Leather bags, and How to pick the right luxe leather bag, what to consider before investing.

Before becoming a full-time fashion and lifestyle blogger, I had a successful career in luxury retail. I worked in luxury retail for over 18 years and made product knowledge of the goods I sold a priority. After having a conversation with a friend about what to look for when selecting a luxury bag, it was clear to me that a lot of people didn’t know what to look for when investing. That conversation, and another with the fabulous Blogvin team became the push that I needed to create Material Girl by Monica. The Material Girl series will highlight fabrics, hardware, price-points etc. basically everything you need to know when spending money on an item. These tips will help you make the right decision, and help you determine if you want luxury, investment or both.

HOW TO SELECT THE RIGHT LEATHER FOR YUR LUXE BAG

If you are in the market for a leather bag, there are a few things you need to consider before investing. Is this a fun bag, is it for work, is it just to complete an outfit? In my opinion every girl NEEDS at least one luxe bag in their wardrobe. Before you make that vital wardrobe decision, you must ask yourself 2 important questions; are you buying for luxe or investment. There are several leathers (skins) used to make handbags, however Cowhide and Calf skin are the most commonly used. Both leathers can be manipulated, however there are certain characteristics of the leathers that make them unique and desirable. So lets get into the details so you can make that next purchase now!

COWHIDE AND GOAT SKIN

Cowhide leather is usually a by-product from cows. In it’s more natural state it appears grainy, and is also called pebble grain leather. The pebbled texture of the skin makes it durable, masking scratches and marks. The leather is also thick, which adds to its durability. Cowhide can also be manipulated to have a smooth luxrious finished, but even with the smooth finish the leather still feels hard to the touch. Bags in cowhide are perfect for everyday wear or if you are hard on your bags. Goat skin is very similar to cowhide, and share most characteristics. The true difference between the two skins is that goat is suppler and softer because of the presence of lanolin in the leather.

Pros

durable
long lasting
holds structure longer
scratches are not obvious on the pebble-grain finish

Cons

very heavy
hard to the touch

CALF SKIN

Calfskin is the skin from a calf (young cow). Calf skin is a bi-product of the calf. The pores of the skin are smaller, hence it appears smooth, and soft to the touch. calf skin is also delicate, and truly a luxurious leather. The beauty of this skin is that you get the butter look of lambskin and the durability of cowhide. Because of its fine surface it is not ideal for an everyday bag. If you have a lot of bags and want to add it to your collection, go for it. If you want a bag that is durable and can withstand the beating of everyday work life then this skin is not for you.

Pros

Soft to the touch
lighter weight
luxurious
delicate

Cons

delicate
scratches are more visible
looses its structure faster

LAMB SKIN VS. CALF SKIN

Like calf skin, lamb skin, is soft to the touch. Because of the lamb’s delicate nature it is harder to manipulate the skin, hence you don’t see a lot of variations in terms of the finishing of the skin. Lamb skin is luxury and is usually only used for clothing. The difference is that calf skin is tougher and better for handbags.

SHOP MY FAVORITE CALF & LAMB SKIN BAGS

SHOP MY FAVORITE COWHIDE SKIN BAGS

So will your next bag be cowhide or calf skin? Both skins are fabulous, however as long as you understand how they wear you will be able to pick the skin that works best for you.