Are you into designer bags? Do you like to know what bags I bought and sold in 2024. Here it is! All my inventory for the year with mini reviews.
I bought and sold several bags this year. I cleaned my inventory a little bit more. I personally understood my style better and learned what works for me and what doesn’t. This requires quite a bit of trial and error, so don’t beat yourself up if you’re still buying things that don’t work for you. I love that we have the option to sell things. I can’t imagine getting stuck with things I don’t love and wear on a regular basis.
I’m pretty satisfied with my bag collection at the moment. I don’t think I have felt this way in a long time. There are still few additions I want to make but we will get there, I’m not in a rush. This is the first time that I have a bag collection that I regularly use each and every single bag. Shoutout to Marie Kondo for changing me for life. Anytime I feel like I have repeats in my closet or things I’m not reaching out for – Poshmark and Vestiaire to the rescue. So, let’s get to the bags I bought and sold in 2024.
This blog is all about the bags I bought and sold in 2024. I hope you enjoy it. What was your favorite bag purchase, let me know!
SECTION I – SOLD BAGS
#1 CELINE CLASSIC BAG
This was probably the very first bag I loved without being influenced. I remember the first time I saw an ad for this bag in the brown color, box leather and gold hardware. So, it had been on my mind for many years, I even tried it on during the last couple of months Celine was still carrying this bag and I still couldn’t drop 4k on a bag (still wouldn’t). After realizing that there is a whole world of second-hand luxury and being ok with purchasing those (it took me a minute). I bought this bag at the end of 2023, but didn’t get around using it properly until 2024. Unfortunately, all the things I had heard about this bag came to be very true. All the interior is leather, which adds dramatically to the weight of the bag. The strap holders are sharp and will mark your chest and shoulder area, even if you wear a coat, yikes. It is gorgeous, and very well maybe one of the most beautiful bags out there, in my opinion, but I couldn’t keep it just for the purposes of collecting.
#2 BOTTEGA VENETA POUCH BAG
I bought this bag in early 2024. I was heavily influenced from Instagram, I admit it. But there is more to it. I really wanted the Old Céline clutch, where the inspiration of this bag came from for Daniel Lee, creative director of Bottega Veneta at the time. I didn’t like Celine’s limited color selection and the very limited availability on the second-hand market, so I pulled the trigger on this one instead in the khaki color. I should have known better. I have been a crossbody bag girl my entire life, because I like to be hands free. Clutch is not my thing and certainly not in this size. It is a beautiful bag, with the softest leather and cool magnetic closure. If this is for you, feel free to visit my Vestiaire closet, it’s still available. This is the only bag that I haven’t been able to sell yet on this list.
#3 MANSUR GAVRIEL MINI MINI BUCKET BAGS – YES, PLURAL
I know this is going to sound insane, but I had three of those. Let me explain. I bought a second-hand Mini Mini Bucket Bag in Camello for a great price and I was happy with it. I then bought the Mini Bucket Bag in Brandy, or at least I thought I did… unfortunately the size listed was inaccurate and it was the Mini Mini size instead, I kept it anyway. I then went to a sample sale and bought the blush in Saffiano leather – because early in my love for Mansur Gavriel, I wanted this bag so much. About a year later I realized that I wasn’t reaching for this size (Mini Mini) anymore, and sold all three of them. To be fair, I did have a moment for small bags but quickly grew out of it. I love the Mini Size (the medium size), it’s perfect for my needs, since then I’ve thought about buying another one, but putting a pin on that one for now.
#4 MANSUR GAVRIEL SHOULDER BAG
I bought this bag before the Mansur Gavriel store closed, but never got around using it. I have never been one for logos, but I have gone further into the quite luxury world and the most subtle branding sometimes bothers me. Despite this logo reminding me of their lovely store, I wholeheartedly wish they would re-open that store in Soho each time I walk by… I had to let this bag go. As I’ve said before I don’t reach for clutches, off it went to a new home.
#5 THE ROW MARGAUX
I wrote a separate blog post on this bag, you can visit this page to read all about it. I bought this bag in a grained leather and size 15, both of which I instantly regretted. I didn’t have time to have a feel for the different leather types and colors. I was so used to thinking about sturdiness and longevity, so I went for the grained leather, which I haven’t been really enjoying lately. I also needed this bag in a bigger size, which I noticed very quickly when I brought it home. I am also not loving the hype around this bag, in most cases I tend to want less popular items – everyone and their mother wants this bag, so I’ll skip it (for now).
#6 CELINE CANVAS TRIOMPHE SANGLE BAG
I will be posting a full review on this bag. I went back and forth for so long on this bag before purchasing it. I always wanted to own a canvas bag, so I went for it. I used it for about 6 months and realized the quality just wasn’t there. This is something I will never compromise on, especially for the amount that goes into designer bags. The day I realized the thread may be a problem around the snap button closure, I listed it and it sold quite quickly.
#7 CELINE MEDIUM BIG BAG
I had an obsession with this bag. It was so hard to find and track down in this size and leather color. Celine stopped making this bag several years ago, but my interest didn’t die. Gwyneth Paltrow wore this bag in the courtroom in 2023, so it added another wave of interest. I had never seen this bag in this size and leather color in person, I had visited The Real Real, and tried the small size in the khaki and the medium size in the fabric variations that were available. Once I found it on eBay, I bought it. I was over the moon to finally get my hands on this. But sadly, not for me. It really lacked any type of structure, it folded in on itself when empty, and looked weird with an insert. I also don’t think the condition was as described. I listed and it sold very quickly.
SECTION II – PURCHASED BAGS
#1 MANSUR GAVRIEL GAIA BAG
This was my first purchase this year that I actually loved and kept. This bag exceeded all my expectations. When I finally learned that clutches are not for me… I started looking into small bags with strap whether they could be held by hand or on the shoulder – preferably shoulder for your girl who likes to be hand free. I ordered The Row’s 90’s bag, but I really didn’t like the leather, it was too soft and I could tell it was not going to keep its shape after a few uses, so it went back. Mansur Gavriel then came up with the Gaia Bag and as soon as I saw that I was sure that I would get a lot of use out of that bag. The leather is a bit shinier than their vegetable tanned leather; it has a shoulder strap; it is small but fits a lot of things; it looks so chic and for the price point, I was sold. I really used this bag quite a lot. It’s the perfect day to night, night out, dinner or theater bag.
#2 THE ROW LADY BAG
I had wanted this style for a very long time. I have always known about the Hermes Bolide and the vintage Celine bag in this style – but something was off about them in the dimensions and straps. I found the Bolide a little slouchy and the price point was too much for what I was willing to pay for this style. The vintage Celine has a strap, which I don’t love for this style and every time I found one on the second-hand market the condition wasn’t one, I was willing to settle for. This bag was expensive if you had to get it from the boutique itself. But I saw it at The Real Real, then after a good 48 hours of going back and forth, I was offered a 20% discount and purchased it at almost half its price. It was a steal, and the bag’s condition was even better than I anticipated. This was bag also made me realize that I actually enjoy top handle bags without a strap. As long as my hands are free, I’m ok. I leave it open, which makes it easier to get in and out. I really love that the leather, it has a sheen to it, it’s navy with gold hardware. It’s not easy finding a navy handbag that looks chic.
#3 PHOEBE PHILO SMALL CABAS BAG
You know that I love Phoebe Philo. I wrote an entire blog post about her when she launched her new collection. But the price point of those bags, made me think that I will never get my hands on a bag. Since Bergdorf Goodman started carrying her collection, I had a feel for it in person, and of course Philo does things right. The quality is outstanding for everything she does. I loved the small cabas in smooth brown leather as well as pony hair. But I felt that the pony hair would not get a lot of wear. I also started having a soft spot for cool tone brown and silver hardware. There isn’t a lot of hardware on this bag but the middle piece really sets the tone. It also really reminds me of the many Old Céline bags like the Trapeze, which I have considered buying time and time again. I was also unsure about the E/W style, I had tried The Row Idaho bag at one point but felt that the dimensions were too exaggerated. This bag landed on Vestiaire and was discounted, as soon as I saw the price, I purchased it. It changed my mind about the E/W style, I never lock the top, it is so easy to get in and out of, and I have been using it more than I expected. I really love the long zipper straps that fall to the side, the color, leather, quality – all of it. Philo can do no wrong.
This blog is all about the bags I bought and sold in 2024. I hope you enjoy it. What was your favorite bag purchase, let me know!
As always, thank you for stopping by and reading. Click here if you’d like to see & follow my Instagram page @girlontheues.
Until next time,
Girl on the Upper East Side
Xx
If this interests you, you might enjoy reading my blog post on The Row, The Ultimate Guide to Your First Designer Bag Purchase, and How to Downsize Your Closet.
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