Attainable Luxury: 11 Ways to Secure a Designer Bag on a Budget
how to buy a discounted designer bag, how to save money buying a designer handbag
Photo: SZYMON BRZÓSKA/THE STYLE STALKER
Occasionally, a colleague in the industry, an old acquaintance, or even a family member will ask me pointedly, "How did you get that handbag?" As an editor, I'm well aware that many can't imagine forking over a pretty penny to purchase a purse, so the curiosity is understandable. Especially when the price tag of most luxury items can be equivalent to the average cost of a month's rent in the United States. But what if I told you it is possible to find affordable designer handbags.
Hear me out on this: you don't have to be rolling in dough to be able to afford a designer bag. The secret to finding luxury accessories for less all goes back to knowing the shopping hacks that the fashion set relies on. Candidly, the only reason I've been able to build a collection of luxury handbags is because of a series of tricks that I've learned over time; but I won't make you wait years to acquire this shopping knowledge. Ahead, you'll find my ultimate guidebook on how to buy a designer handbag for a discounted rate. Use one or multiple tips from this story, and securing your own bag will be well within your budget in no time.
Tip #1. Shop Secondhand
Woman carrying designer bag. Where can you find cheap designer bags? Try shopping second hand
Photo: SZYMON BRZÓSKA/THE STYLE STALKER
According to ThredUp, the secondhand market is reported to grow 127% by 2026. That surge is partly due to how stigmas around thrifting have dissolved with younger generations, but it's also because of the boom we've seen in luxury consignment platforms. With the internet, there are more places than ever before to shop online for secondhand designer bags. But should you choose to use this hack to secure your designer bag for less, the greatest nugget of wisdom I can impart to you is to do extensive research beforehand. After all, you don't want to drop a large stack of cash only to realize you've ended up with a dupe. And if you can't spend hours yourself doing due diligence, you'll want to shop from trusted resale retailers that will guarantee your bag's authenticity, like The RealReal, Vestiaire Collective, Fashionphile, Rebag, and LXR.
Khaite Leather Remi Handle Bag
Khaite
Leather Remi Handle Bag
$925 $833
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Christian Dior Oblique Saddle Bag
Christian Dior
Oblique Saddle Bag
$3395 $3225
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Chanel Pink Quilted Lambskin Kelly Small
Chanel
Pink Quilted Lambskin Kelly Small
$7500 $6000
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Tip #2. Take Advantage of Biannual Sales
Woman carrying designer bag: how to find a cheap designer bag
Photo: SZYMON BRZÓSKA/THE STYLE STALKER
If you'd prefer to buy a new designer handbag but can't justify the price tag, there are a few other hacks you can rely on. One is taking advantage of biannual "friends and family" from major retailers. For context, at least twice a year, some of the fashion set's go-to retailers (e.g., Shopbop, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Ssense) markdown massive amounts of inventory, including designer purses. When those sales happen, it's an excellent opportunity to snag a bag for typically 20% less than the original cost.
BY FAR Billy Cream Semi Patent Leather Bag
BY FAR
Billy Cream Semi Patent Leather Bag
$564 $282
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Yuzefi Mini Fortune Cookie Leather Bag
Yuzefi
Mini Fortune Cookie Leather Bag
$555 $361
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JW Anderson Small Chain Hobo Bag
JW Anderson
Small Chain Hobo Bag
$1150 $863
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