Your Guide to Buying a Vintage Handbag

Vintage handbags are fantastic pieces to add to your fashion collection. While it’s easy to get caught up in high-end fashion trends, there is always the possibility of becoming dissatisfied with your expensive purchase further down the track.

Nothing is as elegant and or as timeless as the classics. Certain styles are classic for a reason and top quality vintage handbags represent the ultimate form of timeless style.

A good vintage handbag should last a lifetime, growing in value, rarity and character as time goes on. Investing in these beautiful, coveted items is an endeavour that requires careful contemplation.

Do Your Research

This is no time for impulse buying. You should do as much research as possible and really get to know what’s out there before deciding on a particular brand or style. Look into each vintage handbag that appeals to you, examining its history, how it’s regarded, how rare it is, how people are wearing it and what fashion styles it works with. Dress your best and try it on in the vintage handbag store.

Look for Good Quality

Good vintage handbags always use quality materials and expert craftsmanship. Genuine leather should have an even and consistent skin. Look for markers of authenticity such as a serial number, authenticity cards or a date stamp. Louis Vuitton handbags often put a date code stamped on a tab or inside the lining. Chanel has hologram stickers listing the serial number.

High quality and authentic handbags often come with dust bags and boxes. Keep in mind that these items aren’t always included in older, second-hand vintage products, but it doesn’t mean they’re not authentic. You should get an appropriate dust bag or box for your handbag if they’re not included. Store the bag in a cool dry place to avoid any damage.

Beware of Counterfeit Products

Fake handbags can look great far away or in online pictures but you should always inspect them closely. Some counterfeiters are experts at replication. They deconstruct an original bag and copy it stitch for stitch. Sometimes the only way to distinguish them from the real thing is to hold them and feel for signs of quality.

Warning signs include crooked stitching or lettering, the handbag feeling strangely light, gold flaking off the hardware and cheap feeling leather. Look closely at the font of the brand name and beware if it looks slightly different.

Find a Reputable Seller

There are countless dealers offering vintage and luxury bags both online and in-store. Make sure you purchase from a source that you can trust and who takes authenticity seriously. Be wary of independent online sellers who may be hard to reach after making your purchase if something is wrong. Also, beware of deals that sound too good to be true. If someone is claiming to sell an authentic vintage Louis Vuitton handbag for $300, then it’s probably a fake.

Harrington & Co are expert vintage collectable dealers in Brisbane. We specialise in top quality vintage handbags, including products from Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, Prada and more. All of our vintage handbags are subject to a strict testing policy to ensure authenticity and top quality condition. Check out our range and visit us in store. Feel free to contact us by phone or email if you have any questions.