How PurseBlog Sources Handbags: Editorial Samples, Gifts, and Full Transparency

Where Do the Bags on PurseBlog Come From?

The internet can sometimes feel like a maze of undisclosed freebies and pay-for-play arrangements. We want our process to be easy to understand: if a handbag is on PurseBlog, there is a straightforward reason it is there, and we aim to disclose that reason clearly.

The second most common type of bag you will encounter is an editorial sample. Brands send these to us for a trial period—we photograph them, use them, and then return them. In these cases, a brand sends us a bag for a limited period so we can photograph it, carry it, and evaluate it before returning it. This borrowing system is the same one magazines like Vogue have used for decades to style editorial shoots. These posts are never sponsored unless clearly marked; we do them to give you a real-world look at bags you might be considering. It allows us to show you the bag in real life rather than relying on polished campaign imagery alone.

The third category is bags we personally own. We either bought them ourselves, or a brand gave them to us as a gift. Some were purchased by us, while others were given to us as gifts.

How Much Free Stuff Do We Actually Receive?

It is probably either more or less than you imagine, depending on your assumptions about how freely luxury handbags are given to editors and influencers. That distinction matters, and we try to make it obvious to readers rather than burying it in fine print. We receive those only occasionally, usually from friends in PR, because we do not focus heavily on beauty coverage. When we do write about beauty, we have almost always purchased it ourselves. In our case, it may be more or less than you expect, depending on how you picture the relationship between editors, brands, and public relations teams.

When it comes to handbags, the biggest names rarely give us anything—they do not need to. Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Céline, and Hermès have never sent us a bag. Many of the major luxury houses do not routinely send us bags, and in some cases they never do. Hermès, as far as I know, does not give freebies to anyone. If you see a major brand’s bag on PurseBlog, it was either purchased or loaned as a sample. We also receive items from smaller or newer brands that hope to be included in our coverage.

We do receive a fair number of bags from emerging or smaller brands hoping to get on our radar. We only accept offers for items that genuinely catch our eye and that we think we will actually use. Occasionally something arrives unsolicited, and sometimes that unsolicited piece turns out to be a standout. Some PR firms manage to find our shipping addresses even though we do not share them freely. Occasionally, we receive unsolicited packages, and sometimes we end up loving what arrives.

Do We Ever Guarantee Coverage for Free Bags?

If we do write about something that was gifted or loaned, we disclose that clearly. We only share our enthusiasm for gifted items when we genuinely love them enough that the potential appearance of impropriety is worth it. We know readers are tired of feeling like everyone is pushing the same products at the same time for undisclosed reasons. For that reason, we only share enthusiasm when it is genuine.

Because disclosure norms in online media are still evolving—and because traditional publishing has been so opaque for so long—we understand why readers are cautious. But when we say we like something, we truly mean it. Transparency is the standard we hold ourselves to, especially in a category where disclosure practices have not always been consistent.

We use affiliate links throughout our site to refer readers to third-party retailers and sometimes to brands. If you click one of those links and make a purchase, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. When we use them, they may direct readers to retailers or, in some cases, to brands. (For example, we cannot use affiliate links for new Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Céline, or Hermès bags—and we cover those four brands more than almost any others.

A Note from Megs

These links are a normal part of fashion publishing and do not determine what we choose to cover. I believe the best way to maintain trust with you is to be completely transparent about which bags I own and how I got them. The majority of my bags I purchased myself—not at a special discount and not as gifts. I believe readers should know whether a bag was purchased, gifted, or loaned, because that context helps frame the review and keeps the relationship between editor and brand clear.

We Want to Hear from You

If you have feedback on how we handle disclosures or what kind of transparency you would like to see in the future, please let us know in the comments. We are all ears.

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