Like most handbag collectors, I love nice things—and my appreciation extends far beyond the bags I carry every day. In an ideal world, I’d be dressed head-to-toe in luxury and vintage designer pieces, refreshing my wardrobe with each new season. But I suspect many of you can relate to another reality: I don’t have unlimited funds.
Because of that, I’m selective about my luxury purchases and typically only buy high-ticket items five to eight times per year (sometimes more if I’m also selling or trading pieces from my collection).
Why Handbags Were Always My First Luxury Purchase
For most of my adult life, my designer spending was reserved almost entirely for handbags, with the occasional small leather good or pair of sunglasses. Accessories have always felt like the sweet spot—more accessible in price than ready-to-wear and far more practical in everyday life.
I’ve long believed that spending $3,000 on a bag you’ll use repeatedly throughout the year is a smarter investment than spending the same amount on a top that may only last a season or two and get worn a handful of times. That logic still holds true for me, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve found myself increasingly drawn to other categories of luxury.
My First Foray Into Designer Shoes
After more than a decade of collecting handbags, I finally decided I was ready to dip my toe—quite literally—into the world of luxury shoes. After handbags, a well-made pair of designer shoes that you wear regularly can also offer excellent value from a cost-per-wear perspective.
I can personally attest to that. My Bottega Veneta Tire Boots have become one of the most-worn designer items in my closet. Even though they’re more than four years old and no longer the fashion-week staple they once were, I still reach for them constantly and love them just as much as when I bought them.
Since then, I’ve added a few more pairs to my collection, including Celine Lug Sole Loafers, Saint Laurent’s Le Loafers, and, most recently, Loewe Puzzle Mules. I have zero regrets about any of these purchases, and each pair has already earned dozens of wears
The Unexpected Pull of Ready-to-Wear
While handbags are always on my radar and shoes often are too, I’ve recently become increasingly interested in building my ready-to-wear collection. Looking back, I think my progression from handbags to shoes was the catalyst for that shift. Handbags are definitely the gateway drug of designer goods, and I find myself justifying those purchases more and more.
A truly well-made piece can be a worthwhile wardrobe investment because it elevates everything else in your closet—especially if, like me, you wear a lot of vintage. Whether it’s a logo tee, a statement jacket, or a beautifully tailored piece, I continue to gravitate toward the world of designer RTW, and I definitely have my handbag collection to thank for that.
Has your handbag obsessesion done the same for you?
Designer t-shirts with logos are the first sign someone has no money and no taste.
Depends on how you wear them actually. If you wear them as a point of interest with neutrals it can look great. What your comment says to me is you have no creativity.
As my career progressed and I started to earn a better salary I started to purchase designer bags and shoes about the same time. I started purchasing designer clothing a few years later. Once you do it is difficult to go back, you can just see the quality difference. Don’t get me wrong, I do not purchase everything I like, I pick and choose pieces from every season. I only purchase items that I feel are timeless that will be relevant for years.