3 Places to Shop for Pre-loved Designer Bags (and My Wish List)

For awhile now, I’ve been mentally flirting with the idea of a designer bag. This, of course, has been influenced by the style muses I follow on Pinterest and YouTube. My perspective has shifted many times on this topic and I’m ready to verbal-process it via blog post. If overpriced handbags don’t interest you, feel free to skip this post. But if you’re intrigued by the idea of an heirloom item or a style-maker bag, read on.

Why designer bags?

This is the million-dollar question, right? Or more precisely, the $2-3000 question. Why on earth would anyway want to spend that (or double and triple that amount) on purses?!

I have spent more time than I care to admit thinking about all this. I mean, it seems like there are so many other good things you could do with that amount of money, like travel, update a room in your home, or even shore up savings. But then, one day, I looked at the purses stashed away in my closet (so many that I don’t use!) and I realized that instead of purchasing a handful that I half love, I could have maybe purchased one handbag that I super love. The question is, would I rather have more bag choices or one (or two) that are my very favorites?

The style impact of a designer bag is really hard to beat. I’m not talking about a bag shouting it’s maker with logos all over it, but rather bags that have the cleanest lines or come in the most beautiful, subtle hues, or bags that have an iconic shape and make every outfit look better. By their very nature of being expensive, I think making a designer bag purchase forces the buyer to distill down what they are looking for to something very specific. And this helps distill down your own personal style.

Additionally, designers bags have a much longer lifespan and are more likely to be kept out of the landfill than other bags. I don’t have official stats on that, but I’d be willing to bet money on it. And speaking of money, most designer bags have an excellent resale value, so you can you can resell them if you are ready to move on.

Which brings me to the purpose of this post, to share some places and tips for shopping for pre-loved designer bags!

I don’t own any designers bags, but I’ve spent a fair amount of time browsing the second-hand market online, and I’ve learned a little bit in that time. This post is by no means exhaustive, and maybe not even comprehensive, but hopefully it’s enough to get you started.

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Where to shop:

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Poshmark – If you’re already a fan of shopping second-hand you likely know this app well. What I didn’t learn until recently is that they also sell designer items, with an authentication guarantee. This means if you spend over $500 on a bag, the Posher ships it to Poshmark where it is physically verified as authentic. Poshmark doesn’t seem to have extensive designer stock (at least not in the brands I was looking at), but it feels nice to browse new territory in a familiar space. Note: all sales on Poshmark are final.

RealReal – This was the first place I thought to look for designer bags. And again, it’s a familiar format to me because I’ve browsed there on and off for years. RealReal acts as a high-end consignment shop. Sellers send in their items, RealReal accepts them and resells them, taking a portion of the price. Since they have the items in hand before selling them RealReal can verify authenticity ahead of time and provide consistent clear photographs and disclose any flaws in condition. Bag prices on RealReal are more consistent and a bit higher than I’ve noticed on some peer-to-peer sites. Sometimes, items will go on discount for 20% off at RealReal. Keep an eye on the return policy per item. Some are returnable and some are not.

Vestiaire – This is a newer one to me, and probably my favorite so far. It essentially acts as a marketplace where people upload photos of their bags (and other items) for sale. At first that felt too risky to me, but the longer I’ve browsed on there and gotten a better understanding of how it works, the more I have gotten comfortable. Just like Poshmark, items are authenticated through headquarters upon sale. Instead of shipping directly, the item goes to headquarters, is verified, then it’s shipped to the buyer. Vestiaire seems to have the largest selection of almost any bag I’ve looked at. Overall, the resell prices are a tad lower than I’ve seen on RealReal. And, with some listings, there is the opportunity to negotiate over the price. You must read the return policy carefully though, as some bags are returnable and some are not. Vestiaire also allows you to create item alerts. So if you are searching for a particular bag, you’ll get an email as soon as one is listed.

Most sites seem to allow customers to track a listing and get email when the price drops. A helpful tool if you have lots of patience!

There are other resale sites out there too, like Fashionphile and Rebag, but I haven’t ventured over to those ones yet. If you have any good intel on them, feel free to share in the comments.

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Questions to ask yourself when shopping:

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Do I LOVE this? Or am I only interested because I’m getting a ‘good deal’?

Don’t let “sale goggles” and second-hand pricing be your motivation for purchase.

Will I still love this next year? In five years?

Try to picture how you would wear it with multiple outfits/coats and across seasons. (If you really want to nerd out, you can Photoshop the bag onto pictures of yourself to ‘try it on.’)

Do I have cash in hand for this purchase?

Don’t shop on credit if you can help it, it offsets the savings you are accruing by buying second-hand. It’s worth the wait to save and pay cash.

And speaking of waiting and saving, I don’t have a special bag purchase in my near future, but I have enjoyed putting together a wish list that I may use one day to make a purchase.

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WISH LIST (dream list?):

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(the pictures listed below are clickable affiliate links)

Celine Classic Bag in brown – This is the first designer bag that caught my eye many years ago. In fact I have even made a few bag purchases over the years because they remind me of this one. I love the clean design and the minimal branding. It’s a stunning, modern take on a classic bag style. This one probably has the highest price point on my list, so I don’t think I’ll actually pull the trigger on it, but it’s a beauty!

Gucci 1955 Horsebit shoulder bag– This bag is a newer style with throwback vibes. It’s only natural that I’d LOVE the vintage-inspired design of it. It feels like a timeless bag. The horsebit detail feels a bit on the blingy side for me, like it’s advertising for the brand more than I want. And the website says this bag should never be around rain, so… as much as I love this one, I don’t know if I would ever commit.

Celine Macadam Vintage bags – I adore a good, two-tone bag. I love the vintage look and the printed chocolate and tan colors. These bags also look timeless to me. There are several different styles and I prefer the simple crossbodies and the totes. I feel like these two-toned bags would look really good with all my black winter coats. I don’t normally go for the printed bags but I like that this one doesn’t shout a logo. You have to know what to look for to place it.

Small Puzzle Bag by Loewe – This is the one I keep coming back to because I love that top handle and the slouchy design! It seems to be a great size too, not too big or too small, and again it would look great with black coats. According to Emma Hill it fares well in a wet climate too. This one might just be at the top of my wish list. They seem to go fast on the second hand market. I’m hoping interest cools a little and the prices drop a bit more.

Celine Sangle Bucket Bag in black – Another bag with gorgeous, clean lines. The piece that drew me is the hook and oversized grommet connection at the shoulder strap. It makes an understated statement. Bold, but restrained. I love this bag, but I tend to spend more of my time using brown bags. But IF I had unlimited resources I would snatch this up ASAP. The Everlane Studio bag seems like an excellent dupe for this one.

Acne Studios Musubi Mini – the architecture of this one can’t be ignored. I love the tie details at the sides, and it has that handy top handle. The design of the bag almost looks organic, like it could be found in nature. I like this one in cognac, this year’s camel and of course black.

And those, are all my thoughts on designers bags… for now. I am sure they will continue to evolve. I hope this post has been helpful/interesting to you. My friend Elaine has written extensively about designer bags and has reviewed many of them. I love referencing her blog for insider info.