2017 resolution - shopping my own bag and wallet collection. Any one else?

[ksuromax]

KS,

Yes life is short buy the bag especially if you have been looking at it. I try to be mindful and stick to my list and when item comes along for right price I get it. Can't wait to see your new goodies

I am still trying to be mindful and committed to my CONTROLLED AND PLANNED purchases.....
i am going to sleep with the idea, chew it and digest.
If in 2-3 days i still feel like THIS IS IT!!! And the bag doesn't get sold, then, it's meant to be.....

 

[dcooney4]

It does have to be the right bag.

It's just that the brands I'm looking at, I don't see them as worth their retail price. They shoot down in value the moment you buy them.

Like they aren't the classic, staple item, and their resale reflect that. So considering how fickle I am, I let go of things that are cheap real easily and if this pre loved bag brand im looking at is going to be a pain later on to offload, it makes me hesitate.



Even bargain bags don't have longevity in my closet. I end up wanting to get rid of them. To me it's disposable. I should stay away. I don't know why I look.



I'm open to buying pre loved but perhaps because it doesn't have value to me I don't keep them that long.


And I see some pretty ones. But I just don't see myself loving them as much as I do my brand new ones.

But then there's bags I won't buy new. Lol

For pre loved there should be a significant price difference. For me, it has to be $500+ cheaper than original price, even for older bags. Otherwise, I'll buy brand new.



It's the Damier Azure with pink graffiti flowers.
And it's pink inside.



It's not about it being used, funny enough. As a microbiologist, germs and age of an item don't bother me.

It's just that below a certain price threshold, I find the bag to be pretty much disposable. This goes for bargain bags and for pre loved. They're so cheap that I don't even consider them to be a keeper almost. Like use it, enjoy it, move to the next one.

Remember how I bought that cheap Dooney? Guess what? I want to sell it off for something else. I should've just bought the Noe, I would keep that.

Same with all my contemporary bags. They're gone because it's on to the next one they roll out.

I moved to premiere bags because I enjoy longevity. I enjoy the lasting style they have. I won't lie either, I enjoy the VIC status I have.

So it's not the item itself it seems, but the idea of how cheap and disposable they are.


You all can call me what you want, I just can't get myself to be with a preloved or bargain bag forever. Maybe it boils down to the right bargain or the right pre loved one.

For you I think you made the right decision. For me I might jump if I see an older mulberry bag that makes my heart sing.

 

[bakeacookie]

For you I think you made the right decision. For me I might jump if I see an older mulberry bag that makes my heart sing.

Funny you said Mulberry.

That's one of the brands I saw super cheap used.
But I think I can get a new one at the outlet for $300 more. But then even at that outlet price, I haven't jumped at it, and I've been looking at this brand for awhile now.

But if I get tired of it, and I most likely will, seeing it's in the disposable price range to me, it's not going to sell for much. And seeing that a bag has value is pretty important to me.

 

[Sparkletastic]

As far as alma goes I think because it is in de like my pap 30 and my speedy 30 so when I grab a hand held it's usually one of those two. Speedy because it is super light and Papillion 30 because I can fit it on my shoulder if I get tired of hand carry. Visually though I think Alma is the prettiest and she was a gift , that is why I have held on to her.
I actually really like your coach willis? Are you not loving her because she does not have a high end designer name on it or because your tired of her. I have discovered I can be a bit snobby with my poor bags and now I am trying to look at each bag as if it had no name on it and would I still love it as much.

I understand on the Alma. You have great alternatives for that "use". Sometimes it kills me when that happens unexpectedly. I love bag x but bag y or z just function better. Those are the hardest for me to let go.

Re: the Coach Willis. I adore saddle bags and only have this one. I also adore burgundy bags in this shade and only have this one. So theoretically I should wear it a lot. But I never reach for the bag. This sort of functions as a neutral for a lot of colors in my wardrobe (black, grey, cream, navy, etc.) and I'll pick my Chanel flaps or one of my non flap black bags. I used to also choose it more because I didn't have a lot of bags w/ghw. Now I have a few more and even have my gold Boy which has proven to be really much more easy to wear than I even thought. So the need for it has gone down.

I vacillate daily on keep or sell. I think my default I'm just waiting to see if I wear it this year. If I don't I'll likely sell.

Spark,
Couldn't have said it any better...I buy what I like and I'm always mindful of my coins... yes I love Chanel Flaps but I only like single Flaps so with that being said I can only get preloved. Can I afford to buy New double flap from boutique of course, I just choose not to. Heck I just scored a Givenchy biker jacket nwt for 500 bucks that retailed for over 5k. Everyone is so jelly about it.


Some People feel retail is better but buy lower quality stuff which never makes sense to me. Why spend 2k for mid range item when you can get premium item pre loved in excellent condition for same amount

First, I'm sooooo jealous on your jacket. That is a huge score!!!!!

And you know I agree with you on the single flaps. And with all the crying on the Chanel forum about the quality of the new bags, I'm actually happy that I "have" to look preloved for my single flaps to get the better quality.

Neither it does to me.
i was just feeling bad about being weak and not so committed to my goal, my 2017 aim was to resist and not spend as much as i did in 2016, but instead i already got 2 bags outside of my commitment and again considering one more, even more expensive, although pre-loved..... thus needed either talking out, or encouragement... which Spark did very nicely, confirming my reasoning - life's too short, I know what I like, i don't go crazy but trying to be reasonable and mindful, as such, if the price is right nothing should pull me back from it

I think that if we have well reasoned goals, we should try to stick to them. But at the end of the day getting a bag isn't a health concern or moral issue. LOL! They should be fun parts of our lives so it's fine to be kind to ourselves as we go along.

Interesting the talk of pre-loved prices over new.

When it's new it better be actually new.

Who knows how many hands or feet that 'new' things has been through even in-store. This is why I buy early in the season, I will not be happy with store display, when I read how people have worn new shoes around the house for 3 days to see if they're worth keeping I seriously don't want t end up with that pair once returned.

Pre-loved

If I couldn't afford something new or actually preferred a discontinued model/leather size I'm happy to pay what ever a good (second-hand) market rate was. I have no upper limit but it totally depends on the bag/'thing'.

But I'm very fussy. All the higher value pre-loved things I've bought have been no longer available new from stores plus a) I need to see up-close before I part with my money and b) it often comes from friends, or trusted professional companies and c) I need to know exactly what I'm looking at (including condition). I've seen Gucci's, BVs and Diors missing straps and other bits on Y,O,O,X (Euro-based reputable outlet for new - in case some don't know it) and huge mistakes on fleEBay descriptions. I'm so lucky that real friends have thought of me when selling some pieces from their collection. I also don't have a PayPal account which is obviously huge disadvantage but it works for me because I limit myself.

My advice to anyone asking is buying preloved is to think of it in exactly the same way new. 1. Do you love it in every way? 2. Can you live without it and 3 Can you afford it?. If it's 1. yes followed 2. no and 3 yes then go ahead.

Very good points.

Now, if the difference is negligible and the item is still in stores, I'll buy new to get the store protection and have the satisfaction of being the first owner. Sometimes Fashionphile has really recent releases on its site, and the difference between store prices is just two or three hundred dollars. That doesn't feel worth it to me at all.

I don't understand this either. Their pricing model makes me scratch my head at times.

And the reveal

just to distract you girls a bit.

Like I said. I got a parcel from an IndieGoGo campaign I backed last year.

It's an anti-theft crossbody bag.

My trusty Huskie is getting very soft and losing its shape I just feel sad when I pick it up. And when that feeling happen, I know I probably wouldn't reach for it again unless it's for a dirty day. So, when I stumbled upon this campaign one day last year, I jumped in.

It's made of slash-proof and waterproof fabric. The zippers are also waterproof. Comes with a secured zipper head that you can clip it to the body of the bag to prevent a stranger's hand to open it easily, a chain strap to prevent cutting, 4 small feet, and an RFID compartments for credit cards and bigger documents such as passport. I'm a paranoid freak when I travel so this is just my type of traveling bag.

I pick black just because the Huskie I'm hoping to replace it with is black. (It actually comes in 4 colors. The burgundy and navy are actually look very nice. I just don't like the brown leather trim.) It has lavender lining.

I'm putting my stuff in it tonight so I can test drive it tomorrow. I'm excited! (Very funny the pink mini is still in the box. I almost use it on Monday, but decided against it coz it just didn't fit the activities of the day. Designer bags will have some weird enchanting allure to them at some point, but I actually find cheaper bags more easy and truly carefree to use.

View attachment 3627016

The cute thing about the campaign owners is that the girls even threw in a souvenir bag charm with a tag that read IndieGoGo 2016. A very nice touch!

I didn't even know something like this existed. Slashproof and waterproof. This is a great score. Congrats!!!

 

[Sparkletastic]

Happy Women's Day my pocket friends!!
My DH and DS surprised me with a bunch of colourful tulips and cooked a lovely meal for me today!

It totally was!!! My son feels so proud of being a Man, with his own pocket money he got me a small plush bear on a chain, which i can use as a bag charm, and it perfectly matched my bag today.... so, he is happy to the moon and back, bless him!!!

This is so sweet!! Yay! The tulips are lovely. Both DH & DS did well.

I'd say it depends. If it's a very special bag that's no longer made, and it's in really good condition, and (maybe?) you can return it if it doesn't work for you, then go for it. Think of @Sparkletastic and her new Chanel bag... she bought it preloved, but only because you can't buy that particular bag new any more. And even so, she had to send it out to a spa because there were some problems with the leather.
But if the bag is still available new, I think it isn't worth it to buy preloved just to save some $$$. Just my personal opinion!

OMG, Elaine. This is such a good example of preloved working for me. I adore the bag and after I was disappointed initially, I was thrilled that the spa service made it like new. Honestly, no other grey bag new or preloved would have made me as happy. I giggle when I see / wear it. So it was so worth the hunt and the spa service. Plus I got it at a third of the price of a new jumbo so I feel super smart. LOL!

But, at the end of the day, people need to buy what they really want without compromise - not look over their shoulders at others, think the grass is greener across the fence, defend their position or fit any mold. They're handbags. Fun stuff!

I had posted on another thread when someone was questioning whether to buy new or preloved that I like the hunt and the deal. And I like some models that are no longer available so preloved often works for me. But I mentioned how some people love the boutique experience, chatting with their SA, cutting off the tags or whatever. So they pay more - sometimes even 3,4 or 5x more for the experience. Either approach is A-OK! if they work for that person and they can afford it.

There are two hot button issues on TPF that get people coming out swinging: preloved v. new and premier v. contemporary. Sometimes I think people in opposing political parties are more open minded.

 

[Sparkletastic]

I don't have any problem buying preloved or new, high end or low end. I buy what I like in the price that I'm willing to pay. That's it. Nothing complicated. I do have a $4,000.- limit that I'm willing to pay for bags in general though. That's the maximum I'm comfortable paying just for a bag. But below that is quite a fair game. If I like the bag and the price and can afford that, too, very likely the bag will come home with me.

I think this is such a healthy approach. You buy what you like when you see it and it meets your criteria. End of story. I'm getting there. I can't wait til I'm fully "bag sane."

On dollar limits: I have them but it's variable. For example, I now refuse to pay over $3k for a Chanel single flap. Thankfully, I don't want any more of the really highly sought after ones (I have my red 10c) which would demand I pay more. So I know I can be patient and find any others I want at a bargain.

For these accursed, can't be found anywhere workhorses , I'm really irritable at the thought of paying even $1k for them. I wish a premier workhorse would fall in my lap for 50 cents.

But, I'm beginning to eyeball some
Hermes bags. Yep, I'm showing signs of the terminal form of TPF disease . The two I want would blow past any previous cap I had. I'm trying to decide if I want to reset.

So for me it's really variable. I can balk at spending a teeny amount on one bag and not really blink at considering a crazy multiple on another.

 

[dcooney4]

That is precisely why I love this thread we all have different approaches but respect each other and help each other with whatever they are wanting to do. We also learn a lot in the process.

 

[missie1]

I think this is such a healthy approach. You buy what you like when you see it and it meets your criteria. End of story. I'm getting there. I can't wait til I'm fully "bag sane."

On dollar limits: I have them but it's variable. For example, I now refuse to pay over $3k for a Chanel single flap. Thankfully, I don't want any more of the really highly sought after ones (I have my red 10c) which would demand I pay more. So I know I can be patient and find any others I want at a bargain.

For these accursed, can't be found anywhere workhorses , I'm really irritable at the thought of paying even $1k for them. I wish a premier workhorse would fall in my lap for 50 cents.

But, I'm beginning to eyeball some
of Hermes bags. Yep I'm showing signs of the terminal form of TPF disease . The two I want would blow past any previous cap I had. I'm trying to decide if I want to reset.

So for me it's really variable. I can balk at spending a teeny amount on one bag and not really blink at considering a crazy multiple on another.

This is so sweet!! Yay! The tulips are lovely. Both DH & DS did well.


OMG, Elaine. This is such a good example of preloved working for me. I adore the bag and after I was disappointed initially, I was thrilled that the spa service made it like new. Honestly, no other grey bag new or preloved would have made me as happy. I giggle when I see / wear it. So it was so worth the hunt and the spa service. Plus I got it at a third of the price of a new jumbo so I feel super smart. LOL!

But, at the end of the day, people need to buy what they really want without compromise - not look over their shoulders at others, think the grass is greener across the fence, defend their position or fit any mold. They're handbags. Fun stuff!

I had posted on another thread when someone was questioning whether to buy new or preloved that I like the hunt and the deal. And I like some models that are no longer available so preloved often works for me. But I mentioned how some people love the boutique experience, chatting with their SA, cutting off the tags or whatever. So they pay more - sometimes even 3,4 or 5x more for the experience. Either approach is A-OK! if they work for that person and they can afford it.

There are two hot button issues on TPF that get people coming out swinging: preloved v. new and premier v. contemporary. Sometimes I think people in opposing political parties are more open minded.

The premiere vs contemporary one scares me. I rarely even voice my opinion because people really get touchy about the contemporary brands. I'm all for buying what you like. Just hate having to defend my position on premier

 

[dcooney4]

The premiere vs contemporary one scares me. I rarely even voice my opinion because people really get touchy about the contemporary brands. I'm all for buying what you like. Just hate having to defend my position on premier

My problem is I like them all.

 

[Annabel Lee]

The premiere vs contemporary one scares me. I rarely even voice my opinion because people really get touchy about the contemporary brands. I'm all for buying what you like. Just hate having to defend my position on premier

As a money management debate, I can understand both why both premier and contemporary bag lovers wouldn't necessarily appreciate the other category.

I started to say that I don't understand spending premier money on contemporary bags, as I know some people with extensive handbag collections who dream of someday owning premier. But actually, I DO get it, because I'm definitely a person who would rather have many, many bags than just one or two really nice ones. So different strokes, for sure.

 

[tenKrat]

Last bag to post for this week, Louis Vuitton Dora MM in Bordeaux.

 

[Annabel Lee]

Last bag to post for this week, Louis Vuitton Dora MM in Bordeaux.
View attachment 3627373

Gorgeous. The more I see the Dora, the more I wish they'd bring it back.

 

[HopelessBagGirl]

My problem is I like them all.

Absolutely! The label doesn't make the bag awesome. And one person's 'classic' is another person's 'unoriginal/too common.' Personal style is so.....personal.
The one thing we all have in common is we all are seeking to maximize our bag joy! For some, they can't enjoy a bag that 'only' x dollars was spent on, and for some of us, a bag that costs more than that exact same x amount would be uncomfortable to carry and impossible to enjoy because our whole life is a carefree life!

But not a beater life! Carefree is a much better word to describe a bag that is allowed to (relatively) freely come into contact with the world we live in, and a little signs of use is no biggie. But I have used even very expensive premier bags in the same way, as workhorses!

Because..... I'm maybe just incapable of treating any bag in a really delicate, careful way.

 

[eggtartapproved]

And the reveal [emoji16] just to distract you girls a bit. [emoji4]

Like I said. I got a parcel from an IndieGoGo campaign I backed last year. [emoji4] It's an anti-theft crossbody bag. [emoji4] My trusty Huskie is getting very soft and losing its shape I just feel sad when I pick it up. And when that feeling happen, I know I probably wouldn't reach for it again unless it's for a dirty day. So, when I stumbled upon this campaign one day last year, I jumped in.

It's made of slash-proof and waterproof fabric. The zippers are also waterproof. Comes with a secured zipper head that you can clip it to the body of the bag to prevent a stranger's hand to open it easily, a chain strap to prevent cutting, 4 small feet, and an RFID compartments for credit cards and bigger documents such as passport. I'm a paranoid freak when I travel so this is just my type of traveling bag.

I pick black just because the Huskie I'm hoping to replace it with is black. (It actually comes in 4 colors. The burgundy and navy are actually look very nice. I just don't like the brown leather trim.) It has lavender lining.

I'm putting my stuff in it tonight so I can test drive it tomorrow. I'm excited! (Very funny the pink mini is still in the box. I almost use it on Monday, but decided against it coz it just didn't fit the activities of the day. Designer bags will have some weird enchanting allure to them at some point, but I actually find cheaper bags more easy and truly carefree to use.

View attachment 3627016

The cute thing about the campaign owners is that the girls even threw in a souvenir bag charm with a tag that read IndieGoGo 2016. A very nice touch! [emoji4]

oh this is a super cute design! WIth all the function and cool protective features, i wasn't sure how it would look, but this is adorable. They did a really great job in design!

Happy Women's Day my pocket friends!!
My DH and DS surprised me with a bunch of colourful tulips and cooked a lovely meal for me today!

That's so sweet of them! =)

Last bag to post for this week, Louis Vuitton Dora MM in Bordeaux.
View attachment 3627373

I love this. I didn't' even know about this style until you mentioned it. This is totally my type of satchel.

 

[missie1]

I'll post my burgundies on a different week then. I don't know which existing category to put them. Will a new category be made for them?

We have always done red and burgundies together. I am thinking you can post them at the end since you didn't want to post with reds