How to choose your first luxury handbag

Buying a first luxury handbag is less about the price tag than about how it will fit into the life you already have. Before you look at colours or hardware, spend ten minutes with these five questions.

1. What will it carry on an ordinary day?

Lay out what you actually take out of the house: phone, wallet, keys, sunglasses, a charger, maybe a small umbrella. If it all fits inside a hand-sized pouch, a mini or crossbody will do. If a laptop or a book is part of the routine, you want a tote or a structured satchel with a rigid base.

2. How will you carry it?

Hands-free matters more than most people expect. A crossbody or belt bag frees both hands for travel and city days. A top-handle bag looks polished at work but asks one arm to commit. Try the strap lengths in front of a mirror, and think about the coat you wear most.

3. Which colour will you still want in five years?

Cognac, black, ivory and deep brown go with nearly everything and age gracefully. A bolder shade such as burgundy or forest green makes a better second bag once the first one has proved itself.

4. What is the leather like up close?

Grained and pebbled calfskin forgive scratches. Smooth calfskin looks sharper but shows marks sooner. Saffiano resists water and wipes clean. None is better; each fits a different temperament.

5. Will you take care of it?

Leather rewards a little attention: a dry cloth, a dust bag, a conditioner twice a year. If that sounds like too much, choose a scratch-resistant finish and a darker colour.

The short version

Choose the bag that carries your day, in a colour you wear every week, in a leather that matches how gently you treat things. Everything else is detail.