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How to take care of your designer bag
After weeks, months or maybe even years of saving up, it’s finally here: your designer bag (read about why you should buy a designer bag here). Of course it’s okay to spend your first week in bed cuddling with your baby, just make sure you take good care of it. That way it’ll not only stay pretty, it will retain its value and you can always get your hands on a new designer buy a few years later.
Spray that bad boy
If you buy a Hermès bag, they give you a cute little raincoat for it just incase you ever get caught in a drizzle. And to make sure the bag always looks up to par, every now and then you can drop it off at Hermès for a little refurbishing. For other designer bags I would suggest having them sprayed before you start using it. It’s best you let the store advise you as to where you can get it done since they know precisely what’s best for the type of leather the bag is made of, and evidently every bag is different.
Fill it up
When you’re not using your bag, make sure it stays filled up. Usually when you buy a designer piece, they fill it up with a specific type of paper to keep it’s form so I would advise you to keep the paper and stuff it back in the bag when it’s not being used. An alternative would be to use a towel or some dishcloths. This helps your bag keep its shape and preserve its good looks.
In the dust bag
Every designer bag is conveyed in a dust bag to keep it dust free and to block any sunlight that might discolor it. So when you’re not using it, make sure to tuck it away in the dust bag.
Avoid the floor
Parisian waiters understand this completely and will even grab an extra stool for your designer baby or a linen napkin – anything to avoid contact with the floor. Liesbeth demanded (and even received) an extra airplane seat for her new Proenza because she refused to leave it on the floor.
Have it cleaned
Tod’s always advises using Nivea cleansing milk to keep your bag clean, but you can also opt for special cleansing oils to keep your leather bag throbbing. I would encourage you to occasionally drop by the store where you bought it and ask the saleswoman what the best cleaning ritual is. With a little bit of luck she might just take your bag and have it cleaned for you.
Keep the carte d’authenticité
Incase you ever decide to sell it (or incase it gets stolen), then you’ll have proof of its authenticity.
Cherish it
My neighbor owns a Ferrari (great for when I get dropped off by a cab, all I have to say is: “You can drop me off by the Ferrari”) and when it was still pretty new, it had quite a few complications. After contacting the dealer about the cause of this, the answer he was given was: “But sir, this car isn’t meant to be driven in every day!”
And that is pretty much what a designer bag should be like. It’s made from the finest leathers making it a bit sensitive. Don’t use it during a thunder storm, dreadful for the leather. And if you’re off to spend the day at the beach, leave it at home. Save it for special occasions, that way it’ll retain its beauty.
