Unboxing a brand-new bag is one of the most exciting feelings – especially if you’re purse-obsessed like me. Bags typically come meticulously wrapped, packed away inside a sturdy and protective dust bag.
Speaking of, dust bags are meant to be used to store your bag when not in use, though I’ve seen people use them for all sorts of other things, like packing shoes for travel or grocery shopping. (Weird, I know.)
If you asks the specialists at Christie’s, they’ll tell you the absolute best way to store a handbag is in its original box. “Otherwise, line your bags up on a shelf in your closet. If the shelf is not tall enough, do not allow the handles of the bag to be pressed down — in this event, the bag should lie flat. You can keep track of your bags by including a note with the name of the bag on the box or dustbag, so that you don’t have to rifle through ten boxes before you find your Etoupe 35,” according to a previous article.
There’s one problem with this method (in my opinion, at least): You can’t see them! To me, my handbag collection is a work of art. It’s no different than someone’s love for collecting art or antique cars. Though there are some bags I don’t use often, displaying them brings me just as much joy as wearing them – and I know I’m not alone with this sentiment.
So here it goes (don’t judge me!): I’ve actually never stored my handbags inside their respective dust bags, unless I’m traveling. As I mentioned earlier, I’d rather display them. Quick glimpses at my black Prada Galleria or baby blue Fendi 2Jours bring me back to a specific moment in time, never failing to put a smile on my face. (It’s also pretty motivating, too.) Not only that, displaying them helps me remember what I have and encourages me to swap out my bags more often. So far (and it’s been quite a few years), I’ve noticed no damage to any of them. Sure, there’s a little dust here and there, but I’m pretty good at remembering to clean each one with a light cloth every few weeks. I also make sure they’re not displayed in direct sunlight, ensuring the leather stays intact.
I understand why handbag experts recommend storing purses inside dust bags. It’s far less likely something damning will happen (accidental water, sunlight exposure, increased dust, and so on and so forth) if your prized handbag is safely stored inside a branded canvas or cloth tote. (Psst. The recent Chanel ones are really cute.)
Given I live alone, I’m still willing to take the risk and have my bags displayed. Maybe I’ll have to learn the hard way, but for now, this method works for me.
Where and how do you store your handbags and why? I’d love to know!
I never use them. I have bags that are thirty years old and still look just fine, and like many others here, I love to admire them on a shelf when they are not in daily use.
I never store my bags in the dust bags. They’re too pretty and I love being able to see them. I actually use the dust bags to help with stuffing my handbags when they’re not being used. I keep them out of the sun and in a cooler room to help with keeping the leather intact. After reading this though I do think I should start using dust bags for my vintage bags. Great article!
A shelf in a non-sunny bedroom is where I keep my purses and even my perfume collection, which is more extensive and vulnerable to sunlight. Nothing lasts forever. I buy things to enjoy them, and I like to enjoy them all year, even if that means they don’t last as long or I have to dust them. But I don’t have thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars spent on purses, either. If I did I wouldn’t enjoy them as much because I’d have to baby them! I baby my cat, pugs, and my husband. I put pretty things on shelves and dust be damned.
So, this is from a long time ago, but thought I’d add…I like displaying my bags as well. But I rotate them by use so the ones I’m not displaying/using, are in dust bags. I ALWAYS have something inside the bags to keep their shape though whether they are in dust bags or not. I have some very soft leathery type bags and they definitely sag if they are not filled with something. I store my scarves in some of them – 2 birds as they say 🙂
I definitely keep my bags in their dust bags. I want to keep my very expensive bags for years to come. From my experience the dust and sunlight can really damage a bag. Aside from that I am allergic to dust, so keeping these beauties in a bag minimizes my exposure.
Dust is my nemesis so I definitely use dustbags. It’s fairly common for me to not use a bag for months at a time. A dustbag makes a big difference when you’re pulling out a new bag for a new season.
I have too many bags to worry about seeing them daily. I have them organized by brands in their dust bags. I’m tall so I use the top shelf in my closet to organize the bags and they have room not to be misshapen to fit. The dust bags keep them safe from dust, but should someone break in my home they can’t see what they are grabbing up there.
THIS! I would be nervous displaying them and having someone break in and making it easy for them to grab.
I have to agree. I don’t want to make it easy for someone to see them. I have an excellent memory and I know exactly what I have and I even know what I have give to my niece.
I understand wanting to look at a bag for sentimental or other reasons, but since I live in a dry climate I keep mine in their dust bag and box for preventative measures.
I definitely keep my bags in their dust bags. I want to keep my very expensive bags for years to come. From my experience the dust and sunlight can really damage a bag. Aside from that I am allergic to dust, so keeping these beauties in a bag minimizes my exposure.
I store mine inside a cabinet with glass doors. There is minimal light in the room and the glass solves the dust issue. Before I had room to spare for the cabinets, I used Elfa drawers in my closet. I lined the drawers with the plastic inserts (all available at Container Store) so I wouldn’t get a grid pattern on softer leathers. I would also lay the dustbag flat in the drawer and lay the bag on top of it. I could see at least one side of the bag through the front of the drawer, but if the bags were smaller and multiples went in the same drawer, I couldn’t see them all. Much prefer the cabinet (bought two tall ones from IKEA). I can see everything and I’m constantly reminded of what I already have.
Since I don’t have a nice place to store my handbags, I keep them in the dust bag. This includes my cheapies from Amazon which, oddly enough, come with dust bags.
Honestly it depends on the climate one lives in.
Yes, always dust bags. Keeps them dust-free and scuff-free, but also keeps them from fading over long-term light exposure.
I’m a “dustbager.”
If the bag is not in use, it goes in the dustbag with a pillow inside to help it keep its shape.
Dust bag. ALWAYS. They protect you bags from a lot more than dust.
Prevents color transfer from other bags (or whatever is next to it); prevents fading from light exposure; slows oxidation which also causes discoloration; protects the leather’s finish.
I think you do your hard earned collection a serious disservice and risk permanent damage by displaying them 24/7.
My LV bags and accessories I don’t keep in dust bag since they are canvas I just wipe them off with a baby wipe. My one and only CC bag I keep in dust bag due to it being yellow and it’s my little baby ??
My bags are in their dust bags. If they came with a box, I store them in the box. Living in a humid climate, mold can be an issue. For the bags that already had molds grow on them, I store them in large ziplock bags so that I can keep an eye on any mold that could regrow. I also have a small rechargeable dehumidifier in my closet but I don’t know how effective they really are.
The ziplocks might encourage mold regrowth. I suggest wrapping in archival tissue then placing in a 100% cotton bag. If you see you can make the bags or use pillowcases. Let the handbags breathe but filter out the spores.
I am team Dust bag. i think the box would prevent air contact, and leather or canvas needs to breathe some or it might crack
I’m surprised that the responses are almost all saying they use dustbags. I could never do that b/c they bring me WAY too much joy to look at every time I walk in my closet. As another poster said, I use the dustbags inside each bag with stuffing to make sure they keep their shape (to me, this is the most important thing you can do in terms of preserving a bag). I also make sure nothing is touching the bags and that they are sitting on a flat surface. There’s little to no natural light (so no issue with fading) and I dust them like I do anything else in my house. I’ve had many of them for years and they are all pristine.
Before I got married I had a handbag storage case (technically a bookshelf) with glass doors, and I LOVED seeing my bags all the time, though some of the clutches, especially the box clutches, were stored three and four deep, but i could still see them easily. There’s not really a good place for the shelf in my current apartment though and I definitely feel like storing them in the top part of my closet prevents me from rotating through them regularly, which makes me really sad. I often forget what I have.
Take a bag family photo! That’s what I do to remember what I have in my inventory
I go dust-bag free for the most part – I like to see my bags – I’m the gal who swaps bags daily, depending on my mood, and my outfit, so it works for me. I hang them in my closet on acrylic handbag hangers, on a rod that is safe from direct sunlight.
My wife and sister hang their bags by the handle on handbag trees. They cover the trees with a clear thin plastic cover, and store them in the basement away from the sunlight. The bags stay clean and are visible.
My bags are stored in a cabinet so I have to open the doors to see them. Light colored bags that may be prone to color transfer and persnickety bags like my Chanel lambskin flap are stored within their dust bags.
I dont understand the need for a dust bag – doesn’t your maid do a good enough job dusting? That was a joke. Dust bag is perfect to stop scratching & light protection. As Christies said, the boxes are the best and I keep all my boxes as well (sometimes even the tissue paper, and its like opening a Christmas gift every time).
I use the dustbags. Always. I stuff my handbags with a trick I learned on TPF: the puffy air-filled plastic bags that are found in packages. And I printed out pictures (simple Word doc table) of all my handbags that I store in plastic 3-hole sleeves in an inexpensive plastic presentation binder. I keep it next to my bed so I see what I’m in the mood to carry that day.
Dustbags are made to keep dust out. I keep my bags in their ‘sleeping bags’ at the top of my closet by the air vent and ensure they do not lean on each other.
I question this article. LV has repeatedly reminded to not keep the bags in the box because mildew can develop.
I also keep a DampRid item in my closet to absorb lingering humidity.
I was told the exact same thing by Gucci. So I keep them in the dust bags
Nearly all of my leather bags sit in the closet, stuffed and in dust bags. There is a reason why bags are sold with dust bags; it’s a free insurance against dirt, dust, color transfer, creasing, indentations etc etc. Nylon and canvas bags are neatly stored either flat or folded (Le Pliages). My Le Pliage Cuir is also folded but in its own dust bag.
If I was filthy rich and so many of my bags weren’t styles that have been discontinued I might be a bit careless. Being poor motivates you! 😀 😀 😀
I bought quite a few IRIS tall bootie storage boxes with hinged pulldown doors on Amazon. They are clear plastic, pretty sturdy and offer a good field of vision of their contents. These keep my more-expensive shoes and purses dust-free but still very visible in my closet. For flatter items, they offer a removeable shelf you can insert to let you keep two pairs of shoes or smaller bags/wallets in one cube. I dislike having to use the dustbags because, like others here say, I enjoy SEEING my shoe and purse stash! They are works of art and give me great joy viewing them. It’s worth the extra money to me to house them in these containers. I simply put the dustbags inside the purses to help them keep their form or store the shoe bags together inside a larger box. I always keep all the original boxes as well.
I almost always use my dust bags, except for one small bag that I use on the weekends. I’ve had a problem with color transfer from handles in the past so I now tuck the handles inside the bag (depending on the style). I also use t-shirts to stuff my bags while in storage. They’re all in my closet on the shelf in single file. I have my dust bags labeled for easy reference.
I love bags I also love to see all of the different dust bags lol
I almost always use my dust bags, except for one small bag that I use on the weekends. I’ve had a problem with color transfer from handles in the past so I now tuck the handles inside the bag (depending on the style). I also use t-shirts to stuff my bags while in storage. They’re all in my closet on the shelf in single file. I have my dust bags labeled for easy reference.
I love bags but I also love to see al the different dust bags (so I use them) lol
I almost always use my dust bags, except for one small bag that I use on the weekends. I’ve had a problem with color transfer from handles in the past so I now tuck the handles inside the bag (depending on the style). I also use t-shirts to stuff my bags while in storage. They’re all in my closet on the shelf in single file. I have my dust bags labeled.
Bags for my bags, s’il vous plaît!
In addition, I opt for allowing my bags to rest comfortably on their backs, either ensconced in their original branded sleeper sacs or a suitable surrogate. Just as it’s generally considered healthiest for most people to sleep on their back—often with a precisely placed pillow beneath their knees and another one cushioning their neck—I like my bags to be similarly supported when they’re not enjoying events around town with me.
One reason for this storage strategy is my preference for structured styles crafted in smooth sturdy leathers: think Hermés Box or Barenia leather. If I want my bags to stand tall without slouching when we’re out and about (and I certainly do!) it’s important for me to minimize conditions conducive to the gravitational pull that will cause what other bag aficionados affectionately term “the perfect slouch.”
Sleepers are recommended for all bags—slouchy or not—because they protect your treasures from dust and light, which will, over time, create conditions that can impair the well-being of your collection. While displaying naked bags in your closet on a short-term basis will not harm them—after all, boutiques wouldn’t sell many new bag styles if their clients couldn’t actually see them!—bag lovers should know that the joy they experience when routinely seeing their bags on display comes with an added toll. If you wish to preserve your bags in pristine condition so they can be enjoyed by the next generation (your daughter or perhaps your granddaughter), do give serious consideration to sleeper bags.
If you have any bags that are missing their original sleepers, I ?? these soft breathable 100% cotton flannel ones with corded closures, offered in an unbleached alabaster color that will flatter all your favorite pieces: https://etsy.me/2rjIISw