Nothing completes an outfit quite like an elegant handbag. Whether you’re carrying a clutch, a wristlet, a hobo, a sling bag or a satchel, a purse is definitely more than just a place to stow your essentials. New York, arguably the style center of the United States, offers a great selection of designer bags from fashion houses all over the world, including the best names from France, Italy and the United States. However, good New York designer handbags are not inexpensive, even when they are on sale or offered at a consignment store or pawn shop. That’s why it’s essential to know what to look for to get the most for your money.
What to look for in New York designer handbags
- Classic colors and lines. Designer handbags are an investment, even at discounted prices. You want to make sure that the purse you choose will still be in style a decade or more from now. To do that, make sure to choose colors like black and red over trendy colors like yellow, purple or orange. White, and beige, which classic, are more likely to get stained or show wear than darker colors.
- Scrutinize the hardware. One of the easiest ways to tell if a designer purse is the “real deal” is to pay close attention to the chain, zipper, clasp and other hardware. This is the most difficult part of the purse to duplicate without spending a great deal of money and will likely stand out as inferior if you stop to look closely.
- Buy it because you love it. This should be obvious, but too often we consider buying an item because it is a good deal or because it was designed by a top brand. Better to look at a designer purse like a piece of art and think about whether you’d be happy to carry it around and have your friends see you with.
Finding good New York designer handbags at affordable prices can be a challenge. However, if you stick to classic colors and lines, choose only those purses you truly love (no matter how good the deal is) and be careful to scrutinize the hardware to weed out the fakes, you’ll be surprised at how many good New York designer purses you’ll be able to find.
To buy or sell designer handbags in New York City, visit Gem Pawnbrokers online or at one of our six bricks and mortar store in the greater New York City area. We’ve been selling quality, previously owned designer merchandise for more than 70 years.
