'I bought three designer bags in a year. Technically, they only cost me a few hundred dollars.'

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Let me set the scene. 

You spot a Fendi baguette. Your heart races. It's sleek, iconic, practically calling your name.

But you're a practical woman (sort of), so your inner monologue kicks in. Do I need it? How often will I wear it? Will it hold its value?

I've found a way around this predicament that's allowed me to buy multiple designer bags a year, and only end up a few hundred dollars out of pocket (in the end).

Let me explain.

Each time I buy a second-hand luxury piece, I do the maths. A special kind of girl math. 

What does this involve, you ask? 

What I paid, what it's worth now, and what I could sell it for later. 

Most of the time, the difference is so small it feels like I've borrowed a Fendi or Chanel for a year — then sold it back to myself.

Image: Supplied.

I call this little system my 'Justification Index.'

It started as a way to talk myself into a purchase ("it's basically free, if I sell it later," etc.), but it's turned into a full-blown financial litmus test for my wardrobe.

Because here's the truth: thanks to a booming resale market (accessible on platforms like High End), dressing designer doesn't have to mean big holes in your savings. In fact, I'd argue it's one of the smartest ways to buy fashion right now.

Think of it as part spreadsheet, part love letter to beautiful things. This isn't just about shopping — it's about strategy.

Why luxury fashion isn't "just stuff" anymore.

There's a new wave of women (hi) treating their wardrobes like investment portfolios, and it makes sense. The luxury resale market is booming, and resale platforms are turning handbags into liquid assets.

Just like buying shares used to mean going through a broker, access to authentic designer goods was once only for the privileged few. Now, verified marketplaces make authenticated pieces accessible to anyone with a tap — and confidence that what they're buying is real.

From Chanel to Prada, savvy shoppers aren't just buying to wear. They're buying with intention.

For example, over 12 months your total spend on designer handbags might be around $5,700, but then you could just as easily sell them and recoup nearly the same or slightly less, leaving just a few hundred dollars difference. And have Fendi, Chanel and Prada in your rotation.

My four-point 'Justification Index'.

Before I buy, I run the numbers:

• Retail price: What it costs brand new.

• Second-hand purchase price: What I actually pay (resale is often 50–70% off).

• Estimated resale value: What I could sell it for later, assuming I keep it in the same condition — this is the true cost of ownership.

• Cost per wear: True cost of ownership ÷ how often I'll use it.

Now, about that Fendi Baguette. 

Image: Supplied.

Here's a case study of buying a Fendi Baguette bag on High End:

Retail: $5,000

I paid: $2,500 (50% off — tick)

Estimated future resale: $2,400

True cost of ownership: $100

Worn: ~10 times per month (my new go-to)

Cost per wear: $0.83. Cheaper than coffee.

I don't think of designer handbags as just accessories, I think of them as liquid capital that's wearable, expressive and unique to you.

They go with you to girls night, date night and sometimes enter the room before you do.

My out-of-pocket this year is about $300 and I'm okay with that, because I think that the feeling these bags give me by complementing my style is greater than that. 

Fashion with ROI (and emotional value).

Image: Supplied.

This isn't only about dollars and cents. There's something deeply satisfying about curating a wardrobe of iconic, well-crafted pieces that last and are uniquely you.

Vintage and second-hand fashion is having a moment — not just because it's sustainable (it absolutely is), but because it's meaningful. These aren't impulse buys. They're curated items that carry memory, heritage and resale value.

Like a good share portfolio, my wardrobe evolves — sometimes I sell, sometimes I hold. Thanks to resale platforms, I'm confident everything I buy is authenticated and genuinely fabulous.

The final word from a fashionable investor.

If you've ever questioned a second-hand splurge, you might not be reckless — you could be an investor in disguise.

Next time you spot the perfect piece, pull out your Justification Index. Ask the right questions. Do the maths. If the numbers add up? Consider it a wise move.

Because when fashion meets ROI, everyone wins.

Featured image: Supplied.