5 Best Designer Bags to Invest in and What’s in my Bag

Happy Tuesday! Today I thought I would give you an updated version of this post that resonated with my readers when I published it a couple of years ago. So I’m answering a question I get a lot: What’s in your bag? And while we’re at it, I’m going over the 5 best designer bags to invest in.

What’s in my Bag

First, I want to let y’all know where I purchase my designer handbags. I personally prefer to buy them brand new in store from the designer. That is true for all of my Louis Vuitton, Hermes and other luxury items because I want them from the actual store, in the designer box/bag with a receipt. But I know others love to find a good deal by shopping for authentic resale pieces at The RealReal or Fashion Phile and I think that is totally fine. They offer gently used designer goods that are guaranteed to be authentic, so I’d recommend shopping with them if you’re wanting a good price for a high-end handbag. I will link all of my bags from these trusted retailers.

On most days, I have a large tote bag with me because my day is comprised of meetings, auditions, working from home, photoshoots, shopping and basically running all over town. I’ve found if I just have everything with me, I will never be without a necessity. By the way, an insert like this one really helps keep everything organized. This Goyard St. Louis GM (GM is the larger one; PM is the smaller one) is a great bag for that purpose. I got mine while on a trip to NYC and had it personalized. If you do this, plan on getting it shipped to you 6 weeks later. And if you’re local to Dallas, you’re in luck since the new Goyard store is opening in Highland Park Village soon. YIPPEE!

One thing I always keep in my bag is RX bars. You might wonder why I have RX bars with me at all times. It’s because I’m one of those people who has to eat throughout the day. I get #hangry and it’s not pretty. I also suffer from migraine headaches, so skipping meals is never a good idea. Can you imagine how fun I am to be around on days like that? Additionally, I have found that if I have an RX bar with me, I am much less likely to make a bad eating decision by indulging at a drive-thru. Hello Whataburger!

I often get asked about my higher end bags and if I think they are worth the price. In short, YES! They are investment pieces that will last you forever. I have never regretted spending money on these staples. They simply do not go out of style, and I can gift them to my daughter if I get tired of them. They are also excellent items to put on your wish list for Christmas, birthday, or ‘just because’ gifts.

Tote tip: Have a smaller clutch like this with you at all times. You never know when you need to attend a lunch event or chic cocktail party. You don’t want to walk in with a huge tote bag!

5 Best Designer Bags to Invest In

The Hermes Birkin bag: I was on the waitlist for a year before I got the exact buy hermes birkin bags one I wanted. I got mine at the Hermes boutique in Highland Park Village. This is the 35cm with gold hardware. Here you can find excellent selections of this bag for resale. Click here to see this full look. The dress I’m wearing is actually still available in several colors (limited sizes in stock currently). It’s such a great dress for work or a social event.

The Goyard St. Louis GM: I got mine in NYC at Barney’s on Madison Avenue. You can order the personalization when you order your bag or get it done later, but it must be done in person. Here are great Goyard bags for resale.

The bag on the left is the Barrington St. Anne tote, which I custom designed for my former intern Victoria. I also let my current assistant Ramsey design one that you can see here. It’s a great quality alternative for much less. Click here to see the full look from this blog post with Tori.

The Louis Vuitton Artsy MM: While everyone else seems to have the Louis Vuitton Neverfull, I decided to be a little different with this slouchy style. My first designer handbag was a Louis Vuitton many years ago and I never tire of the brand. Clearly, since I have a wallet, desk planner and much more. Timeless! Get a used Louis Vuitton piece here. Click here to see the full look from this blog post.

Chanel, Saint Laurent and Gucci are all designer brands that I also think are worth the investment. Of course, there are many more…but for the purpose of this post, I’ll keep it to these. Actually, I think that was 6 instead of 5 bags. Oh well…

Which do you think are the best designer bags to invest in?  xoxo – Tanya

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Photo: Mary Hafner

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