SHOP THE LOOK
For the majority of us, buying a designer bag is a significant milestone. Personally, there is always a big build up before I purchase a designer bag. I’ll always do a heap of research until I’m satisfied that the bag is the right one for me.
Over the years, I’ve come to find there to be a lot of misconceptions about luxury bags – from what puts it in the ‘luxury’ category in the first place, the in-store shopping experience to the presumption of quality and craftsmanship that come with the big price tags.
In this post, I take you through the three of the biggest myths when it comes to purchasing designer bags.
#1 – If it’s expensive, it must be great quality
The idea that “you get what you pay for” doesn’t always ring true when it comes to luxury handbags. While you can expect the quality of luxury goods to be of a premium standard, the market is saturated with affordable options from smaller designer houses that offer the same, and at times, even better quality and craftsmanship.
It’s no secret that a price tag correlates with its popularity. And the more iconic the bag, the higher the price tag. Take the Chanel Classic Flap Bag that I’ve pictured in this post (I’ve got the medium for reference). It currently retails for over $8,000 AUD (insane!) and Chanel continue to increase their price of their bags – because, well, they can. The iconic fashion houses have seen their classic handbags transcend years of trends and remain in high demand.
#2 – If it’s expensive, it must be functional
Ha! This is one that my husband really doesn’t get.
To use my Chanel bag again as an example – it’s a beautiful piece, but apart from my phone, keys, card holder and a lipstick, it doesn’t really hold much more than that. I’ll still wear it any chance I get, but it has to be on days when I don’t need to carry too much with me.
Personally, I find the most functional bags are ones that can actually cart around all my stuff on a day-to-day basis. My Celine Belt Bag and Prada Double Bag are great examples of a practical designer bag, as are tote bags.
While my Chanel may not be the most functional, it’s a real beauty!
#3 – If I’m shopping at a luxury store, I can expect amazing customer service
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I find the in-store experience to be completely overrated. It can be unpleasant if the store is busy and you need to wait to be served, and once you’re being served, you either encounter sales associates who will bend over backwards for you, or on the other end of the spectrum – unhelpful, judgmental and abrupt in their manner. The inconsistency in service puts me off shopping in-store and I buy online whenever I can.
I’d love to hear of any other myths when it comes to purchasing designer bags in the comments and whether you relate to any of my experiences.
As always, thanks for stopping by!
