Designer Bags I would invest in if I ever won the lottery!

by ivis | Oct 22, 2016 | Lifestyle

Whenever we think of ‘investment pieces’, we think of them as the things that will evidently see us through a lifetime of wardrobe crises and last us an entire life time. I believe that there is no better investment piece than a handbag! A well-chosen bag can honestly last you for the rest of your life – ultimately forever, and even become a valuable heirloom when you’re gone. When it comes to investing in a luxury handbag, it is essential to not only find a style you truly love, but also to educate yourself on which handbags will still hold their value in the next 50 years and will never go out of style. For example, the Birkin, is predicted to double in value in the next 10 years. But that’s not the only bag worth getting. Have you ever heard of the holy grail? Chanel, Dior, and Hermès! Although the value of luxury handbags can alter due to trends, these three iconic brands in certain styles have the most resale value ever. Hermès Birkin bags have said to offer better returns than gold or stocks, with their value increasing by 500% over the past 35 years. And while spending thousands of pounds on a designer handbag may sound like a great way to treat yourself make sure you truly think about it before taking the plunge because at the end of the day you don’t want to waste your money on something that will be worth nothing in the next few years. But take my advice, you can never go wrong with a classic! So if you’re looking for an investment, you have come to the right place!

Chanel Classic Flap

Buying the Classic Flap is one of the most reliable investments you could make. Since 2010 the value of the bag has increased by an unbelievable 70%. The bag was created in the 1920s when Coco Chanel became tired of having to carry her handbags in her arms and decided to design a handbag that freed up her hands. Inspired by the straps found on soldiers’ bags, she added thin straps and introduced the bag to the market in 1929. After her successful comeback to the fashion industry in 1954, Chanel decided to update her handbag, the design was called 2.55 after the date it was created, February 1955. When Karl Lagerfeld took over as creative director in 1983 he reissued the bag in its original design but added the turning ‘CC’ clasp. On average, Chanel increases its prices from 8 to 12 % each year, so a bag bought now could potentially increase in value by more than 30 per cent in a short time frame. In the past five years, the prices have increased by more than 50%.

Christian Dior Lady Dior

Another classic because of its link with Princess Diana. The Lady Dior was created in 1994 with the sole purpose of becoming a classic – and it succeeded, helped along by Princess Diana.  In 1995, the French first lady Bernadette Chirac, wife of former president Jacques Chirac, wanted to give the visiting princess a unique handbag as a gift. She contacted Dior who provided the bag, then unofficially called the Chouchou (French for favourite), to give as a gift. Diana was seen with the bag many times and it was renamed ‘Princesse’ but later called Lady Dior. It was given its current name as a tribute to the princess, who was known as Lady Diana Spencer before her marriage, she faithfully carried the bag for years. The stitched square pattern on the bag was reportedly inspired by the Napoleon III chairs used in Dior’s first ever fashion show in 1947.

Hermès Kelly

The French fashion house’s Kelly style is in fact the true investment bag. It’s understated look and cleaner lines seem as fresh today as they did in the 1930s, when it was first created. Known initially as the Sac à dépêches, it was renamed the Kelly as a tribute to Grace Kelly, a life-long fan of the style who famously used it to hide her first pregnancy from the media. Each bag takes artisans up to 25 hours to make and a Kelly is a proven investment, it will only increase in value thanks to its exclusivity and rareness.

Hermès Birkin

We obviously can’t forget about the Birkin! Hermès chief executive Jean-Louis Dumas created the bag for the singer Jane Birkin after he was sat next to her on a 1984 flight and she complained she could not find a leather carrier she liked. It takes a full two days to create each Birkin. This is probably the most famous and most desirable bag in the world so If you’re thinking of a future investment, you’ll need to make a decision fast as there’s a six-year waiting list.