So this is a slightly different blog post to my usual but I recently bought my first Louis Vuitton bag for my birthday and I wanted to share my experience which may help some of my readers who are considering a purchase like this.
[If you want to skip this and go straight to the unboxing/first impressions of the bag check it out here]WHY I BOUGHT A DESIGNER BAG:
Let me give you a bit of background first. With the exception of luxury skincare and makeup (although I still love my more affordable products), I have never paid attention to designer brands and luxury goods before and don’t follow fashion or trends. I’m not a brand snob; I’m happy with affordable and good quality products when it comes to clothes, bags, shoes etc, whatever the brand may be. For me what’s always been more important is whether I like the look of something, it’s comfortable and is good quality for the price. If I feel I won’t get a lot of use out of something or it’s not durable/made to last, I won’t pay a lot of money for it.
I think it was over a year ago now when I first saw a video of the Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandoulière in 25 damier ebene on a youtuber’s beauty channel that I was subscribed to, and just fell in love with it. I’m usually oblivious and walk around blind half the time so I really don’t notice people’s bags when I’m out and about; this was literally the first time I took notice of a Louis Vuitton bag and I just couldn’t get it out of my head. At the time, I didn’t even entertain the thought of buying it because I just thought that price was ridiculous and couldn’t fathom dropping all that cash on a single bag. So I just looked online and watched videos of unboxings now and again, and that was enough for me.
Until about August of this year, it came to the forefront of my mind again and I just couldn’t let it go when I started to think it was a real possibility. I’m not exaggerating when I say I’ve spent almost every waking hour (besides working), just researching this bag over the past 5 weeks – comparing it to others designer brands, other bag models, considering its re-sell value, its craftsmanship, material, quality, various prices around the world, how to maintain and take care of it etc.
I don’t do impulse purchases – I always do my research before I buy anything of substantial value so I knew I was making a smart, informed and clear decision and reinforced the fact I definitely really wanted this bag and I would not regret it. (Highly recommend purseforum if you are considering a designer bag, it has a wealth of fantastic information).
However, one thing I want to point out, is that I did not expect or ask anyone for help in this purchase. This purchase wasn’t for bragging rights, to show off, to seek validation from others, or to prove to people that I’m rich. I simply love the design, style and the idea of owning something really luxurious that I would enjoy taking care of and make me feel good to have. Everyone likes to own/collect nice things now and again (be it luxury cars, gadgets, shoes etc); it’s human nature in a consumerist world.
I work a normal 9-5 job for a living, but since I was 11, I have always been extremely good at saving. It might not seem like it if you follow my blog or Instagram, but I always spend within my means and budget and can always put away a good amount every month. I don’t rely on my parents or partner for money, I have never been in debt, borrowed money I don’t have or made a late repayment. Apart from skincare/makeup and the occasional holiday, there isn’t actually much else I treat myself to and spend money on. My lifestyle is quite low maintenance and all about practicality. I don’t really buy lots of clothes and shoes, and have never had manicures and other beauty treatments. I don’t do nights out partying (since I prefer my home comforts), I rarely drink and I don’t smoke, so my lifestyle actually allows me to be very sensible with my money.
So when I was convinced I really wanted this bag, I thought, why not? It’s not an impulse purchase, I’ve done my research, I’ve liked the design and look of this bag for over a year now, I have the means to purchase it without dipping into savings and I’ve not had a big holiday this year, so why not treat myself. I could also see myself getting a lot of use out of this particular bag and considered how it would pair with most of my wardrobe. Saving is great, but now and again it’s really nice to just reward yourself for the hard work and get yourself something that will make you happy, excited and feeling good!
MY LOUIS VUITTON STORE EXPERIENCE:
I decided to see it in store a week before my birthday to make sure I liked it just as much in person, and to help me decide on the Speedy Bandouliere 25 or 30 (I was still unsure on which size to go for at the time). I couldn’t remember ever going into a designer boutique before because it always looked so intimidatingly luxurious and my view was why look at things beyond your means (plus I was never interested in designer before now).
I’m so grateful that an awesome friend agreed to come and see it with me after work because I was slightly put out after reading an abundance of negative reviews online about the bad customer service and sales associates in these high-end stores. However my experience was far from it and actually a very pleasant one. We were greeted at the store upon entering (the LV in London Westfield), and then just left alone to peruse the products on display. When I couldn’t find my bag on display, I asked a SA if I could view it and my name was taken down on a waiting list of people to be served. After maybe 15 minutes, a lovely Italian lady showed me the two bags and never at any point did I feel pressured or obligated to buy. There was no pushy selling, but rather she was very informative in sharing her knowledge of the bag and the brand. I was able to try both bags on which really helped in my decision to go for the Speedy 30.
Since it was the last one in stock that day and I wanted to purchase it a week later, the SA told me she didn’t know when they would get a new shipment of stock and I couldn’t reserve it because it’s one of their most popular bags. Instead she advised me to call the client services number (found on their website), before I returned because they can tell you about stock in any store around the world.
A week later and I did just that on the Thursday morning of my purchase. I was told there was stock at Westfield for my Speedy Bandouliere 30, so off I went back to LV around 1pm. It was much less busy than my first visit and I was seen to immediately, this time by a nice SA called Erina. When I had confirmed my purchase, I had to sign up with my details and Erina noticed it was my birthday and brought out 2 glasses of champagne for me and my partner to celebrate! That was honestly such a lovely touch to the whole buying experience and just made me fall in love with the LV service even more. We were able to sit and take our time drinking while she went away to box up my bag for me and Erina even included a little envelope inside with a note wishing me a happy birthday. All the little personal touches really made buying a luxury good that much more of an amazing experience and I just want to thank Erina for making my day that extra bit special. 🙂
