2024 has been a banner year for buying bags. I finally let myself buy the bags that I want, and yes I may have gone overboard (especially thanks to a newfound addiction to the Japanese reseller Brandear). Thus my collection has changed quite drastically in the last year (and I’ll need to do another bag collection ranking post soon, in the meantime here’s one from 2022). So amongst all the bags in my collection, which one did I use the most? Here are my top five, from least to most used (and yes I track which bags get used in my StyleBook app for the utmost accuracy 🤓):
5) Vintage Hermes Garden Party 30 in Havane Swift (8 days so far)
Ok eight days doesn’t seem like a lot, but it’s enough to put this Hermes Garden Party 30 in fifth place (which is pretty good considering I just got this bag). This Garden Party is currently one of my favorites. It’s from 2004 and looks amazing for being 20 years old. I love the smooth Swift leather (delicate? perhaps), and the silk interior lining (definitely delicate). I’ve seen this exact same bag in a much poorer state (the silk lining was seperated from the snaps and the corners of the bag were super scuffed up), so I treat my bag with care. That means I mostly use it when I’m child-free. I have spilled water on it and the leather darkened at the time, but I wiped it away quickly and there were no water marks. Anyway this bag fits the essentials plus some, but unfortunately can only be hand carried or hung on the crook of my arm like the Birkin 30 (and like the Birkin there’s two very comfy rolled handles). Honestly I don’t think I’m much of a Birkin gal, but rather a Garden Partier 😂. I like that it’s more subtle, lighter in weight, cheaper, easier to get, and yet pretty much the same size (and I’m assuming capacity, but please correct me if you have both). Also the snaps of the Garden Party can open to accommodate even more things (though I wouldn’t load mine up because of the silk lining and Swift leather—I think the current canvas or negonda versions are much more durable and can handle heavier loads). So I wouldn’t consider it the most useful bag (hand carry and no heavy loads), however it’s definitely the most beautiful and wonderful to touch (I seriously just run my hand across it randomly while it sits on the shelf lol). Of course full review to come after I’ve worn it a couple more months.
4) Small Loewe Puzzle Bag in Black Classic Calfskin (10 days)
This small Puzzle bag is actually my most used bag of all time (112 times and counting), but in the last six months, I’ve only carried it ten times. But this is hands-down my go-to bag when traveling. It’s discreet, easy-to-carry, super durable, and quite secure when all zipped up. My mom, who’s not into bags at all even said that this was a “nice bag” (which is the utmost compliment for one of my designer bags, all of which she considers a waste of money lol). Honestly this bag is one of my forever bags (a bag which I’ll never sell), and that’s pretty rare in my collection. And even though this is my most used bag, it looks just as good as the day I got it (maybe better actually because it now has a beautiful slouch to it). If you’ve ever waffled on the small Puzzle bag, I say go for it because it’s one handy bag. You can read my full review of the Loewe Puzzle bag here.
3) Vintage Hermes Vespa PM in Buffle Leather (10 days)
This was the bag that made me fall in love with Hermes all over again (after I fell out of love with the brand after my Evelyne PM). I just reviewed the Hermes Vespa bag here so I won’t keep going on about it. But funny that an obscure vintage bag in an uncommon leather would be the bag that fuels my current Hermes obsession.
2) Small Loewe Puzzle Bag in Sand and Mink Pebbled Calfskin (35 days)
Even though the black Puzzle is my most used overall, this one is probably my most used in the last six months since this is the bag I reach for when it’s raining. I’ve had no issues with just wiping the water off (while my black one in smooth leather definitely got some water damage after a trip to Portland though you can’t see it because its black—but the leather feels like it absorbed the water and got softer). Anyway, after my black one got rained on, I decided to try the more durable pebbled leather version of my favorite bag. I rarely buy duplicates, but for the Puzzle bag it’s worth it. I especially love that I now have one dark and one light-colored Puzzle, so really I’m set for life lol.
1) Medium The Row Park Tote in Cognac (53 days)
This bag was basically part of my daily uniform for the first half of this year. It’s my go-to since I can be hands-free and it’s also so easy to just throw things in. And it’s beautiful, lovely to touch, and goes with anything (especially with my very neutral wardrobe). Honestly I’ve had a lot of medium Park Totes rotate through my collection. But this one is hands-down my favorite, and I think it’s because of the color. Or maybe it’s the fact that I got it brand new and so it’s only been mine from the very start. As I mentioned in my Park Tote review, because these bags are made with gorgeous but malleable leather, the bags start to develop their own characteristics as they’re worn (or in some cases stored). So it could mean a little bit of a wonky handle or some concaving in the corners. And that’s not a bad thing, it’s just that they develop their own uniqueness and “aji” (which means flavor in Japanese). It’s a sign of the bag being used and loved, and well it’s nice to be able to put my own imprint on a bag that I love so much. And so far the bag is in excellent condition. I don’t baby my bags when I wear them and even after using this bag 53 times (and counting) I don’t have any corner wear. There is some darkening around the corners, which is hard to see because the bag is a darkish color. But my corners have yet to concave because whenever I’m not using the bag I stuff it with bubble wrap and try to store it laying on its side (a bit of a hassle, yes, but anything to extend the longevity of my most used bag).
And those were my top five most used bags for the first half of 2024! What did you think? If you have any of these bags, were they part of your top five too?