Mistakes I’ve Made & Lessons Learned After 50+ Handbags

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 winners. My Loewe Puzzle bag? Absolute workhorse. If I don’t know what to grab, this is the one I reach for every single time. I’ve had it for about six years now, and I bought it before it became the It Bag everyone was obsessing over.

The secret? I always stuff it when I’m not using it, and I genuinely believe that’s why it still looks fantastic. I got mine for just over $2,000 Canadian back then – and now it’s around $6,000? I would become physically unwell if I spent that much on a handbag right now. Too many things going on in life.

My other true love? The Goyard St. Louis. I know, I know – some people have literally told me it looks like a trash bag. But listen, this thing has been through it. I’ve traveled with it, used it for work daily, hauled laptops around. Here in Vancouver where it rains constantly, the water just beads right off. Five or six years in, and the leather hasn’t cracked, no significant wear on the straps. For those of you who want something similar but more budget-friendly, the Longchamp Le Pliage totes are absolutely incredible options too.

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.

What You Learn After Buying a Lot of Handbags and What You Should Do Instead

Handbags feel deceptively simple, but they expose every bad buying habit. You will waste the most money on bags that look cute online but fail your daily routine.

The lessons that save you:

• You need a “default bag,” not 12 event bags.
  Start with one everyday size you grab without thinking. If you cannot name when you would carry it, you will not carry it.

• Strap comfort decides everything.
  A strap that slips, digs, or feels too short will make you avoid the bag. Look for adjustable straps and a strap width that matches the bag’s weight.

• Hardware and corners show wear first.
  Check corner protection, zipper glide, and how the metal feels. Cheap hardware will age your entire outfit.

• Your closet needs a shape mix, not a color mix.
  Two bags in the same silhouette will compete. One structured top-handle plus one hands-free crossbody will cover more life than five similar shoulder bags.

Quick decision rule: if you cannot style the bag with your most worn shoes and jacket, you will regret it.