I had always been a girly girl growing up. I’m not quite sure if it was because I was an only child or the fact that I was raised by a single mother, but the hit of dopamine I’d get once I caught a whiff of fresh leather on a purse or pair of shoes compared to virtually nothing.
A story my mother often told her friends in jest was of that one time I told her when I was 6: “When you become old, can I have all your shoes and bags?”. Horrible, I know. But you could see the amount of conviction that little girl had in her from that one question. Everyone would burst into laughter
It wasn’t long until I reached my formative years, and my love for a good handbag had grown ten-fold. Observing my interest, one of the things my mother always reiterated to me whenever i’d accompany her to buy a new bag was to purchase it because of its quality and silhouette. Never because of the brand.
She drilled this principle into my head, resulting in my present approach when it comes to spotting or purchasing bags. That, and saving too many photos of the Olsen Twins on my Pinterest board in High School.
Now, several years and a fashion degree later, the girly girl in me continues to thrive. However, not exactly in the same way she used to anymore. Guided by these principles instilled in me, here’s some of my favourite minimalist and niche luxury bags, as well as some advice to help you decide on your next bag purchase!
How often will I be able to use it, and if so, how many times would I need to use it before I get my money back?
Bags are meant to be worn. There’s no point in purchasing it if you’re going to treat it like a newborn baby. I often tell people that the best looking Birkin is the one that Jane Birkin uses herself. If you quickly google it, you’ll see that it’s obviously worn out and scuffed, but that’s exactly what makes it so unique.
I’m not saying that you should throw your purse around like a sack of potatoes, but think about how you’ll be able to maximize it in order to get your return on investment.
I’m terrible at maths, but I usually compute the price of the bag and how many time’s i’d wear it in a month in order to help me narrow down my decision-making process
Would this style still look good 5 years down the road?
There’s no shame in trendy bags. They actually make for good resale value, but usually not until very far down the road. Take a look at the Dior Saddle Bag and the Gucci Jackie!
However, If you’re looking for something that will withstand many years of wear and will look timeless no matter the season, classic shapes will never fail you.
Is this made of leather, or is this just coated canvas?
It’s easy to be fooled by coated canvas mainly because it can sometimes look and feel like leather. However, its quality definitely isn’t the same. While some coated canvas pieces may stand the test of time, others don’t fare so well. Leather is still personally my best option.
Can I actually afford it?
As the saying goes, don’t go broke trying to look rich. Just because a bag is expensive, doesn’t mean that it’s good quality. The same principle applies regardless of the brand you’re purchasing from. It’s always good to set a budget for yourself, that way, you put a cap on your spending, and you avoid shelling out way too much cash than you expected!
My Favourite Niche & Minimalist Luxury Bags
Now, on to the fun part!
One of my favourite things to do is to scroll endlessly on Ssense, Net-A-Porter, Matches Fashion, you name it. There’s something extremely therapeutic to it. However, if you’re scrimp on time, i’ve narrowed down some of my favourite selects to save you the sweat of browsing until the wee hours of the morning.
Below, check out some of my favourite minimalist bag brands:
A.P.C.
A.P.C. has been one of my favourite brands for a while now primarily because of their focus on well-made leather goods.
One of their most iconic silhouettes is the ‘Demi Lune Bag’ that features a versatile crossbody strap and a signature crescent shape. (Hence, the name demi-lune)
This bag is perfect for any occasion and can easily transition from day to night depending on how it’s worn.
Another popular style of theirs is the ‘Geneve Bag’ which takes on a more contemporary silhouette its front flap and gold hardware in case you want something a little bit different.
Mansur Gavriel
Mansur Gavriel first burst into the spotlight in 2013 when they launched their collection of bucket bags. Within weeks, the entire collection sold out and it instantaneously became the “It Bag”.
Now several years later, Mansur Gavriel’s penchant for classic and streamlined silhouettes continue, constantly evolving and adapting to designs that are fresh but never boring.
Object Particolare Milano
Object Particolare Milano is an underrated brand that I wish people paid more attention to. As the name suggests, the Milano-based brand has been turning heads for awhile now for their interesting takes on classic designs. They do very well with experimenting with shapes and also offer a wide array of variations, so you’ll definitely have a lot to choose from!
Aesther Ekme
Based in Copenhagen, Aesther Ekme focuses on creating simple, yet elevated handbags using luxurious calfskin leather. Each handbag is marked with three small dots, a signature, if you will, of Aesther Ekme’s chic minimalist style.
Cuyana
Women-built and heritage-led, Cuyana champions craftsmanship and sustainability through their line of leather goods. As a brand, they are guided by the principle of timeless design that ensures each piece in their collection will serve a purpose in your wardrobe for many years to come.