After spending over the last decade curating the perfect handbag collection, I learned a few things about collecting couture. If you want to buy couture, you need to buy the right bag from the get go.

What do I mean by this?

When I first started out collecting couture handbags, I bought what I could afford. In the end, I was not happy with my choices. So I ended up reselling those bags before I realized I needed to buy the right bag.

Each designer has their own popular classic handbag design that is sold in a variety of prints and colors. Influencers snatch up these beauties and fill up their social media feeds with these IT bags. They develop a culture where every girl dreams of being just like them, carrying a black Chanel quilted clutch, a Celine Luggage, a Fendi Peekaboo, Hermés Birkin, or the Louis Vuitton Neverfull.

If you are going to go designer, buy the classics that have withstood the test of time. Not only will you love your purchase, you’ll feel happier that you chose the right bag. A collection, after all, must begin with the basics.

You do not always have to buy brand new. Sites like Fashionphile offer discounts on pre-owned designer handbags. My favorite part of their site is their Last Call and Outlet (on Ebay). Purchasing through a reputable company that backs the authenticity of their product is very important. It guarantees you are buying the real thing.

After you add these basics, you can begin to curate your collection around your needs (i.e. evening bags, travel bags, crossbodies) and your wants (i.e. artistic bags, limited edition, that cute $5 bag you find at a flea market). As a rule of thumb, always remember that it is better to have fewer, but better things. The only way you can achieve that is if you buy the correct item the first time around.