How to shop for designer handbags second-hand: the definitive guide

Where to splurge, how to save and the politics of bartering – plus nightdresses, glassware and vintage Ikea

I’m going to ask you to indulge me for a second: sit back, and think about your wardrobe. Really consider it: scan the shelves and rails in your mind, noticing what jumps out at you first. Have you mentally gone through every drawer? What did you forget about? Now, answer me this: what’s the most expensive item in there – the one you occasionally take out with some ceremony, just to admire it? I’m prepared to bet that for many of you, that piece is a handbag.

According to Statista, the UK is projected to spend over £2 billion on handbags alone in 2025; that figure has been slowly creeping up year on year. We are a nation that can’t resist a good accessory – but the ever-inflating price of designer goods post-Covid has left many covetable brands well beyond the reach of the average shopper. Thankfully, the resale market for designer handbags has never been better: for high-end brands at manageable prices, it’s second-hand all the way.

But where should you go for the best pre-loved bargains? Which brands make the soundest investments? Can you barter on price? And the most important question of all: how can you be sure you’re shelling out for the real deal – and not a fake?