Are you in the market for your first or next designer bag purchase? A designer bag usually comes with a sizeable price tag so it’s definitely a purchase you want to get right.

Save this post – below are 5 tips for buying a designer bag that will help you narrow down your wish list!

Not sure what bag to buy yet? Check out our post on the Best Designer Bags to Invest in.

The Style

Whilst it can be tempting to buy into the current trend bag that’s all over Instagram, these bags generally aren’t classic styles that you’ll want to reach for years later. Designer bags are an investment, so invest in something classic and timeless that you’ll get maximum wear out of, particularly for your first designer bag. Trend bags also don’t hold their value as well as classic bags if you ever decide you want to resell them.

Ask yourself if you see yourself using this bag in five or ten years from now. If the answer is no, do you really want to spend a lot of money on a bag you’ll probably end up just trying to resell in a year or two from now?

Whatever you buy (even if it is a trend piece), make sure it’s something you really love!

It’s also worth looking at a list of the brands you’re considering and finding out what brands have the most frequent price increases. If it’s a classic bag from a brand that has had price increases every year, put it at the top of your list. It’s likely that it will only get more expensive as the years go by!

The Colour

One of the first factors you should think about when buying a designer bag is the colour. Whilst bright colours can be fun, keep in mind they might be harder to match with a lot of your outfits, and consequently you might end up getting less use out of the bag than you initially thought you would. Also, if you ever want to resell your bag later, coloured bags often don’t retain as much of their original value as a bag in a neutral colour.

Neutral colours are our go-to as they can be worn with almost any outfit and neutrals are always classic. Bags in darker neutral colours are great because they won’t show marks as easily as lighter colours like beige and white will, so they look newer for longer.

The Closure and Straps

So, you’ve found a bag style you love, in a colour you know you’ll get a lot of use out of. Next, pay close attention to the closure as this can be a big factor in if you’ll end up loving and using the bag. If it’s not easy to open and close, it will just be annoying to use over time. A good example of this is the Celine Trapeze. Whilst we love the overall look of this bag, to access the inside you need to open the clasp, lift up the flap, and then undo the zip – it’s not the most convenient bag to use, and if its not easy to use you just won’t use it that often.

Also take a look at what strap options the bag has. Our favourite bags have both a top handle and either a crossbody strap or a shoulder strap (like the Celine Nano Luggage and Celine Belt Bag). Crossbody bags are great because they allow you to be hands-free so you can hold your phone in one had and your coffee in the other! We’ve rounded up some of the Best Designer Crossbody Bags to Invest In here. Bags that only have a top handle (like the Celine Mini Luggage) can be inconvenient to use because you always have to be holding the bag in one hand and can’t fit it over your shoulder.

The Versatility

Bonus points if the designer bag you’re thinking about purchasing can be used for both day and night. You also want a bag that will fit in with your daily style and what you realistically wear on a regular basis.

Some factors to consider when thinking about versatility is the overall look of the bag and the size. If the bag is very unstructured and casual looking, it’s probably not something you’ll also want to use for your evening dinner date. A classic Chanel Bag is a great bag for any occasion because it’s spacious enough to fit your everyday essentials, yet small enough to wear to a spacial occasion, and the overall look is so classic and chic.

For your first purchase, it’s always a good idea to opt for a classic silhouette in a medium size. You want to make sure it’s a bag that you’ll get maximum wear out of, all year round.

The Leather Type

Are you using this bag as your everyday bag? If so, consider going with a leather that doesn’t scratch easily such as the embossed leather on these YSL bags or the grained leather on this Celine Belt Bag. Be aware that smooth leather finishes (like on this Celine Luggage bag) and softer leathers like lambskin can scratch easily and therefore will likely not wear as well as a bag with a more durable leather.

If the bag is an occasion bag the leather type is less important as it probably won’t get as much use as an everyday bag. If you do go for a bag with a soft leather, make sure you’re storing it correctly so it doesn’t lose its shape. It’s important to note that storing your designer bags properly will help keep them in their best condition for longer, and help prevent them from losing their shape over time. Make sure you check out our post on How to Store Designer Bags.

We hope these tips helped you when choosing your first or next designer bag! We’d definitely recommend looking at a bag in person before you buy to check that the size and shape suit your frame (for example, crossbody bags sit differently on everyone depending on their height), and also check the weight of the bag. Some bags can be quite heavy even without anything in them so this is something you definitely want to consider.

Lastly, don’t forget to enjoy your bag! Bags are bought to be used, so don’t be scared to use it or show it off to the world – it’s a big purchase you’ve worked you deserve it!