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.

 

[whateve]

...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!

I have a terrible time wearing my nice clothes now that I'm home all the time, cooking every day. For me, my nice clothes are everything that hasn't yet gotten stained. Pre-pandemic, I would wear nice clothes when we went somewhere and then almost always change into lounge clothes as soon as we got home. I can't see myself breaking out of this mindset.

 

[whateve]

Question for those of us wanting to shed a few bags over 2021:

We spend a lot of time discussing why we buy bags but not so much editing. I'd like to let go of at least 2 in Jan and that's just a beginning. Where do I start?

Doesn't have to be selling, could be just giving away.

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

1. Not a wearable/pleasing colour
2. Use (or lack of)
3. Price (sell it now to accumulate funds or worry about depreciation of you wear first)
4. Worry about using because of delicacy
5. Too many of the same (style/colour/other)
6. Too worn (I'm laughing at myself because it's doubtful it will ever apply to me unless we're talking boots not bags)
7. Too dated
8. Too big/small/heavy (something we often don't discover until we use)
9. Too showy/plain/awful (file under 'what was I thinking)
10. Easy come easy go (done it's time and it was an extra)
11. Other reason (enlighten us).
12. To raise money for a certain cause (maybe favourite charity)
13. Biggest first (clear some space)

So far I'm thinking of a 1970s vintage cognac, saddle leather briefcase - heavy, but it's the kind of thing I could see myself buying again if I'm not careful. I don't know why I have such a thing for briefcases. I even have a folding one from Aquascutum I've never used (not getting rid of that one).

Another is small rust-brown, brass-studded '00s 'Domino' bag from Sonia Rykiel that weighs a ton. I have a black/silver one that's much lighter which I'm keeping. I'll never get anything like my money back from it but it's just too heavy and small for all day, and wrong colour for evening. Then again, I do love my Sonia Rykiel. Then, there's my blush nubuck Vivienne Westwood, on and off sale for years, it's supposed to look aged, the problem is convincing others that is, they think it's just dirt but it was bought new like that, part of the 'punk' aesthetic design. I could give these to charity.

Last year I gave a lot of my mother's less personally precious pieces to a certain charity that does Ebay as well as a designer boutique rail and raised over £700 just with these bits (some fine jewellery in the mix). They seem to be able to sell better than me, and so long as someone gets money I'm not upset. 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'.

1. Not a wearable/pleasing colour
2. Use (or lack of)
4. Worry about using because of delicacy
5. Too many of the same (style/colour/other)
6. Too worn (I'm laughing at myself because it's doubtful it will ever apply to me unless we're talking boots not bags)
8. Too big/small/heavy (something we often don't discover until we use)
9. Too showy/plain/awful (file under 'what was I thinking)

The above are the reasons I've gotten rid of bags. Mostly, because for whatever reason, I'm not using them enough. I have sold bags that were beautiful but I was worried they would get stained or worn looking if I carried them (#4 delicacy.)

If I get a new bag that is the same color as another in my collection, I might get rid of the older one if I determine I only need one bag that color. I recently got a new red bag after I already said I had the perfect red bag in my collection and didn't need another. Neither of them are going.

I have gotten rid of bags because they were too worn. Either I couldn't rehab them to the way I liked, or they had softened too much in a style that I felt was best staying structured.

Too big or heavy bags usually don't last a day in my closet, so those get returned or listed for sale immediately. I've gotten rid of too small bags but lately I've kept some as I've downsized enough to be able to use some of the them, at least occasionally.

Once in awhile, I'll get a showy bag I really like but decide it isn't for me. I'm not quite that flashy so those end up going, like these bags. I feel the same about colorblock - I like them in the store but not as much when I try to coordinate them with my wardrobe.

 

[Hazzelnut]

Question for those of us wanting to shed a few bags over 2021:

We spend a lot of time discussing why we buy bags but not so much editing. I'd like to let go of at least 2 in Jan and that's just a beginning. Where do I start?

Doesn't have to be selling, could be just giving away.

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

1. Not a wearable/pleasing colour
2. Use (or lack of)
3. Price (sell it now to accumulate funds or worry about depreciation of you wear first)
4. Worry about using because of delicacy
5. Too many of the same (style/colour/other)
6. Too worn (I'm laughing at myself because it's doubtful it will ever apply to me unless we're talking boots not bags)
7. Too dated
8. Too big/small/heavy (something we often don't discover until we use)
9. Too showy/plain/awful (file under 'what was I thinking)
10. Easy come easy go (done it's time and it was an extra)
11. Other reason (enlighten us).
12. To raise money for a certain cause (maybe favourite charity)
13. Biggest first (clear some space)

So far I'm thinking of a 1970s vintage cognac, saddle leather briefcase - heavy, but it's the kind of thing I could see myself buying again if I'm not careful. I don't know why I have such a thing for briefcases. I even have a folding one from Aquascutum I've never used (not getting rid of that one).

Another is small rust-brown, brass-studded '00s 'Domino' bag from Sonia Rykiel that weighs a ton. I have a black/silver one that's much lighter which I'm keeping. I'll never get anything like my money back from it but it's just too heavy and small for all day, and wrong colour for evening. Then again, I do love my Sonia Rykiel. Then, there's my blush nubuck Vivienne Westwood, on and off sale for years, it's supposed to look aged, the problem is convincing others that is, they think it's just dirt but it was bought new like that, part of the 'punk' aesthetic design. I could give these to charity.

Last year I gave a lot of my mother's less personally precious pieces to a certain charity that does Ebay as well as a designer boutique rail and raised over £700 just with these bits (some fine jewellery in the mix). They seem to be able to sell better than me, and so long as someone gets money I'm not upset. 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 worked for my local Oxfam and we got a whole bag of authentic LV. Had to fight to be able to list it on eBay for a decent price. Biggest regret is someone got to the St Cloud before I did!

I totally agree with all of this!

 

[cowgirlsboots]

Question for those of us wanting to shed a few bags over 2021:

We spend a lot of time discussing why we buy bags but not so much editing. I'd like to let go of at least 2 in Jan and that's just a beginning. Where do I start?

Doesn't have to be selling, could be just giving away.

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

1. Not a wearable/pleasing colour
2. Use (or lack of)
3. Price (sell it now to accumulate funds or worry about depreciation of you wear first)
4. Worry about using because of delicacy
5. Too many of the same (style/colour/other)
6. Too worn (I'm laughing at myself because it's doubtful it will ever apply to me unless we're talking boots not bags)
7. Too dated
8. Too big/small/heavy (something we often don't discover until we use)
9. Too showy/plain/awful (file under 'what was I thinking)
10. Easy come easy go (done it's time and it was an extra)
11. Other reason (enlighten us).
12. To raise money for a certain cause (maybe favourite charity)
13. Biggest first (clear some space)

So far I'm thinking of a 1970s vintage cognac, saddle leather briefcase - heavy, but it's the kind of thing I could see myself buying again if I'm not careful. I don't know why I have such a thing for briefcases. I even have a folding one from Aquascutum I've never used (not getting rid of that one).

Another is small rust-brown, brass-studded '00s 'Domino' bag from Sonia Rykiel that weighs a ton. I have a black/silver one that's much lighter which I'm keeping. I'll never get anything like my money back from it but it's just too heavy and small for all day, and wrong colour for evening. Then again, I do love my Sonia Rykiel. Then, there's my blush nubuck Vivienne Westwood, on and off sale for years, it's supposed to look aged, the problem is convincing others that is, they think it's just dirt but it was bought new like that, part of the 'punk' aesthetic design. I could give these to charity.

Last year I gave a lot of my mother's less personally precious pieces to a certain charity that does Ebay as well as a designer boutique rail and raised over £700 just with these bits (some fine jewellery in the mix). They seem to be able to sell better than me, and so long as someone gets money I'm not upset. 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'.

Letting go of a bag is a totally emotional decision for me. When I spot one of my bags and there´s no feeling, no love, no connection I know it´s time to say good-bey.

 

[cowgirlsboots]

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.

Yes, @More bags, I do have exactly this black Dior Gambler Dice Bag. I was happy to see it in the article. It has been an HG for me for a long time and took a long winded way to come to me. I still haven´t worn it, yet (frightened to lose the dice!), but it sits next to my work table and sparks joy. All my HG bags are from the Galliano era. No idea what it is, but there has always been a strong emotional connection with his designs, even before I knew they were his and researched him. It might be the playful and very emotional storytelling.

 

[SouthernPurseGal]

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.

Oh wow, major miscommunication!
I thought you were familiar with Goodwill stores in the US. My comments are strictly applied to that specific scenario mentioned, where a BV was priced $15 at a Goodwill, We were not having the same conversation in the least. I just checked and it's not in the UK, only these countries :
So of course you probably thought a Goodwill ( https://www.goodwill.org/ ) was similar to the place you donate to with dealers and experts, etc... (That sounds awesome! Never heard of such a place!)
So then when you read the story of the woman who found a BV at Goodwill for $15 is empathizing with the woman who donated the bag, feeling sorry for her and thinking she would be furious in her shoes. But, in fact, the situations have nothing in common.

People don't give BVs to Goodwill for the purpose of helping a cause. People don't give BVs to Goodwill period. Not unless they are destroyed beyond value.

People dump (low value donations of) clothes & household goods at Goodwill to be rid of them fast. How can you find a BV at a Goodwill? Easy. The owner's dead. The bag was part of an entire estate and no one involved in the process of bequeathing the woman's earthly belongings, and none of her beneficiaries had ever heard of BV. So her Estate, after family took what they wanted, would have been then bundled together and dropped off at a Goodwill, with no compensation other than convenience.

It's not uncommon that amongst the survivors of any given deceased person, there is not a designer purse enthusiast among them to recognize the value of a used bag. In fact I would say we are in the small minority in the population, so....most of the time there isn't a brand savvy person emptying a deceased woman's closet and processing the items forwards to some kind of destination, or landfill.

And regards to the labor involved of volunteers at the place you donate at in Europe, vs in the US, the staff at Goodwill stores, or my staff at a federally funded public charity founded in 1965, have absolutely nothing in common. Zilch
So yeah we were having two different conversations. How very funny. SorryI made stupid assumptions.

 

[cowgirlsboots]

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

Even before reading the caption I knew what it was... Gorgeous dogs!

 

[cowgirlsboots]

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.

I think when donating a valuable item to a charity it would be best to speak to the manager, explain the value and suggest a retail price to avoid mistakes.

 

[cowgirlsboots]

I have a terrible time wearing my nice clothes now that I'm home all the time, cooking every day. For me, my nice clothes are everything that hasn't yet gotten stained. Pre-pandemic, I would wear nice clothes when we went somewhere and then almost always change into lounge clothes as soon as we got home. I can't see myself breaking out of this mindset.

I´ve been brought up in exactly the same mindset: good clothes for going out, home clothes for at home. Especially at the moment I don´t go anywhere, so at home (and this is a very makeshift environment not far away from what other people would consider to be a building site) is the only chance to enjoy all my beautiful vintage.
70ies is easy to wear and care for, no problem with that for at home, but everything else remains a huge challenge.

At least- and I am proud of myself for getting there- meanwhile I wear some of my designer bags to the grocery store and have my Dior wallet in daily use.

Before I only wore -without any restrictions- vintage bags on a daily basis. They all never minded and never suffered beyond fixable.
I think that´s something to learn from, too.
Even a black doctor bag, bought for 5 Euro at a boot sale and worn everyday for 3 or 4 years in a row until it looked a total mess fixed up beautifully with a few hours work.

 

[papertiger]

1. Not a wearable/pleasing colour
2. Use (or lack of)
4. Worry about using because of delicacy
5. Too many of the same (style/colour/other)
6. Too worn (I'm laughing at myself because it's doubtful it will ever apply to me unless we're talking boots not bags)
8. Too big/small/heavy (something we often don't discover until we use)
9. Too showy/plain/awful (file under 'what was I thinking)

The above are the reasons I've gotten rid of bags. Mostly, because for whatever reason, I'm not using them enough. I have sold bags that were beautiful but I was worried they would get stained or worn looking if I carried them (#4 delicacy.)

If I get a new bag that is the same color as another in my collection, I might get rid of the older one if I determine I only need one bag that color. I recently got a new red bag after I already said I had the perfect red bag in my collection and didn't need another. Neither of them are going.

I have gotten rid of bags because they were too worn. Either I couldn't rehab them to the way I liked, or they had softened too much in a style that I felt was best staying structured.

Too big or heavy bags usually don't last a day in my closet, so those get returned or listed for sale immediately. I've gotten rid of too small bags but lately I've kept some as I've downsized enough to be able to use some of the them, at least occasionally.

Once in awhile, I'll get a showy bag I really like but decide it isn't for me. I'm not quite that flashy so those end up going, like these bags. I feel the same about colorblock - I like them in the store but not as much when I try to coordinate them with my wardrobe.

Thank you for the in-depth rundown. All excellent reasons.

Loving those fish bags, they're amazing. I don't think I could get ever, rid of the one on the right. I have had some very colourful picture bags many years ago, I remember a tote with pics of Marilyn Monroe. I still have some novelty bags, mostly these were made for me by friends that happened to be accessory or fashion designers. An angel's wing (straps on to my back naturally ) a Medusa collage on denim tote made from my friend's past collections. One rehomed, an oversized hobo made out of an upzycled leather skirt with embroidered skills (I think it went 2020) the style was a past me I won't be again.

A perfect shade of red is one of the hardest things to find, you found 2.

 

[papertiger]

I´ve been brought up in exactly the same mindset: good clothes for going out, home clothes for at home. Especially at the moment I don´t go anywhere, so at home (and this is a very makeshift environment not far away from what other people would consider to be a building site) is the only chance to enjoy all my beautiful vintage.
70ies is easy to wear and care for, no problem with that for at home, but everything else remains a huge challenge.

At least- and I am proud of myself for getting there- meanwhile I wear some of my designer bags to the grocery store and have my Dior wallet in daily use.

Before I only wore -without any restrictions- vintage bags on a daily basis. They all never minded and never suffered beyond fixable.
I think that´s something to learn from, too.
Even a black doctor bag, bought for 5 Euro at a boot sale and worn everyday for 3 or 4 years in a row until it looked a total mess fixed up beautifully with a few hours work.

People forget that leather is such a serviceable material (unlike most plastics). Worth putting in the effort, especially for irreplaceable bags.

 

[papertiger]

Letting go of a bag is a totally emotional decision for me. When I spot one of my bags and there´s no feeling, no love, no connection I know it´s time to say good-bey.

Very good point.

Once I make the decision to keep, I love things more and more after they've been with me a while. I need to put some into my decisions, for RTW, it's not such a problem.

 

[whateve]

Oh wow, major miscommunication!
I thought you were familiar with Goodwill stores in the US. My comments are strictly applied to that specific scenario mentioned, where a BV was priced $15 at a Goodwill, We were not having the same conversation in the least. I just checked and it's not in the UK, only these countries :View attachment 4938437
So of course you probably thought a Goodwill ( https://www.goodwill.org/ ) was similar to the place you donate to with dealers and experts, etc... (That sounds awesome! Never heard of such a place!)
So then when you read the story of the woman who found a BV at Goodwill for $15 is empathizing with the woman who donated the bag, feeling sorry for her and thinking she would be furious in her shoes. But, in fact, the situations have nothing in common.

People don't give BVs to Goodwill for the purpose of helping a cause. People don't give BVs to Goodwill period. Not unless they are destroyed beyond value.

People dump (low value donations of) clothes & household goods at Goodwill to be rid of them fast. How can you find a BV at a Goodwill? Easy. The owner's dead. The bag was part of an entire estate and no one involved in the process of bequeathing the woman's earthly belongings, and none of her beneficiaries had ever heard of BV. So her Estate, after family took what they wanted, would have been then bundled together and dropped off at a Goodwill, with no compensation other than convenience.

It's not uncommon that amongst the survivors of any given deceased person, there is not a designer purse enthusiast among them to recognize the value of a used bag. In fact I would say we are in the small minority in the population, so....most of the time there isn't a brand savvy person emptying a deceased woman's closet and processing the items forwards to some kind of destination, or landfill.

And regards to the labor involved of volunteers at the place you donate at in Europe, vs in the US, the staff at Goodwill stores, or my staff at a federally funded public charity founded in 1965, have absolutely nothing in common. Zilch
So yeah we were having two different conversations. How very funny. SorryI made stupid assumptions.

Most of the time I find things overpriced at Goodwill stores. It varies by the community. Nearly all Goodwill stores in California sell anything worth more than $20 online, so it is very hard to find anything I like in the physical stores. I bought a vintage Coach on Goodwill online for over $115. Many of the stores check bags on ebay to see what to price them at. Once in awhile, when traveling, I'll find a Goodwill that prices things like they used to - like the store where every purse was $4 no matter what. I was very lucky to find a Balenciaga for $40 at a Goodwill in Oregon. When I'm making the round of thrift stores we often skip Goodwill because we assume it will be overpriced. Tignanello and Fossil are in the glass case, priced over $20.

 

[indiaink]

Oh wow, major miscommunication!
I thought you were familiar with Goodwill stores in the US. My comments are strictly applied to that specific scenario mentioned, where a BV was priced $15 at a Goodwill...

I've long told my husband if I should go before he does, to get hold of my good friend in Seattle who knows exactly what I have and will make sure it's taken care of. It's not that he doesn't know (by now) what a luxury bag is and what I probably paid, but - he's just a likely to hit up Goodwill unless somebody intervenes.

 

[papertiger]

Oh wow, major miscommunication!
I thought you were familiar with Goodwill stores in the US. My comments are strictly applied to that specific scenario mentioned, where a BV was priced $15 at a Goodwill, We were not having the same conversation in the least. I just checked and it's not in the UK, only these countries :View attachment 4938437
So of course you probably thought a Goodwill ( https://www.goodwill.org/ ) was similar to the place you donate to with dealers and experts, etc... (That sounds awesome! Never heard of such a place!)
So then when you read the story of the woman who found a BV at Goodwill for $15 is empathizing with the woman who donated the bag, feeling sorry for her and thinking she would be furious in her shoes. But, in fact, the situations have nothing in common.

People don't give BVs to Goodwill for the purpose of helping a cause. People don't give BVs to Goodwill period. Not unless they are destroyed beyond value.

People dump (low value donations of) clothes & household goods at Goodwill to be rid of them fast. How can you find a BV at a Goodwill? Easy. The owner's dead. The bag was part of an entire estate and no one involved in the process of bequeathing the woman's earthly belongings, and none of her beneficiaries had ever heard of BV. So her Estate, after family took what they wanted, would have been then bundled together and dropped off at a Goodwill, with no compensation other than convenience.

It's not uncommon that amongst the survivors of any given deceased person, there is not a designer purse enthusiast among them to recognize the value of a used bag. In fact I would say we are in the small minority in the population, so....most of the time there isn't a brand savvy person emptying a deceased woman's closet and processing the items forwards to some kind of destination, or landfill.

And regards to the labor involved of volunteers at the place you donate at in Europe, vs in the US, the staff at Goodwill stores, or my staff at a federally funded public charity founded in 1965, have absolutely nothing in common. Zilch
So yeah we were having two different conversations. How very funny. SorryI made stupid assumptions.

My apologies. A bit different.

I think we have house clearance places here too, they tend to be done/run by professionals for profit and we have to pay, unless a large charity will agree to take things away for free. The sorting would take far too long and be very difficult for most volunteers (most volunteers tend to be pensioners). They do sort, but not usually that kind of quantity.

We can get something called 'gift aid' here (UK) on money/donations, it's supposed to be an incentive to give to charity, as donors can claim tax back. Charities don't pay tax, so the charity can claim that sum on top of what's already been earned if it's not claimed back by the gifter: https://www.gov.uk/donating-to-charity/gift-aid I have to admit I don't understand it completely, but the manager at the charity I give to just emails me what my donation total is and gift aid is worked out, if I don't claim it, they get that too, and that's fine by me.