Buying a handbag should be a deliberate, well thought-out decision. Whether or not you stash money away in a bag fund, I think we can all agree that purchasing a leather good, especially one priced above a couple hundred dollars, isn’t something to be taken lightly. It is a lot of money, after all – especially when we’re talking about designer bags from Chanel, Fendi, and Hermes.
That definitely does not mean there’s anything wrong with spending that kind of money on a bag, be it $500 or $5,000. But with any purchase, I think it’s important to think it through. You know, contemplate different aspects of your potential bag-to-be, such as whether or not you have enough money saved for it, and/or if it’s considered an “investment piece.”
Speaking of investment pieces, I came across a new section on Nordstrom’s online site called “SPACE Handbags,” which is described as a “shop for emerging and advanced designers.” Currently, brands including Off White, Cult Gaia, Yuzefi, Simon Miller, and Ganni are featured.
Many of these designers’ styles are far from the traditional Chanel or Prada look, sporting funkier shapes, colors, and textures. Though they are substantially less expensive compared to anything from Hermes or Gucci, they’re still pretty pricey. (The average is about $500.)
That brings me to my real question: What do you take into consideration when purchasing a bag? Are you more focused on brand and name recognition, or style and uniqueness? Are you concerned with purchasing a bag that holds the potential for consignment?
Perusing the below bags really got me thinking… they’re cute and stylish, but I’m not sure if I could drop $500 to $1,000 on them. When I purchase a bag from Prada or Fendi, I at least know there’s a chance I can get *some* of my money back, if need be.
What do you think? There’s no right or wrong answer! The varying reasons why each of us purchase bags is what makes this community one-of-a-kind. I’d love to hear what your take is!
Yuzefi Asher Convertible Crossbody Bag ($575)
Ganni Small Drawstring Leather Bag ($620)
Gedebe Brigitte Mini Jeweled Snakeskin Top-Handle Bag ($785)
Off White Sculpture Leather Mini Flap Bag ($965)
Simon Miller Lunchbag Leather Roll Top Clutch ($485)
Cult Gaia Small Ark Handbag ($150)
Danse Lente Phoebe Bis Acetate Closure Crossbody Bag ($495)
God, I hate Off White.
It’s trying desperately to be cool – and fails miserably.
Lunch bag and paper clip bags are not for me! I have purchased less expensive bags, made in Italy, and was pleasantly surprised about the quality and price (below $500).
I think I would definitely look at style, unique features, quality and functionality. If I am buying an indie brand, I probably wouldn’t even bother with any online purchase. I’d rather go to a store and see it for myself. I’m inspecting for all the features I described above. Plus, I like looking at new designers because they always try to bring fresh ideas to bag construction. Sometimes, I feel like all the legacy brands have to do is stamp their name on it and *boom!* they make a sale.
This is a really great question, I think. Cause if I am gonna drop some major bucks on a bag, I’d like it to have brand recognition BUT, I also can’t ignore a good bag and wouldn’t it be nice if I got “in” before a designer is known?
I bought a Reed Krakoff ages ago when it just started up and was so in love with it. When the suspended all their ops, I was kinda crushed but the bag still functions and I get lots of compliments on it so no regrets.
I would if the quality were there! I’m so bored of the top brands just spitting out iterations of themselves with no thought to design. I applaud indie designers for pushing the edge of creativity. But usually you can find them reduced during sale season, so I try to wait.
I buy lesser known brands. I would not buy any of the HIDEOUS bags pictured in this article. Especially that Lente. Screaming for attention.
I would consider a lesser-known brand. Why not?
That’s what I did years ago when I bought VB and The Row.
If I really really really like the design, why not. I still remember the Reed Krakoff Atlantida bag I bought a few years ago and it was 1200 $ and now it’s worthless considering resale, but I love hove beautiful it is, still .
My Linjer’s Dr Bag was one of my favorite purchases for under $400. There are no labels but that bag oozes luxury. I get so many compliments when I carry it. It was worth it.
I love mine too!!
I couldn’t buy any of the bags above. Probably because I am an old lady and just have no interest in trends. I buy bags I respect. That may sound odd, but i have to respect the brand, the craftsmanship and the value in order to feel good about my purchase. So I usually stick with less bags, higher prices. Seems to work for me.
Yes, I would buy lesser known brands, but they wouldn’t necessarily be any cheaper. And they could be well known in their country of origin — for my purchases, Italy. For example, I have bags from Agnona (Cara bag, no longer made alas) and Fontana Milano 1915 (some FM bags are carried at Barneys, but only a small selection). They are gorgeous and every bit as luxe as the more well-known premium brands.
If I liked the design, the quality is good and price points are affordable then I might. I was instantly a fan of Proenza Schouler when they launched their first bag design (PS1) back in the day so these lesser known brands have the potential to be big in a few years
All else being equal (high quality, timeless enough to look good for 5-10 years, but still stylish, fresh, and interesting), I actually prefer my bags to be from under-the-radar labels. I’m not comfortable carrying a bag when literally everyone around me knows exactly how much it costs. And I sometimes want to be in spaces where it doesn’t feel right to have an obviously flashy bag (e.g., volunteering, political rallies, meeting friends with anti-materialistic or anti-elite political views). I hope to use my bags for a long time, ideally until they’re worn out, so resale value isn’t a top concern for me.
I have bought a Simon Miller bag! Not the lunch bag but the Bonsai! The largest (now discontinued) size. I love it! But I bought it on sale, I would not have bought it for full price as my designer collection only consists of 4 bags, the Bonsai included, so for full price I still have some a bit more classic pieces that I would opt for first hand!