So you’ve treated yourself to that gorgeous designer handbag, or a stunning piece of fine jewelry that you’ve been coveting. With this comes the responsibility of properly taking care of these and there are a few things to keep in mind when taking care of your luxury items.
Let’s start with handbags!
We’ve all been guilty of neglecting our handbags from time to time, but it’s important to not make a habit out of it. You want your designer bag to be in the best condition for as long as possible.
A few tips for handbag upkeep
A dust bag is the most logical tip, be sure to always store your bag in a dust bag.
If your handbag has a handle, avoid hanging this as it may contort its shape, and no one wants a misshaped bag!
Avoid storing your bag where there’s direct sunlight as this can cause discoloration.
Embrace its beauty as you wear it: over time, the leather of your bag will soften which will cause its shape to slightly change.
Now let’s talk about jewelry
When investing in fine jewelry, you expect that this will last a lifetime but with frequent wear, improper storage, or cleaning incorrectly things can go wrong really quick.
Properly caring for your jewelry looks like
Keep in mind, each piece is unique: diamonds have their own cleaning techniques, as do gemstones and so on, so identify which cleaning technique is the most suitable depending on the type of jewelry.
For necklaces: store in a dry space, exposure to moisture and air are no no’s for necklaces.
Wear carefully: sounds like a no-brainer but we often overlook this in our busy lives. A simple rule to remember: always put jewelry last, and take off first.
Jewelry insurance might be a good idea if it’s a big investment.
Designer Shoes
Ah shoes, one of the designer items that usually gets the most wear. With designer shoes you will have to be extra careful as these can easily get damaged.
First tip is to store them in a clean dry space, preferably in their dust bag
Inspect your shoes over time, just as you would with your car. The exterior and/or soles can get worn out so it would be good to have a “shoe doctor” in your contact list.
Use “shoe trees” to preserve its shape (misshaped or creased shoes are a big fashion don’t)
Keep the weather in mind. Depending on the weather, shoes can get moldy, dry or even crack so best to learn about proper storage depending on your location.
