At Madison Boutique, Handbag Heaven Awaits

Luxe designer brands and personal service take center stage at Opulent Habits.

A myriad of new and gently used investment-worthy designer handbags are available at Opulent Habits’ charming appointment-only showroom. Photo courtesy of Richard Tracy

One step inside Opulent Habits’ 2,000-square-foot showroom in Madison will make any luxury-bag lover weak in the knees. Hermès, Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Gucci boldly line the pristine glass shelves. More Birkins and Boy Bags than you’ll find anywhere else surround you. This is where barely or never-used designer handbags come in search of new homes. New pieces arrive daily from all over the country.

Springfield resident Darcy Ginsberg Parnes launched this elegant consignment boutique in 2013. A new mother at the time, she was looking for a flexible business to run. After a year, she realized the concept was worthy of a full-time endeavor. “My own purse passion was the inspiration for Opulent Habits, and still is,” she says.

Opulent Habits has grown to an impressive 60,000-plus followers on Instagram (@opulenthabits), where you can stalk your latest obsession through daily posts. In the by-appointment-only showroom, clients receive uninterrupted, one-on-one service. It’s a hands-on experience with the opportunity to inspect and try out the bags—something you can’t do with the national online consignment sites.

Photo courtesy of Richard Tracy

Selection is another benefit. “The iconic Birkin bag that you see on celebrities worldwide is almost impossible to buy unless you are a regular Hermès customer,” says Ginsberg Parnes. “Even then, there can be a yearlong wait, with some of the most popular colors unavailable. For us, we always have multiple options—in various colors and sizes—on display with zero wait time.”

Not sure which Chanel should be your first? No worries. Ginsberg Parnes will help you choose the right design, leather and color for your lifestyle—and educate you on which purses are the best investments.

Opulent Habits can also track down almost any bag you’ve been dreaming of, thanks to Ginsberg Parnes’s network of collectors and connoisseurs.

“One of the most requested personal-shopping pieces is the Chanel So Black Jumbo Classic Flap Bag with matte-black hardware,” she says.

Best of all, if you have your eye on a bag, you can clean out your own closet and consign for money or a handbag upgrade to help finance your new gem. Now that’s a win-win.

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