Advice to those just starting handbag collections...

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#46
This is a great thread! I think I've done all the "don'ts" already :D and my top 10 of what I've learned is:

  1. Research the bag you want. Sometimes you see one on a website or reveal and think -I have to have it!! Check out the measurements and dimensions and try it on!!!
  2. When you try on the bag, put all your stuff in. If it hurts now it'll hurt after an hour. Don't get it just because it's pretty!!!
  3. Don't try to compete with anyone. Someone will ALWAYS have more bags, better bags, more expensive bags......
  4. As posted before-- you don't need to match your bag to every pair of your shoes. That's why there are neutral bags---like black and beige or similar tones. Try a red a bag---or a contrast color!!!
  5. You really only need about five bags to have a versatile collection. One or two hand-held (only if you like them), two shoulder bags (one spring/summer, one fall/winter), two totes (one spring/summer, one fall/winter) and one dressy clutch.
  6. Your first five bags should be useful (you can actually fit your stuff in there, hello)
  7. If you don't use your bag within a certain timeframe (I set mine for a year)...sell it!!!! Don't collect it. Use it.
  8. Get the bags you love- that make your heart sing. Don't jump on any bandwagon of the "it" bag.
  9. Get your Holy Grail--or at least work up to it. It might take years. It might be bags and bags later. You may find your HG has changed.
  10. If you have to put any bag on your cc--make sure you can pay for it!!
  11. I just remembered one more---YOU wear the bags they don't wear you. Who cares if your clothes are from Target, you can still rock Chanel.
 
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#47
LVLoveaffair said:
This is a great thread! I think I've done all the "don'ts" already :D and my top 10 of what I've learned is:

  1. Research the bag you want. Sometimes you see one on a website or reveal and think -I have to have it!! Check out the measurements and dimensions and try it on!!!
  2. When you try on the bag, put all your stuff in. If it hurts now it'll hurt after an hour. Don't get it just because it's pretty!!!
  3. Don't try to compete with anyone. Someone will ALWAYS have more bags, better bags, more expensive bags......
  4. As posted before-- you don't need to match your bag to every pair of your shoes. That's why there are neutral bags---like black and beige or similar tones. Try a red a bag---or a contrast color!!!
  5. You really only need about five bags to have a versatile collection. One or two hand-held (only if you like them), two shoulder bags (one spring/summer, one fall/winter), two totes (one spring/summer, one fall/winter) and one dressy clutch.
  6. Your first five bags should be useful (you can actually fit your stuff in there, hello)
  7. If you don't use your bag within a certain timeframe (I set mine for a year)...sell it!!!! Don't collect it. Use it.
  8. Get the bags you love- that make your heart sing. Don't jump on any bandwagon of the "it" bag.
  9. Get your Holy Grail--or at least work up to it. It might take years. It might be bags and bags later. You may find your HG has changed.
  10. If you have to put any bag on your cc--make sure you can pay for it!!
  11. I just remembered one more---YOU wear the bags they don't wear you. Who cares if your clothes are from Target, you can still rock Chanel.
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I love number 11. I work in a very casual environment and normally dress very casually. But I am drawn to bags that are sometimes a bit fancier than I am dressed. I decided I don't care. If I love the bag and I will go ahead and wear it with jeans and a t-shirt. :p



1. Buy and wear what you love not what you think you should have.

2. Don't get caught up with just one designer. Look at them all. You never know what you may see that you will love.

3. If you buy it and have doubts after, let it sit for a couple days. If you still have doubts, return it if you can or sell it. You will probably feel relieved. But if the thought of returning it makes you sad, then keep it if you can afford it.

4. Sometimes you will lust after a bag online only to find it isn't quite right irl. Just move on. Don't try to make yourself love it in person because you want it to live up to the fantasy.

5. Another vote for don't settle. Been there done that. You will just end up buying more and then trying to sell the bag you settled for.

6. Don't buy something just because it's a good deal. Even if it is a $600 bag for $200, if you don't love it, save that $200 to go towards what you will love.
 
#48
Don't be so obsessively focused on the brand name. Buy a bag because you love the style and not just for the name. It's okay to buy a $400 contemporary bag instead of any of the premier designers. It's not wasting money if you love it. The quality of contemporary bags are no better or worse than the premier bags.
 
#49
One advice I can give to those who want to start a bag collection is to learn how to take care of their bags. Keeping them in mint condition will help keep the bag maintain its beauty for years and years to come. :)

Oh and in case you wanna trade up in the future... well maintained bags have better resell value. :P
 
#51
DisCo said:
-Consider classic and versatile pieces more than trendy ones which could easily look outdated a few seasons later. You'll get your money's worth more on classic pieces that you can use for a lifetime and with any outfit.

-Research about a particular brand/bag before a purchase....it's good to read customer reviews and their input on the bag's quality before taking the plunge. In my case, I probably wouldn't have gotten a few Balenciaga bags if I had read customer reviews on their quality (but I did without much research)....and true enough I had experienced almost all of the flaws known to Bal bags.

-Look at your wardrobe to get an idea if a certain bag would suit your style. If most of your clothes are neutral, black then you'd know for example, that you can afford to get a bag that'll give your outfit a pop of colour, etc. If your outfits are mostly in bold prints, etc then you know that bags in bold print or bold colours would probably clash with them.

-I don't know with others but you don't need a bag that's exactly the same colour as your shoes LOL. So if you have 20 pairs of shoes in different colours, it doesn't mean that you need a matching bag for each pair....just get a bag that'll complement most of your shoes.
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-The last one made me smile and think about my mom. She buys same or similarly colored shoes whenever I give her a pink or red bag. :D

-Classic is indeed the way to go! You can wear the bag everyday, dress it up or down, at work or weekends with the family. :tup:

-I always make my research on TPF before I buy a bag. Except, when I got my Epi Lockit... no regrets, though. ;) I try to know the possible defects of the bags or the usual complaints of others. This is the reason why I haven't bought a Bal bag even if I've been dreaming about their yummy colors for almost a year. :girlsigh: I don't want to baby my bags...

-Nobody sell pre loved things here and I don't want a pre loved bag either so I save up to pay cash for the bags I want. Even if I have to wait for it for 4-6 months, at least the waiting period makes the bag more special. :love:

-Start your bag collection gradually; get first the bag that you think you will use frequently. Either it's a neutral that will match most of your clothes or a style that fit your usual routine (work, clubbing, playgrounds etc). :sunnies
 
#52
Become an active member if TPF. :D I really learnt A LOT here!

Before, I tend to choose my bags one by one. But now, I think the other way. I try to plan what my finished collection look like, then plan when and where to buy what. I figure in this way, there would be less overlap among my bags in terms of color, style and functionality. It also helps me avoid overspending by letting me know how much I will be spending in total. So how do you decide what your collection would contain? I've started a couple of threads on this:
http://forum.purseblog.com/louis-vuitton/top-5-economical-must-haves-687209.html
http://forum.purseblog.com/louis-vuitton/your-ideal-but-reasonable-collection-695409.html
This method relies on that you be very planned in living your life though, but I hope it will work for you.
 
#53
GhstDreamer said:
Don't be so obsessively focused on the brand name. Buy a bag because you love the style and not just for the name. It's okay to buy a $400 contemporary bag instead of any of the premier designers. It's not wasting money if you love it. The quality of contemporary bags are no better or worse than the premier bags.
Click to expand...

I totally agree. BUY WHAT YOU LOVE. Bags are well, just bags.
 
#55
Marie Lee said:
go for quality over quantity, I sure wish I had, I'd rather have 4 or 5 first rate bags than dozens and dozens of 300$ to 400 $ bags. This can be hard at first. Maybe get one or 2 than save for a few biggies
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You are right, yet to many like myself, $300 to $400 would be like $3000 !!..$300+ is my grocery budget for a month for a family of 3 !! I could only do the Premiere bag if it were pre owned but I do appreciate their beauty.
 
#56
My worst buys were

1- bags that don't fit my lifestyle, but that I love. Clutches, in my case. I'm banned from buying anymore because I have way too many and never use them.

2- bags that are too heavy or difficult to carry. I've never gotten the hand held satchel thing. looks great in pictures, feels wierd (to me) in real life.

3- sales/trends. In both cases I tend to get sick of the bag. I do better with a more classic shape, at least a bag that will hold up for a few years.

But my biggest tip is do not overspend on a handbag. You do not want to look back and cringe at how much you spent on bags in comparision to how much you make or have saved.
 
#57
Best advice from me (besides don't start in the first place), stay off of TPF! It only fuels the fire. I don't care what anyone says. Be afraid! Be very afraid!

My other tidbit that most won't agree with: Don't buy online used bags.
 
#58
I second that!

grietje said:
Don't think of it as a collection. It's not art, it's not stamps, it's not figurines. It's something that is meant to be used.

Do not get caught up in the volume. There are some serious collectors on this board with significant collections. Don't try to keep up or think you have to have a certain number.
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#60
Greentea said:
For me, a small, edited collection of fabulous is far better than a big collection of mediocre.
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this is the same principle that
rules my bag collections.

i can count my designer bags by the
fingers on my hands... but each one of
them was bought after months of
rigorous web research and in-store fittings.

first criteria: i must fall in love at it at first sight
final criteria: i should still love it even after trying
it out for several times

if my feelings towards the bag don't change,
then i know she's for me :)

price is not a show-stopper unless
it goes way beyond reasonable.
 
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