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

[More bags]

Starting off the year by letting go of a bag that I was keeping because it was expensive and because it was "rounding out my collection". However, the only way I could use this bag was in the off chance I was going to a wedding, which rarely happens anymore, and as a smaller bag in a larger tote, but with the chain strap it was so heavy all by itself.
I feel bad not having it anymore, but hope someone else can put it to good use. It seems pointless to have it sit inside my closet to never see the light of day...

Congratulations on exiting this bag from your collection. I hope you feel lighter by not having to feel bad seeing it sit unused in your closet.

Today I gave away a sporty bag and listed two other less expensive bags. Then I dropped off some stuff at a consignment shop.
I had ordered two bags and a wallet before new year and counted them in then. One has already found a new home last week. The other wasn’t final sale so when it came with a non functional zipper I sent it back and exchanged for a different style which arrived today. I had already counted them in. Trying very hard not to add anything new for January.

Congratulations on your progress!

I went shopping today but didn't buy anything else than socks for me, I did buy a few things for mom since it was the sales and she is still really down and out from missing dad, so got her MaxMara cashmere sweaters, some other stuff and and a gorgeous cashmere scarf. Just making a parcel for her and hoping it will make her smile a little bit.

I am sorry to hear of your loss. What a lovely care package for your mom. Best wishes for you and your mom for taking it a day at a time. Sending hugs.

 

[More bags]

I'm so sorry for your loss. My mom passed over the holidays and I could have written your exact statement. It's very thoughtful of you to send her a care package.

I am sorry for your loss piperdog. I hope you are surrounded by and supported by the love of family and friends.

 

[dcooney4]

Gabs007 and piperdog I am so sorry for your loss.

 

[ohmisseevee]

Starting off the year by letting go of a bag that I was keeping because it was expensive and because it was "rounding out my collection". However, the only way I could use this bag was in the off chance I was going to a wedding, which rarely happens anymore, and as a smaller bag in a larger tote, but with the chain strap it was so heavy all by itself.
I feel bad not having it anymore, but hope someone else can put it to good use. It seems pointless to have it sit inside my closet to never see the light of day...

That is too bad. I felt the same way with a few of the bags I let go of late last year (though probably nothing as fancy/expensive as yours) - I liked all of them, but the styles or colors just didn't really suit me anymore. It does feel freeing to let go of things that no longer work, though. Maybe it makes room for something else that will be perfect, or it really streamlines your collection so you don't have excess.

--

I do have a quick progress report of my own - I gifted away one of my SLGs (a pink Pac Man ghost coin purse from Coach) and purchased a beautiful pebbled leather wallet from MIRTA. That means I'm 1 in and 1 out for 2020, with room for one more SLG this year. I hopefully have enough pretty zip pouches and coin purses for everything I might want to carry around in my larger bags, so the hunt for now is actually the perfect compact wallet.

I did actually have my sights set on something else for a compact wallet, but since I've been using my smaller purses lately I did want to have something smaller in the meantime I could use when they didn't fit my continental wallet comfortably or it would take up more space than I actually "needed", in proportion to the contents. (It is a bit of a shame, though - I love my Celine long zip wallet!) Unfortunately the wallet that I got was a little larger than I was expecting - I should have measured out the shape but decided to go for it anyway. It will still work for my smaller purses and adds a beautiful punch of electric blue inside, but I think I will eventually pick between:
- Mulberry Small Continental French Purse
- Celine Compact Zipped Wallet in Grained Calfskin
- LV Victorine Wallet in in Scarlet Monogram Empreinte Leather
- Hermes Silk'In Compact Wallet

I do prefer the zip closures of the Celine and Hermes wallets, but I liked the layout of the Mulberry wallet quite a bit with its inclusion of the zip pouch. I also liked how the Victorine Wallet looked and felt when I browsed in-store. None of the colors for the Celine wallet would be my preferred, but if they came out with a beautiful forest green or dark red...

I love the idea of having something from Hermes, but I think I might table the Hermes option for now because I do highly prefer a full-leather interior, which I do believe all three of the others have. Of the remaining three I have yet to check out the Celine or Mulberry options in person, but if the Celine is anything like my long zip, I know I will love how compact and "tight" it feels in my hands.

I would like to see how they all feel in-hand because I think pictures can be deceiving, and the idea of something may look great but might not function or execute as expected, especially once there are cards and cash and other things in it.

I do have a good long time to decide, luckily! I'd probably purchase this abroad - either when my partner and I go to Spain this year, or if I make a trip to Hong Kong to visit relatives. So my homework in the meantime is going to stores to browse and look at the different options in person to decide what fits my needs the best.

 

[Gabs007]

I am sorry to hear of your loss. What a lovely care package for your mom. Best wishes for you and your mom for taking it a day at a time. Sending hugs.

Hugs are always welcome, the thing that touched me most that during his last few days dad actually hugged me and stroked my hair and I was choking up, it is something that hasn't happened before, I guess his way of making peace. When I say it didn't happen before, I think it did when I was a baby, but I grew up with that you keep the stiff upper lip at all times and displays of affection are crude, embarrassing and only to be done in absolute privacy. Growing up it was kind of hard to stomach and I rebelled A LOT, now I understand that they were the product of a really strict upbringing, did their best but were caught in their own upbringing, as a teenager it is really hard to understand, I always thought they disliked me, as much as I strived to do academically and professionally well, I was always told I could do better. I now understand they were trying to push me and thought I would relax if I got praise, totally wrong, might have worked even harder for praise.
For mom getting things somebody bought for her, it's a sign that she is loved, she is still cared for, spent ages on the phone with her where she told me about her day, we went through dad's passing away and what lead up to it (which she hid from all of us, you know "illness doesn't happen in our family, memory loss because you are on meds, doesn't happen...) I told her she did her best.

Dad is at peace now, he is not suffering any longer, resentment is pretty pointless, there's only mom now and if sending her a parcel every 2 weeks, flying over twice a month and dragging her out by pretending I need to buy something, or I need a pedicure, etc., small price. I got a ton of frequent flyer miles just from traveling on business, might simply use them to book a few short trips for her and maybe one of the friends she has, then tell her she doesn't take it it will be lost (she does dislike waste) and tell her she can tell dad all about it when she visits his grave (I am not religious but mom is) and how he would approve. Since she was so used to a man making decisions, I think I blame DH (who she totally adores) and she will be much less likely to argue about it.

It's a bit nuts, I went out previously and got her handbags and cashmere sweaters, she praised DH's taste, I love DH very much, but he knows as much about fashion as I do about rocket science, but I guess for her men make the decisions (maybe I need a maternity test, lol, the apple fell quite far from the tree), I recall dad suffering through her buying handbags, he was always pretty exasperated and went "She has tons of them, why on earth does she need another one? Do I have to be dragged through a lo of stores and look at ugly things and decide which other one she needs to carry her wallet and keys in?" If it gives her comfort to think a man picked something out, I am totally cool with it.

 

[tealocean]

Yesterday I finally broke out the Coach Dreamer bag Dh got me for Christmas. I have to say it is very nicely made and I love the outside hidden pockets .

Beautiful Dreamer!

 

[Gabs007]

So far I´ve been bottom-feeding on preloved Dior bags from the Galliano era making amazing bargains. I truly love the Galliano designs. That´s where my real personal not fashion related passion lays!

Look, a bag will never make you happy, with what you describe the reward is even bigger because you make a bargain, the odd seller who found something in a thrift shop and doesn't know what they have. Don't laugh but the things in my wardrobe I cherish most are bargains and steals, makes it so much more valuable to me, so much more attached to them than items I paid full price for.

Being able to afford a fabulous bag, great, but again. that quick fix does not make your life better, if you lust after a particular bag, nothing wrong with it, really, lusting after luxury items pushed me to do well in university and business, but at the end of the day they are just that, luxury items. The 1st Prada wallet I bought as a student, from an outlet, doing extra shifts waitressing, it meant so much more to me than any bag I could afford, I cried when it was stolen (after more than 10 years of wear), not because of the money I had in it or the hassle of replacing the cards, just the sense of achievement and that I had a real Prada item and paid for it myself, never bought simply another one, as it would not be the same (though a fab wallet).

Bags and such are nice, but they are just the icing on the cake, if your life sucks no bag on earth will make it better, if your life is good, that bag is just another reason to smile, basically, as well made as they are, as beautiful as some of them are, as high the prices the designers slap on them, in reality they are only worth what somebody is willing to pay for them.

 

[whateve]

That is too bad. I felt the same way with a few of the bags I let go of late last year (though probably nothing as fancy/expensive as yours) - I liked all of them, but the styles or colors just didn't really suit me anymore. It does feel freeing to let go of things that no longer work, though. Maybe it makes room for something else that will be perfect, or it really streamlines your collection so you don't have excess.

--

I do have a quick progress report of my own - I gifted away one of my SLGs (a pink Pac Man ghost coin purse from Coach) and purchased a beautiful pebbled leather wallet from MIRTA. That means I'm 1 in and 1 out for 2020, with room for one more SLG this year. I hopefully have enough pretty zip pouches and coin purses for everything I might want to carry around in my larger bags, so the hunt for now is actually the perfect compact wallet.

I did actually have my sights set on something else for a compact wallet, but since I've been using my smaller purses lately I did want to have something smaller in the meantime I could use when they didn't fit my continental wallet comfortably or it would take up more space than I actually "needed", in proportion to the contents. (It is a bit of a shame, though - I love my Celine long zip wallet!) Unfortunately the wallet that I got was a little larger than I was expecting - I should have measured out the shape but decided to go for it anyway. It will still work for my smaller purses and adds a beautiful punch of electric blue inside, but I think I will eventually pick between:
- Mulberry Small Continental French Purse
- Celine Compact Zipped Wallet in Grained Calfskin
- LV Victorine Wallet in in Scarlet Monogram Empreinte Leather
- Hermes Silk'In Compact Wallet

I do prefer the zip closures of the Celine and Hermes wallets, but I liked the layout of the Mulberry wallet quite a bit with its inclusion of the zip pouch. I also liked how the Victorine Wallet looked and felt when I browsed in-store. None of the colors for the Celine wallet would be my preferred, but if they came out with a beautiful forest green or dark red...

I love the idea of having something from Hermes, but I think I might table the Hermes option for now because I do highly prefer a full-leather interior, which I do believe all three of the others have. Of the remaining three I have yet to check out the Celine or Mulberry options in person, but if the Celine is anything like my long zip, I know I will love how compact and "tight" it feels in my hands.

I would like to see how they all feel in-hand because I think pictures can be deceiving, and the idea of something may look great but might not function or execute as expected, especially once there are cards and cash and other things in it.

I do have a good long time to decide, luckily! I'd probably purchase this abroad - either when my partner and I go to Spain this year, or if I make a trip to Hong Kong to visit relatives. So my homework in the meantime is going to stores to browse and look at the different options in person to decide what fits my needs the best.

I never heard of MIRTA but I just looked at their website. Which wallet did you get? Do you like the quality? I'm looking at the one titled Re Artu flap wallet for her, but it is really a smaller accordion wallet. I think this might be perfect for me. Large enough to fit all my stuff but smaller than a full size wallet.

 

[ohmisseevee]

I never heard of MIRTA but I just looked at their website. Which wallet did you get? Do you like the quality? I'm looking at the one titled Re Artu flap wallet for her, but it is really a smaller accordion wallet. I think this might be perfect for me. Large enough to fit all my stuff but smaller than a full size wallet.

I got the MIRTA Flap Wallet in Electric Blue; https://www.mirta.com/collections/woman/products/flap-wallet-for-her-1 - I believe the same one you are looking at?

It's actually a nice size (you can probably tell, given the extra space around the credit card slots on each side in the pictures). The leather is really lovely - soft and supple and really luxurious to the touch, with some give. It's hard for me to gauge the quality of the hardware since I don't have many luxury/designer handbags, but it doesn't, but I don't like the zipper action as much as I do on my Celine Long Zip Wallet.

I was surprised that it had a fabric lining (this wasn't super clear from the description, though if I had looked at the pictures more carefully I would have seen the fabric interior or at least that it was a different color) - though the fabric feels relatively substantial, so I think it will stand up to use. I mentioned this in my feedback to MIRTA and they immediately added that detail to the description, which I appreciated.

I'm not a super big fan of the way the zipper pull is done, with two pieces of leather sewn right above the hardware but not all the way to the ends. It fits the look of the wallet but I think over time the pieces might get a little battered.

There's also a lot of extra space on the sides that I don't see the need for - but, this wallet might possibly fit shorter bills from other nations in the slip pockets? They definitely do not fit standard US bills (not long enough) without folding, but I can see the argument for extra space if it did fit standard EU bills, for example. I could definitely stuff a lot of loyalty cards and receipts without any problem into not just the slip pockets but also the main interior!

The accordion opening is very roomy, as is the zip pocket in the middle. It feels like a nice wallet and for the price, I appreciate knowing that it came from a small manufacturer and was hand-made from Italy. Two unexpected but nice things about ordering from MIRTA - one being that VAT/tax was already included in the cost of the item (I didn't have to pay additional!) and free shipping. It also arrived very quickly - I placed my order late on January 10th and it arrived at its destination on January 15th!

 

[ohmisseevee]

Also wanted to include a picture so you could get a better feel for the size, @whateve - I have a credit card sized object on top of the wallet and standard sized square post it notes below.

IMO it's not quite as small as I would hope from a compact wallet, but because of the shorter length it should still be more maneuverable in a smaller bag, which was my original goal. Plus, the electric blue color is super fun to look at!

 

[whateve]

I got the MIRTA Flap Wallet in Electric Blue; https://www.mirta.com/collections/woman/products/flap-wallet-for-her-1 - I believe the same one you are looking at?

It's actually a nice size (you can probably tell, given the extra space around the credit card slots on each side in the pictures). The leather is really lovely - soft and supple and really luxurious to the touch, with some give. It's hard for me to gauge the quality of the hardware since I don't have many luxury/designer handbags, but it doesn't, but I don't like the zipper action as much as I do on my Celine Long Zip Wallet.

I was surprised that it had a fabric lining (this wasn't super clear from the description, though if I had looked at the pictures more carefully I would have seen the fabric interior or at least that it was a different color) - though the fabric feels relatively substantial, so I think it will stand up to use. I mentioned this in my feedback to MIRTA and they immediately added that detail to the description, which I appreciated.

I'm not a super big fan of the way the zipper pull is done, with two pieces of leather sewn right above the hardware but not all the way to the ends. It fits the look of the wallet but I think over time the pieces might get a little battered.

There's also a lot of extra space on the sides that I don't see the need for - but, this wallet might possibly fit shorter bills from other nations in the slip pockets? They definitely do not fit standard US bills (not long enough) without folding, but I can see the argument for extra space if it did fit standard EU bills, for example. I could definitely stuff a lot of loyalty cards and receipts without any problem into not just the slip pockets but also the main interior!

The accordion opening is very roomy, as is the zip pocket in the middle. It feels like a nice wallet and for the price, I appreciate knowing that it came from a small manufacturer and was hand-made from Italy. Two unexpected but nice things about ordering from MIRTA - one being that VAT/tax was already included in the cost of the item (I didn't have to pay additional!) and free shipping. It also arrived very quickly - I placed my order late on January 10th and it arrived at its destination on January 15th!

Also wanted to include a picture so you could get a better feel for the size, @whateve - I have a credit card sized object on top of the wallet and standard sized square post it notes below.

IMO it's not quite as small as I would hope from a compact wallet, but because of the shorter length it should still be more maneuverable in a smaller bag, which was my original goal. Plus, the electric blue color is super fun to look at!

Thank you the detailed review! I have been looking for something like this. It is a little bigger than the compact wallet I've been using, which is just over 5 inches long by 3 3/4 inches tall. I think it would still fit into most of my smaller bags without having to leave a lot of stuff out. I'm fine with folding US money in half. I don't want to have to fold it more than that. Then it still has room for all the rewards cards and plenty of credit cards. The accordion shape is something I've been specifically looking for as I think it is so convenient to just leave it in my bag and pull out what I need. It's not super expensive and I do love the color. I wish it were just a tiny bit smaller. Most of the compact wallets I've looked at are much smaller and don't hold all my stuff.

 

[ohmisseevee]

Thank you the detailed review! I have been looking for something like this. It is a little bigger than the compact wallet I've been using, which is just over 5 inches long by 3 3/4 inches tall. I think it would still fit into most of my smaller bags without having to leave a lot of stuff out. I'm fine with folding US money in half. I don't want to have to fold it more than that. Then it still has room for all the rewards cards and plenty of credit cards. The accordion shape is something I've been specifically looking for as I think it is so convenient to just leave it in my bag and pull out what I need. It's not super expensive and I do love the color. I wish it were just a tiny bit smaller. Most of the compact wallets I've looked at are much smaller and don't hold all my stuff.

Price was factor for me, and I think the value is quite good if the functionality works for you. If you'd like I can definitely take a couple more pictures of how the wallet looks inside some of my smaller bags later tonight or this weekend, and DM them to you - my smallest bags are an LV Croisette, Celine Nano Belt, and YSL Mini Lou Camera bag. If you have similarly-sized handbags in this size group that might be helpful as well. I had a similar first impression regarding the size - I still think it's a touch larger than I would have purchased had I seen it in person first, but it's very comfortable and easy to use and I think if I were the type who stored lots of odds and ends in my wallet (receipts, papers, etc.) this would definitely be a great wallet for that.

What I've been doing lately is using a clutch-in-a-bag - I store absolute essentials (lip balm, wallet, phone, sometimes keys) in a clutch inside a larger handbag, and if I need to run out to do a quick errand or go out for a fun dinner/evening thing after work, or pop over to a friend's house, then I just grab the clutch and not the larger bag unless I need to bring the larger bag. I think this could be a great wallet to do something similar if you don't mind having to hold it or you have somewhere to put it on your person.

 

[whateve]

Price was factor for me, and I think the value is quite good if the functionality works for you. If you'd like I can definitely take a couple more pictures of how the wallet looks inside some of my smaller bags later tonight or this weekend, and DM them to you - my smallest bags are an LV Croisette, Celine Nano Belt, and YSL Mini Lou Camera bag. If you have similarly-sized handbags in this size group that might be helpful as well. I had a similar first impression regarding the size - I still think it's a touch larger than I would have purchased had I seen it in person first, but it's very comfortable and easy to use and I think if I were the type who stored lots of odds and ends in my wallet (receipts, papers, etc.) this would definitely be a great wallet for that.

What I've been doing lately is using a clutch-in-a-bag - I store absolute essentials (lip balm, wallet, phone, sometimes keys) in a clutch inside a larger handbag, and if I need to run out to do a quick errand or go out for a fun dinner/evening thing after work, or pop over to a friend's house, then I just grab the clutch and not the larger bag unless I need to bring the larger bag. I think this could be a great wallet to do something similar if you don't mind having to hold it or you have somewhere to put it on your person.

I'm inclined to get it. I've carried larger clutch type wallets most of the time. I've only recently switched to a smaller wallet. Then I don't have to switch wallets to carry a smaller bag.

 

[lynne_ross]

Gabs007 and piperdog sorry for your loss I lost my father last year and it was so difficult.

 

[Rhl2987]

Hugs are always welcome, the thing that touched me most that during his last few days dad actually hugged me and stroked my hair and I was choking up, it is something that hasn't happened before, I guess his way of making peace. When I say it didn't happen before, I think it did when I was a baby, but I grew up with that you keep the stiff upper lip at all times and displays of affection are crude, embarrassing and only to be done in absolute privacy. Growing up it was kind of hard to stomach and I rebelled A LOT, now I understand that they were the product of a really strict upbringing, did their best but were caught in their own upbringing, as a teenager it is really hard to understand, I always thought they disliked me, as much as I strived to do academically and professionally well, I was always told I could do better. I now understand they were trying to push me and thought I would relax if I got praise, totally wrong, might have worked even harder for praise.
For mom getting things somebody bought for her, it's a sign that she is loved, she is still cared for, spent ages on the phone with her where she told me about her day, we went through dad's passing away and what lead up to it (which she hid from all of us, you know "illness doesn't happen in our family, memory loss because you are on meds, doesn't happen...) I told her she did her best.

Dad is at peace now, he is not suffering any longer, resentment is pretty pointless, there's only mom now and if sending her a parcel every 2 weeks, flying over twice a month and dragging her out by pretending I need to buy something, or I need a pedicure, etc., small price. I got a ton of frequent flyer miles just from traveling on business, might simply use them to book a few short trips for her and maybe one of the friends she has, then tell her she doesn't take it it will be lost (she does dislike waste) and tell her she can tell dad all about it when she visits his grave (I am not religious but mom is) and how he would approve. Since she was so used to a man making decisions, I think I blame DH (who she totally adores) and she will be much less likely to argue about it.

It's a bit nuts, I went out previously and got her handbags and cashmere sweaters, she praised DH's taste, I love DH very much, but he knows as much about fashion as I do about rocket science, but I guess for her men make the decisions (maybe I need a maternity test, lol, the apple fell quite far from the tree), I recall dad suffering through her buying handbags, he was always pretty exasperated and went "She has tons of them, why on earth does she need another one? Do I have to be dragged through a lo of stores and look at ugly things and decide which other one she needs to carry her wallet and keys in?" If it gives her comfort to think a man picked something out, I am totally cool with it.

This is so touching. Thank you for sharing. A lot of this really resonates with me. Many teenagers are tough on their parents (if not all?), but not all adults are good to their parents. Being tough as a teenager may be one of your reasons for doing what you do now but it's also very clearly a choice you are making to be this good to your mother and what you do for her is truly wonderful and admirable.