2019 resolution - shopping my own bag and wallet collection. Any one else?

[Sparkletastic]

I was just looking at my closet and had a thought.

When I was trying to downsize from having over 150 bags, I was overwhelmed with where to start. So I would randomly pick 5 bags each month and put them in another room. If after a period of time I didn’t want / need them or remember they were there, I would feel good about selling them.

It’s a little longer term. Usually a month isn’t long enough. So, maybe we can add something like this as a challenge for January and repeat it each trimester

Reverse Love it or List it - Pick a bag that you aren’t sure you want to sell. Place it in an inconvenient spot in your home where you can even have the opportunity to forget it. If after 4 months you haven’t reached for it, commit to selling it.

(I’ll repost all the January challenges again right before the start of the new year)

 

[Sparkletastic]

We usually do the Bag Showcase by Color early in the year and Bag Showcase by brand in the fall.

Do we want to do these again in 2019? Any suggestions on other ways to get us involved in and excited about the entirety of our collections?

 

[Sparkletastic]

Yes. That's it exactly. When I was new to the world of designer bags (almost exactly 5 years ago, after I joined tPF!) I went a little crazy. The bags I bought weren't terribly expensive, because I didn't know much, and I also bought pre-loved bags at local consignment shops. But within a year I had acquired a LOT of bags! Yikes!

Joining this thread helped me to take a good hard look at my collection. I de-cluttered the ones I didn't love, not really to make money to finance new purchases, but just to ensure that every time I reached for a bag, it would be a bag that would make smile.

It's taken five years, but I'm (very nearly) satisfied with my collection. As a wise person once said, if you want to become a wine connoisseur, you have to open a LOT of bottles!

Congrats! I didn’t realize we started our bag collection journeys at about the same time.

 

[whateve]

I’m the same. While I am now definitely buying with a mind to keep as long as I can, I don’t have the capacity to predict what I’ll love in 10 years. As I mentioned, I’m even a little bored with my Chanel classic flaps. I don’t intend to sell them (except maybe the ivory) because I think as @vink said, I’ll love them more when bigger bags come back in. But, I’m not interested in buying any more. Boy bags yes. Classic flaps. Not really. I’m just not excited when j wear them like I am with my newer bags.

I like new styles and designs. And, I know I’ll add bags now and again. So, my ongoing challenge is be to really be thoughtful in adding.

Knowing I like new is the main driver behind me buying just one bag or so a year. That way, I don’t have a whole lot of bags that are aging out. My collection always feels fresh but, not having a lot of turnover.

Say if, for example, my reality is I get tired of most bags after 7 years. (?) If I only bring in 2 bags a year, I’ll only have one bag to sell/rehome 7 years later. I don’t mind the pace of one or two in and one out each year.

Ironically, this is also a reason why I make the decision to never go on bans. I don’t want to have a bunch of bags come in one year and then no bags come in the next. If I do that, then say in the 7 years, I’ll be selling a bunch of bags from my buying spree year (hellish hassle) and then feeling the pinch to really want to buy the next year (risk of discontent and more binging.)

Interesting that you said 7 years. I have two bags in my collection that I bought in 2011, one of which is up for sale. The remaining 2011 bag will then be the one I've owned the longest.

 

[Sparkletastic]

I wanted to share some of my birthday goodies.

Mr. Sparkle was still fussing about me not asking him to get my new to me Dior WOC when I first saw it. I keep telling him. Old thrifty habits die hard (if at all!) Lol! So he put the money back in my “fun spend” fund and bought the bag as one of my Bday presents. I used it last night and it’s DEFINITELY love! He also surprised me with some other special gifts. I had been wanting these Tom Ford Miranda sunnies ever since I saw them over the summer. Yay!
And, he picked the piece of jewelry I wanted the most. This gorgeous diamond necklace! I’m redoing my everyday jewelry and this is perfect! Classic, not too much but, still loads of sparkle and fun. It coordinates really well with my wedding rings. But, now I need some better earrings. Lol! The ones I have fall a little flat when I’m wearing this. Lol! I typically never spent much on earrings. My everyday nice ones are all just metal - white gold or yellow gold - no stones. But, think I’d like one or two good diamond ones for regular wear - a smallish hoop and something snug to the ear (not studs. I don’t like studs). Maybe I’ll ask Santa or the Valentine’s Cupid to put some on the list. LOL!

I also got some wonderful smaller but equally precious gifts from Mr. S and the kids like books, a goofy wine glass, and fuzzy socks I’m a sucker for fuzzy socks! Mine look like these but, are pink and fuzzy. I’d take a picture but...I’m wearing them.

I hope everyone follows directions.

In any case, I am soooo incredibly happy with my presents. Thanks for letting me share.

 

[catsinthebag]

@catsinthebag
Do you have GP in gold? If you do, could you describe the colour? The pics I found look more like vivid tan but I'm not sure if that's the truth knowing Negonda has matter effect.

I had a gold Garden Party but sold it. Still have some photos though. This one shows the color pretty accurately. I’d describe it as caramel. Too dark to call it tan, too light to be cognac. I never understood why Hermes calls it “gold,” but then again, their “blue jean” doesn’t look like denim! HTH.

 

[dcooney4]

We usually do the Bag Showcase by Color early in the year and Bag Showcase by brand in the fall.

Do we want to do these again in 2019? Any suggestions on other ways to get us involved in and excited about the entirety of our collections?

How about by style like cross body , backpack, satchel, totes, wallet on a strap, shoulder, evening etc.

 

[pdxhb]

I'm in awe of this level of organization! @catsinthebag I love your bullet journal - it's super clear and gets the job done.

If I change bags as frequently as once a week in my job I get too many comments about it (stands out in that environment) so I have started to look to weekends as an opportunity to carry my less work-ish bags in rotation. I can get away with switching SLGs more frequently, thank goodness. Nothing like feeling self-conscious at work!

Thinking about different journaling tools out there, I might make use of my One Note to track bag wears. Now that I think about it, one 2019 goal is probably going to be around being sure I do change out every 2 weeks, at the very least, so that I keep things in rotation.
My previous boss swears by One Note for all of her task and priority management, and I admit that it's become really useful for me both for day job and personal organization. For work I do a weekly agenda of tasks and calendar items, while personally it's more like monthly with some weekly goals / due dates embedded. It helps that it's equally accessible via phone or computer, so I never end up doubling up with paper notes or messages on my various to-do items and logs.

How’s this for low tech?
I started a bullet journal a couple of years ago and decided to just keep track there. I actually like that it’s in a physical notebook and I don’t have to go online to look at it.
View attachment 4286665

I also track by month, and have a list of what bags I bought by year dating back to 2011. Yes, I’m a dork.
View attachment 4286666

....Your photo is so freeing. I wanted to start a bullet journal but when I see people using 10,000 colored pencils and drawing photos, I get overwhelmed.
View attachment 4287122 View attachment 4287123
I don’t have it in me to do this on a daily basis.

So, I’m going to look into doing one again.

Do you take your with you or is this your once a day check in at home?

My Evernote helped me stop carting the paper notebook. It backs up itself so I never risk losing anything.

....I want to start tracking my wardrobe better. I think I’ll start a tally list in my Evernote Jan 1 and just add what I wear each day. I was doing Stylebook but it was a pain to photograph all the items.
Thanks for mentions this. I just downloaded the app. I’ve been using Shopper and they removed some functionality on the free version.

 

[bellarusa]

I’m getting much better at it but, in the past when I didn’t fully understand my own tastes, I would acquire bags that I didn’t love as much as I needed to a few months after purchasing.

I think this is what I'm trying to get to - which is that in the past I didn't understand my needs well, but now I hope I'm better at it.

I definitely think I'm adopting "better fewer, but better" as my new motto.

 

[catsinthebag]

Interesting thread; I have really curbed my Handbag spending and while I have always been a Balenciaga gal, I will only spend the $$$ if it's an old bag (Chevre) and RARE .. period!!! I have so many bags, that I really don't need anymore .. and when I see something I like, I question myself "do you REALLY need this?" and most of the times, the answer is 'NO'!!

Since I also design/make jewelry (high-karat gold & diamonds), most of my energies / $$$ has been on that. I buy gold that I can recycle and get my gemstones from overseas wholesalers whom I trust. Been working on getting my line together; alas, I need to find a cheaper goldsmith out here in LA 'cos that is what is using up all my funds.

More importantly, after being laid off from Corporate America in 2016 (I guess my shelf-life was up), my work has been sporadic .. which is ridiculous because it's not like I don't have the skills, it's that companies want cheap labor and I'm not going to bust my a@@ to work cheap!!!

I’d love to see some of the pieces you’ve designed!

 

[catsinthebag]

One other comment on the ivory. One reason I don’t want to sell is because, as you say, it is a hard to find combination. I love having the bijoux chain. Maybe I need to find anouther bag with the chain in a better color for me. Or maybe I just need to admire this chain and let the bag go for something I love wearing. OMG! Your photo is so freeing. I wanted to start a bullet journal but when I see people using 10,000 colored pencils and drawing photos, I get overwhelmed.
View attachment 4287122 View attachment 4287123
I don’t have it in me to do this on a daily basis.

So, I’m going to look into doing one again.

Do you take your with you or is this your once a day check in at home?
My tracking has been invaluable. I’m glad it’s worked for you too!.

When I first started looking at bullet journals online, it was a little intimidating to see everyone’s pretty journals with all the colors, stickers and decorative tape. And I tried that, for about a week. And then I just started doing it the way that was most natural to me, with my blue ballpoint pen. The whole idea is to make it work for you, whatever that means.

I have to say, I felt a little weird posting those photos. Glad they got such a positive response!

 

[catsinthebag]

Interesting that you said 7 years. I have two bags in my collection that I bought in 2011, one of which is up for sale. The remaining 2011 bag will then be the one I've owned the longest.

There’s an idea for a slow week:

What is your oldest bag? Do you still use it? If not, why do you keep it?

 

[catsinthebag]

I wanted to share some of my birthday goodies.

Mr. Sparkle was still fussing about me not asking him to get my new to me Dior WOC when I first saw it. I keep telling him. Old thrifty habits die hard (if at all!) Lol! So he put the money back in my “fun spend” fund and bought the bag as one of my Bday presents. I used it last night and it’s DEFINITELY love!View attachment 4287213 He also surprised me with some other special gifts. I had been wanting these Tom Ford Miranda sunnies ever since I saw them over the summer. Yay!View attachment 4287215
And, he picked the piece of jewelry I wanted the most. This gorgeous diamond necklace! I’m redoing my everyday jewelry and this is perfect! Classic, not too much but, still loads of sparkle and fun. It coordinates really well with my wedding rings. View attachment 4287214 But, now I need some better earrings. Lol! The ones I have fall a little flat when I’m wearing this. Lol! I typically never spent much on earrings. My everyday nice ones are all just metal - white gold or yellow gold - no stones. But, think I’d like one or two good diamond ones for regular wear - a smallish hoop and something snug to the ear (not studs. I don’t like studs). Maybe I’ll ask Santa or the Valentine’s Cupid to put some on the list. LOL!

I also got some wonderful smaller but equally precious gifts from Mr. S and the kids like books, a goofy wine glass, and fuzzy socks I’m a sucker for fuzzy socks! Mine look like these but, are pink and fuzzy. I’d take a picture but...I’m wearing them.
View attachment 4287220
I hope everyone follows directions.

In any case, I am soooo incredibly happy with my presents. Thanks for letting me share.

I love all your gifts! That necklace is amazing — please post a mod shot! And yes, you definitely need earrings to go with it.

 

[Lake Effect]

@Rhl2987 Thank you
@ElainePG With a bag that is in decent condition, and with the right products, you can do a lot! The black bag was over all in great shape, no edge wear, a couple scratches, but it was universally faded. When my usual conditioners did not do the trick, I used a black dye /recolorant suggested by another rehabber (no, not the Kiwi polish with the sponge top applicator from the supermarket!!), with a final conditioner for the glow! The taupe bag has wrinkling under flap and on the bottom , but the leather on the flap is luscious, if I may say so. So so sorry to hear about the bag that stolen .
@Sparkletastic I don’t think they will bring back unlined bags with a plain suede interior anytime soon, if at all. And if they use the original weight leather, I don’t think it is conducive to lining because of the bulk factor. People do have nice things to say about the Coach Rogue.
@eggtartapproved Glad to see you, fellow vintage Coach carrier
@vink The Patti is such a great bag when I want to put out an understated yet professional look. And carries a bit. My company came under new ownership earlier this year. When I was going to our new office location and meeting the new owners for the first time, I wore my *interview* outfit and carried this Patti. She’s got my back for subtlely looking professional and stylish.

 

[whateve]

There’s an idea for a slow week:

What is your oldest bag? Do you still use it? If not, why do you keep it?

By oldest, you mean the bag we've owned the longest, right? Because I have bags that very vintage but haven't owned very long.

This is the bag I've owned since October 2011. I use it sparingly. It is very delicate so I've never felt I can use a lot. I thought about selling it right after I first got it when I saw how delicate it is. I like carrying it this time of year. It seems like a good holiday bag. I just moved into it. I've kind of forgotten about it.