As a true purse aficionado, I am constantly acquiring new handbags for my ever growing collection. I know I’m in good company when I say I own more bags than any individual would ever need, and although I can certainly afford my handbag habits, I do feel an internal need to justify my purchases. I’ve got a long list of reasons that justify the purchase of a bag, ranging anywhere from “I don’t own anything in that shade of blue” to “it’s an investment”. In fact, I use the term “investment” to describe my luxury purchases quite often, and I see the term used all the time while browsing the PurseForum. In fact, I would say many of us purse lovers refer to our purchases as investments, but is that truly the case? I am 100% guilty of referring to my bags as investments before, during, and after a purchase, but in reality, I’m not so sure if that’s the case. PurseBlog covered a study in 2016 that found that Hermès Birkins can rival traditional investments, such as gold and stocks, which is absolutely fantastic news for Birkin owners, but what about the rest of us?
As much as I wish I owned a Birkin (and trust me, I seriously wish!), I’ve got to question if any of my bags can be considered legitimate investments. I will be the first person to admit that I am not a finance whiz, but I do regularly sell my handbags to fund new bags, so I am knowledgeable on bags retaining their value. Being a frequent reseller has forced me to face an unpleasant reality, which is my bags can’t be considered investments. I can’t tell you how many times I have purchased something quite pricey, only to take a heavy hit when I resell it a few years later. This is a large reason why I frequently purchase from luxury consignment shops rather than the retailer directly—you can get a serious bargain! I did buy a Gucci Marmont bag I’ve been lusting over for years directly from the Gucci store last week, but I digress….
I’ve started to think of my handbags like brand new cars, they depreciate in value after leaving the shop, and that’s okay with me. Maybe they will be collector’s items or rare and expensive 35 years from now, but even if they’re not, I’m going to buy an item because I love it, not because it will have large resale value. That doesn’t mean I will never buy brand new again, I definitely will. Why? Because my handbags may not be financial investments, but they’re certainly investments in my happiness, and I will continue to call them investments accordingly.
Do you think handbags can be true investments? Inquiring minds want to know!
