2020 resolution - shopping my own bag and wallet collection. Any one else?

[Cookiefiend]

Here is my newest red bag contribution. Saw it in Saks and was like perfect for crossbody or clutch which we all know I adore. It’s strathberry. Such a cute little bag

That is cute! How do you like it? I’ve been curious about that bar - is it hard to get into?

 

[msd_bags]

@sexycombover - I totally hear you about feeling conflicted about taking low offers for bags. You say it so well - “literally paying for past poor buying choices”. I have a vintage Ferragamo classic gancini flap that I LOVE the look of but it just doesn’t suit my lifestyle or wardrobe. And I know I’d only get pennies on the dollar for it. But, in the spirit of this thread, I either need to use it or let it go...not languish in the back of my closet!

Vacations and sales are bad temptations for impulse purchases...but does anyone else also have problems with really nice salespeople? There have been a few independent boutiques where I’ve gotten to know the owner and then I almost feel pressured to support their business and buy every time I visit. Anyone else feel this? How do you leave a store gracefully without buying when you’ve spent a lot of time with the SA?

International vacations are really hard for me in terms of shopping temptation! The duties and taxes in my country are quite high, so international travels mean access to better priced items.

As to salespeople, I sometimes don't want to go to the boutique (which is a good deterrent for buying) when an SA has been very accommodating during past visits and then I see her inside and I know for sure I am not buying now. Does anybody share this feeling/behavior with me?

 

[missie1]

It is so cheerful and beautiful!

Thanks. It was so cute I was like I can use this when traveling

 

[missie1]

That is cute! How do you like it? I’ve been curious about that bar - is it hard to get into?

I haven’t carried it yet. It’s surprisingly very easy to get in and out of the bar flap

 

[sexycombover]

Here is my newest red bag contribution. Saw it in Saks and was like perfect for crossbody or clutch which we all know I adore. It’s strathberry. Such a cute little bag

I love strathberry's trademark esthetic. I own a midi beige and vanilla bicolor tote but haven't cut off the tags since I kept flip flopping on if I overspent on it. Curious if you got it on sale or full price.

 

[lynne_ross]

At least it means you get use out of your blazers! I suffer from a blazer condition where I buy them and then rarely use them. I have mostly JCrew and other like brands, but I just got a number of Chanel ones and I need to wear them!!

Does anyone have tips for how to wear a blazer in winter? Do you try to fit a jacket over it? I think it would be too cold to wear the blazer outside by itself, but most of my jackets won't fit over a blazer.

I need to wear suits for work and so I have separate jackets that fit over suit jackets. Then more snug coats for when I am not wearing a blazer. It is annoying have 2 sets but winter jackets need to be snug to keep me warm.

 

[TankerToad]

How does one NOT wear a blazer in Winter? Or any other season?

But I get what you mean with fitted coats. So some solutions:

Wear a cape or, weather permitting, one of those blankets. OR wear your coat as a cape, on top of the blazer.
Fur coats and puffer jackets tend to have more arm room.
Keep a blazer in the office, you go there wearing a top under your coat, and put it on at work.
Use a thick blazer (tweed, courdroy) as a coat. Get it one size bigger, wear a knit underneath and wrap a big scarf on top.
I have a Moncler jacket that has zipped sleeves. If you open them up completely it is almost like a cape. It is perfect for blazers. So of course I had to get two of them

Wow - you have thought this out - amazing post -are we separated at birth?
When not chasing around the world, my home climate is COLD. So blazers under coats are a given. However and therefore I have an extraordinarily large amount of coats - wear them ALL- sometimes as even regular wear; if the event is outdoors (Ribbon cutting or dedications, speeches etc)
So there is another layer to my “condition” - Keep saying: NO. MORE. COATS. - then I buy another coat - UGH!

 

[TankerToad]

I need to wear suits for work and so I have separate jackets that fit over suit jackets. Then more snug coats for when I am not wearing a blazer. It is annoying have 2 sets but winter jackets need to be snug to keep me warm.

Understand this completely. No judgment here

 

[More bags]

I need a love button for your post. Great job managing, analyzing and enjoying your bags!

I’ve never analyzed use by color. I’ll have to track that this year.

And, I love the sentiment that we once craved the things we have. So enjoy!

I am SO very happy for you. This has to be a frustrating and scary time. Yay! For your recovery!
I love book recommendations!
Oh no! We need each other the most when we fall. I’ve been on this thread and bought 15 bags in a year and the ladies helped me FINALLY get to sanity. At one point, I didn’t buy a bag for almost 2 years. So, this is a no shame zone. We help each other always!
Pretty!!!

Thanks for your kind words Sparkle. Credit goes to @Cookiefiend for being the first to share her colour usage.

Reading everyone’s goals and getting inspired.
This is a big year for me. I will be leaving my long-time corporate job in a few months to venture in new waters. That means new wardrobe needs, but also significantly less income for the time being so I am going to have to thread carefully!

So, joining this thread with these 2020 goals:

- Stop buying blazers! I have already sold my non-denim Balmains and a couple others. But I have also just fell for a Ganni one on the sale... Not a big expense but blazers are my weakness and I need to keep that in check.

- Don’t add to my total number of handbags. That doesn’t mean not buying a new handbag, as my needs are going to change. But if one comes in one goes out, no way around it. I am quite happy with my handbags at the moment, so if I buy anything, I should like it better than something I already have.

- Repeat to myself like a mantra: I have no need for more coats. And truly, I don’t.

- Set up a budget for fashion/clothes and stick to it religiously.

- Within that budget, buy more vintage/ pre-loved. I don’t tend to buy pre loved clothes but when I have done I have been very happy, so I want to explore that more as I am attracted by the sustainability aspect, the chase for unique pieces, and, of course, the prices.

- Take proper care of my clothes: mend buttons, deal with stains and small repairs quickly, handwash, take shoes regularly to the cobbler (better yet, learn how to properly treat leather shoes and bags) keep them tidy and well stored, that sort of thing.

I am sure there will be more. Work in progress.

Wishing everybody the best possible start of the decade!

Great goals! Best wishes with your career transition. Blazers are awesome!

 

[More bags]

Two bags out so far this month. One had been sitting around for a very long time. Happy it finally went.

Congratulations on your sales, two bags out is awesome!

I recently sold an item that has been sitting in my closet for a while. I managed to get precisely what I paid for it back. It feels good and much lighter.

What a score - congratulations!

Gorgeous!! I have red bag envy right now.



I recently let go of five bags that had literally been sitting in my closet for at least several years, because the styles just didn't suit my wardrobe and I simply never reached for them. I think part of the problem, too, was that I didn't have an easy way to transfer my belongings from one bag to another - all of my little items, chapstick and random papers/receipts and so on, would just be stuffed haphazardly in whatever pockets my bag had - and that has definitely changed as of last year, as I now have a small collection of lovely SLGs that are helping with organizing in my handbags.

But I am glad I let go of them. Two of them went to a friend who re-gifted to her mom and her brother's girlfriend, and the other four went to another friend and her family. To me, the bags are more valuable gone because they free up closet space, but also because I know they will enjoy more use with someone else.

One of those bags was a (giant) Gucci canvas shopper tote with an included thick shoulder/messenger strap. My friend (who is a teacher, and has great need of large bags as a result) was SO happy to receive it. It almost made my heart burst to see her joy, as a fellow lover of beautiful bags.

I definitely have a problem with buying stuff on vacation. For me, it's like having a little memento of my trip with me once I'm back home. My most recent case was a Celine Nano Belt Bag that I purchased when I was on my solo trip to Switzerland - I took a quick detour/trip to visit friends in Milan, and on my last day there just strolled around a Rinascente shopping center looking at beautiful luxury handbags, and just couldn't resist the siren call (I had fallen in love with the bag during an earlier trip to Italy, when I walked away with only a beautiful continental zip wallet).

I do have to admit that it's such a beautiful bag. I love using it and I also remember the great lengths I went to in order to get my VAT refund!

Thank you for the bag love.
Congratulations on moving five bags out of your closet! Thanks for sharing your lovely stories of how you delighted many other people!

Thank you!

Ooo - gorgeous leather! I'm not familiar with this style - it looks very interesting!

Congratulations!!

What a beauty!

Congratulations! 5 bags out is huge, and how wonderful it is to have given a bag to a friend who was so happy to receive it.

Thank you Cookie!

 

[More bags]

Here is my newest red bag contribution. Saw it in Saks and was like perfect for crossbody or clutch which we all know I adore. It’s strathberry. Such a cute little bag

missie this is such a cute bag. I love how it is versatile for crossbody or clutch carry.

 

[More bags]

Thank you! So far, so good, though I have been tempted a couple of times. I'm planning a trip in March to an area with a lot of great shopping, so now I'm actually going to make it no extra spending in January AND February. Eeek.

I love all of this so much. Great analysis on all your stats, and I love the guiding principles you put forth.

Thank you for your kind words. It’s wonderful to have a trip to look forward to. I am joining you for no extra spending in January. Best wishes for two months of no extra spending, I will cheer you on!

 

[Mulberrygal]

@tenKrat I love your gorgeous red Dora!

@Cookiefiend Contributing to the line up of red bags, I shopped my closet and today I carried my red Chanel Reissue 226.

Gorgeous, I love red ❤️

 

[missie1]

I love strathberry's trademark esthetic. I own a midi beige and vanilla bicolor tote but haven't cut off the tags since I kept flip flopping on if I overspent on it. Curious if you got it on sale or full price.

I initially paid fp then it went on sale and I called Saks and got price adjustment. I like the price point for a crossbody/ clutch.

 

[Mulberrygal]

A bit late posting but my Stats for the year look outwardly quite good for me but looks can be deceptive

Bags +5 -4
SLG +3 -2
Scarves +1 -4

Also 3 are still unsold at Consignment............I darent include, don't want to jinx their sales

I don't feel I did at all well as my intentions were just to move some on last year but Sep/Nov I had a big hiccup:-
+ 3 expensive new small bags and out 4 not so expensive larger bags (+2 at consignment)

Purchasing 3 smaller everyday bags meant my larger wallets weren't practical and as a result:-
+3 small coin/card and out went 2 large (+1 at consignment)

This years good intentions to follow in next post