When it comes to investing in a luxury handbag, it’s obviously crucial to find a style you really, truly love. Equally important (and often overlooked) is educating yourself on which handbags will hold their value and never go out of style. The exclusive Birkin, for example, is forecasted to double in value in the next 10 years. But that’s not the only bag worth scooping up. To give you a sense of the bags worth your money, we tapped Elise Whang and Emily Erkel, founders of LePrix (the trusted online destination for pre-owned luxury), to spill on the styles you need to try. “To get the most resale value for your investment bag, I only have one piece of advice: Invest in the holy trinity—Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Hermès. While the value of luxury handbags can fluctuate due to trends or buzz, these three iconic brands in certain styles have the most resale value at LePrix,” Dang told us. Keep scrolling to check out more on the top bags you should buy.
“The resale value of Hermès depends on the style, type of leather, and hardware,” Dang shares. “The power behind the Hermès brand is due to their limited quantities. This creates an unparalleled level of scarcity and exclusivity other brands have yet to achieve. While there’s no such thing as an Hermès waiting list, there is a certain waiting period for your dream Birkin or Kelly—depending on your relationship with your Hermès salesperson, the amount spent at Hermès over some time, and pure luck.
“The Birkin specifically is the most sought-after handbag of all. On the arms of celebrities including Victoria Beckham, Alessandra Ambrosio, Kate Moss, and the entire Kardashian-Jenner clan, this bag has exponentially increased in popularity. The fervor for Birkins transcends both retail and resale—LePrix stylists are constantly searching for Birkins through our consignment boutique partners for our customers. Birkin bag retail prices range from $9000 to $150,000 and can see resale prices up to $223,000.
“Most Birkins retain or increase in value, again depending on leather, hardware, and demand. If you happen to score the exclusive, highly sought-after black Birkin with gold hardware or otherwise known amongst the fashion tribe as ‘the holy grail,’ this bag will pay you back in spades.”
“Inspired by Grace Kelly, the Hermès Kelly bag also retains or increases in resale value,” Dang tells us. “The Kelly bag is a classic and happens to be a favorite for Miranda Kerr, Emma Watson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Rosamund Pike, Beyoncé, Karlie Kloss, and, again, the Kardashian-Jenners.”
“While the Birkin recently got buzz for beating the S&P 500, this is not the only handbag that has outperformed the S&P 500,” Dang shares. “Ten years ago, I purchased my first Chanel medium flap in caviar leather for $1600. This same exact bag now retails for $4900. That is a 206% return (not adjusted for inflation). Whereas, in the last decade, the S&P total nominal return was 49% (not adjusted for inflation). The resale value of this bag also retains or increases depending on leather and hardware. It’s also a constant favorite of Alexa Chung, Rita Ora, Demi Lovato, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and Lauren Conrad.”
“Another bag to consider for investment is the Chanel Boy Bag,” says Dang. “While the Boy Bag is fairly new, introduced in 2011, it’s now a mainstay, joining the ranks of the classic flaps and reissue flaps. Five years ago, this bag started at $2500. Today the Chanel Boy Bag starts at $5100. It typically retains at least 90% of its resale value. You can find this bag on celebs like Jessica Biel, Leigh Lezark, Bella Thorne, and Taraji P. Henson.”
“The Neverfull continues to be one of our fastest-selling handbags on LePrix, and there’s a reason why,” says Dang. “While certain fashion industry reports dictate there’s a decline in the category of tote handbags for other brands, the Louis Vuitton Neverfull remains popular due to periodic price increases and high demand. The Neverfull is one of Louis Vuitton’s all-time most successful bags that come in endless options of materials as well as limited editions and special artist collaborations. It has been worn by A-listers like Sofía Vergara, Cara Delevingne, Diane Kruger, and Reese Witherspoon. It retains at least 85% of its resale value, unless it’s a rare limited-edition bag, which can see upward of double the resale value.”
Up next: 22 Relatively Affordable Items I’d Buy From Designer Brands
This post was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.