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.

 

[SouthernPurseGal]

What is you top priority for letting go of a bag?

Because it isn’t being used. That’s it.

OT, but I just saw someone able to buy a BV for $15 from goodwill, if I gave a BV to charity I'd be furious if they only put it out for peanuts. The point of giving to charity is raise as much funds as possible for the cause, not just dump unwanted 'stuff'.

I took over an anti poverty nonprofit in June that takes donations including purses. The women who work there are 41-76 years old and have been there for 2-4 decades. They have never heard of Bottega Veneta. They have no idea of any purse brands beyond Coach, Kate Spade, maybe Michael Kors.... they also have no concept of a purse that would have a price tag of more than 100-200 dollars. They have been serving the poor with food, and money for utilities bills when the electricity has been cut off, and winter coats for their children to be warm, etc.... these are the things that people who work for near minimum wage in nonprofit think about. Not premiere designer labels. My staff was under ten dollars an hour and dirt poor and one was living with a 6 year old in a camper. I immediately rebudgeted to get them at $15/hr. They would have given away a BV to any old person for free and not known a thing, so assuming whoever marked that BV for $15 is in a similar life situation because you do not work for goodwill and have the mental bandwidth to be up to speed on luxury goods. Yes I realize that Goodwill is supposed to be raising money and not just passing along nice things, but my mom used to be in management at a Goodwill when I was a kid and we were in deep poverty at the time so I can assure you that people working hard for a charity cause still might not know what they are looking at when a used leather item is in their hands. So please don't send mental shade to that person.
If you want to be sure that the bag raises maximum funds for a cause, list it on eBay for $1 start bid and then donate the proceeds. You can even mark the listing as proceeds going to charity. If you outsource the process of turning a used purse into a charitable gift then you relinquish the right to criticize what happens with that gift.

A gift is a gift is a gift. No strings. No siree. Or then it's not a gift, it's a transaction and you better be sure you negotiate the terms of the agreement clearly and both sides know what they expect out of the transaction.

 

[SouthernPurseGal]

I hope that post didn't sound snarky.

 

[SouthernPurseGal]

A peace offering for daring to disagree!

 

[keodi]

I never appreciated how much the leather type/treatment was such a thing with me until I bought the larger (MM) Calvi + pouch from h.com just this month. Never looked at Epsom before, never will again.

Now I realise I didn't even entertain leathers that don't normally attract me. I don't have any Togo, maybe for the same reason(s) however, I do think it makes pretty good (head) sense as a hardy natural leather.

I vote for Veau Jonathon

Love your ideas for T. I would like a T, EP starfish broach, preferably silver. It worries me LVMH are taking over in Jan.

Thank you for your input, I've decided to re-home my togo Birkin 30cm to get VJ leather Birkin. LVMH is the reason why i have made acquiring my T wishlist items this year, as i'm not at all happy with LVMH's takeover of the brand.

 

[Vintage Leather]

I need to process this! How much?
I'm happy for the lucky buyer but I'm fully in agreement with you that the purpose is to raise funds for the cause, and this undermines that purpose entirely.

I start by looking at my collection in its entirety. If something stands out markedly as my least favourite out of the lot, is too heavy, is too cumbersome to get in and out of, or falls into your #10 "easy come, easy go", then it is time to leave my closet.

That’s not the biggest or most jaw-dropping bargain in the thrifty thread. Some legendary ones include the toile and barina Kelly... for $3. The same poster who found that actually three Hermes bags at a thrift shop for under $25. And the $20k Cartier gold necklace ... in a $20 bag of mix-lot jewelry. The Cartier Diamond and Pearl waterfall earrings for $100. At least four people have found LV KeepAlls between $10 to $150.

As Southern pointed out, purses and luxury are a specialized field, and most thrift store employees are paid minimum wage. If they or their daughters don’t covet a brand, it’s marked consistently with other all leather (or in the case of the Kelly, fabric) unknown label bags in the store.

 

[papertiger]

So glad you made this post. I need to give this serious thought. I have never sold a bag but I really need to “shed” for 2020. Maybe we need a week (or month) of posting bags that are “in the shed” for any of the reasons you state above. I could probably use some advice on whether I should venture into selling..or just continue to donate, gift, or keep. In any case, I have to do something..but still with whateve on wanting it to be a stress free year.

'In the shed' is a great idea

 

[papertiger]

That’s not the biggest or most jaw-dropping bargain in the thrifty thread. Some legendary ones include the toile and barina Kelly... for $3. The same poster who found that actually three Hermes bags at a thrift shop for under $25. And the $20k Cartier gold necklace ... in a $20 bag of mix-lot jewelry. The Cartier Diamond and Pearl waterfall earrings for $100. At least four people have found LV KeepAlls between $10 to $150.

I'm so happy tPFers got them. At least they know what they're looking at.

I can't complain, I've bought amazing things in the past. Turned down the most perfect 1960s Burberry trench for £12 (about $15)because I already had 2 vintage '80s ones in my closet ). Sadly, I don't always have the time anymore to look with a full-time + job, there was a time I was dragged from one end of the country (and several others) in pursuit of antique and pre-loved bargains.

 

[More bags]

I believe this will be my third year in this thread.
I did better in 2019 than 2020. My goal at the beginning of 2020 was to curate my collection, filling holes, but ending the year without increasing my number of bags or SLGs. That didn't happen, but some of my new acquisitions were items I was hoping to add to my collection during the year. In 2020, I added 15 bags and got rid of 7. I did poorly with wallets too, adding 7 while only parting with 1. I did fairly well on keychains, of which I have a huge collection. I sold 27 and only brought in 8 new ones. Comparatively, in 2019, 6 bags out, 5 in, 53 SLGs out, 10 SLGs in.

I was also planning on tracking "wears" throughout the year like I did in 2019, and using the results to help me determine what needed editing. We went into lockdown mid March, and since then I've only used a purse for an occasional car ride, not even getting out. It didn't make sense to continue tracking.

I succumbed to online shopping this year more than I should have, buying bags even when I knew I would have no opportunity to use them.

My goal for 2021 is to get vaccinated, then enjoy every purse in my collection. I want to focus on what I own and stop shopping. I want to quit selling too. I don't care if I don't reduce the size of my collection this year. I want to have a pressure-free year. The following year is soon enough to worry about reducing my collection's size.

Yay, love your goals @whateve!,
My goal for 2021 is to get vaccinated, then enjoy every purse in my collection.

 

[More bags]

I’m in for 2021! @keodi summed it up very well for me. And, I admire @More bags statement too.
I have 25 bags, give or take. Mainly neutral bag colors bc my color and pattern focus is in RTW.
I do have metallic blue; fauve barenia; and, black and white graffiti sprouse as pops of color, but those are the least used bags. I love them though, so I doubt I will purge them.
as I refine the closet, I believe that I will purge more bags than I will buy this year. I’d like to continue to buy mindfully and sustainably which usually means vintage Heritage saddle leather, but I will make exceptions for bags I love and will wear a lot.
for styles, this year i gravitated towards handheld with option for a wide crossbody strap. Previously, I loved bittersweet brown as my non black neutral; but this year, I turned to navy and grey.

I found this article charming confirmation that shopping ones own vintage closet and buying vintage are on trend, especially since it’s something I’ve always done. My mom, who likes new things, does point out that at a certain age, wearing vintage just looks old, but at 53 (gen X) I think I still have lots of time

Being a Gen Zer, I’m Excited About the Resurgence of Y2K Handbags - PurseBlog

Y2K fashion. Originally the name given to a computer glitch which people feared would send the new millennium into chaos, the term Y2K has since been adopted by the fashion world to describe trends of…

www.purseblog.com

Yes, I like @keodi’s goal, too!
“My goal overall is to have a curated wardrobe that truly suits my lifestyle, and not my fantasy one.”
Thanks for posting this article @880. I know I am old when the author has to explain what Y2K is referring to! Clearly, I am not the target audience. I think I spied a reference to a Dior Gambler Dice Bowling Bag and I believe @cowgirlsboots has one, too!
I would happily shop your closet @880.
Best wishes with your house purchase/renovation and move.

 

[More bags]

I'm looking forward to shopping my closet in the year ahead. My goals are still in the process of being refined (and I may add to, and modify them as I go along), but I do know a few things:
Purchase less, be mindful and avoid retail therapy kind of purchases -- I like the 30-day delayed gratification idea of @More bags, and hope this will help me in this area.

I have been playing around in my mind the concept of a "core collection" -- what this means to me is the list of bags in the core colors and leathers and styles that I would use frequently. My core collection would also include a couple of bags that may not be used frequently but are absolute loves. So, my core collection would include the following:
Bags that I use frequently and that are akin to building blocks in my wardrobe.
A couple of bags that I may or may not use as frequently but that I love or make me happy.
Ideally, these are forever bags, since I don't like the hassle of selling.

These are the features I like most of my core collection bags to have:
I like bags that are medium-sized and can easily transition from day time to evening.
A top handle semi-structured or structured bag is my preference. I actually think I may already have all the bags I need in my core collection, so the question now is: Do I even need anything else since all my bag needs are probably already fulfilled?

I do have more bags than those listed in my core collection below. I had goals to downsize and re-shape my collection, but those goals have been on the backburner this year, due to the pandemic. But ultimately, if I had to downsize, these are the bags I would keep in my core collection of bags:
Black medium sized day time bag.
Honey-gold brown bag that goes with a lot in my wardrobe.
Beige day time bag.
Navy blue bag -- I wear a lot of blue.
Pink bag -- I love pink, especially for spring and summer.
Tan brown bag.
Dark purple bag -- don't have anything in this color.
One tote bag.
Evening bags: One black, one beige and one gold/metallic -- obviously not really used much in the current pandemic situation.
Also, obviously, the core collection is more relevant in normal times. During this pandemic, washable non-leather bags have been more relevant, but we all hope that life will go back to normal at some point.
Which brings me to my next goal for the year, which is to use and enjoy my bags and rotate as much as possible.

I love your goal: to use and enjoy my bags and rotate as much as possible. Your core collection sounds lovely!

 

[cowgirlsboots]

Of course!

We love all your bag rehab advice

and yes, enjoy to the max - you always look fabulous, so others may enjoy too.

Thank-you so much @papertiger ! xxx

 

[papertiger]

Because it isn’t being used. That’s it.


I took over an anti poverty nonprofit in June that takes donations including purses. The women who work there are 41-76 years old and have been there for 2-4 decades. They have never heard of Bottega Veneta. They have no idea of any purse brands beyond Coach, Kate Spade, maybe Michael Kors.... they also have no concept of a purse that would have a price tag of more than 100-200 dollars. They have been serving the poor with food, and money for utilities bills when the electricity has been cut off, and winter coats for their children to be warm, etc.... these are the things that people who work for near minimum wage in nonprofit think about. Not premiere designer labels. My staff was under ten dollars an hour and dirt poor and one was living with a 6 year old in a camper. I immediately rebudgeted to get them at $15/hr. They would have given away a BV to any old person for free and not known a thing, so assuming whoever marked that BV for $15 is in a similar life situation because you do not work for goodwill and have the mental bandwidth to be up to speed on luxury goods. Yes I realize that Goodwill is supposed to be raising money and not just passing along nice things, but my mom used to be in management at a Goodwill when I was a kid and we were in deep poverty at the time so I can assure you that people working hard for a charity cause still might not know what they are looking at when a used leather item is in their hands. So please don't send mental shade to that person.
If you want to be sure that the bag raises maximum funds for a cause, list it on eBay for $1 start bid and then donate the proceeds. You can even mark the listing as proceeds going to charity. If you outsource the process of turning a used purse into a charitable gift then you relinquish the right to criticize what happens with that gift.

A gift is a gift is a gift. No strings. No siree. Or then it's not a gift, it's a transaction and you better be sure you negotiate the terms of the agreement clearly and both sides know what they expect out of the transaction.

That's OK, where I donate has a manager with lifetime of experience with fashion and luxury. Most charity shops in the UK now have stringent targets and KPIs like most other businesses, most run on volunteer labour who only get a per diem for lunch. As you say, some workers are not always employable elsewhere in a competitive job market, others as a means to (re)enter it, but all should be designated various roles that benefit the charity as well as their skill-set. I don't know how it is in other countries or where you are, but even on a practically dying high-street, charities sadly only get reduced business rates for leases, and still have to pay all overheads. Where my stuff goes, they have have a constant stream of full-time hard-nosed dealers, semi-professional thrifters who flip cheap good stuff (even pile on the pressure to reduce prices further) as well as the general public, so rules are very strict who marks things up and/or works the till. These stores are just a small part of raising donations, they're often to raise the profile of the charity, like brand awareness, most charity money comes from cash donations and wills.

A gift is a gift. But I don't enjoy being taken for a mug either. I prefer to give my bags to people who will enjoy using them (that may not necessarily mean someone who can't afford one new) or I donate things to raise funds for people/animals that are in dire need of every penny. I can sell on Ebay like anyone, I may give to another, to charity, or put money towards ice-cream, it's my choice.

 

[papertiger]

View attachment 4938324View attachment 4938325
A peace offering for daring to disagree!

They look like they're enjoying themselves! These pics are just precious, thank you.

 

[cowgirlsboots]

Wonderful goals @cowgirlsboots, my favourites are your last two points,

• wear my handbags, clothes, shoes without fear of ruining them
• enjoy!

...and they are the biggest challenge for me!
My mind keeps warning me about using my beautiful belongings:
"this is too nice for every day", "don´t touch it, you´ll spoil/break it", "you´ll never be able to replace this if you ruin it", "don´t ever get near to food when wearing this- you´ll stain it"....
Haha!

On Christmas Eve after (finally!) putting on a never worn before (I got it as an unfinished job from the daughter of a tailor and finished it myself) 50ies cocktail dress paired with a new hat and my auntie´s mink cocktail jacket for the late afternoon I actually changed my outfit before cooking dinner into 70ies plays 40ies black polyester jersey out of sheer panic to stain my dress that would certainly need dry cleaning (it´s raw silk with metallic threads)... thinking about it I see two possible solutions: a) learn to act, walk, sit, even cook like the lady who would have worn outfits like this in their time or b) stick with good old 70ies polyester! These are the vintage dresses I do get a lot of wear out of, because even me cannot spoil them!

 

[More bags]

A wonderful holiday season to all and best wishes for the New Year. After coming to tPF several years ago to get more information on how to deeply condition the handful of 1990's Coach bags I owned, I stumbled onto finding out I could buy bags on line that were like new. Then I learned that deep conditioning and refurbishing could bring some (not all!) beat up full grain leather bags back from the dead and give them a whole new life. I must now have about 4 dozen bags alone.

I've mostly lurked and occasionally posted here . I now work from home 4 days a week and frankly, the last 9 months have been a bit of a daze for me. I have been wanting to pull out all my bags and get a census. So why am I not doing it?? I know, the million dollar question So here are some of my goals:

• find all my bags, slg's and fobs, lol, from closets, boxes, where ever they are and count them up and get them properly stored
  • create a list!
  • research new storage options
• categorize the one's that need refurbishing (hobby/project bags) from the bags that don't
• see what bags need conditioning (full grain leather gets thirsty)
  • consider a to do list or schedule
• come up with a list and order conditioning products; find and book mark the pages where I have seen them used
• learn how to take better photos given my current tablet, phone and lighting
• consider the "bag of week" thread; that helped me cull a few bags/styles pre-Covid
• ask myself when I am browsing listings on line: Am I doing this for a little mindless fun (which is absolutely fine)? Do I need to set a time limit on it (so I can move onto some of the above goals)?
• come back here periodically, possibly monthly, even if I can't keep up with thread, and check in with my goals. And why not, I have never seen judgement here.

I will print this out where I can see it every day I'm not concerned about downsizing yet. Letting go of bags has happened organically already.

If I can do this above this upcoming year, that would be a-may-zing!

Those are fantastic goals! Please pop in and comment whenever you feel like it. You’re always welcome.