In my line of work, I often encounter questions like "how much do you think my bag will sell for?". Upon hearing my answer, almost always, a potential client is disappointed. Why? Because they were hoping for a higher price. Unfortunately, the reality is that rarely, in any circumstances, will you ever recoup the initial dollar value you put into an item upon reselling. That's the cold hard truth. 

It's a tough mouthful to swallow. We think that by shelling out hundreds upon thousands of dollars on luxury merchandise of the highest quality and craftsmanship, it will translate to a good investment. That's not the case. Etro, for example, is one of the brands with the lowest return on investment. Buy it if you love it, but don't expect much when it comes time to resell. 

Of course, when purchasing items, we do it because we love them; we love the design, we love the style, we love how it makes us feel when we wear it! However, what happens when you fall out of love with your item? Consignment shops like us can help you sell your preloved goodies. However, the reality is that not all items retain their value. 95% of the items you purchase will depreciate over time. Things that are super trendy and often deemed the "it" bag will undoubtedly fall out of style in a few seasons. When you want to sell it then, chances are, the depreciated value will be closer to about 50% of what you initially paid for (assuming it's in excellent condition, of course). 

So, which items are actually considered good investments? One word: classics. Items from brands that never go out of style, and retain the same design season after season are the bags you should invest in (if you want to own it and invest in a bag at the same time, of course). For example, the Louis Vuitton Speedy bag was the first bag the brand created when Louis Vuitton Malletier first opened its doors in Paris in the 1800s. Season after season, the Speedy bag is brought back and season after season, they remain one of the most iconic bags the brand has to offer. With price increasing almost every year, you are almost guaranteed a majority return of your money, or even an increase in initial investment based on when you want to resell your bag. 

Another example is, of course, Chanel. Unlike Louis Vuitton, Chanel has very limited stock on their bags and they no longer accept wait list for bags. However, year after year, the classic Chanels (2.55, Reissue, and now Boy) continues to be the most coveted bags all around. Unless you absolutely trash your bag (which, please, out of respect for Chanel, DON'T!), you are almost guaranteed a near-full return on investment with a chance of making even a little on top. Finally, if you are one of the lucky ones to get your hands on an Hermes (especially a Kelly or a Birkin), you can often consider reselling for more than the price paid since they are so rare and coveted. 

What this means is that of course, buy because you love it. But, know that if there is ever a possibility of reselling, you should buy smart! Consignment shops are great places to pick up some beautiful pieces from past AND current seasons for significantly discounted prices! Now, if you pick up a classic piece at a discounted price, even better. Happy shopping!