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.

 

[880]

Thanks for all the great feedback on the gold shoes and bags! It’s so nice having purse friends who “get” why I’d have the question and can help me along.

After looking at the combo in the mirror and trying it with a couple outfits it was clear this is a definite no.

I really wish the Chanel Boy were a little smaller. C prices are up but I’m doing my best to never sell a bag EVER again. I’m hoping the C WOC I just ordered will satisfy my itch for a smaller gold bag.
My vote is to sell it immediately. One very consistent thing with you and your bags is you don’t wear them if they’re heavy / hurt. (So, glad you’re don’t suffer for fashion!!)
Given that, this bag won’t get worn. I would sell it for whatever I can get and buy something else. I had a similar situation with some jewelry. I just kept sitting on the pieces because I knew I would take a bath on proceeds. Once I finally sold them I felt like a weight was off me and I used the funds towards a piece I love. It’s was a scant contribution but it was still somethingI typically hate fashion “rules” because I think it limits creativity. But, I gotta say some things do make me go cross eyed. Unintentionally mixed shades of white in one outfit is one. Off “shades” of intended to match black is another.

The only other “rule” I can think of is just for me - I DESPISE PANTYHOSE! Gawd they are uncomfortable as heck and make my feet slide forward in heels. I’m so glad there is no longer an expectation that I’ll wear those demonic things. Tights? Super cute, fashionable and comfy. Pantyhose? Satan’s curse. So glad you have family time and congrats on the move!
Oh Mylanta!! Gorgeous!!

I wish I had bought this. I sold my black patent Chanel jumbo because the patent wasn’t my style. Since then I’ve “needed” a black flap / shw. I don’t like double flaps so that would mean a vintage C jumbo but I’m not moved to but one. This is a perfect alternative. I’m so sad they’ve discontinued the Diorama. I have no idea what to get now. Enjoy this beauty!

And, it’s funny I only have one bag with ghw (other than my all gold C boy) I love shw on bags!!!

@Sparkletastic, Have you thought about getting the gold chanel boy dyed black? Im not a fan of the Cartier love or stacked bracelets, but I never thought I was a VCA person either. What’s scary is that the jewelry is, in some cases, cheaper than bags or RTW. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with

@jblended, I’m clearly crazy, but I think you should consider the halston clutch, but I am a big fan of multiples. also pls don’t feel guilty. You are strong and a survivor! also agree with @BowieFan1971 that you should be kind to yourself and that you did the right thing re the interview. It wasn’t the job for you. Don’t feel deflated!

@More bags, I think it’s wonderful you are picking up hobbies like knitting and crochet.And I love your green and blue bag. I’ve also always loved your red and black reissues (and the story of how you acquired them) and they’re clearly perfect for you!
@JenJBS, yes more cat and furniture pics pls.
@doni, pantyhose until early aughts? My memory is fading, but I worked in public interest law in the 1990s, which was definitely more lax. I do remember, in thr early 1980s (maybe I was in eighth or ninth grade) my mom had tanned legs one summer and wanted to go to work (investment banking) without panty hose. I was absolutely horrified and said she could NOT go ‘naked.’ (My equivalent of @SouthernPurseGal ’s guilting of her moms floors) During SIP last summer, in one of my cleaning out the closet phase, I dumped all of my hose that hadn’t been worn in at least a decade.

@msd_bags, even when I try to go low carb, filipino fried rice is an occasional indulgence. I cannot believe I forgot the salt. My uncle by marriage used to fortify with grilled fried hot dogs and slices of spam in addition to the usual roster. But until this past Administration, I had never heard of grilled hotdogs and marshmallows.
@momasaurus, the trick is to use leftover rice, but not chinese or long grain rice because you want plump soft insides, not dry pellets. I like to use a cast iron pan so you get some crust, but then it requires a bit more oil. I have hardwood floors and area rugs ( old Persians etc) but I wear soft supportive Birkenstocks everywhere Inside as slippers.


I need to clean out the pantry. . . Literally bc the pantry shelves collapsed . I slept through it (I am a sound sleeper and DH has insomnia). (Since I am like @whateve and dislike cleaning, am grateful a miracle happened and nothing broke) one shelf was filled with hard alcohol stuff that we don’t use or drink, but have accumulated for the past ten years for entertaining pre covid. (I don’t drink, but I love mixing cocktails and experimenting, like a few years ago when I served summertime corpse reviver II with fresh squeezed ginger juice). For instance, we don’t need a bottle of Creme de violette for an aviation cocktail (someone gave their old CdV to us During an experimental phase). DH spent all night moving everything out onto the floor and dining room table. Thankfully wine is stored elsewhere.

I now need to steel myself and take care of the four remnant bottles of bourbons, the three liters of vodka (two of which were bought strictly for pie crust), the once tried walnut liquor, the various sweet and dry vermouth for a friends Negronis and martinis, the gin selection, the bottles of pamplemousse from past summers of girlfriend cocktails. Etc etc. (thankfully the building staff will be happy to take some)

plus, I clearly have a nuts.com and King Arthur flour.com addiction and need to stop buying shelled roasted pistashios, dried nectarines (so much more delicious than apricots or even peaches), sugar free chocolate nuts, dried soba noodles, beans, barley, ww couscous, carnaroli rice, bulk panko, bakers dry milk, dough and roll improver and specialty flour immediately.

 

[dcooney4]

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 adore this color combo.

 

[dcooney4]

Looks fantastic- I loke the braided handle and the pink/maroon edging.

+1 @dcooney4

Thanks ! It is small. It is part of my slgs but it does fit my phone, reading glasses, cash, cc's, and a mask. Just what I needed to run some errands. It has a gorgeous red interior too.

 

[dcooney4]

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.

I now have 11 Portland leather goods Mini crossbody bags. The style works for me. It carries what I need and it is not to heavy. Lately every time I wear one of my other bags the next day I switch back in to one of my mini's. So for me it works.

 

[momasaurus]

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.

OMG Filipino fried rice sounds so delicious!
Wise words about wall-to-wall. Wood is nice, but as we get older it might be lovely to sink our feet into a cushy rug! I have plain wood floors with (some threadbare) Persian carpets (or whatever they are called now, LOL).

 

[momasaurus]

Purposely convinced my partner to go for a short drive just so I could use my HG bag!

Changing my mind set to use them and shop my own wardrobe, rather than let them sit on my shelves, has made me constantly desperate to go for drives along the coast road Feeling very lucky to live in Northern Ireland where our Belfast is only 20 minutes from the beautiful coast / countryside. Especially as we can’t go out and do things in the city atm.

Have also cut down my Wishlist by half by thinking would I rather have the money or the bag!

View attachment 4967089

Cutting the wishlist by half is a great accomplishment!

 

[momasaurus]

LOL! There may be regional differences in how we all refer to them but for me pantyhose are the sheer, not quite flesh colored, often too shiny hosiery that used to be a requirement for a woman to look “ladylike” or was a requirement in business. As an African American woman I was always particularly frustrated with the fact that no brand ever had a color to match my tone. They were either too dark, too red or too “dusty.” View attachment 4967262
In contrast, tights are hosiery that has colors and (often but not always) patterns designed to enhance your look while also sometimes keeping your legs warm. A patterned black tight can look quite chic with an all black out fit that includes adorable boots. They’re super comfy and don’t cause as much of a foot slippage issue. I’m sure pantyhose and tights are made of different materials but I can’t speak to that as I haven’t investigated View attachment 4967252
This may worthless suggestions but I know how tough allergies can be. I’m always looking for a new solution. Would Swiffers help the problem? Also, I think there are some air purifiers that work to remove dust (?) Hope you find a solution that helps!

And, I’m the yin to your yang (or is it the opposite?) I loooooooove to clean. Cleaning, organizing and decorating has kept me sane in Covid. Cooking? Still makes me want to stab everyone - including me - in the eye. Shopping? I’d rather jump into an ocean of sea serpents. But, cleaning? Happy place!
Since I’ve been an adult, I have always lived in areas where the majority of people don’t share my identical political beliefs. And, I have many good friends with whom I disagree on several points. I think you shouldn’t assume you can’t be friends with someone who thinks differently unless they are dangerous or hateful. But then, no sane person wants to be those people’s friends.

Also, I don’t know anyone who randomly starts talking about politics. That would be a little bizarre. “Hey Myrtle! Did you see toilet paper is on sale at Target? Oh and by the way, can you believe what happened in the senate today??” It just doesn’t happen. If you are respectful to your neighbors, I’m sure they will be respectful to you. And, you can take this as an opportunity to listen to opposing views and learn something new. Overall, this could be a very good thing.

I don’t say this cheekily. My dad was very conservative and my mom very liberal. Both were professors so they discussed and debated the issues thoughtfully and thoroughly without any rancor. Growing up in that environment challenged me to really think about both sides of issues and that skill is something I benefit from today.

So, enjoy!
I think carpet vs hard flooring is a style choice. I prefer having my toes sink into soft nubby carpet. Mr. S prefers hardwood. I defer on this issue to him bc there are other decor “battles” he graciously bows to me on like touches of sparkle here and there. Lol!

Keep in mind, if someone has area rugs, draperies and upholstered furniture then there are also going to be mites, dust and dirt that sit, breed, and pouf out allergens all day. And, carpet can be cleaned. So, nothing wrong with carpet if that is what the homeowners choose.

Great post. Those tights would make me start wearing skirts and dresses, which I pretty much don't actually do!
Listening to others is going to be absolutely necessary going forward. What a great example your parents provided!

 

[momasaurus]

Not the new one. I saw a preloved one for a STEAL online and pounced on it. As soon as it comes, I’ll share pics. I can’t make myself spend full price on bags I may end up loving but know I won’t wear often - a gold WOC fits that category.

Yep, I’m the only one of my friends into fashion. They’re all brilliant go getters and kinda feel that the “girly” stuff is frivolous. I’m more of a “I want it all” gal. I’m happy with my career, my sparkly girly fashion and my never really hidden nerd life.

That being said, I have FINALLY corrupted my very best BFF! She just bought a Dior wallet and is deciding which Lady Dior bag she wants. Wheeeeee! I can’t wait to drag her further into the dark side. Like all our mom’s said: she should have been more careful about who her friends are.
One of the things I love about this thread is the positive influences the ladies have had on me beyond bags.
Share a pic of the ring!!! We wanna see! Lol! I love that little bag despite the DF frustration. A red medium would be so pretty! I have a red jumbo and it feels so big most of the time.

I wonder when big bags will be come the predominant style again. I used to love rocking a huge statement bag. Now, I’m all about mediumish, smallish bags. Although :thinking; I really don’t have anything to put in a big bag sooo...?

Hahaha I love your description of corrupting your BFF. Now you have even more enjoyable work to do.

 

[momasaurus]

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 looooooove this! Green and blue together - my fave combination

 

[BowieFan1971]

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 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.

You did the right thing on the interview. You wouldn’t be happy and would not have stayed. And he knew it too.
As to feeling bad about surviving...be kind to yourself. You did not choose to survive and for others to die. Sometimes there is meaning behind what happens in our lives and sometimes it is senseless. This was senseless and random. But it is ok to be grateful you are still here, especially given others are not, because you have the ability to still
make a difference in this world for the benefit of all, including the loved ones of those who are gone.

 

[papertiger]

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 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.

If it makes you feel any better I had the most ghastly meeting with a new colleague last week. I welcomed her by asking her how she was settling in, just as a matter of preamble and politeness.
Off she w e n t for 5 minutes "I'm not settling in... . It put me off so much I couldn't keep to the agenda for the rest of the meeting and came across about as professional as a Cadbury's chocolate flake, half melted, half crumbs. The only thing I took away from that meeting is that economists are capable of HUGE emotion (not noted IME previously) - and I want a minder if we ever meet in person.

 

[papertiger]

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.



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.

View attachment 4967937

As always, you have great style!

 

[papertiger]

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 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.


Would love to see it!

 

[SouthernPurseGal]

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.

Hugs. This pandemic has been so tragic.

 

[SouthernPurseGal]

This is so strange, not shopping on realtor.com for a house all day every day.
I'm already ordering every houseware for the kitchen in oil slick (rainbow titanium) stainless steel, from forks and spoons to wine glasses and plates and stock pots and pans, spatulas and mixing bowls, coasters and napkin holders...


That way everything matches and everything is shatterproof so the kids can take their cup or plate of snacks poolside and I don't have to worry about broken glass or ceramics.


And I'm ordering individual towels to try that look like me and my obsession with rainbow everything, because we will need a huge stash of towels with our home!

Anyone use Turkish peshtemal towels?
Love them? Hate them?