Doesn’t every woman want the ultimate handbag whatever that phrase may mean to her? It could be a classic quilted Chanel handbag, the infamous Birkin bag, the understated Celine bag, or an Alexander McQueen or Marchesa clutch.  It may represent womanhood for her.  It may represent the fact that she’s “made it.” It may be her power bag.  It may be something she hides in her closet her entire life, too precious to bring out into the world, but she admires it while it glistens amidst her other belongings.  It may be something that will come with her to every party and will acquire the age to show where it’s been.  It may be a hand-me-down from her mother, she now has the rite of passage to being an adult.

Designer vintage resale shops often have these types of bags available.  On the Upper East Side of Manhattan there are many really great resale shops. Collette is a great one.  Ina in NY is also fabulous and they should work with you on prices.  Go to a reputable area where you are more likely to know that the provenance of these pieces is likely legit. Be careful and use your best judgment. Look at the qualities of the fabric, the stitching.  There is a massive market for fakes and not all of the fraudulent items are easy to pick up on.  But do explore. Once you have a discerning eye, it is very easy to tell.

“Linguistics is a good way of defining the culture of a brand. The vocabulary used by sports and lifestyle brands – running, fitness, training, motorsports – is all about functionality, whereas the vocabulary of the luxury business – handbags, ready-to-wear – is all about the product.”
–Francois-Henri Pinault

Courtesy of Ina, Collette, Chanel, Hermes, Marchesa, Alexander McQueen