Dress To Impress With A Designer Handbag
Your mother may have told you that a good handbag was an investment, however she probably meant that it was worth paying a reasonable amount for something you could use on various occasions; a small black shoulder bag can go seamlessly from office to night out, and do service at a wedding or a funeral. However an investment handbag takes on a new meaning with the current trend for designer handbags.
High End, High Prices
Premium brands and fashion designers have always produced luxury handbags, however these were exclusively seen on the arms of the super rich and famous. In recent years though many of these ranges have hit the High Street in collaborations with well-known department and fashion stores, and breathed new life into the handbag market. Gone are the discreet and plain bags of the past, replaced by ranges of high fashion luggage in the latest colours and styles, to compliment their sister fashion ranges on the catwalk.
Who To Look Out For
The obvious choices are the ranges that have come from the established fashion elite – Chanel, Dior, Hermes, and Louis Vuitton, joined by relative newcomers such as Michael Kors, Givenchy, DKNY, Stella McCartney and Chloe being the current cream of the crop. Those designers who produce High Street collaborations include Matthew Williamson, Betty Jackson and Jasper Conran, whilst there are also the traditional brands who have long produced bespoke hand luggage for the wealthy, but who have now also started to find themselves attracting a wider audience. These include brands such as Smythsons and Mulberry, who are more focused on the luggage market, although in the case of Mulberry have now expanded into fashion.
Meanwhile, smaller brands such as Radley and Cath Kidston, have gained a huge following because of their often quirky designs that have propelled them into the mainstream. Both now produce a huge range of not just bags, but matching accessories also, and with ranges that mean many of their pieces are investment-worthy too. Of course, whilst designer handbags have become popular, so has creating good copies, and the black market in counterfeit bags is huge, despite the penalties for those caught making or selling them. There is also a market for stolen bags, and it’s not unusual to find designer handbags carefully secured in many department stores, though it is not just the brand new ones that are targeted, but also those left casually lying around by their owners, in shops, offices or bars. It may therefore be worth considering insuring your handbag – just as you would your car, mobile phone or pet – against loss, theft or damage to your investment.
Designer bags may well be a pricey treat but they are also a great investment. Not only is a designer bag a great statement piece that can add value to your whole look but the quality of the major brands also means that you can be sure to have something which will stand the test of time. What a fabulous reason to splash out on a new bag!
Michelle is a UK based fashion writer. She is currently studying for a Masters degree is Fashion and Textiles.