Your first designer handbag is a milestone purchase; especially if it marks a special occasion. But with such a big decision, how do you choose the designer handbag that best suits you?
In this post, we’ve curated the best designer bags that make great first luxury purchases. While there are many amazing designer handbags and brands out there, we’ve narrowed down this list to those that would best suit a buyer entering the luxury market for the first time. If you’re wondering what the best first designer bags to invest in 2024, you’ve come to the right place.
The Best Luxury Bags To Start Your Collection: How We Compiled This List
This list of luxury purses is curated with a few key considerations; price, resale value, style and wearability, quality, time on the market, and whether the bag has remained trendy or covetable over time.
While we generally consider handbag purchases as an investment in your closet (hello capsule wardrobe!) rather than an addition to your investment portfolio, having the option to resell your luxury goods at a profit is an added bonus.
To note: Certain models from Chanel, Hermès, and Louis Vuitton are considered to be some of the best investment bags because they have a history of appreciating year over year. However, Chanel and Hermès in particular are also some of the highest-priced bags on the market in 2024. So, while a Chanel Classic Flap or an Hermès Birkin or Kelly are great resale options, with recent strategic price increases, new models start at around $8,000USD and $10,000USD respectively. They go up exponentially depending on the model.
Iconic Hermès bags are also in high demand and have a reputation for having an elusive process when purchasing in-house. However, if you’re an interested first-time buyer, you can consider the preloved or resale market. For the purposes of this article, we’re focusing on first-time designer handbags priced under USD$6000.
Best Starter Designer Bags: Consider Classic Styles
Aside from price, style is another consideration when making your first designer handbag purchase.
Because of this, we’ve purposefully chosen handbags that are the perfect size to be worn from day to night, and can be paired seamlessly with any wardrobe. After all, what’s the use of a designer bag if you can never wear it?
We also sought out classic styles that are sturdy in design, so that they will be easier to maintain, and therefore more likely to retain their resale value down the road.
Are you wondering which designer bag to buy first? Read on to shop the 4 best first designer bags for first time buyers.
After reading this post, whether you walk into your fashion house of choice, or place an order through a reseller listed here, you’ll feel confident in your purchase. After all, a first designer handbag purchase says a lot about the wearer – and who doesn’t want to make the perfect statement?
The Best First Designer Bags: Find The Best Starter Designer Bag That Suits You
Note: The designs chosen for this list are all iconic styles from these luxury houses. If you are strictly looking for a nondescript handbag that says ‘quiet luxury,’ read our article on quiet luxury handbags.
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Louis Vuitton bags are known for appreciating or maintaining their value. However, unlike Chanel and Hermès, the classic Louis Vuitton styles start at a more accessible price range.
The model we recommend as a first designer handbag is the iconic Alma BB. The Alma has been a part of the Louis Vuitton range of handbags for over twenty years and continues to be reimagined. This handbag is made of a durable canvas and leather in a structured design. You can wear it as a handbag or crossbody bag with an optional strap. While the Alma handbag comes in a range of sizes, we chose the BB for its versatility as a first designer handbag. The BB model is large enough to use as a daily purse and small enough to be worn out for dinner. It’s a perfect day-to-night handbag.
Recommendations:
On the inside of this bag, you’ll find one open compartment lined in a delicate microfibre. We recommend a liner in order to keep it in great condition. While this bag comes in the classic LV monogram print, the black epi leather provides a more subtle, understated look.
Price
The Alma BB is available in a variety of leathers and motifs, and prices fluctuate accordingly. This is also reflected in the resale market.
New: $1620-$2,230USD (as of January 2022)
Resale Prices: Approximately $1000-$3000USD. Special edition or embellished versions are listed at up to $6000.
Resale Models:
FARFETCH 2018 pre-owned Alma BB 2way bag : $2,639USD
REBAG Louis Vuitton Alma Handbag Damier BB: $2,150USD
THE LUXURY CLOSET Louis Vuitton Amarante Monogram Vernis Alma BB Bag: $1,675
The Lady Dior handbag is an iconic model, and was first introduced in 1994 under the name ‘Chouchou.’ The bag was famously re-named Lady Dior in 1996 after Princess Diana wore the bag to several public appearances the year prior.
Thanks to this fashion history, the Lady Dior handbag design has staying power with the brand, which makes it a solid choice as a first luxury handbag, and why it makes this list of beginner designer bags.
The model we recommend to first-time designer handbag buyers is the Lady Dior Mini. Like the Alma BB, the My Lady Dior is the perfect size to take you from day to night. The handles on the Mini are large enough that you can wear it on your wrist, and the bag also comes with a crossbody strap. This bag also has metal feet at the base, which protects the leather when setting it down. This mix of versatility and practicality makes it a good first designer bag if you’re a buyer just entering the luxury market.
Recommendations:
The Medium size of the Lady Dior is also a good option, however, it is best suited to be worn during the day because of its larger size.
Price: The Lady Dior Mini starts at $6000USD new, and increases depending on the style and embellishments.
New: $6000-$6200 (Lady Dior Mini bags, without embroidery or beading, as of January 2022)
Resale Prices: $2000-$6000USD
Resale Models:
THE LUXURY CLOSET Dior Grey Cannage Leather Mini Chain Lady Dior Tote: $2,185
REBAG Christian Dior Lady Dior Bag Beaded Cannage Quilt Satin Mini: $2,555
3. Saint Laurent Nano or Small Sac du Jour
Some of the most well-known bags in the Saint Laurent roster include the LouLou, the Sac du Jour, and the YSL Sunset bag. They each currently retail for under $3500USD, with the Sac du Jour being the highest priced.
While each of these models are great designer handbag choices, we tend to sway towards the Sac du Jour. It was first introduced to Saint Laurent in 2013 under creative director Hedi Slimane. Unlike the LouLou and the Sunset, the Sac du Jour makes the list of the best designer handbags for first time buyers because it can be worn as a handbag or a crossbody bag, which makes it much more versatile. As the name suggests, the bag has a structured, classic design, and works well as a daily handbag. The Nano size is also small enough to be comfortable to use on a night out, which makes it one of the best first designer bags to buy.
Recommendations:
Both the Sac du Jour and the Lou Lou have some weight to them, which can be uncomfortable when wearing them as crossbody bags. This is why we would opt for the Nano and Small versions respectively for your first designer bag.
Price: The Saint Laurent Nano Sac du Jour in black matelassé leather currently retails for just over $2200USD.
New: Approximately $2200-$3500 depending on the model (as of January 2022).
Resale Prices: $1870-$2300 for neutral colours, and croc-embossed styles.
Resale Models:
THE LUXURY CLOSET Saint Laurent Black Leather Nano Classic Sac De Jour Tote: $1,870 FARFETCH Saint Laurent Black nano Sac de Jour tote bag with embossed crocodile effect: $2,975
REBAG Sac de Jour NM Bag Leather Nano $1,445
Made famous by Sex & The City, the Fendi Baguette was first introduced in 1997, and has become a brand classic. The Baguette bag is available in canvas, leather and fur. According to REBAG, the Zucca canvas model retains 135% of its retail value on the reseller market (as of 2022). This may influence your choice if you’re shopping for your very first luxury bag, and want to eventually resell it.
In addition to this, if you want your first designer bag to have visible branding, the Fendi Baguette is a chic option. The medium size is suitable to take you from daily errands to an evening dinner date. The Fendi Baguette has a small handle so that you can carry it as a handbag, as well as a shoulder strap, both of which are detachable. The shoulder strap is also wide enough to wear comfortably for long periods of time. Having that versatility in a first designer handbag really is key! This versatility makes it a good choice for a best first luxury bag to buy, as it’ll give you the most wear.
Recommendations:
While the Zucca Canvas has a history of a higher resale value, the Nappa leather version of the Baguette is more durable and reportedly holds its shape better than the canvas bag. The Zucca canvas is also uncoated (unlike the Alma BB), which makes it more susceptible to damage. In addition to this, the hardware clasp of this bag is easy to scratch because of the placement and frequency of use, which is good to keep in mind depending on how you plan to wear it.
Price: The Fendi Baguette is listed from $2200 to $4300USD depending on the model on the official website (as of January 2022).
Resale Prices: The bag is currently listed from approximately $1915 to $4100 on resale websites.
Resale Models:
REBAG FENDI Baguette NM Bag Zucca Canvas Medium
REBAG FENDI Selleria Baguette NM Bag Leather Medium
So there you have it – this list of the best first designer bags is sure to help you make the right choice for your first luxury bag.
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Want to discover more designer handbags, including the best classic designer bags to own, as well as up and coming designers? Keep reading!
