A luxury handbag is a style essential seen on every well-dressed woman’s arm, transforming even the simplest of outfits into an impactful look that can’t help but exude the ‘wow’ factor. But savvy shoppers know that beyond their fashion credentials, designer handbags are a clever investment, too, with some of the rarest, limited-edition offerings increasing dramatically over the years that follow a purchase.
Starting a designer handbag collection is a good move for any high-end fashion lover looking to profit from their purchases later on. But while snapping up the latest ‘it bag’ might seem like the obvious place to start, strategy is key to building a collection you’ll thank yourself for in years to come.
We asked the experts at Bagover – an online magazine for designer bags, pricing guides and top picks in the industry – to share their top tips for curating the ultimate designer handbag collection. Here’s all you need to know to get the ball rolling.
Choose your designer carefully
One of the biggest decisions to make when first starting your luxury handbag collection is deciding which designer to go with first, and with such a large number of esteemed fashion houses to choose from, the options can feel overwhelming.
While it’s tempting just to snap up the first covetable bag you fall in love with, it pays to research a designer in a little more depth to ensure their ethos aligns with yours and that their bags tend to either retain or increase in price over time. Of course, it’s also important to make sure that the style of bags they produce aligns with your personal taste and reflects your personality, so go and look at a few in person and see which ones look and feel the best to you.
Quality over quantity
When it comes to luxury goods, it’s all about quality over quantity – and it’s worth paying the price of a Hermes birkin bag because you know that you’re getting the very best. Rather than looking to grow your designer handbag collection as quickly as possible, search for one or two that are truly spectacular and have the potential to become iconic ‘it’ bags, as not only will these stand the test of time, but they are most likely to make for a great investment that can be profitable in years to come.
Be sure to buy from a well-known brand so that you can be sure quality is guaranteed – and ensure that every addition to your collection is a highly sought-after piece that could fetch you a high price should you later wish to sell.
Look for timeless models
The key to choosing the perfect luxury handbag is knowing which ones are likely to last you long into the future, and this is a question that goes far beyond quality alone. While the latest bold and embellished, high-fashion model will almost certainly catch your eye, be aware that trends come and go over the years, and that it might not be something you’d want to have on your arm once a particular look has fallen out of favour.
Instead, opt for classic, minimalistic designs, as you can be sure that these will work perfectly with a wide variety of different outfits, and that they will never date your look. Iconic bags like the Chanel 2.55 or the Balenciaga Alexa look just as good now as they did ten or twenty years ago, so choose a timeless style and you’ll thank yourself for it later.
Opt for neutral tones and plain colours
Just as you can be sure a minimalistic model will see you through years to come, choosing monochromatic or neutral colours is a surefire way to make certain your luxury handbag will go with just about every outfit in your wardrobe. Black, beige, tan and navy are all ‘safe’ shades that will always look stylish and sophisticated, and while bright, bold colours can certainly be fun, they tend to be limiting when it comes to combining them with your favourite day-to-day looks.
An unusual shade could, of course, stand to fetch you a considerable sum should you decide to sell it on in the future, particularly if it is limited edition – but on the other hand, it’s worth bearing in mind that the market for niche colours and styles is much smaller, whereas classic models and neutral tones will appeal to almost all potential buyers.
