A Guide to Snagging Bargains at Shinsegae Department Store in Korea: How to Buy Bags Most Cost-Effectively

A while ago, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies started working from home. I obediently stayed at home for over two months, and finally got news that the situation was improving. I hadn't gone shopping for so long, so when conditions allowed, I went to Shinsegae Department Store in Korea with a close friend I hadn't seen in a while. Since I live near Myeongdong, I went straight to the Shinsegae Department Store Myeongdong branch. Seeing so many beautiful bags instantly lifted my spirits.

Speaking of Myeongdong, many of you must be quite familiar with it. There's a mature shopping street there with everything you could want for eating, drinking, and having fun, and the transportation is very convenient. Many tourists come here to check in, and it's also my first choice for日常 shopping. But if I want to buy big brands or high-quality goods, I still recommend going to Shinsegae Department Store in Korea. Whenever holidays come around and I need to buy big items for the house or gifts, I go there because it's more reliable.

This time, what I wanted to buy was a gift for my younger sister, so I had to spend some serious money on something good, after all, my sister really earned it. This year, because of the pandemic, her college entrance exam was postponed from June to July, turning her exam preparation into an 'overtime game,' but she wasn't affected at all and successfully got into her dream school. Our whole family is very proud of her. As her older sister, I naturally wanted to give her a nice gift to celebrate her transition from high school to college—a coming-of-age gift.

At first, I was struggling with what to buy. While hesitating, I caught sight of this mannequin at the MCM store entrance, and my eyes lit up immediately. The small bag on the mannequin had bright colors and a generous design, which would definitely suit my sister.

When I went inside and asked, I felt like I had a lucky charm—MCM was having a Double Eleven discount event, and the discounts were quite significant, with most items at 30% off. The店员 said the promotion would last until January next year, and I happened to catch it. So happy! If any of you like MCM bags, you can also come during this event. Many popular models are included in the discount, making it a great opportunity to buy.

For example, the crossbody bag that caught my eye at first is a great deal now. Its original price was 815,000 Korean won, and after the discount, it's just over 570,000 Korean won (to convert to Chinese yuan, divide the Korean won price by 163). It belongs to MCM's Millie series, one of their most classic chain bags. The bag itself isn't large, but the internal structure is very well-designed. There's also a pocket on the outside, perfect for cosmetics and small items. The overall lines are very smooth, and the color contrast between the body and the front flap creates a strong visual impact. The brand logo printed on the surface and the metal laurel leaf buckle enhance the overall texture. It would be very suitable for daily shopping or gatherings.

Although I really liked this small chain bag, you always have to look around more and choose carefully.

So, adhering to the principle of 'practicality first,' I also took a fancy to this Essential Visetos Original crossbody bag. Its original price was 760,000 Korean won, and now it's 532,000. Besides being affordable, it's a bit larger than the Millie bag, and the color tone is calm and elegant, versatile and dirt-resistant. The overall shape looks very simple, but the buckle details have a touch of design, which might be a good choice for a college student.

But my bestie thought this bag looked too mature and picked out a Patricia Visetos backpack for me. She really has a sharp eye—she chose the most expensive one. The original price was 1.25 million won, and after the discount, it's about 875,000 won. Luckily, it's in Korean won, haha.

But the quality of this bag justifies its price. It uses trendy elements like color blocking and rivets, and the body lines are round and cute, similar to the popular piggy bag. The materials and craftsmanship are also exquisite, with cowhide leather and Italian manufacturing, fitting the affordable luxury brand positioning.

While I was pondering and couldn't decide, a staff member came over and asked about my needs. Knowing that I wanted to give a gift to my sister, she recommended their best-selling Stark backpack. This is a bag full of youthful campus vibes. Backpacks always make you dream of your student days. But the decorations on the bag are very trendy. The cream-colored surface makes the dark brand logo print stand out more. The gold rivets on the sides of the bag add a tough, rebellious street style to the overall look. The capacity of this bag is the largest among the four I looked at, and it seems it could easily hold some books and stationery.

So in the end, I decided to follow the staff's advice and bought this Stark backpack for 626,500 Korean won after the 30% discount. For a college student's bag, this price is quite reasonable. I hope my sister will feel my love when she receives it.

After scoring my satisfying loot, I went with my bestie to the food court on the basement floor of Shinsegae Department Store in Korea for a hearty meal, finally putting a perfect end to today's shopping spree.