Can an expensive bag help in getting a better job, more favorable business offers, successful networking, status, or respect? Having worked in the luxury sector for many years, I can confidently assert that indeed it does! Every day I witness “the magic of bags” – how luxury brands such as Dior, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Hermes open countless doors for our clients in business, entertainment, and social interactions. Many of my clients buy expensive bags as a strategic investment in their future.
Let me share a couple of examples from my experience. After a shopping trip followed by coffee with a very affluent client, she admitted that she had discontinued her sessions with a psychologist due to his choice of an inexpensive bag. She reasoned that she couldn’t take advice from someone who “can’t buy a good bag.” While acknowledging that one can be a professional and carry a less expensive bag, she found it impossible to continue the therapy with this particular psychologist. Similar instances have occurred repeatedly in my practice.
Embed from Getty ImagesFor similar reasons, several clients have declined to work with business coaches whose bags were notably cheaper than their own. “Kate,” they would ask, “how can I accept business advice from someone who wears inexpensive items? Do they lack funds?”
I’ve advised many of my clients to invest in their first Chanel, Dior, or Louis Vuitton bag. Initially, they saw no point in spending exorbitant amounts on a single item. Now, these bags are referred to as “negotiation bags” – stylish outfit paired with an expensive bag can significantly enhance one’s negotiating power and start business discussions from a more advantageous position.
Moreover, professor Langer of a Prominent Business School has been conducting research since 2007. He presents focus groups in Europe, Asia, and the US with photo portraits of people and asks them to answer sixty questions. The results are consistently clear: individuals depicted with luxury bags are perceived as more attractive, intelligent, interesting, and successful. Their professional fees are also estimated to be higher simply because they carry a Dior or Chanel bag.
However, it’s important to note that the rest of the outfit should complement the bag – it doesn’t necessarily have to be designer brands like Gucci or Versace, but the quality, cut, fit, and style should convey an air of expense. This way, no one would suspect that a chic cashmere sweater is from Zara’s premium line rather than Loro Piana.
Expensive bags have long served as a symbol of belonging to certain elite level. Therefore, for me personally, the question “Why do women buy expensive bags?” is quite understandable – they are not just purchasing an accessory; they are investing in a key to a new level of communication, relationships, and business opportunities.
Have you observed this phenomenon?
