Beginner’s Guide to Handbag Collecting

The do's and dont's of designer handbag buying

Want to avoid:

A) Brands that reduce quality, yet increase price?

B) ‘Quiet Luxury’ bags that are quietly boring?

C) Bags that are not authentically handmade?

Well love,

you no longer need to suffer.

Trust me, boring, expensive, inauthentic bags will make anyone want to avoid being a victim.

Here are the top 5 Handbag Luxury Rules

to consider before making

your next designer handbag purchase.

1. BUY DIRECT TO AVOID COUNTERFEITS

Buy directly from the designer can save you and someone’s life.

If you don’t personally know and trust the person reselling a handbag, buying directly from the brand is the safest way to keep a real collection. Many bags sold by resellers are counterfeit—often passed along without the buyer even knowing. Some resale sites try to authenticate bags. However, many do not catch everything. Counterfeit goods are illegal in the U.S.

According to U.S. Customs, “counterfeit goods are often manufactured to fund criminal enterprises…. Purchasing authentic goods through reputable sellers supports U.S. growth....”

That fake dupe trend everyone loves on Tik Tok? Or that one fake bag you almost were tempted to buy while traveling abroad? High chances those bags are illegal fundraisers for gangs and criminal organizations. Yes, the mob. The profits from counterfeit goods help fund most of their illegally operated factories that often use forced labor and unsafe working conditions. A lower price does not change where these bags come from.

I even heard recently that France is starting to imprison and fine people with counterfeits! Extreme? Definitely. How to avoid? Tell that friend to stop buying counterfeits or atleast get them authenticated if they look remotely similar to the real thing.

When you buy directly from the designer, you avoid all of this. You know your bag is real. You protect your mind and future investments by supporting the original designer and work behind the piece.

2. COLOR MATCHING

From a designer’s point of view, color is the foundation of a handbag’s longevity. A well-chosen color should move effortlessly from day to night and support the way you actually live, not just the trend of the season. Neutrals with depth—such as blush, black, or emerald—work because they pair naturally with both professional and evening wardrobes while aging beautifully over time.