It probably didn't escape your notice yesterday, I am working on buying a new designer bag. “Should it be done with so much pomp and fuss?” you may ask. The answer is yes. Yes it definitely has to be with so much fuss and bother. Buying such a bag is a huge process that involves a lot. You don't just buy a tassie, you buy something you have to do with for years and years. May do! That's why today in the Explorer, how to make sure you buy the perfect bag and don't get saddled with a mis-buy.

Wish

It begins with longing. A deep-rooted passion for The Bag. If on Monday you think oh that Balenciaga is quite a nice bag but on Tuesday you're already looking at the Rocco van Alexander Wang, Then you are not ready for both yet. Give it some time, discover which model keeps catching your eye during online shopping sessions and feel everything in your body that you really, really, really want that bag. Dream about it, tell about it because what the heart is full of, the mouth is full of. If your friends or colleagues go berserk to the point of screaming BUY THAT BAG FOR GOD'S NAME, you know the desire is there.

Choose timeless

An open door because of course you know this all along but still, it needs to be mentioned. I advise you not to buy an it-bag. An it-bag is the bag du jour, a bag that is suddenly unimaginably hip and seen on the arm of every pretty hot girl. The disadvantage of it-bags is that, firstly, they are at the top of their price range, but also that they have yet to prove their timelessness. For example, the Fendi Spy Bag or the Chloé Paddington. There was a time when these bags were unattainable. Everyone wanted one, yours truly included. But now, some five years later, you don't see anyone with them, no one is talking about them and they are sold for mini prices on second-hand sites.

Colour and material

The colour is, of course, very much a matter of taste. Personally, I do not want black bags because, first of all, I find them boring, but also because black does not go with brown. A bag in one colour goes with everything, in my opinion. My burgundy Marc Jacobs and sea-blue Chloé are colours that somehow go with everything and I think this is precisely because they are striking colours. Having said that, black is of course safe and for many people a good option because it's less likely to be worn. As for material, leather is forever. Suede is a hassle, takes a long time to maintain. Everything made of linen (e.g. it-bag du jour the Chanel backpack) gets dirty and is therefore not the winner on the sustainability scale.

Form

Choose a shape that contrasts slightly with your body figure. If you have a curvy body like Kim Kardashian, then one with a more boxy shape is ideal. Women with huge bosoms should be wary of crossbody bags, the shoulder strap gets stuck between your temples, which is rarely a charming sight. A hobo-model bag is flattering for almost everyone and thus a good entry-level bag.

Longing again

It starts with desire and that's where it ends. The price you pay for the average designer bag is downright ridiculous and cannot be justified. So don't try to do that either. Don't start telling non-bag snappers that 1,000 euros is really justifiable because you'll last for years bladibla. No, play it by ear. I get really soulfully happy with this bag, it completes my life, etc etc.

Last words, enjoy your bag. Take care of it with love, don't put it on the floor (in the beginning), take it everywhere and put it next to your bed while sleeping. I do too.