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

[Sparkletastic]

I mostly lurk here, but I looked back at my 2018 numbers, and frankly, they're not great. I had a couple of ins that turned out not to be winners, and that’s unusual for me as I wouldn’t normally be disillusioned with new purchases so quickly.

I bought more on impulse overall, and some of those risks DID pay off, so that’s the silver lining, I guess.

I've never been too concerned about the size of my collection—what I hate more is not having the perfect bag when I want it—but I’m about at my limit, so I need to keep tabs on everything I have and make sure each bag is earning its place in my closet.

So for 2019, here are my goals:

• Any new bags I decide to add must be 1) real showstoppers and/or 2) fill an actual need.
• No settling. A couple of the bags I’m less thrilled with from 2018 were things I thought I could “make work” and ultimately couldn’t.

While choosing a different option can work, settling NEVER works. I’ve learned that the hard way.

For those who track bag usage, can you please share how you do this?

My process is very easy. I have a list of all my bags on Evernote. Every day, I place a tick mark next to the bag I’m carrying. It takes 5 seconds but gives me invaluable information. First I can see what’s really getting used in my closet. I don’t like to keep bags I’m not using so understanding what I’m not reaching for helps me clear out underperformers.

It also helps me keep rotating bags I love. If I see a bag isn’t getting enough wear, I’ll make sure to pull it out a few times.

 

[Sparkletastic]

hello everyone!
i have met all my purchasing/acquiring goals in 2018, and even exceeded it
i wanted to get a mini black Cabat, who cares that i found 'mini' and 'black' in 2 different bags?? my main target was to buy wiser, and only what would be a 100% success for me, even though i exceeded my intended quota, my all bags have been a great success and that's what matters.
I also sold a few bags, which is very new to me, but i am glad i learned to let go of those, that don't work for me any longer, and not clutter my closet.
in 2018 i loved all the challenges we've had, it really helped me to keep the rotation up and know my preferences better, i want to keep doing this in 2019, too.
what relates to buying, i am so happy with what i have at the moment, that i don't know what else i might need/want, i really have all needs covered. I don't put myself to ban (it doesn't work for me anyway) but a hard pause will be my resolution for 2019.
meanwhile, i will keep selling the ones i decided to part with (a few are in consignment), or just give away.
Wishing everyone a great and successful 2019!

Congrats on only getting bags that work for you and clearing out the clutter!!

We’ll definitely keep doing challenges. Suggestions are always welcome!

 

[Sparkletastic]

Posting my goals in the new thread so I can find them.

2019 Goals
1. 100% success rate on purchases
2. Sell up to 2 bags
3. Buy no more than 4 bags and 1 SLG

———
I’m going to jump in with a bag I’m considering selling. My ivory Chanel.

I don’t wear this bag often. I’ve never been in love with it but, felt I needed this color in my closet. My thinking at the time was that by getting ivory in a C classic flap, it could sit in my closet forever without going out of style so when I needed it, it would be there.

Now I can’t truly tell if I don’t wear it because I don’t want to wear the color or if I don’t love the bag. But, I think it’s the latter. I feel like I’d wear an ivory bag more if I loved it. This is a good amount of money to have tied up in a potentially underperforming bag.

What do you all think? How do I figure this out? It’s not just about trying to love the bag. I need to figure out if the color will make me happy and be a nice addition to my wardrobe.

 

[Sparkletastic]

*** January Challenges ***

I’m sharing these a little early so those of us who participate can plan.

• New Year, New Bag - Wear your three newest bags at least twice this month

• Like it or List it - Several people plan to sell bags. Pick one on the bubble and wear it a few times. If it’s not love by 1/31, commit to selling it.

• 10 in 31 Challenge - Wear at least 10 bags one time this month to help you rotate (we did 15 in the past but I’m lowering the number so more people can participate and to take into consideration extreme weather in some regions)

• Color Challenge - Pick a color and wear all the bags you have in their color at least once. (Starting in Feb, the color will be based on the birthstone for the month. But since Jan is garnet and we recently did red, I’m leaving the color up to you to chose this month.)

I’m going to do the color challenge (red) and the 10 in 31 challenge. I’m actually going to try to do 15 in 31.

————

Question: do we want to do the weekly color showcases again this year?

Any other suggestions on what we should do to keep ourselves shopping our closets and playing with our bags?

 

[whateve]

Posting my goals in the new thread so I can find them.

2019 Goals
1. 100% success rate on purchases
2. Sell up to 2 bags
3. Buy no more than 4 bags and 1 SLG

———
I’m going to jump in with a bag I’m considering selling. My ivory Chanel.

I don’t wear this bag often. I’ve never been in love with it but, felt I needed this color in my closet. My thinking at the time was that by getting ivory in a C classic flap, it could sit in my closet forever without going out of style so when I needed it, it would be there.

Now I can’t truly tell if I don’t wear it because I don’t want to wear the color or if I don’t love the bag. But, I think it’s the latter. I feel like I’d wear an ivory bag more if I loved it. This is a good amount of money to have tied up in a potentially underperforming bag.

What do you all think? How do I figure this out? It’s not just about trying to love the bag. I need to figure out if the color will make me happy and be a nice addition to my wardrobe.

Sometimes you feel you need a color in your wardrobe, but you don't really, not if it isn't a color you will reach for. Ivory does nothing for me. I think you have wear a lot of pastels for it to work with your wardrobe. Since I wear mostly blacks and jeweltones, I don't need this color. I have a pale pink bag I don't use much for the same reason, even though I really love the bag and the color.

If it is a color you think you might use just once in awhile, maybe pick a less expensive bag. Or before you do that, keep track of all the occasions when you wished you had an ivory bag to carry.

 

[ksuromax]

*** January Challenges ***

I’m sharing these a little early so those of us who participate can plan.

• New Year, New Bag - Wear your three newest bags at least twice this month

• Like it or List it - Several people plan to sell bags. Pick one on the bubble and wear it a few times. If it’s not love by 1/31, commit to selling it.

• 10 in 31 Challenge - Wear at least 10 bags one time this month to help you rotate (we did 15 in the past but I’m lowering the number so more people can participate and to take into consideration extreme weather in some regions)

• Color Challenge - Pick a color and wear all the bags you have in their color at least once. (Starting in Feb, the color will be based on the birthstone for the month. But since Jan is garnet and we recently did red, I’m leaving the color up to you to chose this month.)

I’m going to do the color challenge (red) and the 10 in 31 challenge. I’m actually going to try to do 15 in 31.

————

Question: do we want to do the weekly color showcases again this year?

Any other suggestions on what we should do to keep ourselves shopping our closets and playing with our bags?

good options! count me in for 2! i'll do "New Year, New Bag" and wear my 3 latest acquisitions, as well as 10 on 31 to keep the rotation up

 

[Lake Effect]

YEAR SEVEN! WOW... every year, I am continually amazed by the longevity of this thread. The group continues to grow and we continue to support one another. The original intent of my thread was a personal resolution to shop my own bag and SLG collection in hopes to curb spending, implement a ban (of sorts), and enjoy what I already own. I've succeeded only one year (in 2015) in achieving 365 days of not buying any bags or SLGs. Following that year, though, my overall purchasing has slowed down significantly and my purchases are more thoughtful - refining my collection to suit my lifestyle has been the name of the game for me in the last several years; and I'm letting go of more pieces that don't work as well for me anymore.

In 2018, I tried to repeat 2015's success - it wasn't a complete success because I did bring new items in, but I also let go of 10 pieces; what I did bring in, I use almost every day. I'd say that is a different type of success =) I also tried to do a wardrobe ban but that didn't work lol - we all have to start somewhere, so now that I've attempted it, I know that it will be tough to do, but I think I will have more success this time around. I'm going to try again with a wardrobe ban and see how it goes. All in all though, if all else fails, I just want to have less than what I started with by the end of the year. I'm really trying to live without a lot of excess, and use up a lot of what I do have so it doesn't go to waste. My resolution this year is more of an overall lifestyle shift for me - I've had a pretty rough 2018, and this shift is to try to help me regain my health in all aspects of my life.

Looking forward to another year with everyone!

I discovered the 2018 thread earlier this year (waves to everyone). Between the pace of the thread and the roller coaster my life has been professionally and personally over the last year, I couldn’t keep up, but lurked regularly. The thread made me take a hard look about how I use ( or don’t use!) what I have. I look forward to making definitive goals for 2019 for my wardrobe and closets and seeing how I meet them. It is also great to see how many other ask and/ or struggle with the same feelings around to buy/use or not to!!!

 

[dcooney4]

For those who track bag usage, can you please share how you do this?

I use evernote on my phone and just made a list of the bags and then each day when I leave the house I put a little mark next to the bag I used. Very easy to do and something I can keep up .

 

[dcooney4]

Thanks for the tracking info, ladies! This may be crazy but I’m kind of wanting to do this with my H shawls as well. I love your ideas and I want to incorporate last worn date as well as a count!

Sounds like a good idea.

 

[dcooney4]

Posting my goals in the new thread so I can find them.

2019 Goals
1. 100% success rate on purchases
2. Sell up to 2 bags
3. Buy no more than 4 bags and 1 SLG

———
I’m going to jump in with a bag I’m considering selling. My ivory Chanel.

I don’t wear this bag often. I’ve never been in love with it but, felt I needed this color in my closet. My thinking at the time was that by getting ivory in a C classic flap, it could sit in my closet forever without going out of style so when I needed it, it would be there.

Now I can’t truly tell if I don’t wear it because I don’t want to wear the color or if I don’t love the bag. But, I think it’s the latter. I feel like I’d wear an ivory bag more if I loved it. This is a good amount of money to have tied up in a potentially underperforming bag.

What do you all think? How do I figure this out? It’s not just about trying to love the bag. I need to figure out if the color will make me happy and be a nice addition to my wardrobe.

Try and make as many outfits with the bag as you can and write it down somewhere. Make sure that you wouldn't grab a different bag with that outfit. I have had bags that I thought would work great with my style only to find I preferred other bags with those outfits so out it went.

 

[floodette]

i only have one bag in my 2019 wishlist (medium veneta), but i found one that i really like and i bought it already.

so no more bag for 2019.

as of using my old bags, i am not too sure to use all. simply because i move to smaller bag (bal small city size), so i know i will only very rarely wear my bigger bags. yet i dont wanna sell them because they are beautiful, and i may use them when the need arises

 

[msd_bags]

For those who track bag usage, can you please share how you do this?

I use both Evernote and Excel. I have a Note by month and I indicate what date of the month I wear a certain bag. At the end of each month I summarize using Excel, so I’ll know YTD usage, etc. I have a grouping for my bag - satchel/hand carry vs shoulder carry, so I get to monitor stats for those as well. My worksheet is almost 2 years complete by now!

On the left is a sample Evernote Note and on the right is my Excel worksheet. Those with blue highlights mean they have been rehomed. Kind of OCD huh?! [emoji3]

 

[Sparkletastic]

Sometimes you feel you need a color in your wardrobe, but you don't really, not if it isn't a color you will reach for. Ivory does nothing for me. I think you have wear a lot of pastels for it to work with your wardrobe. Since I wear mostly blacks and jeweltones, I don't need this color. I have a pale pink bag I don't use much for the same reason, even though I really love the bag and the color.

If it is a color you think you might use just once in awhile, maybe pick a less expensive bag. Or before you do that, keep track of all the occasions when you wished you had an ivory bag to carry.

Very good points. Like you, I tend to wear black and jewel tones. I think I’d be better off with a white bag (especially in summer) than ivory.

One of the things I do before buying a bag I think I need is keep track of how many times I wish I’d had the bag. I never got one tick mark for ivory. I bought this simply because I felt I needed it. Not the best decision

good options! count me in for 2! i'll do "New Year, New Bag" and wear my 3 latest acquisitions, as well as 10 on 31 to keep the rotation up

Yay! I love seeing you rotate your bags.

Try and make as many outfits with the bag as you can and write it down somewhere. Make sure that you wouldn't grab a different bag with that outfit. I have had bags that I thought would work great with my style only to find I preferred other bags with those outfits so out it went.

I tried the outfit thing. The problem is when I have opportunity to wear it, I just don’t want to. Lol!

And, I cringe to even say this. My love for Chanel classic flaps has waned a bit. (Oh no!!! I actually said this. LOL!) It’s not that I don’t love them, it’s that I like some other styles better because they seem fresher and more interesting. And my Jumbos seem so big on my frame.

By, I’m not going to sell because of “begness”. Trends will change and my eye will adjust. Then my smaller bags will start to look too small.

I dunno what to do about this ivory bag though.

i only have one bag in my 2019 wishlist (medium veneta), but i found one that i really like and i bought it already.

so no more bag for 2019.

as of using my old bags, i am not too sure to use all. simply because i move to smaller bag (bal small city size), so i know i will only very rarely wear my bigger bags. yet i dont wanna sell them because they are beautiful, and i may use them when the need arises

I agree. Don’t sell. As I mentioned above, our eyes will change when trends change and our bigger bags will start looking more attractive and fun again. And, sometimes we do need a bigger bag to actually carry things. Lol!

 

[Sparkletastic]

This is the shopping your closet thread so I don’t want to enable or tempt anyone. But, I’m curious.

What bag do you want or plan to buy this year. Is anything calling your name?

I’m still cuckoo for a Dior. The black WOC is AH-ma-zing!!!! Definitely a keeper. It fits my iPhone, keys, lip color, tissues, and tiny medicine container without stuffing or playing bag Tetris. Lol! It also actually fits my slimmer sunnies if I take out the tissues and med container (neither of which I have to carry). And, the leather is ridiculously supple and lush!!!

Mr. S. has been “fussing” since it came in that I didn’t let him get it right away and so, it could have been gone. He’s really a sweetie. Now that we are empty nest, he wants to be involved and buy my bags for me. It doesn’t make a difference since all our money is in the same pot but, I guess his male mind wants to “take care of the little woman.” And, I have to admit it makes me feel spoiled. It’s funny how the mind works. Hey, whatever works!

Anyway, now that I have 3 Dioramas, I’m fiending for another. Lol! And now that I like the WOC, I’d like a second (not necc a Diorama) in a metallic.

Other than that, the bags I’m super interested in are the Gucci Dionysus, Givenchy Antigona, Bal City and Lady Dior. I’ve wanted these last two for a while and can’t pull the trigger. Maybe this year, I will!!!

And, I want to keep adding interesting bags. My last 3 additions are all limited edition or limited run bags. I bought some great classics, now I like having a few bags with personality. I just don’t want anything trendy. Not at the price point I tend to buy now.

 

[Annabel Lee]

While choosing a different option can work, settling NEVER works. I’ve learned that the hard way.

I'm still struggling. If there is a specific bag I know I want (Hermes Bolide 31 etoupe or whatever), I'm really good at holding out for that particular bag in general.

But sometimes I don't have a bag in mind, and I just know I need a navy crossbody (for example). I get so tired of looking at all the options out there and not finding what I want and STILL needing that particular kind of bag in my closet that I give up and just get something because I worry that what I want doesn't exist.

How do others handle that?

I use both Evernote and Excel. I have a Note by month and I indicate what date of the month I wear a certain bag. At the end of each month I summarize using Excel, so I’ll know YTD usage, etc. I have a grouping for my bag - satchel/hand carry vs shoulder carry, so I get to monitor stats for those as well. My worksheet is almost 2 years complete by now!

On the left is a sample Evernote Note and on the right is my Excel worksheet. Those with blue highlights mean they have been rehomed. Kind of OCD huh?! [emoji3]

I love this! You're so organized!