Chanel | Gucci | Dior | Louis Vuitton

 Happy Tuesday Loves…and most importantly Happy National Handbag Day! ♥

If I got to come up with all of the national holidays, they would pretty much always center around handbags haha Honestly what holiday is better than one where we get to celebrate handbags in all their glory? Some may think my love for designer bags is a bit crazy (just ask my boyfriend haha when I spent over an hour in Chanel during our recent trip to Paris he was not enthused to say the least haha #oops – I mean come on…it was CHANEL in Paris – how did he expect me not to have a major OMG moment? hehe :p)

In honor of this special day haha I am sharing some of my favorite bags I have invested in over the years + I am sharing my tips to purchasing the designer bag you have been lusting after (it can happen – trust me!)

The highlight of today’s post is my most recent purchase from my European excursion – my FIRST ever Chanel bag. I have literally dreamed of this moment for years + the fact that it finally happened in Paris of all places was like a fairytale moment for me haha (ok now I really do sound like a handbag addict #sorrynotsorry)

On the subject of dreaming of a certain bag, this brings me to my first designer bag tip…

1.Research + Save!

There are a ton of bags out there by a ton of designers with a ton of different functions. What I find most helpful when contemplating a big handbag purchase is to evaluate when I would wear the bag, what occasion, how often etc. When spending a pretty penny on a bag you want to make sure you get good use out of it. That’s why I typically wait a couple of months before purchasing + if my lust for the bag is still there, then it is meant to be.

I have dreamed of purchasing a classic style Chanel for years (I even set a goal for myself that I would be able to purchase one – without living out of a cardboard box hehe by the time I was 30). Why Chanel? Easy…it never goes on sale, it will always retain it’s value + other than Hermes (which is my next goal haha), it is pretty much the best of the best when it comes to an investment designer bag to purchase ♥

That brings me to this beauty…the Louis Vuitton Pouchette Metis. I have been lusting after this bag for a YEAR, yes no joke a year! When my boyfriend first got to London, I asked him to visit Louis Vuitton to see if it was available anywhere in the UK since I had been on waitlist status at LV in the US for months. Lucky enough…I got lucky in the good ole’ UK + the rest is…well history hehe and a good story!

Why was I lusting after this bag? Easy – it is a classic style that is perfect for everyday wear + because it is such a commodity to get your hands on now-a-days, it retains it’s value (yes ladies + gents, handbags are an investment :p)

This brings me to investing in a designer bag Tip #2…

2.Carefully choose your style!

This may sound silly, but this ties back to tip one…it is quite important to think carefully before picking you color, pattern or print of bag. For example, Gucci has been very eclectic lately…meaning the bags are brightly colored with funky patterns etc. Those styles are a trend, they will not be in style 5 years from now (let alone a year from now) however, a simple black Chanel bag or signature monogram Louis Vuitton will rarely got out of style since they are classic styles that aren’t ‘trendy‘ per say :p

Tip #3…

3.Bigger is ALWAYS Better!

Hey now, get your mind out of the gutter hehe I am referring to the size of the…bag! Do you ever go to the movie theater + the person at the concession stand tells asks you ‘Would you like to upgrade your combo to a large for just $.50 more?‘ 9 times out of 10 you say yes don’t ya? Why? Because it’s a no brainer, for a little amount more you get double the serving. Funny enough, that same logic applies to purchasing a designer bag.

I didn’t start buying ‘smaller’ designer bags till this last year – after I already invested in larger bags that have tons of room + functionality. Usually the next size up when it comes to designer bags varies between a few hundred dollars, so if you are iffy on whether you need the extra space or not, I always say GO FOR IT! I have never heard anyone regret going a little bit bigger + having the extra room.

Funny enough – my first job when I was 14 was scooping popcorn at my local movie theater (so I used to have to up sell everyone to a large combo haha) Anyways, with all of those up sells, I would get a $.25 commission added to my paycheck…I saved up all of those checks to purchase my first Dior bag the summer before I started high school! And that brings me to my next ‘tip’ or rather fun fact…

4.Every Bag Has A Story!

My bags always have a story behind them. I can tell you where I purchased it, why, when, etc. I usually buy one new designer bag a year + each bag is a milestone for me. For example, the Dior above was the first designer bag I purchased for myself ever.

Below is the Gucci bag I bought on Rodeo Drive when I first moved to LA…every bag tells a story, which makes them so meaningful to me as corny as that sounds…

Below are some of my current favorite bags I have purchased over the years…What is your favorite bag story?

Also, check out my roundup of designer ‘going out bags’ under $1,000 HERE

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