Don’t buy the LV Neverfull or Speedy as Your First Bag!
My first designer handbag was a Louis Vuitton bag - like most people. It was expensive, but seeing as it was in the $1000 range vs the $5000 rage, it was a much more affordable goal to achieve when first diving into the world of designer handbags.
I firmly believe that Louis Vuitton has some amazing entry level bags for new handbag lovers and for beginners in the luxury realm. But, with that being said, hear me out…
I started collecting and researching handbags around 2012. I had an urge to purchase something that felt substantial but I didn’t have the budget to go for Chanel or even to think about Hermes. So, I bought a super duper used Louis Vuitton Speedy 30 from eBay for about $400 (it was REALLY used). The handles were coming off, the leather piping on the bag was completely destroyed and it had a storage smell so strong that I had to leave it in the garage for a few days just to let it air out.
I ended up selling the sad looking Speedy and a few years later when I graduated from college and got my first big girl job, I marched into the Louis Vuitton store at Somerset mall (shout out to all of my Michiganders) and purchased the LV Neverfull MM. I was over the moon…for about a year, then I stopped using it because it didn’t bring me joy anymore. Everyone had it, it wasn’t unique to my taste, it was just popular. I sold that one too and something very similar happened with my Speedy B which I purchased about a year after the Neverfull.
If you just like the Neverfull or Speedy and it makes you happy, then by all means, get the bag! However, if you’re someone who knows they have a love for handbags and wants to start a collection - I’d suggest starting with something else. I don’t want to call those timeless classics basic, but’s let’s face it - a majority of people choose these as their first designer purchase which is fine, but if I could go back in time I’d do things differently.
So, now you’re probably wondering what I would have done instead - so here’s a few ideas.
Hermes Garden Party
Now, I know Hermes doesn’t sound like the place to start for a beginner’s bag collection, but keep in mind Hermes sells more than just Birkins and Kellys. The Garden Party is a simple tote and I highly suggest taking a look at the pre-loved market to purchase one. As opposed to the Louis Vuitton Neverfull, the Garden Party has a lot more leather instead of canvas (they do make canvas versions of the GP as well though). Pre-loved, these bags tend to range from $900-2000. Also, it’s Hermes so it’ll hold value well.
Chanel Classic Flap
The Chanel Classic flap is one of my favorite bags because it’s something that is truly timeless. Now, with that being said, I know the prices on these have gone up insanely high - but there are some decent prices on these on the pre-loved market, While the price range (anywhere between $2,500-$6,000 pre-loved) might not be ideal for a first designer handbag, if you do have the patience and ability to save extra for this bag rather than buying one at a lower price range (like the LV Neverfull) you’ll have a much more timeless piece in your collection that will hold onto resale value because one thing never fails to happen - Chanel price increases.
Vintage Hermes Kelly
Vintage is such a good option to consider when purchasing your first designer handbag. You’ll save money by looking into vintage bags instead of new items of course. Plus, since you can’t normally just walk into the Hermes store and purchase a brand new Kelly, often the resale/pre-loved market is the only option. I have a vintage Kelly 28 which I purchased from Fashionphile for $3,000 while Kelly 28s that are only a few years old and in good condition can go for $11,000-$15,000 on the same website. Yes, mine has more wear and tear, but for the money saved - it’s worth it to me.
Chanel GST
The Chanel GST is one of my favorite bags that I’ve never owned. Although I don’t have one yet, I feel these are coming back into style. Yes, mini bags have their moment right now, but with fashion things always come back! You can get very reasonable prices on these bags (anywhere from about $1,200-$2,000) and they come in super cute colors.
Chanel WOC
If you’re a small bag person, you may want to consider looking into the Chanel Wallet on Chain. This bag, like the classic flap has been going up and up in price over the years but I feel it’s such a good piece to fit into your wardrobe if you want to get a lot of use out of it - which makes it a great piece to begin your collection with.
Hopefully this was helpful. If you already have your first designer handbag (whether recent or years ago) what did you decide to go with and do you wish you did anything differently?
