Fashion expert warns everyone to skip this viral designer tote bag worth Rs 3.5 lakh, no matter how rich you are!

Every individual in the system works hard to upgrade their lifestyle over time, which also includes purchases from top-notch designers and luxurious international labels. It becomes a smart investment and also a status symbol for some. However, some releases by big labels feature items with no real taste or functionality but ride high on the price point. This is where one needs to set a standard and choose whether to invest. According to Olga Vilkova, an online luxury fashion advisor and the founder of the fashion recommendations platform Threads and Tribulations, one viral luxury tote bag should be avoided because it isn’t worth the investment. Curious, right? Olga spoke about the popular Goyard Saint Louis tote bag, which failed to live up to the hype soon after its release but still circulates online. She says in her video that the purchase might feel electric at first, with the print and iconic design representing luxury, but: “It's more exclusive than, say, a Louis Vuitton Neverfull, and you convince yourself that it's a good purchase because the data backs it up. Goyard was the top bag brand for resale value in 2024, even beating Hermes; the St Louis was reselling for 112% of its value in 2023. So, of course, your brain is probably thinking, "See, I told you it was a good investment."Calling it a regular tote bagShe says, “You realise that your magical tote is just a canvas bag with zero structure or organisation. Everything falls to the bottom like a black hole.” The look is beneath the luxury label, making it an ordinary canvas bag without structure or real sense—it lacks magic. Losing exclusivityWith easy dupes available in the market, branded luxury bags have already lost their charm. She argues, “Plus, searches for this bag surged 57 per cent last year, which means everyone and your mother has one, or more likely, they have the dupe.”The quality situationShe emphasises the fact, saying, “Then you get into the quality complaints where handles literally melt in hot weather, the canvas cracks after barely any use, and it literally starts looking like a fancy grocery bag. You're so much better off buying a good-quality leather tote instead of the $4,000 plastic bag.” Many people have reported that canvas cracking is a common thing witnessed in original luxury bags, as they cannot handle the hot weather in some areas. About the Goyard Saint Louis toteThe Goyard ‘Saint Louis’ Tote Bag belongs to the French luxury house Goyard and is crafted from the brand’s signature Goyardine canvas, which is lightweight and features coated cotton-linen fabric with a chevron pattern. It features leather handles with an unlined reversible design that lets you wear it inside out. This piece was originally conceived as a functional carryall and is a prized understated luxury. However, over time, it has lost its charm due to the rise in market dupes, which steals its exclusivity. So, will you dare to invest in this $4000 bag, which is around Rs 3.5 lakh?