Louis Vuitton bags are very coveted, but did you know you can actually buy originals for a fraction of the price?
According to Forbes, Louis Vuitton is currently the world's most valuable luxury brand. It's also one of the most profitable brands in the world, which doesn't come as a surprise. A Louis Vuitton bag could set you back an average of £1,500, and online searches have surged for bags with the famous LV monogram.
But if you don't want to pay full price for an LV bag, we have great news...
How can I get a cheap Louis Vuitton bag?
The answer to buying an LV bag for a fraction of the price? Re-sale websites!
With the designer resale market now being dubbed as the fastest growing business in fashion retail, demand for pre-loved luxury handbags has soared to unprecedented heights. Great news for buyers who want to get their hands on a Louis Vuitton bag, but don't have upwards of £1,000 to spend.
Handbag Clinic co-founder and retail director, Charlotte Staerck says, “Louis Vuitton is one of our top three bestselling brands. I think it's mostly down to its timeless aesthetic and longevity in the fashion industry. The LV Neverfull often sells within minutes of appearing on our website, and recently we sold one in just nine minutes. The LV Speedy bag is another hugely sought after style. Made in 1930, it's still extremely popular today. Louis Vuitton bags are also highly durable - provided they have been well looked after correctly, the classic monogram and Damier styles will hold their value."
Charlotte's top tips for buying a pre-loved Louis Vuitton bag
1. The best time to snap up a bargain is between December – March
As with most high-end luxury brands, fashion houses increase the price of their handbags annually in spring. For Louis Vuitton this is normally around 5%, but this year we’ve seen as much as 17% with brands such as Chanel – this is due to the COVID-19 impact and the increased cost of sourcing raw materials. Between Dec – March is a great time to snap up an LV bag, as it will increase in value on the preowned market post-purchase in line with the fashion houses.
2. Pay attention to the colour of the leather
The LV Monogram, for example, has vachetta leather which is designed to develop patina over time – this slightly changes and darkens the colour. So it’s important to try and avoid buying a handbag with a dark vachetta as it means it’s on it’s way out and considered too poor a quality to hold its value.
3. Pay attention to the handles
Louis Vuitton leather is super absorbent and the handles are the worst affected through wear and tear. The only way to correct this is by replacing the handles, which our highly trained artisans can do. This costs around £149 for styles such as Speedy, Alma and Neverfull – so worth bearing in mind as an extra cost when buying preowned.
Do Louis Vuitton bags go on sale?
Sadly there isn't an official Louis Vuitton outlet store associated with the Louis Vuitton brand, and they never mark down prices.
So if you're looking to get an LV bag for smaller price tag, re-sale sites are your best bet.
The best specialist designer re-sale sites for Louis Vuitton bags
Vestiaire Collective
Founded in Paris, in 2009, Vestiaire Collective has one of the largest selections of pre-owned items. Posting thousands of new listings each week, customers have affordable access to a variety of luxury labels. Boasting an online fashion community of more than 3.5 million shoppers, items you buy on Vestiaire Collective are guaranteed to come from a respectable closet.
Top tip: set up an email alert if you are looking for a particular item, so you don't miss out!
Cudoni
Each piece showcased on this specialist marketplace is fully authenticated by in-house authentication experts that have been trained to the highest standard within the luxury resale industry and have over 25 years experience. Cudoni ensure only genuine, quality items are featured, giving the you full assurance of product authenticity.
The Handbag Clinic
The Handbag Clinic is a luxury handbag restoration and preowned designer re-sale retailer. Clients can book a consultation with one of Handbag Clinic’s trusted team of dedicated experts, and they will be on hand to audit, authenticate, value, clean, restore, and sell your designer wares. With restoration at the heart of its business, customers can also sit back with the peace of mind that their beloved handbag will fetch its best possible price. They have stores in Chelsea, Leeds, Newcastle as well as three international stores. All bags go through a vigorous quality control and authenticity procedure before going on sale online and into stores.
Luxury Promise
Established in Knightsbridge, Luxury Promise is a premium marketplace, allowing customers worldwide to buy and sell their pre-loved luxury items from the comfort of their own homes. Each item is carefully authenticated and checked by a team of expert authenticators, going through a triple quality control.
Top tip: Follow Luxury Promise on Instagram where they regularly upload video clips of new products onto stories. This is a great way to see items up close and from all angles.
-
-
Farmers' Almanac revealed its summer 2021 predictions, and we're less than pleased
Talk about raining on our parade
By Danielle Valente •
-
White Claw announces new Surge seltzers containing 3% more alcohol, plus new flavors for the perfect summer refresher
White Claw has announced its new summer flavors including Surge seltzers and three new variety pack flavors
By Rylee Johnston •
-
The Duchess of Cambridge's elegant frosted blue scallop cardigan from Boden is back in stock
But you'll have to be quick if you want to snap one up!
By Lauren Hughes •
-
Best shoes for flat feet: Supportive pairs that don’t compromise on style
Finding the best shoes for flat feet needn’t be a case of compromising on style for the sake of comfort. Here's where to shop...
By Jess Beech •
-
M&S is selling the perfect spring dress for fans of Kate Middleton's style
The Duchess of Cambridge is a fan of wearing clothes with these four elements
By Selina Maycock •
-
British clothing brands that will luxe up your wardrobe
Here's the lowdown on our favourite British clothing brands, with classic and chic pieces that will spruce up your wardrobe
By Charlie Bell •
-
How to dress for your body type - tips and tricks to make the most of your shape
Figuring out what body type you are is sometimes tricky - but once you nail where you fit in the fruit bowl shopping becomes a lot easier.
By Sibelle Mehmet •
-
Debenhams to open stores next week for massive closing down sale - is your local store on the list?
The high street retailer will slash the prices of its stock for shoppers after going into liquidation
By Selina Maycock •
-
Bathing suits for body types: How to find the most flattering one piece for your shape
Then our guide to the best bathing suits for body types is essential, confidence-boosting reading this summer.
By Hannah Hughes •
-
The best dresses for every type of unpredictable spring day
Spring is here, and so are the best dresses of the season. From midi dresses to maxi dresses, here's our ultimate guide to the chic dresses that will spruce up your SS21 wardrobe
By Kate McCusker •
