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

[whateve]

Looking for some advice. I still have a few bags on eBay. I've had 4-5 reasonable-ish offers on one of the bags, and I'm messaging with someone who is very interested in purchasing it. She's struggling with the fact that she can't get it authenticated solely based on the pictures I've posted and recently dealt with purchasing a fake on eBay. Does anyone have any advice for me on how to handle this? I'm not sure what else I can do for her. It sounds like she tried tPF's authentication thread but they weren't able to authenticate based on the pictures I have posted.

You can probably see what pictures are needed for authentication in the AT thread. Add those pictures to your listing or send them to her.

I don't blame her, especially since some authenticators on the forum won't authenticate bags that have already been purchased.

 

[whateve]

I love your bags. They all have such gorgeous leather.

Thank you!

 

[ElainePG]

It’s been a crazy week and I’m hopelessly behind again! We lost heat on Monday when it was literally 4 degrees out ... our boiler quit late in the afternoon and by the time our plumber got to our house and figured out what the problem was, it was too late to get the part needed to fix it. So even with space heaters, it was a very chilly night! It was working by noon on Tuesday, but the whole thing left me feeling exhausted for the rest of the week!

I’ve been reading along and liking posts, but haven’t had time to really answer. Have been reading with interest everyone’s thoughts on the Kondo method and the value (or not) of being a minimalist. I have a couple of premiere designer bags that hardly get used, but I’ve realized lately that I simply don’t feel like selling them! For one thing, I go through phases with my bags and sometimes won’t wear something for a long time, then rediscover it and fall back in love (or if not love, at least appreciation!). The other thing is, there isn’t anything I urgently want right now, so I don't feel the need to get rid of something to fund, or make room for, something else.

I have been thinking of bringing some non-premier bags that don’t get used at all to local consignment, but I’m also don’t know that Jan/Feb is the best time to do that. Are certain seasons (besides Christmas) better for consigning?

Ugh... so sorry that your heat went out when it was brutally cold. I'm glad it eventually got fixed, but what a mess.

Makes sense not to sell premier bags "just to sell" if you have the space for them and you don't need the $$$ to fund another purchase. It doesn't sound as though they qualify as "clutter," and the Kondo method can go a bit too far sometimes. Today I did a major pantry purge, and I'm feeling very virtuous, but no designer bags were harmed!

 

[ElainePG]

If you get rid of all of your meh tshirts what do you fry bacon in? [emoji23]

 

[ElainePG]

The whole discussion made me think of this old quote from William Morris as a good way of summing it up:

“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”

I had forgotten this William Morris quotation, and I think it's right on target. I accounts for both artwork (beautiful) and the vacuum cleaner (useful).

I also remember a wonderful book from years ago by Alexander Stoddard: "Living A Beautiful Life." She made a great point that even the "useful" things could be beautiful. Like f'rinstance, if you use a colander when you cook, why can't it be a pretty RED colander? And why can't the soap dish in the bathroom be a graceful size and shape? It doesn't have to be expensive... just pleasing to the eye.

 

[ElainePG]

Last of my burgundy bags Mulberry SBS in oxblood.

This is such a great color.

 

[ElainePG]

New Year New Bag #3 Massaccesi Midi Divina in Red Vachetta.

Took her out for the first time yesterday - hauled a ton of stuff (work computer, charging brick, umbrella, wallet, 2 phones - a total workhorse and beautiful color. This was one of my final closing sale orders and I am very happy I followed through with the selection.


View attachment 4321972

Oh, my, what an absolutely STUNNING shade of red!!!

 

[franzibw]

I think it looks great. But if the structure or texture changed, I can see how that would be disappointing.

I think I will wear it a few times and see if I can appreciate it again... It‘s a Loewe Maia.

 

[paculina]

Hi ladies! Happy 2019! Just thought I'd check in and see what's going on here. That pinned post at the top really threw me off because I KNOW this thread hasn't been silent for nearly a month!

Not a ton to report here. I met up with @HopelessBagGirl in November, that was fun. The only things I've bought since my spending spree in Vegas last summer were a bag and a SLG from the Massaccesi closing sale. But my Coach Python Gramercy Satchel did sell (finally!) over the holidays, so yay for that! I don't really have any plans or goals for this year yet, no idea what I'm going to use or buy or sell.

I hope you all are doing well.

 

[whateve]

Another black bag. Vintage Coach made in Italy.

 

[lynne_ross]

My closet is finally back together - it took forever. @HopelessBagGirl asked how we keep/store our bags and after spending the day putting things away,
I took a picture.
This is how it looks when they’re not in the bags:
View attachment 4306563
And how it looks when they’re in the bags - I keep them in the bags when they’re in the closet because of sun, dust and my dog.
View attachment 4306564
I switched most of them to all the same color bag because the different colors bothered me... says the girl who wears mostly black, blue, and white. [emoji38]

Catching up on thread...love the tags. Clever!

 

[lynne_ross]

My friends, indulge me with my soap box...

With all this talk of Marie Kondo, I don't really understand why people get so caught up.

Surely people have always routinely decluttered? "Spring cleaning" is a thing for a reason. I routinely take stock of things and do clear outs.

But I have never konmari'd all my possessions. I know how much space I have everywhere. When I run out of space for any one category of things, say books, or pens, or shoes, or bags - I take stock, throw / donate some things, operate a one in one out policy and besides that I don't worry too much.

A drive for minimalism irrespective of need doesn’t resonate. If you have the space and resources and things are in good condition then you don’t need to pare it back a lot (in my opinion).

After all Marie Kondo started by advising on how to declutter to fit life into tiny Japanese living spaces. That’s why everything in Muji is so compact and space conscious as well. If you live elsewhere with more space, the cultural context does not carry well.

A large living space with hardly anything in it can look as bad as a small living space that’s over cluttered.

In my opinion.

Whatdyafink?

<climbs carefully off her soap box>

I agree. Plus many things I own don’t bring me joy but I need them - like socks!
I do same, go through whole house at least once a year, even more important now that I have kids that continually outgrow their stuff.
I also hate the folding technique - it does not bring me joy!

 

[lynne_ross]

Decluttering and getting rid of things instantly makes me feel better! With moves, I’ve automatically done this but then we still end up having tons of stuff to move and I have no idea how we accumulate so much!! Years ago we lived in a duplex and moved into our first house. We decided not to pay movers and moved it all in a UHaul ourselves about 20 mins away to our new town, and we figured we’d be making just one trip in the truck. We ended up needing 4 SUV trips plus the UHaul trip, and we almost needed to take the huge UHaul back for a second trip. Stuff was just hiding in every nook and cranny. That was eye-opening. Moving may be a total PITA, but it also helps you to purge and clean as you’re doing it. We’ve moved about once a year for the past 8 years we’ve been together. First, it was individual moves before we lived in the same city and then it was moving together across town or between states.

Now that we have a decent sized house, I’m afraid of continuing to add and add more. As just one example, hubby has this weird thing about buying dog beds because he wants the dogs to be comfortable. We have accumulated (and gotten rid of) so many different metal frame and fabric dog beds. He thinks a fabric bed isn’t enough for the older dogs because of arthritis. He’s probably right but our bedroom does not look great because of dog beds piled on one corner of the floor. And they’re humongous to fit a Rottweiler!

Putting together the nursery, we needed to empty out that room and closet. We actually got rid of some massive furniture in our other guest bedroom to make room, like the huge dresser, three side tables, and ottoman, and took some other items to donate as well. It was a nice purge. Now we just have to furnish the nursery and finish the closet, and I can start arranging and decorating a little bit! I’m looking forward to that.

We also made a decision and we’re starting the master closet revamp early in February! We will combine our laundry room and current closet to make about 200 square feet of space total. My husband will tile the floors and paint the walls (and maybe put in a different light fixture) and we are having some open and closed cabinets put in to store bags, all of the clothes, shoes, etc. We will also eventually replace the IKEA dresser in the bedroom with a low dresser so that will be our final bit of clothes storage needed. Exciting! And that will also be done in time for “nesting.”

Same thing with us - got rid of a lot of stuff when we moved internationally and back. We also use to like in a 2 bedroom condo and then 2 bedroom apartment but now we have a large house where stuff just accumulated. My rule is everything must have a home in our house - so we don’t store or keep anything for later. It must be for our life now or out it goes since for the first 2 years we had random stuff all throughout our basement but DH finally agreed to purge it all. It takes effort to maintain.
Decorating a nursery was my favourite thing - have fun with it!

 

[Rhl2987]

ask her what particular shots are needed, and send her extra snaps, perhaps?

if she lives somewhere nearby maybe she can come and inspect the bag in person?

You can probably see what pictures are needed for authentication in the AT thread. Add those pictures to your listing or send them to her.

I don't blame her, especially since some authenticators on the forum won't authenticate bags that have already been purchased.

Thanks all! I sent her a few extra pictures and also a digital copy of the receipt with my personal info blocked out and she went ahead and purchased the bag! I'm very pleased. That's two major bags out!

I also wore my Rouge Vif Kelly 28 sellier with gold hardware all day today, to Hermes and the tile store and to get groceries! I didn't have a chance to take a picture but I'm so happy to get my first real wear out of this bag.

 

[lynne_ross]

Finally caught up on thread, have not been on tpf much since work has been busy.
I have been trying to wear bags I am on the fence on but I keep putting them away for another day to use one of my favourites. So I will continue to try and use through Feb and I continue to track my bag usage.
I also have been shopping my closet for clothes - divided my closet up so I can see what I have and have not worn this year. It is forcing me not to wear the same thing over and over and I think once I go through all 4 seasons it will be easier to get rid of the unworn items. It is also making me realize I want more of certain items since I reach for them a lot. So will help with targeting items to buy.