Okay, I’m just gonna say it: I have made way too many handbag mistakes. Like, truly. At this point, I’ve bought, loved, ignored, regretted, re-bought, and completely romanticized more bags than I even want to admit. And honestly? I used to think every new bag was gonna be the one — the one that would magically make me feel more put together, more stylish, more like I had my life together. Spoiler: it did not.
Over time, though, I started noticing patterns. I kept falling for bags that looked cute online but made zero sense in real life, or styles that everyone else seemed obsessed with but just didn’t work for me. And I swear, nothing humbles you faster than spending a ton of money on a bag you barely even reach for. I’ve definitely had those moments where I’m staring at my shelf like, “Why did I think this was a good idea?”
But honestly, I don’t even regret all of it, because I’ve learned so much. I know what actually makes a bag worth it for me, what details are a total red flag, and what I’ll never waste my money on again. So if you’ve ever been tempted by a bag just because it’s trending, super pretty, or gives off that whole effortless cool girl vibe, these are the exact lessons I wish someone had told me earlier.
Lessons I Learned From Buying Too Many Handbags
Trendy bags age the fastest
Neutral colors get the most wear
Size matters more than brand
Cheap hardware ruins a bag quickly
One great everyday bag beats five “fun” ones
The Bags That Actually Earned Their Keep
Let’s start with the real winners, because some of these bags have seriously earned their spot. My Loewe Puzzle bag? Such a workhorse. If I’m standing there not knowing what to grab, I always reach for that one. Every single time. I’ve had mine for about six years now, which honestly feels kind of wild, and I got it before it turned into the It Bag that everyone suddenly became obsessed with.
And I swear, I have one little theory about why mine still looks so good: I always stuff it when I’m not using it. Like, every time. I really think that’s the reason it’s held up so insanely well. I paid a little over $2,000 Canadian for mine back then, and now it’s what, around $6,000? I’m sorry, that would make me physically ill right now. I genuinely could not do it. Life is just way too expensive and chaotic for that at the moment.
My other actual love is the Goyard St. Louis. And yes, I already know – people love to say it looks like a trash bag. I’ve heard it. But tbh, I do not care, because this bag has been through everything with me. I’ve traveled with it, used it for work nonstop, thrown laptops in it, overstuffed it, dragged it everywhere.
And living in Vancouver, where it’s basically always raining, I can tell you that the water just beads right off, which I really appreciate. Mine is five or six years old now, and the leather still hasn’t cracked, and the straps honestly still look really, really good. Very little wear, which kind of shocks me considering how much I’ve used it.
And if you want that same super easy, throw-everything-in-it kind of bag without spending Goyard money, I really do think the Longchamp Le Pliage totes are so good. They’re one of those bags people recommend over and over for a reason. They just work.
The Big Realization: I’m a Black Handbag Person
Looking at my collection, I had to finally admit something to myself: I like black handbags. I am a creature of habit. I’ve tried branching out into colors, and guess what? They didn’t work for me.
Case in point: I have this blue bag by By Far that I can’t even remember why I bought. Some influencer showed an orange one, I saw the blue and thought “maybe I could wear that?” No. I’m just not a color person. Same thing happened with this Hermès cosmetic pouch I picked up during a moment of hype. People were like “wear it as a little bag!” Why did I do this? I genuinely don’t know. It just sits there judging me.
The lesson? Know yourself. If you gravitate toward black bags, that’s perfectly okay. Stop trying to be someone you’re not.
My Biggest Regret: The Louis Vuitton Speedy
Oh gosh, every time I look at this bag, it pains my heart a little. Everyone on YouTube was showing the Speedy B, it was hard to find, and I snagged the last one in Vancouver. Victory, right? Wrong.
I didn’t notice until I got home that the two handles didn’t match. In the store lighting, you couldn’t really tell, but in natural light? One handle was noticeably darker than the other. I tried everything – covering one with a scarf, letting the other sit in the sun, conditioning it. Nothing worked.
But here’s the real issue: I knew in my heart I didn’t even like structured bags. I knew I wasn’t really into the monogram. I still bought it because I fell for the hype. That was an expensive lesson.
The Pre-Loved Route Is Where It’s At
I think going forward, I’ll be doing a lot more pre-loved shopping. I recently picked up a Balenciaga Le City tote in great condition for a really good deal. Same with my Louis Vuitton pieces – I have four now, all pre-loved. My Pochette Accessoires? Got it for $200 and she’s still holding up beautifully after tons of use.
Why pay full price when you can find beautiful bags that have already taken their initial depreciation hit?
Learning to Say No (Especially to Brands)
When you start getting attention online, brands start reaching out. And at first? I said yes to everything because I was so excited. Big mistake.
Polène sent me bags early on. I did a glowing review, and then… after about two weeks of use, I realized the quality just wasn’t there. The leather started flaking off weirdly, the shape got all wonky. I’ve since taken that video down. Lesson learned.
Same thing with Bukurami. Other creators were raving about them, my followers asked me to try them, so I said yes. But I didn’t love the bag they sent, and when I gave an honest review, they were not happy. Here’s the thing though: faking enthusiasm for money just isn’t worth it. Authenticity matters more than any brand deal.
Stop Comparing Yourself to Content Creators
I used to watch YouTubers and wonder how they afford all these handbags. Every week there’s a new haul – something from Chanel, something from Louis Vuitton. I thought maybe that could be me.
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And as you know, I seriously love hearing from you - that means the world to me! If you recreate something, feel free to share it here in the comments or send me a message. I'm always excited to connect with y'all! ✨🤍
Xoxo Luna
