2021 Resolution: Shopping my own bag and SLG collection. Any one else?

[Sparkletastic]

NOVEMBER ACTIVITIES

1. Bags by Brand Showcase!

Each week, share photos of your bags from the specified brands. Choose a posed “beauty” shot or get your bags out and about in action shots!

We highlight 3 brands per week: 2 premier and 1 contemporary in alphabetical order as listed on tPF. Any brands not listed are showcased in our last week. Brands change to the next set each Sunday.

Our first brand week starts now - Sunday, Oct 31. Please share photos of bags from these brands:

• Bottega Venetta
• Burberry
• Alexander Wang

Tip: Grab your photos from last year in the 2020 resolution thread. Search your user name and the brand to find your photos.

2. Special Stories
Thanks @Claudia Herzog for the suggestion

Wear a bag that has a backstory involving a person, place, or opportunity for which you feel grateful.

 

[Bag peace]

I'm struggling to catch up on all the posts!

@SouthernPurseGal Congrats on the home! Can't wait to see your transformed closet.

@dcooney4 I adore that MZ wallace! Glad you didn't wait any longer to use it.

@papertiger Congrats on the gorgeous Calvi! It's absolutely lovely!

@Sparkletastic So happy to see you back to regular posting.

@Hazzelnut Love that you're going for more drives. It's a good way to refresh. Gorgeous bag.

@JenJBS Your cat has captured my heart! We need more photos! And I need to check out your showcase to see what you've added.

@ElainePG I hope you're feeling better and your recovery is going smoothly. Hope to see you back to posting soon.

 

[Bag peace]

A lot of chaos in my world right now but I'll keep my post on topic for once!
I got a call from my regular SA to inform me that her boutique will be closing as they can't sustain themselves with all the lockdowns. I've been buying my bags from there regularly ever since I moved to this city.
They're giving their regular customers first dibs on clearance items as they start to clear their inventory. I was offered a Hammitt (but in GHW which I already have bags in, so that was an easy No from me); as well as a bag by Les Petits Joueurs, which is a brand I've not tried before.
The LPJ bag was yellow with a cute lego closure. I was quite tempted by the colour (it's a colour that I don't have and is on my wish list), the great leather, the unique twist on a simple bag design, but in the end I decided to say No to that one, too.
As much as I like my quirky bags, this one felt like I'd tire of it very quickly. There's quirky and there's straight up childish and this one felt like the latter. It looked a bit like something one could pick up at Claire's.
I don't know if it's a popular brand on the forums and do wonder if I'll regret the decision down the line because the quality seemed to be really good, but for now I think I've done the right thing.
I'm going to miss the boutique. My SA was awesome and always notified me of Hammitt sales before they were officially announced. We had great rapport and I really do hope she lands on her feet. A lot of businesses just can't sustain in these conditions and I really feel for everyone involved.

I also made an unexpected decision with regards to another bag. I had previously posted my Halston clutches and raved about them. They're amongst my favourite bags in my collection and I'm always on the hunt for another. Well, another turned up in a great colour! This one is a more difficult choice and I have to think harder about it. I adore these bags but I already own 2 of them.

On the one hand, I already know they function very well for me and I would use the new one if I bought it, but I don't usually do multiples of the same bag and think I would rather have variety. There are exceptions though; I have 2 MBMJ Natasha bags because those are my work/office bag, and as I said, 2 of these clutches. I do feel like a 3rd would be superfluous but I'm not sure. I might actually kick myself if I don't get it because they're quite difficult to find.
There's also the knowledge that I can paint one of mine a different colour if I get bored of it, rather than adding yet another bag to my large collection, so that's another reason not to buy.
Evidently (!!!) I'm not sure what I'll decide in the end but, I know that I'm not impulsively adding bags to my collection and that's a good thing.

 

[More bags]

I feel the same about tights vs pantyhose.
I love green and blue together too. I have a green bag that sometimes I wear with a blue strap.View attachment 4967696

Gorgeous saturated colours whateve. I would have a huge smile carrying this bag, so cheerful.

A lot of chaos in my world right now but I'll keep my post on topic for once!
I got a call from my regular SA to inform me that her boutique will be closing as they can't sustain themselves with all the lockdowns. I've been buying my bags from there regularly ever since I moved to this city.
They're giving their regular customers first dibs on clearance items as they start to clear their inventory. I was offered a Hammitt (but in GHW which I already have bags in, so that was an easy No from me); as well as a bag by Les Petits Joueurs, which is a brand I've not tried before.
The LPJ bag was yellow with a cute lego closure. I was quite tempted by the colour (it's a colour that I don't have and is on my wish list), the great leather, the unique twist on a simple bag design, but in the end I decided to say No to that one, too.
As much as I like my quirky bags, this one felt like I'd tire of it very quickly. There's quirky and there's straight up childish and this one felt like the latter. It looked a bit like something one could pick up at Claire's.
I don't know if it's a popular brand on the forums and do wonder if I'll regret the decision down the line because the quality seemed to be really good, but for now I think I've done the right thing.
I'm going to miss the boutique. My SA was awesome and always notified me of Hammitt sales before they were officially announced. We had great rapport and I really do hope she lands on her feet. A lot of businesses just can't sustain in these conditions and I really feel for everyone involved.

I also made an unexpected decision with regards to another bag. I had previously posted my Halston clutches and raved about them. They're amongst my favourite bags in my collection and I'm always on the hunt for another. Well, another turned up in a great colour! This one is a more difficult choice and I have to think harder about it. I adore these bags but I already own 2 of them.

On the one hand, I already know they function very well for me and I would use the new one if I bought it, but I don't usually do multiples of the same bag and think I would rather have variety. There are exceptions though; I have 2 MBMJ Natasha bags because those are my work/office bag, and as I said, 2 of these clutches. I do feel like a 3rd would be superfluous but I'm not sure. I might actually kick myself if I don't get it because they're quite difficult to find.
There's also the knowledge that I can paint one of mine a different colour if I get bored of it, rather than adding yet another bag to my large collection, so that's another reason not to buy.
Evidently (!!!) I'm not sure what I'll decide in the end but, I know that I'm not impulsively adding bags to my collection and that's a good thing.

@jblended, congratulations on all of your mindful purchasing decisions, you are on fire! It is really sad to see a favourite boutique go out of business.
@880 commented earlier on buying multiple colours of a style that works for her, I agree. I also agree with @Purses & Perfumes about wanting to maintain diversity of styles and not have duplicates, however, I have no guilt with having a red and black version of my favourite bag, Chanel Reissue 226. I think I am getting to a point where I worry less about any rules I’ve defined for myself and just enjoy what I have. I don’t know whether to encourage you or discourage you at this moment. I know you’ll make the right decision for you.

 

[Sparkletastic]

I'm a big fan of getting the same style in different colors. I've done it with clothes for many years. I'm petite, so it's always been hard to find clothes that fit me well, so when I did, I'd get multiples - shirts or dresses in different colors; jeans and black pants in the same color, or a pair of grey pants in the same style as the black pants. I've started doing it with bags in different colors the last few years. With jewelry pieces I love, I will get them in a couple different metals.

I am a HUGE fan of multiples. Because I’m picky and I hate to shop, when I find something I love, it’s a victory and a relief! I have multiples in every category but jewelry. And, given that I’ve gone from hating Cartier love bracelets to suddenly loving them - I must have a vitamin deficiency. It’s like my brain woke up one day and chose violence - that may start a multiples craze there.

Purse and Perfumes ,
I am so guilty of buying the same bag in multiples. As long as it’s a different color I will purchase. I’m a flap girl so everything I buy is always the flap version lol

I am hopelessly bitten by the flap bag bug. I’ve given up even trying to fight it.

Oooh, any pictures of your red jumbo? The Red this season is too orange for me so I’m still holding out hope!

This is my baby which used to be my HG: red lamb Jumbo classic DF w/shw
Some of you may remember I first bought a dark burgundy / blood red medium and returned it because I didn’t like the shade. Then I bought a red caviar SF. I tried to love it but the caviar seemed plasticky to me. Then I bought this lovely lady.... but I didn’t want to sell the caviar SF. It took me 6 months to make myself finally sell but it was the right decision. I love, love, LOVE this bag.

LOL. Yep, gotta be careful who your friends are!

Here it is. Forgive the Kipling photo bomb. How dare I pay attention to the ring, rather than him?!?!?

View attachment 4967619

Awww! Cute kitty!
Love the ring!! The shape is so pretty.

I love how the colors go together. Dark blue and green is actually a lovely combination that we don't see enough of! I have a dark blue dress which has green and white piping on the sleeves in the exact shades above, and it's one of my favorites.

I really like buying multiples when it comes to clothing staples too, especially since things get discontinued or changed so often in the world of clothing.

You know what you love and what works for you, and that's always a good thing! Would love to see your collection of flap bags. Like you, I too wish I had bought the classic medium flap a few years ago. I kept dithering and watching the price climb and still kept dithering....

@Sparkletastic, there is always talk about big bags coming back, but nothing seems definitive. I've always loved medium sized bags, so I will stick to them no matter what the trends dictate.
Regarding tights versus pantyhose, I always thought of pantyhose as the sheer version, and tights as the slightly thicker version, more suited to winter wear, and also made of a different material. I have a pair of black tights that I wear with dresses during cooler weather.

I keep reading posts and articles about bigger bags but they really aren’t roaring back in. I’m very surprised because mini and small bags have been “in” for a while now.

I have some additions and deletions since last time they were photographed. I will have to pull them out for updated group photo soon. I am waiting on @Sparkletastic to get the weekly colors going so I can use that as motivation to get everything out of the closet, photographed and put away without DH seeing lol. Chanel has officially lost their minds with this last price increase. Almost 8k for jumbo no way and I doing that. I’m like 5k is my limit in chanel now. Luckily I’m content with my current Jumbos. What color medium are you considering

Oh my god! on Chanel prices!!! I didn’t look at bags in 2020. So, I got a crazy shock when I started looking again this year. The quality isn’t what it was and yet the prices are skyrocketing?? How does this make sense.

If I want to add something C, it will be a serendipitous preowned find at a great price. I’m considering getting a black caviar medium to replace the black patent jumbo I sold. But, I want SF. So I’ll have to look seasonal. Or, maybe Dior will stop their craziness and get back to designs I love.

 

[Sparkletastic]

Nice, post pics when you get it!

Dior is a brand I’ve not owned yet but I do love that little square satchel - is that the lady Dior?



Oddly enough, my mom and I once got into a MASSIVE fight over the nylon / tights wording. I referred to them as the same thing and my mom was NOT HAVING IT lol.



I buy the same shirts, sweaters, and slacks in different colors but yeah most of the time want so many various handbags that I usually can’t ‘rationalize’ getting the same in different colors.

Yep. This is a Lady Dior. They come in multiple sizes and have an optional shoulder strap. I keep waiting for the right one for me because I do love the bags. But since I don’t need one, I want it to be special.

Ah yes, the weekly colors will be fun. Looking forward to seeing your bags and everyone's bags when that gets under way. I am not really sure I will add a medium flap, but if I did, it would probably be a black or grey lambskin in gold hardware. And I agree about the prices; I would not get the jumbo at that price point either.

The only really big bags I own are tote bags for those days when I need to carry a lot of stuff (which hasn't happened in a year). I simply don't see the point of a micro bag which doesn't even hold a phone. Even with evening bags, I need for them to hold a phone, a card case and keys at the very least. The nice thing about medium sized bags is that they will always be in style....

We’ll do color weeks in March. It should be fun as we have lots of new members and veteran members seem to have done some fun curating over the last year.

@doni,
Panty hose - a name for the ‘weird ‘nude’ sheer shades that didn’t work for anyone in thr 1970s and 1980s, when women were supposed To wear skirted suits, button down silk shirts with tied blw collars, no pants allowed.
stockings - opaque or sheer thigh highs or gartered hose without an attached panty, or patterned sheer pantyhose.
tights- opaque hose with attached panty often referred to by denier.
that’s how I see it, but I could be mistaken.
@JenJBS, love your wooden furniture. on the home decor thread.
@Purses & Perfumes, the blue and green dress sounds gorgeous! And perfect with the lady diors. I wore malmaison for a few days, and then started to worry that I would run out (so bought a vintage bottle that has evaporation but is still sealed. (I periodically did an eBay Etsy search). I love your macadamia Vara with your narciso and shall mar
@Hazzelnut, glad you got to use your beautiful grail chanel on a drive. It looks stunning on your lap!

70’s and 80’s? No, the horror of the pantyhose mandate lasted well into the early aughts. I graduated grad school in ‘00 and had to wear pantyhose at each of my next two positions through 2010. I will do anything now not to wear them. Yet, whenever my mom sees my “naked” legs she almost has to take to her fainting couch.

One of those jobs was in a large financial services firm. I also had to wear skirt suits in navy, grey or black and sensible pumps. I despised the job, the culture and the dress code. Yuck!

A lot of chaos in my world right now but I'll keep my post on topic for once!
I got a call from my regular SA to inform me that her boutique will be closing as they can't sustain themselves with all the lockdowns. I've been buying my bags from there regularly ever since I moved to this city.
They're giving their regular customers first dibs on clearance items as they start to clear their inventory. I was offered a Hammitt (but in GHW which I already have bags in, so that was an easy No from me); as well as a bag by Les Petits Joueurs, which is a brand I've not tried before.
The LPJ bag was yellow with a cute lego closure. I was quite tempted by the colour (it's a colour that I don't have and is on my wish list), the great leather, the unique twist on a simple bag design, but in the end I decided to say No to that one, too.
As much as I like my quirky bags, this one felt like I'd tire of it very quickly. There's quirky and there's straight up childish and this one felt like the latter. It looked a bit like something one could pick up at Claire's.
I don't know if it's a popular brand on the forums and do wonder if I'll regret the decision down the line because the quality seemed to be really good, but for now I think I've done the right thing.
I'm going to miss the boutique. My SA was awesome and always notified me of Hammitt sales before they were officially announced. We had great rapport and I really do hope she lands on her feet. A lot of businesses just can't sustain in these conditions and I really feel for everyone involved.

I also made an unexpected decision with regards to another bag. I had previously posted my Halston clutches and raved about them. They're amongst my favourite bags in my collection and I'm always on the hunt for another. Well, another turned up in a great colour! This one is a more difficult choice and I have to think harder about it. I adore these bags but I already own 2 of them.

On the one hand, I already know they function very well for me and I would use the new one if I bought it, but I don't usually do multiples of the same bag and think I would rather have variety. There are exceptions though; I have 2 MBMJ Natasha bags because those are my work/office bag, and as I said, 2 of these clutches. I do feel like a 3rd would be superfluous but I'm not sure. I might actually kick myself if I don't get it because they're quite difficult to find.
There's also the knowledge that I can paint one of mine a different colour if I get bored of it, rather than adding yet another bag to my large collection, so that's another reason not to buy.
Evidently (!!!) I'm not sure what I'll decide in the end but, I know that I'm not impulsively adding bags to my collection and that's a good thing.

Whatever you decide, we need pics!!

 

[msd_bags]

I try to remember to wear a mask when I dust but I always have more problems sleeping in the bedroom the night after I dusted in there. I switched to unscented everything a very long time ago, after I got hives when I was pregnant. I haven't used fabric softener in ages either. The only antihistamine that works for me is one of the old kind that makes me drowsy so I only take it at night. My allergy symptoms used to be intermittent but now they are all the time, every day. I'm glad I don't have to go out in public much because I can imagine how many dirty looks I would get from people thinking I am spreading covid. I mostly just have a cough, not much runny nose or eyes.

Twice I did allergy shots - once for a year, and once for two years. When I was getting the shots, they worked but less than 6 months after I stopped, the symptoms came back. The last time, the doctor didn't know what to do after that. Allergy shots aren't supposed to be given indefinitely.

DH has congestion that hits him every evening. The doctors couldn't identify what was causing it or give him any medicine to help. He had the allergy tests but nothing came up. They said it could be environmental. You can have reactions to chemicals but allergy tests only test for natural items.

I have an adult onset of allergies. My sister-doctor wants me to be regularly on nasal spray and Levocetirizine, but, I only use/take them when I feel the beginning of one. Then once I feel better, I stop. I didn’t have this problem growing up!! Growing old brings a lot of ‘surprises’.
Wearing of mask this covid time has helped reduce my allergy incidents.

Wait you have carpeting?

So I am in Asia. And back in the day, the rich would have carpeted bedrooms, maybe even hallways. But normally not the living area. I dreamt of having a carpeted bedroom. Now, it is our old wood floors that hold so much value!

I love all of this pics and your style! That massai looks so lush and cuddly.

@Sparkletastic, my initial reaction was of course you can mix metallics (But perhaps I was thinking of jewelry set far apart. I read everyone’s differing opinions and found myself agreeing with their prevailing consensus not to and found @missie1 ’s post really resonated (all the times my mom asks me re her outfits with matched metallic shoes and bag, I realized I take one out In line with @missie1).

@whateve, I have asthma and allergies. The scratch tests didn’t help bc I get hives easily and have sensitive skin, but the blood tests did to a certain extent. (Since they said I’m allergic to rice ans bananas, I took them with a grain of salt).

I avoid soy bc of thyroid issues. I suggest you try filipino fried rice. It’s just rice fried with oil and lots of garlic or granulatEd garlic, no soy, so it remains light golden. I grew up in the US, so I bastardize it with truffle butter or duck fat, but Filipinos serve it with fried fish so small and crisp (the size of a sliver)you can eat the entire thing, sautéed chewy beef, delicious slices of fried chinese sausage (The red one that is no doubt carcinogenic), and fried sunny side up eggs (all on the table mingling harmoniously with fresh fruit platters).

I dream about food too. It makes it hard to diet. I make big things once a week for my small social bubble and then have leftovers for everyone. The week it’s an eight pound chuck shoulder pot roast with a reduction of Pinot noir and frozen beef stock from a prior event. (Before and after - it shrunk a lot even with a very low oven) The rest of the week, it’s relatively quick chops and such (bc we are meat eaters) here’s an early picture (I periodically remove from the oven and reduce the wine sauce separately)

View attachment 4966965 View attachment 4967121 View attachment 4967144
@indiaink, I’m going to Google African peanut butter stew. Thanks

@SouthernPurseGal, DH and I also prefer wood floors with area rugs (also what we will do in our second apt) , but, with plantar fasc, DHs flatter feet and my ankle issues, I can definitely see the benefit of comfy wall to wall as we get older. Plus, if you put in wall to wall and designed your furnishings around that, I’d be reluctant to remove. But especially during covid, I could not imagine scheduling a massive move and renovation that would uproot us for the time it takes. For one, DH would absolutely refuse to do so based on covid safety, workers inside our home and the sheer utter hell of living through it. I haven’t seen any apartments with wall to wall in years though. JMO.

Oohhh, our fried rice, and breakfast meals!!! The usual fried rice has sauteed garlic and salt. In hotels and restaurants that serve breakfast here, they normally have a selection of Filipino breakfast and Continental/American breakfast. Filipino breakfast is rice based, paired with meats as you described. Even your typical hotdogs could be served with fried rice and choice of egg (sunny side up, scrambled, hard boiled, etc.) Then maybe a little sidings of chutney. And as you said, a small fruit platter.

Oh and we are finally under contract!!!!!

The following is just a mental happy dance about the master closet:

View attachment 4967062

Just look at the size of that walk-in with a window! With just $1500 worth of Ikea Pax walk in organizing closets installed you can morph it into my dream closet that would be like this on one side(except the shelves would be lit) :
View attachment 4967073
And this on the other(except I'm not sure I want doors) :
View attachment 4967074
But obviously since my walk in is not a full height room at the sides near the wall so I would have these modular closets configured into a shorter but wider shape To match my room's dimensions. But the style would be the same. A vanity station at the window is a must. With a mirror to apply makeup in natural light. And we will have dark wood floors and I would want a ridiculously girly chandelier like in the first pic and a fluffy white rug in the center and a trifold mirror when you first walk in, off to the right . And a cute and comfy chair on theme ( princess baroque) when you first walk in off to the left . So someone could make themselves comfortable while they help you select an outfit. And a large soft (Velvety chenille jacquard upholstered) Ottoman in the center. And sound design in the master bath and adjacent closet. Luckily my husband is, in his off hours, an audiophile and sound technician.

I’m so excited for you!!!

 

[msd_bags]

I'm struggling to catch up on all the posts!

Same here!!

A lot of chaos in my world right now but I'll keep my post on topic for once!
I got a call from my regular SA to inform me that her boutique will be closing as they can't sustain themselves with all the lockdowns. I've been buying my bags from there regularly ever since I moved to this city.
They're giving their regular customers first dibs on clearance items as they start to clear their inventory. I was offered a Hammitt (but in GHW which I already have bags in, so that was an easy No from me); as well as a bag by Les Petits Joueurs, which is a brand I've not tried before.
The LPJ bag was yellow with a cute lego closure. I was quite tempted by the colour (it's a colour that I don't have and is on my wish list), the great leather, the unique twist on a simple bag design, but in the end I decided to say No to that one, too.
As much as I like my quirky bags, this one felt like I'd tire of it very quickly. There's quirky and there's straight up childish and this one felt like the latter. It looked a bit like something one could pick up at Claire's.
I don't know if it's a popular brand on the forums and do wonder if I'll regret the decision down the line because the quality seemed to be really good, but for now I think I've done the right thing.
I'm going to miss the boutique. My SA was awesome and always notified me of Hammitt sales before they were officially announced. We had great rapport and I really do hope she lands on her feet. A lot of businesses just can't sustain in these conditions and I really feel for everyone involved.

I also made an unexpected decision with regards to another bag. I had previously posted my Halston clutches and raved about them. They're amongst my favourite bags in my collection and I'm always on the hunt for another. Well, another turned up in a great colour! This one is a more difficult choice and I have to think harder about it. I adore these bags but I already own 2 of them.

On the one hand, I already know they function very well for me and I would use the new one if I bought it, but I don't usually do multiples of the same bag and think I would rather have variety. There are exceptions though; I have 2 MBMJ Natasha bags because those are my work/office bag, and as I said, 2 of these clutches. I do feel like a 3rd would be superfluous but I'm not sure. I might actually kick myself if I don't get it because they're quite difficult to find.
There's also the knowledge that I can paint one of mine a different colour if I get bored of it, rather than adding yet another bag to my large collection, so that's another reason not to buy.
Evidently (!!!) I'm not sure what I'll decide in the end but, I know that I'm not impulsively adding bags to my collection and that's a good thing.

It’s sad that this boutique is closing, and a lot of many other businesses for that matter. I hope the world economy bounces back.

——
And then I heat here about the Chanel price increase??! Crazy world! (I’m a bit out of touch with new bag releases. I don’t take a look at my usual sites. I just don’t feel bags now that things are crazy. I’m now spending (a relatively much smaller amount) on baking stuff (a renewed hobby), and much NEEDED (not just aesthetics) home improvements!

 

[whateve]

Thank you so much @880!
I am loving all of your food talk, the pictures and the links to articles.
I was talking with my SIL today that during Covid, food has become more central to our family’s daily routine and it is my main luxury. I had virtual Book Club last night and we talked about anxiety and having a hobby or distraction that requires your hands and focus on the present and what you are doing. One friend has daughters who were gifted needlepoint sets and they love them. For me, cooking and baking is a great tool to focus on the present and concentrate on creating something with my hands and that my family loves to consume.


Your floors are beautiful BowieFan, they absolutely gleam!

Beautiful classic flap and such a wonderful thought to contemplate,
Have also cut down my Wishlist by half by thinking would I rather have the money or the bag!

I've started knitting and crocheting again to have a project. DH and I also do crosswords.

 

[whateve]

Gorgeous saturated colours whateve. I would have a huge smile carrying this bag, so cheerful.

@jblended, congratulations on all of your mindful purchasing decisions, you are on fire! It is really sad to see a favourite boutique go out of business.
@880 commented earlier on buying multiple colours of a style that works for her, I agree. I also agree with @Purses & Perfumes about wanting to maintain diversity of styles and not have duplicates, however, I have no guilt with having a red and black version of my favourite bag, Chanel Reissue 226. I think I am getting to a point where I worry less about any rules I’ve defined for myself and just enjoy what I have. I don’t know whether to encourage you or discourage you at this moment. I know you’ll make the right decision for you.
View attachment 4967894

Thank you!

I think 2 bags the same style is good when you really love a style. I try to not have more than 2 but am not always successful. Once you get more than 2 and decide you should downsize, it is really hard to figure which ones should go, since you know the style works for you. A few years ago I fell into a trap in which I had 6 of the same style. It wasn't even a style that worked that well for me. I loved the way it looked and was influenced by the forum as well. I sold all but one, and lost money on all of them. There are still several styles that I have multiples. It always seems like a good idea at the time to get the same style again.

 

[Hazzelnut]

This is my baby which used to be my HG: red lamb Jumbo classic DF w/shwView attachment 4967891
Some of you may remember I first bought a dark burgundy / blood red medium and returned it because I didn’t like the shade. Then I bought a red caviar SF. I tried to love it but the caviar seemed plasticky to me. Then I bought this lovely lady.... but I didn’t want to sell the caviar SF. It took me 6 months to make myself finally sell but it was the right decision.
Oh my god! on Chanel prices!!! I didn’t look at bags in 2020. So, I got a crazy shock when I started looking again this year. The quality isn’t what it was and yet the prices are skyrocketing?? How does this make sense.

If I want to add something C, it will be a serendipitous preowned find at a great price. I’m considering getting a black caviar medium to replace the black patent jumbo I sold. But, I want SF. So I’ll have to look seasonal. Or, maybe Dior will stop their craziness and get back to designs I love.

WOW!! This is a beautiful shade of red!!

I know what you mean about the price increases, I bought a Jumbo early last year (30 birthday treat to myself) and was so thankful I got in there before the latest massive hike! I think I would only consider a Mini new now, but it would need to be special.

I only own my Diorama, which I got from an outlet after it was discontinued after a massive phone hunt of their different stores. There are so many discontinued styles I love and am kicking myself for not getting them at the time.

 

[Bag peace]

@jblended, congratulations on all of your mindful purchasing decisions, you are on fire! It is really sad to see a favourite boutique go out of business.

Thank you! It's getting easier to say no to bags. I'm keeping @papertiger's advice in mind, that any addition should be an upgrade. I'm starting to feel more like myself in the way I'm looking at my collection now because I'm being more mindful overall.
And yes, I'm really going to miss that boutique. They carried lots of odd bits that most wouldn't be interested in but I adored it. I just hope all the staff manage to find employment relatively easily.

@880 commented earlier on buying multiple colours of a style that works for her, I agree. I also agree with @Purses & Perfumes about wanting to maintain diversity of styles and not have duplicates

This is the dilemma! I'm still going back and forth on it. I'll wait and see how I feel in a few days' time. If someone else snaps it up, then it wasn't meant to be.

however, I have no guilt with having a red and black version of my favourite bag, Chanel Reissue 226.

I love these bags every time you post them! I think 2 of a certain style is the sweet spot.

It always seems like a good idea at the time to get the same style again.

It does, doesn't it?! I worry that if I buy the 3rd clutch, I'll only reach for one as you described. Then the others will serve as merely backups? That can't be right; it would be better to leave this new bag and have someone else enjoy it.
And yet, as I look at the clutch in front of me now...it's sooo pretty! And it barely takes up any space!

Whatever you decide, we need pics!!

Sure! Here's a pic of my suede one. The picture is brighter than it should be; the actual colour is brick red.

The usual fried rice has sauteed garlic and salt.

Yum!

It’s sad that this boutique is closing, and a lot of many other businesses for that matter. I hope the world economy bounces back.

Me too! It's really starting to depress me. I lost another 2 friends to covid last weekend (both in their 30s) and the weight of this pandemic is hitting me really hard all over again.
I know some people haven't been affected much at all, but then there are others whose entire lives have been turned upside down. I think a lot of people will need mental health support as we come out of this; I truly do. The wider economic implications are quite dire and I feel like it will be years before life resembles any sort of normalcy.
Sorry to rant.

And then I heat here about the Chanel price increase??! Crazy world! (I’m a bit out of touch with new bag releases. I don’t take a look at my usual sites. I just don’t feel bags now that things are crazy. I’m now spending (a relatively much smaller amount) on baking stuff (a renewed hobby), and much NEEDED (not just aesthetics) home improvements!

I've started knitting and crocheting again to have a project. DH and I also do crosswords.

I love that you've both returned to old hobbies! It's great to dive back into things that relax us. I wasn't even looking at bags. It's funny that all of a sudden I've had so many available to purchase at deep discounts.

I only own my Diorama, which I got from an outlet after it was discontinued after a massive phone hunt of their different stores. There are so many discontinued styles I love and am kicking myself for not getting them at the time.

If it helps, that makes the Diorama all the more special. It's the one you hunted down and chose when you had other options, so it will always hold a special place in your collection as a result.
_______

And in other news, I messed up the first job interview I've had in forever. I'm way overqualified for it, and the interviewer even said as much at the very start of the call. So then I got flustered (thinking to myself, why are you calling me if you know this isn't a suitable position for me) and asked if he would be willing to consider me for a different position more in line with my degree and experience. To which he responded he didn't have any other positions and knew I wasn't right for this one. And that was the end of that.
I don't know. I could have rolled with it and maybe convinced him to create a different position for me, but I felt we were wasting each other's time so I didn't even try to keep him on the phone. I promised myself I wouldn't spend a moment entertaining interviews that were clearly not for me because I'd rather put that time and effort where it counts (a job that is in line with my qualifications and my career trajectory). I'd rather respect my time and the interviewer's time in this way, and in theory that makes sense but now that I've put it into practice, I'm second guessing myself. Feeling really deflated about it all.

 

[doni]

@doni,
Panty hose - a name for the ‘weird ‘nude’ sheer shades that didn’t work for anyone in thr 1970s and 1980s, when women were supposed To wear skirted suits, button down silk shirts with tied blw collars, no pants allowed.
stockings - opaque or sheer thigh highs or gartered hose without an attached panty, or patterned sheer pantyhose.
tights- opaque hose with attached panty often referred to by denier.
that’s how I see it, but I could be mistaken.

Thank you so much! to all who explained. All clear now.
I remember when it was a complete no-go to wear skirts without pantyhose (quick learner ). I agree with @Sparkletastic that it went on at least in the 90s. I rembember going to a wedding in Barcelona on a scorching hot day and wanting to go bare leg and my friends saying oh no, you can‘t do that, with horrified faces... Good riddance!
But as far as I know denier, a French word, is the measure of transparency of fabric, hence 15 denier being sheer and 60 denier being opaque. Comes from the same word of money for some reason, which is weird.

I feel the same about tights vs pantyhose.
I love green and blue together too. I have a green bag that sometimes I wear with a blue strap.View attachment 4967696

I have an old Loewe Flamenco in that exact color combination! Works surprisingly well in Summer.

I have an adult onset of allergies. My sister-doctor wants me to be regularly on nasal spray and Levocetirizine, but, I only use/take them when I feel the beginning of one. Then once I feel better, I stop. I didn’t have this problem growing up!! Growing old brings a lot of ‘surprises’.

So I am in Asia. And back in the day, the rich would have carpeted bedrooms, maybe even hallways. But normally not the living area. I dreamt of having a carpeted bedroom. Now, it is our old wood floors that hold so much value!

Most allergies develop in our 30s! That was also my case.
But now there are so many kids (including mine) who have them

In Southern Europe it was exactly as you say. Wall to wall carpet in the bedroom was deemed a luxury. My parents have carpet in the bedroom (kept pristine, don’t ask me how) but nowhere else in the house.

When I moved to London I couldn’t get over carpet in the bathrooms and even the kitchen. That I cannot cope with!



I had forgotten the home decor thread. Should pop by as I am changing the kitchen floors and furniture...

 

[doni]

Thank you! It's getting easier to say no to bags. I'm keeping @papertiger's advice in mind, that any addition should be an upgrade. I'm starting to feel more like myself in the way I'm looking at my collection now because I'm being more mindful overall.
And yes, I'm really going to miss that boutique. They carried lots of odd bits that most wouldn't be interested in but I adored it. I just hope all the staff manage to find employment relatively easily.

This is the dilemma! I'm still going back and forth on it. I'll wait and see how I feel in a few days' time. If someone else snaps it up, then it wasn't meant to be.

I love these bags every time you post them! I think 2 of a certain style is the sweet spot.


It does, doesn't it?! I worry that if I buy the 3rd clutch, I'll only reach for one as you described. Then the others will serve as merely backups? That can't be right; it would be better to leave this new bag and have someone else enjoy it.
And yet, as I look at the clutch in front of me now...it's sooo pretty! And it barely takes up any space!

Sure! Here's a pic of my suede one. The picture is brighter than it should be; the actual colour is brick red.
View attachment 4967926

Yum!

Me too! It's really starting to depress me. I lost another 2 friends to covid last weekend (both in their 30s) and the weight of this pandemic is hitting me really hard all over again.
I know some people haven't been affected much at all, but then there are others whose entire lives have been turned upside down. I think a lot of people will need mental health support as we come out of this; I truly do. The wider economic implications are quite dire and I feel like it will be years before life resembles any sort of normalcy.
Sorry to rant.



I love that you've both returned to old hobbies! It's great to dive back into things that relax us. I wasn't even looking at bags. It's funny that all of a sudden I've had so many available to purchase at deep discounts.

If it helps, that makes the Diorama all the more special. It's the one you hunted down and chose when you had other options, so it will always hold a special place in your collection as a result.
_______

And in other news, I messed up the first job interview I've had in forever. I'm way overqualified for it, and the interviewer even said as much at the very start of the call. So then I got flustered (thinking to myself, why are you calling me if you know this isn't a suitable position for me) and asked if he would be willing to consider me for a different position more in line with my degree and experience. To which he responded he didn't have any other positions and knew I wasn't right for this one. And that was the end of that.
I don't know. I could have rolled with it and maybe convinced him to create a different position for me, but I felt we were wasting each other's time so I didn't even try to keep him on the phone. I promised myself I wouldn't spend a moment entertaining interviews that were clearly not for me because I'd rather put the time and effort where it counts (a job that is in line with my qualifications and my career trajectory). I'd rather respect my time and the interviewer's time in this way, and in theory that makes sense but now that I've put it into practice, I'm second guessing myself. Feeling really deflated about it all.

I cannot believe about your friends. In their 30s! I am so sorry. That is terrible...

On the interview, do not worry. Sometimes even if you are overqualifed for a position, they would call you not because they are hiring you or they have another position available, but because they liked your profile and, who knows, there may be another position down the line. I know I have done that, I mean, intervieweing people I knew where overqualified where I thought they could potentially fit other positions.
I also had the situation where I was interviewed on the basis of a spontaneous letter I sent and the interviewer was clear from the beginning they had no position, but had liked my letter. They offered me a position more than a year later! So you never know. It is never a waste to talk to people (as long as it is in the field you are interested) and you never know where things are going to lead.

 

[Bag peace]

I cannot believe about your friends. In their 30s! I am so sorry. That is terrible...

It really is terrible. One of them infected his mother who is 67, and she is fully recovered now but has lost her only child.
I also feel really guilty that somehow I survived covid and they didn't. I'm the one who is high-risk with pre-existing conditions, both of these men were young and fit. It should have been the other way around, as our mutual friends keep reminding me. It's a heavy load to carry.
I saw a therapist the other day to help me process some of this but she wasn't helpful. She literally said everyone is going through the same thing right now and it just needs time to heal. Well, sure. But I've lost people to covid, cancer and suicide all in the past year. I'm personally surrounded by more loss than your average person and I can't grieve for any of them and I feel like I'm breaking down, so telling me to wait it out felt really dismissive.
Then again, I'm honestly not thinking clearly these days so perhaps she is right.

On the interview, do not worry. Sometimes even if you are overqualifed for a position, they would call you not because they are hiring you or they have another position available, but because they liked your profile and, who knows, there may be another position down the line. I know I have done that, I mean, intervieweing people I knew where overqualified where I thought they could potentially fit other positions.
I also had the situation where I was interviewed on the basis of a spontaneous letter I sent and the interviewer was clear from the beginning they had no position, but had liked my letter. They offered me a position more than a year later! So you never know. It is never a waste to talk to people (as long as it is in the field you are interested) and you never know where things are going to lead.

I cannot thank you enough for this! I feel a lot better now! I've been beating myself up about it since it happened.
A friend initially put this concept into my head, and I agreed that it is only fair not to waste an interviewer's time if it's clear the position is not for me, so that they can focus on appropriate candidates and I can put my energy into securing the right position for myself, rather than go through the whole process only to find out a month down the line that it's not going to be a good fit.
But once I followed through on it, I quickly felt that this isn't a reflection of who I am by nature, and it was also a bad representation of my work ethic and approach to my duties in the workplace. I've been feeling really low since, wondering how I ever got talked into this.
Oh well, it's done and dusted. I was polite but I did cut the conversation short and that was a huge mistake. Next time I'll just be myself and allow the conversation to flow as it may.

I have an old Loewe Flamenco in that exact color combination!

Would love to see it!

 

[doni]

It really is terrible. One of them infected his mother who is 67, and she is fully recovered now but has lost her only child.
I also feel really guilty that somehow I survived covid and they didn't. I'm the one who is high-risk with pre-existing conditions, both of these men were young and fit. It should have been the other way around, as our mutual friends keep reminding me. It's a heavy load to carry.
I saw a therapist the other day to help me process some of this but she wasn't helpful. She literally said everyone is going through the same thing right now and it just needs time to heal. Well, sure. But I've lost people to covid, cancer and suicide all in the past year. I'm personally surrounded by more loss than your average person and I can't grieve for any of them and I feel like I'm breaking down, so telling me to wait it out felt really dismissive.
Then again, I'm honestly not thinking clearly these days so perhaps she is right.

I don’t think everyone is going through the same! At all! Some people are worse hit than others and you have definetely been hit worse than most.
I think therapy is a good idea to deal with that guilt trauma (I guess it is similar to war survivors). But you need a therapist you can empathize with.

Would love to see it!

I don’t have it with me, it is my Summer place, but I put up a blurry pic in PF a while ago.
It is the Flamenco from the 90s, which was a remake of an even older bag.