Tips For Buying Designer Handbags Secondhand
6 months. It has been 6 months since I’ve written a fresh blog post. A part of me can’t even believe that. Another part of me is just so grateful. I am grateful for a platform where my words from the past several years can live on and be found by anyone who needs them across the internet even in the months I can’t sit down and write. I am grateful for words in general. Words have always gotten me through tough times and helped me find new opportunities.
One of the reasons I haven’t written a blog post in so long was that I finally finished my first book, “Crooked Paths Straight.” I started it 4 years ago and after interviews, a rewrite, two heaven-sent editors, a final read through and figuring out Amazon self publishing - it is live! You can buy the Kindle version or the paperback version on Amazon (linked in the banner at the top of my website here). Soon you will be able to buy it locally at Watermark Books & Cafe and I will be having a local author launch event there on 6/22 - I hope to see you! I will also be getting around to an audiobook sometime this Summer and don’t worry, I will be sharing “how-to” blog posts on all things publishing too.
For this month I went back to my ongoing list of blog topic ideas and plucked the next one on the list: tips for buying designer handbags secondhand. If you know me then you know I live in that funny little overlap that is a girl who likes designer purses AND a girl who is trying to lead a sustainable lifestyle. I am not the thriftiest of shoppers, but I am learning. Over the years I have self-funded my purse addiction by taking really good care of my purses, buying styles I know I will be able to resell, and then reselling them in order to fund the next purse. I’ve learned not to get too attached to any one bag and I’ve learned I only need so many in rotation at a time. Part of that is storage and another part of that is being realistic about how many I will be able to work into my wardrobe. Through that process I’ve been able to pinpoint a few rules for a spotting a good designer secondhand bag and I can’t wait to share with you.
Do your research - this is the least fun tip, but probably the most important. If you see a bag you like take the time to find out what designer and what model is it. Yes, bags have model names just like cars. Just like car manufacturers, most handbag designers really only have a handful of models that are then customized in different styles. Once you narrow down the model you will want to see what it is selling for brand new from the designer’s website. Then, take to the resell apps (my favorite is Poshmark) and search for that bag. From there you can get a good idea of what that bag is selling for on the used market. In some cases, you will notice the bag is not really much cheaper secondhand. That usually means it’s still a fairly new style. In other cases, you may find the bag hard to find, which is usually a good sign that it is a beloved bag and/or rare style. For the most part, use this step as a way to budget for your purchase when you are ready.
Keep an eye on quality - as you are looking at designer handbags you obviously want to keep an eye out for fakes. It’s totally fine to buy one, but you don’t want to pay designer prices for one. Once you know what to look out for, a fake is relatively easy to spot. In short: it’s all in the details. Pay close attention to things like zippers, hardware, and handles. An authentic designer handbag will spare no expense on these things. Zippers won’t have random letters on them; handles will be leather, not plastic; hardware will be real, not painted or chipped. Also, pay special attention to the seams on the bags. Designers will not cut their design in a harsh way. They take the time to line up pieces in a flattering way, both to the eye and their label. It’s literally what you are paying top dollar for.
Know what is negotiable - this is where you learn to get a really good deal on a designer item! There are some imperfections that are really not a big deal. For example, stains that can easily come off, dust, or even missing straps. I recently bought a great medium sized Kate Spade Aztec bag (pictured above) that had a few stains on the front, but they came right off with some Micellar water. This same bag was missing the crossbody strap but Amazon sells great replacement leather straps in a ton of colors here. I was able to point out both of those imperfections and get the resale shop to knock some off the price tag. Alternatively, some things you don’t want to take a chance on: tough stains or damage. For example pen stains, nail polish stains, sharpie stains - those aren’t going anywhere. Also, if the bag is cracking, peeling, or cut. Those imperfections might not bother you, but if you try to use this bag and then resell it, it likely won’t be worth anything at that point.
Bonus Tips
My favorite resell shop right now is Uptown Cheapskate. I go to the one in East Wichita but they have locations all over! Check out their website here to see if there is one near you.
If you plan to resell your bag then you will want to be sure not to fall for every trend. Sometimes the reason a bag, even a designer one, ends up in a resell shop is because it was too loud, too trendy, or too impractical. You might really like it and think it’s great deal, but if you can’t resell it when you’re ready for your next piece, it might not be the right bag for you.
There you have it - a fresh blog post full of my tips! I have to say it was really nice focusing on such a lighthearted topic, as much of what I have been working on lately feels heavy. I look forward to a Summer full of more writing and fun with you.
XO - Olivia
