Hi everyone! I'm looking to expand my collection of vintage luxury bags and would love to hear your advice. What are your tips for finding authentic pieces at flea markets and auctions? Additionally, which brands do you think are the best investments? Thank you for your insights!
Tips for Finding Authentic Vintage Luxury Bags
- Thread starter bibipiove
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You need to figure out what you like and want. Bags aren't investments, except for (maybe) highly expensive rarities that are never used.
There are a lot of posts and threads on this forum about places people buy secondhand from, with a range of degree of confidence on authenticity and merchant experience. Have you read the forums? Start.
Tip: Don't assume that what you find randomly, instead of from a reputable source, is authentic. Assume the opposite.
There are a lot of posts and threads on this forum about places people buy secondhand from, with a range of degree of confidence on authenticity and merchant experience. Have you read the forums? Start.
Tip: Don't assume that what you find randomly, instead of from a reputable source, is authentic. Assume the opposite.
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Thank you very much for your answer. I just joined the forum, and I'm starting to find a lot of helpful information.
I've always wanted to buy a vintage bag, but I think it's very difficult to find interesting pieces in Madrid (where I live), so I decided to check second-hand websites like Vestiaire Collective and Vinted. However, I'm still very confused about prices and authenticity. Should I just trust the pictures of the label and code? I guess there's always a risk involved.
You might have noticed that we haven’t responded to your post much. And that’s because it’s the equivalent of a student who just mastered times tables asking about how to solve a calculus equation. There’s a whole lot of steps you need between here and there.
To find authentic bags at auction/secondhand - shop at stores with a solid reputation and the willingness to back up their guarantee, and then double check with an independent appraiser
Alternatively, get to know what an authentic bag looks and feels like. Go to stores, look at the Authenticate threads on the forum. Know what saddle stitching looks like, what the different leathers look and feel like, the weight and dimensions of the hardware. And after a thousand hours of research, go and buy bags. You’ll make a lot of mistakes, but it’s an interesting hobby, none the less.
If you decide to look for bargains - most of the bargains you find these days are in rough shape, and need restoration. Learn how to fill piping, condition bags, clean filthy handles, remove pen marks, re-dye, ect. There’s several rehab threads that might be helpful.
Bags and gemstones and most material things are not investments. Unless you’re planning on taking up reselling as a hobby. At which point, you need to spend a few hours a week shopping markets, seeing what’s available and what people are excited about. Ideally, the best items for resale have a growing, passionate fan base, limited releases, and are not commonly faked
There’s no shortcuts. No real easy way to pick up cheap designer bags. You just need to put in the time and research. Good luck!
@cowgirlsboots is quite knowledgeable with great taste, but she also has experience with restoration of vintage pieces.
Bags that are somewhat out of style (like Dior dioramas or Fendi spy bags) can be bargains. So can some brands like balenciaga and BV Tomas Maier.
And, if you are fond of big bags when the trend is the opposite etc, then it’s easier. For premier brands, exotics tend not to hold value, so there are relative deals. And, jewelry companies like Cartier used to have inexpensive bags at resale.
I don’t recommend vestaire, and I prefer to window shop Japanese resellers to get a sense of what is out there. Look and look some more before pulling the trigger. And, don’t buy anywhere unless there is an ironclad return policy. I only pay PayPal backed by Amex. Never wire transfer or cash.
Bags that are somewhat out of style (like Dior dioramas or Fendi spy bags) can be bargains. So can some brands like balenciaga and BV Tomas Maier.
And, if you are fond of big bags when the trend is the opposite etc, then it’s easier. For premier brands, exotics tend not to hold value, so there are relative deals. And, jewelry companies like Cartier used to have inexpensive bags at resale.
I don’t recommend vestaire, and I prefer to window shop Japanese resellers to get a sense of what is out there. Look and look some more before pulling the trigger. And, don’t buy anywhere unless there is an ironclad return policy. I only pay PayPal backed by Amex. Never wire transfer or cash.
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