5 Tips on Shopping for Designer Luxury

Today's post is being brought to you by one of our favorite stylish New Yorker's Ashleystyles. Take one look at her instagram and you'll see why we love her. When it comes to New York street style, she get it. What we love most about Ashley, is her insane sneaker and bag collection.

When it comes to vintage luxury bags, she knows her stuff. We asked her to put together a list of what to look for when shopping for a second hand bag. Check out her tips below.

Among the many mottos I follow in life, my favorite one is this: Luxury is for Everyone. People assume that if it is a designer brand, you have to pay an exorbitant price tag. Nowadays, this is not the case. You can score amazing deals on vintage and pre-owned luxury with sites like eBay, Vestiaire Collective, Fashionphile, Rebag, Tradesy, Grailed, Depop, and the list goes on. 

To help you navigate the space a little bit better, here are 5 tips on finding your dream bag … for the low.

1. Do your research.

Select which type of bag you desire. So many brands cover great everyday bags for great prices, but also have standout items. Vintage generally tends to be a little cheaper (minus the popular/unique pieces) vs. preloved bags from current or recent seasons. Whether you have a game plan, or you just want to curiously search what is out there, it is good to have knowledge on brands, materials and pricing

2. Start browsing multiple sites for deals.

eBay tends to have the best prices on the market from what I have found, but you have to be careful with authenticity. Japanese sellers tend to have amazing authentic pieces, however, make sure to follow sellers with 100% positive feedback, and a decent amount of reviews. Ideally, look for items with some sort of authenticity record. Vestiaire Collective, Instagram, Tradesy and Etsy are other places I search. If you are weary of authenticity, check other sites or images of the bag, and make sure it’s consistent with what you see elsewhere. Remember - Google is your friend.

3.Make an offer or try auctions.

If you are patient and set alerts, you can find gems and get the best prices. For offers, bid what you are comfortable with while also being fair. I often purchase vintage bags using the offer option, and majority of the time walk away with a great deal.

4.The most important lesson I have learned is this: don’t wait.

Once you know what you want, you have to pull the trigger ... pieces with a low price tag get sold so quickly. Trust me, the money will come. Your dream bag, especially vintage, might be gone forever.

5.Once you get your piece, elevate your bag with a nice thick chain or top handle.

You can find numerous options on Etsy or Amazon. What I love about buying vintage is that one unique piece can really make you stand out in the crowd, as opposed to buying new, and your bag is seen across social media. 

I hope to see more women on social media using their platform to embrace luxury. We need the world to cater to us more, and this is the way to do it, while also saving money at the same time.

Below are Ashley's vintage bag picks. Follow her Instagram The Vintage List for Luxe bags for the low. 

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