Five perfect handbags

[djfmn]

Originally Posted by TropicalGal

Can you tell us what your 6 perfect bags are? Thanks!

BE Petrol Adore Me - my Hobo
BE Hug Me in Black Crash
BE Hug Me in Gold Chocolate Crash
BE Black LM Mini (my first BE)
BE Chocolate Matte LMM
BE Wine MMS

I have seriously thought about getting a clutch and after your comment everyone needs a clutch I am rethinking that. I am also considering selling my chocolate matte LM Midi as I hard ever use it. I seem to always use my chocolate Hug Me. I think if I sell my Chocolate LMM I will replace it with a clutch.

[TropicalGal]

^^^^Very nice!

[Pradameinhofgang]

Wow! i am so impressed..... wish i could do this but that would require a lot of self-discipline and ebaying...my problem is my perfect 5 bags style-wise don't match the day-to-day reality of being a mum with 2 small kids, so my current favourite top 4 bags in my collection are:
- Hermes vermillion birkin 30 w. palladium hW
- Hemes garden Party GM w twilly lining
- Hermes rouge box kelly 32, gold HW (notice a theme here....)
- Hermes black box kelly 32, gold HW (notice a theme here....)

problem is... my bags have to deal with daily onslaughts of 2 small kids, trips to coffee shops and local parks, and being out in most weathers... so what i actually use are my BE bags and IGNES. Anyone else have this problem????

ooh, but picking 6 BE bags is hard - I love them all! I suppose i'd choose by colours - ie, black, a neutral like taupe or grey glossy, a bright, a summer pale like Bone and finally a metallic or crash. as for styles though i'm stumped!

[TropicalGal]

^^^Wow...you have some serious handbags...can't imagine using them with kids. Just let your kids grow up, and then you'll use your Hermes to your heart's content.

What I do love, is that after your Hermes...BE is close to your heart! That is tres cool.

I got the idea to pare down from a tpf friend, who sold about 20 bags and now uses THREE! Yes, three! She has: Hermes Birkin, Hermes Picotin, and LV Epi Speedy. She says that these three cover her needs totally. She has a 3 year old daughter. Uses the Epi Speedy for rainy weather. Uses the Picotin for outings to the park with her daughter. Uses the Birkin at all other times.

[Euridice]

So, TG, you are able to use the same bags year-round? Do you actually like to use clutches? Because the white clutch me seems also a perfect classic (if I am remembering correctly that you have that one), and doesn't take up a lot of space. And, I can't imagine you not having your fuchsia hold me!! Does that count on your list of 5, or is that an extra specific for beach-toting?

pradameinhof, I think your Hermes will gladly and patiently wait until you are ready to work them into your lifestyle---they are such classics that you will still love the same later on!!

[TejasMama]

This is an extremely cool thread, and it has really gotten me thinking about what I own. I have three kids, lots of sports for said munchkins, a small business and healthy daily does of chaos. Based upon my current lifetyle, I'd have to say that my five perfect handbags are currently:

• BE Love Me Midi--Dark Grey-Perfect Everyday Bag
• Coach Parker Hippie in Cinnamon--perfect shoulder and crossbody bag for taking kids out and about
• BE Hold Me--Choco Matte--Love it as a daytrip bag and to haul my planner and journals
• Cole Haan Black Pebbled Lunch Tote--a great everday bag that could go from day to night
• BE Petrol MMS Midi--Love this bag for color and style--a perfect alternative for carrying my things (and a few kid items)

I still think I need to add my Dark Grey LM as the ultimate travel/road warrior bag. I also often use a wristlet or swingpack for little outings but those can go inside my larger bag.

TG,

I admire your friend that has scaled down to three. Maybe when my kids are older, I would be able to do that. I love the idea, but my reality seems a bit messy still for me to pull that kind of discipline off properly!

[TropicalGal]

Originally Posted by Euridice

So, TG, you are able to use the same bags year-round? Do you actually like to use clutches? Because the white clutch me seems also a perfect classic (if I am remembering correctly that you have that one), and doesn't take up a lot of space. And, I can't imagine you not having your fuchsia hold me!! Does that count on your list of 5, or is that an extra specific for beach-toting?!

Hi! Thing is...now I've made my list and I have to sell off a bunch of bags -- like fuschia hold me, and plum crash tme, plus a whole lot of mulberrys... But I am determined to get to five bags in my closet. I might use the fuschia hold me until it gets ratty looking. Or, maybe I'll call it a beach tote, and take it out of the five bag count. lol.

I am able to use the same bags all year round. I currently have 3 clutch mes, and...have to sell two -- which means the white and the red. But then again...they take up so little room...? So, maybe I can keep...? Am I cheating here? I LOVE taking a clutch to the movies, and to dinner. I HATE having a huge handbag at a party, or in the movies, or in a restaurant.

I just think a clutch really polishes off your outfit. Otherwise, you have a nice outfit on, and you have a lunky handbag and it just throws everything off. POLISH is the key word. Not to mention that you look cool and in control.

[Loquita]

Originally Posted by TropicalGal

Hi! Thing is...now I've made my list and I have to sell off a bunch of bags -- like fuschia hold me, and plum crash tme, plus a whole lot of mulberrys... But I am determined to get to five bags in my closet. I might use the fuschia hold me until it gets ratty looking. Or, maybe I'll call it a beach tote, and take it out of the five bag count. lol. I am able to use the same bags all year round. I currently have 3 clutch mes, and...have to sell two -- which means the white and the red. But then again...they take up so little room...? So, maybe I can keep...? Am I cheating here? I LOVE taking a clutch to the movies, and to dinner. I HATE having a huge handbag at a party, or in the movies, or in a restaurant. I just think a clutch really polishes off your outfit. Otherwise, you have a nice outfit on, and you have a lunky handbag and it just throws everything off. POLISH is the key word. Not to mention that you look cool and in control.

It is very fun to have less bags in some ways...I have 6 at the moment (all BEs at this point, though I have some accessories from other brands) and really enjoy them. (Though I do have some BEs on order!!!) It feels wonderful to figure out what works for you and go with that. I for example think that BE's choco matte and tan are gorgeous, but I know that if I buy a brown bag I won't wear it. Knowing yourself better is fantastic when it comes to handbags (and everything else!)

The bespoke process actually makes me be more thoughtful about my purchases. I love it.

[msterling]

Originally Posted by TropicalGal

I currently have 3 clutch mes, and...have to sell two -- which means the white and the red. But then again...they take up so little room...? So, maybe I can keep...? Am I cheating here? I LOVE taking a clutch to the movies, and to dinner. I HATE having a huge handbag at a party, or in the movies, or in a restaurant.

It sounds like you really love the clutches and use them frequently. If that is the case, why not keep all three of them? The different colors are suited to different occasions, you're not spending money to keep them, and they don't take up a lot of space. I understand wanting to have a small number of handbags, but I wouldn't give up bags that I use frequently just to get to a specific number.

[Cornflower Blue]

I'd be tempted to put Clutch Mes, Kiss Mes, FWMs and APs into a 'small leather accessories' category, thereby taking them out of the equation altogether...

[Tanja]

That's a great decision which I really admire. I did downsize to 7 bags last year but it didn't last very long and now I've 10 again but that's my limit otherwise I feel to guilty.
But I just bought one bag this year and that's very good for me.
I love your choices and I agree that a hobo would be nice e.g. The Enchant Me or a BV ball bag in ebano or noce would compliment your collection.

[djfmn]

I have taken this thread to heart and am selling one bag so that I will now have 5 perfect bags. I decided to sell the do not discuss the bag you wish to sell. as I am not using it that much and all it does is sit in the closet collect dust. Instead of it not being used at all I have decided it should go to someone who will get some enjoyment using it. So I decided to put it on the *bay for a really good price so that someone will get a great bag and take it out and use it more than I did. Had I not read this posting by TG it would probably have stayed in the closet and I would have done nothing about it. This post got me motivated to pare down my collection to 5 perfect bags - thanks TG.

[lovebags2]

Originally Posted by djfmn

I have taken this thread to heart and am selling one bag so that I will now have 5 perfect bags. I decided to sell the chocolate Matte Love Me Midi as I am not using it that much and all it does is sit in the closet collect dust. Instead of it not being used at all I have decided it should go to someone who will get some enjoyment using it. So I decided to put it on the *bay for a really good price so that someone will get a great bag and take it out and use it more than I did. Had I not read this posting by TG it would probably have stayed in the closet and I would have done nothing about it. This post got me motivated to pare down my collection to 5 perfect bags - thanks TG.

I think that's a great decision.

TG has been a wonderful inspiration for all of us here!

[TejasMama]

TG,

I think that it seems you get a great deal of enjoyment from your clutches, so I don't think you should sell those. I agree with CB that they should go in the 'accessory' department. It sounds like you've got this process well under control!

[Euridice]

I agree you should hold onto the clutches, or at least the black and white. Maybe count two clutches as one handbag. this is because you seem to love them and use them. If you just have a few clutches on hand just in case, then pare down to one perfect clutch.

I also think you should hold onto the hold me in fuchsia hold me since I just remember how much joy it seemed to bring. It could count as a 5th, and remove the clutches and keep in your accessory pile. I am not trying to get you to break the 5 rule, but just have wonderful items you love while you are doing it!!!