5 Essential Tips for Buying a Luxury Handbag

1- Consider the cost-per-wear

2-Make sure your lifestyle fits the bag, and vice-versa

3-Consider your color palette and style

4-Inspect quality like a pro

5-Trendy vs. timeless- how do you spot it early?

Consider the cost-per-wear

 What is cost-per-wear? 

As the name implies, it refers to the number of times you will use the bag in a year, divided by the price you paid for it. The lower the CPW, the more value you derive from your bag. 

This suggests it's wise to purchase a handbag that you can use in various scenarios - how many ways can it be worn? Is it suitable for work, school, and outings with friends? Does it fit the weather conditions in your area? Sometimes, we get caught up in the appeal of a bag and overlook important details like these.

If you need a bag that's suitable for all seasons and occasions, timeless yet contemporary, our Jasmine Hobo is your best choice:

Make sure your lifestyle fits the bag, and vice-versa

Do you work in an office and require your laptop to be with you? Or do you design with large canvases and pens and need to carry everything with you? 

While you can choose to carry a bag and keep your laptop in a laptop case, you might also consider a larger tote style. Be sure to determine which style suits you best before investing in a new luxury handbag.

Consider your color palette and style

If you are eyeing a pop of colour, it's very important to consider the color palette of the majority of your wardrobe. You can still go for colors that you wouldn't buy clothes in, as we believe your bag is the most special part of your outfit, and deserves to stand out.

Inspect quality like a pro

Stitches, leather finish, edge paint... seems complicated to dissect a bag like a pro? We've got a few pointers for you.

Stitches: Should always be neat and regular, yet not %100 perfect. A red flag is popped stitches, especially on a brand new bag. Stitch holes being loose, and stitches being loose in general is another sign you bag won't last very long.

Leather Finish: Are corners already starting to peel off? Is the corner and base of the bag properly supported? Can the bag carry heavier items without the base and handles sagging? Certain types of leather (with thinner finishes and cuts) are more prone to sagging and losing their shape, which majorly effects the appeal of your bag. 

Edge Painting: Edge paint is one of those things you won't pay attention to, but if your bag isn't of good quality, edge paint will be the first sign of your bag aging.

Metal Hardware: Certain people seem to have a knack for recognizing quality, don't they? This ability often involves identifying whether a product is crafted from high-quality materials. Examining the hardware is the simplest indicator of quality; issues like rust, loose buttons, or damaged hardware on a new bag should immediately be a cause for concern.

Hardware quality is a tell-tale sign that your bag is well made.

Trendy vs. timeless- how do you spot it early?

If you find a bag you really like but are uncertain about its lasting appeal, here are some ways to determine if the style will endure:

Size: Usually, if a bag is very large (think of those huge tote bags that were popular in early 2000s) or very tiny (micro bags that could only fit a card and a gloss) - these are usually trendy items. 

Structure: Overly slouchy bags, even though they "came back" in 2024, are quite trendy and bags-of-now, instead of being classics. Just last year, they were deemed old-fashioned! This shows that it's usually best to stay away from slouchy silhouettes, especially in very large sizes and crinkled leathers. This is the 2000s combo.

Fashionable Extras: Items such as bag charms (remember those?) and scarves on bags were very popular in the mid-2010s, but their popularity declined rapidly. Classic styles typically don't require these extras anyway.

Remember, simplicity is elegance.