My First Handbag

Someone had commented in a post asking for some advice regarding buying their first designer handbag and of course Queen Marie passed this one onto me.

Your first high end handbag purchase is a very special one indeed and requires lots of care, attention and thought. You may or may not be in the position to repeat the experience, so it's best to get it as right as possible.

There are a few things one must consider before the purchase that will ultimately decide if your bag is going to last you forever.

Budget
Obviously you need to think carefully about how much you wish to allocate to your purchase. The more money you have the more choice you have. So save up as much as you can. It doesn't mean to say you need to spend it all, but there's nothing worse than falling short of your dream bag and just settling for something else.

What Kind Of Girl Are You?
Buying your first designer handbag really requires you looking right into the soul of your wardrobe. You have to decide the kind of girl you are deep down, once you've stripped away all the dabbling in trends. We are all at heart a 'something', be it a rock chick, hippy, classic kind of gal etc. Look at your wardrobe and see what you always buy and what you always get most wear out of. If you have always lived in Converse and beaten up old jeans then chances are a Birkin will bore you after a while. Your bag needs to fit with as many outfits as possible. I equate the cost with pounds per wear - so if I can wear my bag with every single outfit then that's an investment. In my opinion, your new bag should get endless use.

Age is actually quite important too. I wouldn't have bought my first designer bag before I was 23, simply because I hadn't really settled into my style before then, so don't leap into the purchase too soon, unless you know you'll be able to buy another when you are a bit older.

I dabble in everything fashion wise, but at heart I'm a punk rock type so when deciding on my first purchase it had to fit in with that aesthetic.

Look At The Cheaper Alternatives You Already Buy
Look at what you own already. Do you buy a certain type of bag? So if you always buy structured, lady-like bags, then that's because that's what you know goes with your wardrobe, and that's basically the kind of girl you are at heart.

I always knew I loved Balenciaga Classiques, from their very first season. Of course I didn't have the money then so I always bought slouchy, high street bags with hardware that were similar. When the time came that I did have money to buy my first designer bag, for me it was a no-brainer - it was Balenciaga.

Don't Believe The Hype
Rise above the 'It' bag shit. If you adore the Chloe Paddington and all your cheaper bags are slouchy and similar, then buy it. Ignore the "it's so in", or "it's so out" rubbish in magazines. This is YOUR bag and it doesn't matter a jot if it's in or out. Many 'it' bags are so popular that they become signature bags anyway, therefore will eventually become classics to that design house. Don't deny yourself something just because other people might have the same thing - remember it's how you wear it that counts.

Colour
I advise sticking with good old black or brown. Both colours go with everything and won't show dirt as easily. I'd advise against monograms unless you absolutely adore that particular design house.

Size
I personally tend to buy larger bags since for me I get more wear out of a bag I can carry every day, than one I can only use in the evenings. So look at what you carry around of a day - will it all fit into your dream bag? If the answer is no then it's not the bag for you, unless you're after a specific bag for a specific occasion.

Test Run
Don't be scared to go into the store and try the bag with all your stuff in and walk about, as you might be suprised by the weight of the bag. Heavy bags are a nightmare if you use public transport all the time, or need to walk alot. I made the mistake of taking my Chloe Paddington to London one time, and after the first few hours of carrying it I was ready for chucking it in the nearest bin!

Extras
How do you like to carry a bag? If you only ever hand carry a bag then you don't need it to fit your shoulder, but if there are times when you find yourself really needing your hands free then get a bag with long handles or, better still, a detachable shoulder strap.

Choose Your Weapon
I would look to brands that have a large range of different types of bags such as - Prada/Miu Miu; Givenchy; Marc Jacobs; YSL; Chanel

Accessories are key to these design houses therefore they have a huge range of styles and you'll no doubt find something that you like.

Ask Around
Once you have decided on your bag, get looking around forums to see if anyone has experience of that particular bag. So for example, I don't buy Balenciaga anymore because I don't like the leather they have used since 2005.

People on forums will share their experiences - is the bag sturdy; did it stand up to wear and tear; did it fade; was it too heavy etc. These people will give you honest opinions.

If All Else Fails Buy Chanel!
Let's be honest - who doesn't love Chanel handbags? They come in all shapes and sizes are are always chic.

There you go, my guide to buying your first designer handbag. But beware, it's a slippy slope because once you start it's pretty hard to stop!

Queen Michelle

Comments

[Mrs Fashion]

Great advice!
I particularly love that last tip... If all else fails buy Chanel.
x

[Julie]

Phew, I think we followed all your advice! I am making our first major luxury handbag purchase today (the quilted vintage bag our grandmother left me doesn't really count)

http://www.gucci.com/us/us-english/us/fall-winter-07/handbags/#181514_ADI1G_1000

[G.G.]

What a fantastic post!!! Stellar advice. Would if be alright if I syndicated a paragraph of it on Fairy Bagmother and sent them here to read the full article? Fab article.

[Queen Michelle]

G.G do with it as you wish my dear - my info is your info!

[G.G.]

You are the sweetest monarch ever to reign over these kingdoms of fashion. Thank you :)

[indie]

Thanks for posting this! Really helpful, except the last sentence makes me bit scared :D

[Queen Michelle]

Indie - I ain't gonna lie, once you've experienced true handbag quality, it's difficult to go back to accepting cheap and cheerful. But then, as it's become plain for all to see, I have a slight obsession when it comes to things I like, so you might fair better at resisting!