Investing Into Handbags

Quite possibly the ultimate accessory. A handbag is for life, not just for Christmas - and if you play your cards right you can invest in an heirloom that can be passed down generations.

A fabulous handbag does not discriminate against age, shape or size. It has the power to make every woman feel beautiful and elevate an ordinary outfit into something special. It effortlessly adds status and glamour and is a subtle (or not so) way for a woman to announce which fashion tribe she belongs to…. which could always simply be ‘expensive’!

With celebrity endorsements from supermodels and pop stars and million-dollar advertising campaigns from leading fashion houses the ‘It bag’ phenomenon began in the 1990s and is still going strong today. 

Whether you plump for a muted classic or a risqué power piece, statement bags ranging in size from the minuscule, such as the Mini Le Chiquito by Jaquemus, which at 5.2cm long is smaller than a credit card and fits into the palm of your hand, to the oversized Fendi Sunshine Shopper, into which you could comfortably pack a weekends worth of clothing, still regularly top wealthy women’s wish lists and are frequently bought to mark a special occasion such as a new job or Birthday. These portable status symbols are adored as they have the power to elevate any simple outfit into something headturning.

The well-chosen handbag, if cared for properly can be worn in a variety of ways and be an absolute workhorse of your wardrobe Handbag trends will come and go, but if you want to really invest in something that will hold its value, I would purchase a classic model from a heritage brand such as Hermes, or Chanel which have been worshipped for their immaculate silhouettes for decades and will never go out of style.

With models like the Kelly and Birkin topping most women’s lust-lists, the french brand Hermes carries a huge cachet. Founded in 1837 in Paris by Thierry Hermes, the French Design House was originally established as a harness workshop along the Grand Boulevards quarter of Paris. The Kelly bag (formerly known as the Sac a Depeches) gained it’s coveted status after is was used by starlet Grace Kelly in 1954 to shield herself from the paparazzi. The photo made the cover of Time Magazine and a must-have accessory was born. Its structured elegance was designed as a luxury handbag to be worn by ‘the Princesses of the world’ and adds instant timeless glamour to any ensemble. If you wish to be the proud owner of such an iconic piece of fashion history you may have to wait a while, as the Hermes atelier in Paris only takes orders twice a year and there is of course a waiting list.

Perhaps even more coveted than the Kelly bag, the Birkin is another beautifully crafted signature member of the Hermes collection, which was famously co-designed by the actress Jane Birkin after she dropped the contents of her straw bag on a flight from London to Paris in 1983. Birkin just happened to be be sitting next to the chairman of Hermes Jean Louis Dumas.  The Actress explained that she simply could not find a good quality weekend bag with pockets- and thus the iconic and surprisingly practical Birkin was born which comes in 20 shades of blue and takes 2 days to make by hand by a single Hermes artisan. The most expensive Birkin ever sold at auction reached $221,844 and was in hot pink crocodile with 18k gold and diamond accents in 2015.

Another reason that Hermes handbags are held in the highest esteem is because of their exquisite craftsmanship. The Birkin and Kelly are crafted using the double-needle saddle stitch, the same technique used on Hermès saddles which cannot be replicated by machine. For this reason, Hermès handbags are much more durable than the vast majority of handbags on the market and make a savvy investment.

The iconic Monogram Damier, check of superbrand Louis Vuitton is easily recognisable world wide and a hallmark of wealthy travellers travelling in style. The eponymous brand was founded in 1854, after Vuitton worked as a luggage-packer for well-heeled Parisian families. He the went on to design and manufacture exquisite luggage, and most of the coveted Louis Vuitton handbags still pay design homage to this. A favourite model has to be the Noe, created in 1932 to carry 5 bottles of Champagne. Is there a better way?!

Other models which retain their value and regularly make the savvy fashionistas lust-lists are the Speedy - the very first handbag model produced by the fashion house and designed for every day use, and the spacious Alma, inspired by the Art Deco movement.

Most Fashion Editors have a Chanel 2.55 on their wish list, as the heady combination if its incredible heritage, exclusivity and immaculate design make it instantly aspirational. This iconic masterpiece changed handbag history when Coco Chanel created it in February 1955 (hence 2.55) and for the first time it was acceptable for women of wealth to carry a bag on their shoulders. This post-war woman feminist spirit is still embodied today its successor, the 11.12, designed by Karl Largerfeld in 1963 and available in a range of candy colours and exotic finishes unlike the black quilted original.

If a Fashion Brand gets the magic recipe right, a drool-worthy handbag can be an absolute goldmine, as we have recently seen with the recent renaissance of Gucci. Alessandro Michele has reinvigorated the brand with his references to the Gucci archives and his endeavours have absolutely paid off. 

So what is the magic formula that makes certain models top the most-wanted fashion charts?! Hype, practicality, style and quality are all required, not necessarily in that order. The one thing you can be certain of however, is that if you purchase wisely your new collectible luxe accessory will not only remain eternally in style, but if well looked after be treasured for future generations.