco origin. Which I totally love!
The size of the bag is marvellous. Even it's the smallest size, it can hold a lot of things, let's say, a wallet, a phone, a tiny umbrella and even a small water bottle!
It comes with a shiny golden packlock which reminds us of the Louis Vuitton house history.
The style is gorgeous that can elevate your whole outfit in an instant. An absolute gem.
Shortcomings:
The bag is absolutely beautiful and timeless. I love the beige color of this bag but I'm told that the vachetta leather is not safe for cleaning and in time the color will darken. While some people prefer it to have a vintage honey-colored looking handle, to be honest i love its current color. I guess time will tell how it will turn out!
The strap is not adjustable since it was a design from long time ago and they are not going to change it since it's a classic design. At first I didn't like it that much if I want to wear it on a shoulder as it could be a bit long when you can’t adjust the length, but later I found wearing it cross-body actually looks stunning and there's no point in wearing it on just one shoulder anymore!
Are you going to make a purchase? What brand and style are you looking for? Tell me on my instagram @loislaulife