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.

 

[BowieFan1971]

My Desmond & Dempsey boyfriend lounge shirt arrived in lightning speed and it definitely, on first impression, is a high end crisp stiff cotton button down I would wear with jeans! I love the embroidery! I can't imagine it described as pyjamas or anything close to that but that's just me.
I'm seriously considering pyjamas in a fun print from them in a second order. But it would be that or another one of these shirts in pink, which I love. Can't splurge on both without feeling excessive....so which one should it be.

PJs! Though that shirt is majorly cute...

 

[Purses & Perfumes]

Decided to carry my Delvaux Tempete today. I'm having a hard time capturing the honey-gold color and this picture is the one that comes the closest to the bag's actual color.

 

[ladysarah]

I’m so sorry covid issues prevent you from taking up the challenges. But the purpose of the challenges is to get us to really see our bags and where they fit in our lives. It could be enough to figure out outfits to pair them with when things get back to normal.

38 is not an unreasonable number for a TPFer, esp. given the shopping proclivities of some members here. How about @diane278 ’s idea of putting the marginal ones in the shed. . . Or other closet. That way, they’re not exactly in your active count. I also think sentimental journey bags should not count. @diane278 would probably frame them. I still regret an orange cashmere mock turtleneck I gave away after college in 1990. but, as I get older, it’s easier to let go. Someone, perhaps @Hazzelnut saI’d something like think of letting go as part of a journey in curating your bag collection. . .

re your questions 1. And 2., they seem more geared to decreeing your current favorites (that reflect your current style) among the 38. and if you were moving tomorrow and could only take half, youd have a dear friend box the rest and send them. Plus, totes and clutches and strictly seasonal pieces should not count either. it’s like having foley food mill and a masher. You may only use them once a year at thanksgiving, but they do the job.

@Vintage Leather, I love your spoiler below, and I also remember when some hermes bags at resellers were 400 usd though I did not start my journey until well into the time period you mentioned. back then, I focused on the classics and I deeply regret not buying more playful collectors pieces like sac malette pocBette, sun motif bag, ile de Shki, porc, vibrato, crinoline, Amazonia, various H shoulder bags, exotics. This Year, I felt like Prices increased by at least 2K usd plus after an initial lull. I think resellers realized chanel boutique prices were approaching the stratosphere (and Hermes should follow suit) and shoppers needed to alleviate covid boredom by shopping on line.

I also do not count ”sentimental journey bags” in what I consider my roster of bags (can never bring myself to say collection, too grand for what I have ). So there is that Prada hobo I managed to score as a student living in Italy in the 90s. Or my no brand civil wedding cream silk clutch my mother got out of nowhere in the last minute and is full of stains (what the hell did I do?). Or the Ferragamo shoulder bag my then boyfriend got me for my first job interview. Or the purple MiuMiu baguette with an appliqué leather flower (really...) I carried to my sister’s wedding... and other bags that are packed away and I will never wear but I will never get rid off. Those DO NOT count.

About totes and clutches and seasonal pieces not counting... I think that is a bit of a stretch, but it is making me feel my collection is very small, so it is good

@880 I need you to stop talking about crinoline. Now. Just stop.

framing sentimental fashion items is a superb idea. I ve done that with shoes and scarves and it looks very lovely. I havent done it with bags, (I preferred to get the money to actually buy somework from an artist I loved,) but why not?

 

[Purses & Perfumes]

Time to be brave and show my first purchase of the year.

View attachment 4957143View attachment 4957144View attachment 4957149

Did I keep my goals in mind? Yes!

• no random purchases - definetely not random: Dior, not my exact era, but a close sibling, a kind of bag I didn´t have, yet, leopard print calfskin to make my inner diva happy.
• only buy what I love- I saw this one and fell for it head over heels!
• research, research, research- of course I did my research: I needed to see all the features to check for authenticity and I checked the price point. This bag sold for way less than any other one I saw for sale. The only thing I did not find out is the exact model name. Is this 2014 bag a Promenade pouch or a Miss Dior Promenade pouch... all I know is that it belongs into the evolution line that started with the New Lock and the designer should be Raf Simmons.
• what I don´t care for has to go- preferrably be sold- does not apply here
• use the proceeds to upgrade
• wear my handbags, clothes, shoes without fear of ruining them- I unwrapped this one and wore it for an errand no 30 minutes after receiving it. Good sign!

View attachment 4957147

• enjoy!- absolutely! I love leopard and I really like this size as a bridge between oly grabbing my wallet and wearing a full size handbag.

Re research: I really had to laugh when the seller told me she had worn this bag only twice after buying it 2 years ago at the Dior store in Munich. (Or maybe it should? Should I ask the Munich store whether they have more of the long discontinued bags?) She had sent me lots of photos including one of the serial number. I didn´t comment on it- her storyline doesn´t matter to me. I love the bag!

I love this bag on you! I think it might be the Miss Dior series. The size is perfect and the chain is beautiful!

 

[880]

framing sentimental fashion items is a superb idea. I ve done that with shoes and scarves and it looks very lovely. I havent done it with bags, (I preferred to get the money to actually buy somework from an artist I loved,) but why not?

@ladysarah, I’ve never done it, but i believe @diane278 does it beautifully in her thread edited closet, here post 240 (bottom of page 16)
https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/share-your-edited-bag-closet-journey.1019229/page-16
I would love to see your framing scarves and shoes! Am sure they are lovely!
@Purses & Perfumes, your delvaux tempete is a gorgeous honey color. I love the hardware and the trapezoidal lines.

 

[papertiger]

View attachment 4957468
Decided to carry my Delvaux Tempete today. I'm having a hard time capturing the honey-gold color and this picture is the one that comes the closest to the bag's actual color.

 

[Katinahat]

Last march right before lock down I got an NVT small bayswater in black at their outlet. I Feel guilty because I still have not used her.

I remember you getting it and your pictures from the time. I have the same bag so think it’s a great choice! . The leather smells amazing still after several years. This time will pass and you will carry your lovely SBS more!

 

[Katinahat]

Time to be brave and show my first purchase of the year.

View attachment 4957143View attachment 4957144View attachment 4957149

Did I keep my goals in mind? Yes!

• no random purchases - definetely not random: Dior, not my exact era, but a close sibling, a kind of bag I didn´t have, yet, leopard print calfskin to make my inner diva happy.
• only buy what I love- I saw this one and fell for it head over heels!
• research, research, research- of course I did my research: I needed to see all the features to check for authenticity and I checked the price point. This bag sold for way less than any other one I saw for sale. The only thing I did not find out is the exact model name. Is this 2014 bag a Promenade pouch or a Miss Dior Promenade pouch... all I know is that it belongs into the evolution line that started with the New Lock and the designer should be Raf Simmons.
• what I don´t care for has to go- preferrably be sold- does not apply here
• use the proceeds to upgrade
• wear my handbags, clothes, shoes without fear of ruining them- I unwrapped this one and wore it for an errand no 30 minutes after receiving it. Good sign!

View attachment 4957147

• enjoy!- absolutely! I love leopard and I really like this size as a bridge between oly grabbing my wallet and wearing a full size handbag.

Re research: I really had to laugh when the seller told me she had worn this bag only twice after buying it 2 years ago at the Dior store in Munich. (Or maybe it should? Should I ask the Munich store whether they have more of the long discontinued bags?) She had sent me lots of photos including one of the serial number. I didn´t comment on it- her storyline doesn´t matter to me. I love the bag!

What a gorgeous bag! You look great with it!!

Brilliant reading the purchase story. You clearly thought long and hard about it and did all the research before going for it.

 

[Purses & Perfumes]

Good question! It's the stark contrast between my bag collection and the remainder of my life. I'm a minimalist everywhere except in this regard. It makes me feel greedy and wasteful to think I may never use each bag fully.

Thank you for this reminder. I drew a similar conclusion that the pandemic is making things murky. I will stop trying to edit at this stage and wait to see how life unfolds as the world returns to normacly.
Thank you!

@jblended, so many members here have given you wonderful suggestions about bag closet editing, and I agree that it's best to wait until the pandemic ends and life returns to some semblance of normalcy. I know what you mean about being a minimalist everywhere else, but it is clear you love handbags (well, we're all on the purse forum after all ), and perhaps it's okay to accept that your handbag collection is currently not as minimal as the rest of your life, at least at present. Once things are improved, you can revisit your editing goals and edit at that time.

I too lean minimalist in a lot of areas in my life, other than handbags, coats and perfumes. While I would still like to streamline these areas, I have also accepted that these past few months with the pandemic have been challenging and it's okay to take your time and go with the flow. When the time is ready, you will know it and move forward with your editing goals. My bag collection is not large, but I have not had many chances to wear my bags this year, so I have just been enjoying taking them out, airing them, and taking pictures of them in different settings. Perhaps you can do that too, or you can pair them with outfits, as @880 suggested. By the way, I too miss the edited bag closet thread -- I need to go back and read that thread!

View attachment 4957338
I'm enjoying my new shirt, and flopping for a break with TPF and a refreshment.

What a cute shirt! I am waiting for warmer weather to wear my shirts -- love wearing cotton shirts in the summer!

 

[dcooney4]

I remember you getting it and your pictures from the time. I have the same bag so think it’s a great choice! . The leather smells amazing still after several years. This time will pass and you will carry your lovely SBS more!

Thanks! I know you are right.

 

[ElainePG]

i love natural grain, the feel of it, but it lacks the structure, and after some use the bag becomes a bit 'relaxed' (which i'm ok with), but if you prefer a sturdy and shape retaining option, look at goatskin. My neon pink is goat, it wears like iron!

@ksuromax , I see something on the Mulberry site called "small classic grain"… is that the same as natural grain?

 

[ElainePG]

The ones I had in the 'departing' closet just got gifted to a covid cleaning crew. I am attempting to re-fill that closet now and that's where I'm failing. I thought it would be easier, especially having nowhere to go these days. It should be easy to look and say 'I can't wait to use x, y and z bags', but what I'm finding is that I can't wait to use all A-Z bags! Addicted, much?

Not at all! Just ready to get out of the house and live a normal life again!

 

[ElainePG]

Thank you! It is from a tiny company called SoRetro andshe makes the most beautiful straps. You can pick you background color with leather ends or without ,as well as hardware color. There are so many different choices . After using it yesterday and finding it so comfortable I want another .

These are incredible. Thanks!

 

[More bags]

View attachment 4957468
Decided to carry my Delvaux Tempete today. I'm having a hard time capturing the honey-gold color and this picture is the one that comes the closest to the bag's actual color.

 

[keodi]

I got a $50 Amazon gift card from my dad and stepmom for my birthday and so bought a scarf from a seller named Grace Scarves. Ordered it on Monday. Free shipping with a supposed arrival on Sunday. It came today and WOW! The silk is thick and supple, the design/colors are precisely printed. The quality is on par with the Cartier I have. Best part- it was $45, with other styles and colors for $45-50. I am really impressed and very pleased!!!! I will be buying from them again and wanted to pass the word. Here is a pic off Amazon and the scarf in the flesh.View attachment 4956430View attachment 4956431

Congratulations! this is a beautiful scarf!

Wow this thread moves fast!

I’m not satisfying a January bag challenge today, but continuing to rotate through my own bags as was one of my resolutions. I’ve worn 15 different handbags this month so far.

Today: Tory Burch chain wallet. Love the tweed and the working turnlock. If only it would get little warmer out!

View attachment 4956482

This is a beautiful crossbody! I love it!

Absolutely gorgeous! I’m loving the Lily chat on this thread. It’s one of my favourite bags. Your pink is stunning!!

I only have the Lily in regular. These are previous shots of my two. The black from Christmas and the oak from early last year.
View attachment 4956591View attachment 4956592
I like the medium but I’ve resisted temptation because I have several satchels that are that size.

Beautiful Lily! what fits in the regular size? i'm curious!

Lovely the delicious Mulberry eye candy on this thread! It’s good if you to take the time to post @ElainePG. I absolutely love the double zip. Such a classic style and that gorgeous postman’s lock - but I am quite biased!

I hope it works well as your recovery bag!

Agreed! This is one of the great things about this thread all the bag candy

I've hit a bit of a road block on the challenges. My long-covid nerve issues are preventing me from doing anything useful- like carry a bag - so I started looking at my bags and thinking I really should remove some. 38 is a ridiculous number of bags to own and I suspect amongst the highest number on the forums!

I asked myself 2 questions hoping to find some bags to shed:
1- If I were starting my collection over, would I purchase this bag again?
2- If I were moving tomorrow and could only take half my collection, which bags would I choose?
You'd think I'd have answers at the ready, but I felt completely stuck.
I would not edit out the 50% of my collection that has been gifts from family and friends because somehow they got me the most perfect bags. I would not remove any of the ones I bought myself because I love them. I think I'll stop trying to cull at this point.

I feel really greedy with the quantity I currently own but would rather not remove something forcibly only to regret it later.

I'm sorry you're going through covid after affects, I hope you can overcome it soon.You really shouldn't be so hard on yourself, 38 is not bad at all! I say enjoy your beautiful bags!

I’m so sorry covid issues prevent you from taking up the challenges. But the purpose of the challenges is to get us to really see our bags and where they fit in our lives. It could be enough to figure out outfits to pair them with when things get back to normal.

38 is not an unreasonable number for a TPFer, esp. given the shopping proclivities of some members here. How about @diane278 ’s idea of putting the marginal ones in the shed. . . Or other closet. That way, they’re not exactly in your active count. I also think sentimental journey bags should not count. @diane278 would probably frame them. I still regret an orange cashmere mock turtleneck I gave away after college in 1990. but, as I get older, it’s easier to let go. Someone, perhaps @Hazzelnut saI’d something like think of letting go as part of a journey in curating your bag collection. . .

re your questions 1. And 2., they seem more geared to decreeing your current favorites (that reflect your current style) among the 38. and if you were moving tomorrow and could only take half, youd have a dear friend box the rest and send them. Plus, totes and clutches and strictly seasonal pieces should not count either. it’s like having foley food mill and a masher. You may only use them once a year at thanksgiving, but they do the job.

@Vintage Leather, I love your spoiler below, and I also remember when some hermes bags at resellers were 400 usd though I did not start my journey until well into the time period you mentioned. back then, I focused on the classics and I deeply regret not buying more playful collectors pieces like sac malette pocBette, sun motif bag, ile de Shki, porc, vibrato, crinoline, Amazonia, various H shoulder bags, exotics. This Year, I felt like Prices increased by at least 2K usd plus after an initial lull. I think resellers realized chanel boutique prices were approaching the stratosphere (and Hermes should follow suit) and shoppers needed to alleviate covid boredom by shopping on line.

So true! at least that's how I felt anyway. I remember the days when Hermes items from Japanese resellers were such a bargain!

Do not feel guilty about the number of bags you own. No guilt!!

38 is not really that high of a number. At one point, I owned over 80, of which 70 were premiere designer. I’m not saying this to brag but to admit that yes, I had a problem.

Spoiler

And that ‘01 to ‘12 were a darn dangerous time, with Tom Ford, Lee McQueen and Galliano all being innovative and crazy, and before thrift stores moved online, so you could find 60s and 70s Gucci for $5-35 at the thrifts, and Chanel and Hermes for $100-400 at the Japanese resellers. And I’m spoilering this because I’ve gotten off topic, but yes, I had a problem. Anytime someone says I’ve said anything insightful about collection management, I think “that’s because I’ve been particularly stupid.”

Anywho. The number is not important. What is important is how it makes you feel.

Do you feel like the substitute teacher of 30 sugar-high 4 year olds? (overwhelmed, and while each individual is precious, if half got lost, you wouldn’t be so sad and yet you feel guilty about not loving anything enough?)

Or like a dragon in their most beloved hoard (Each item is precious, and seeing them en mass makes you feel satisfied and proud?)

If things own you, it’s time to let them go. If they stress you out or take up more time than you have to spare, let them find someone else. But if you enjoy your bags, savor them. And to heck with anyone who tells you you have too much.

Agreed! I loved your spoiler alert!

I also do not count ”sentimental journey bags” in what I consider my roster of bags (can never bring myself to say collection, too grand for what I have ). So there is that Prada hobo I managed to score as a student living in Italy in the 90s. Or my no brand civil wedding cream silk clutch my mother got out of nowhere in the last minute and is full of stains (what the hell did I do?). Or the Ferragamo shoulder bag my then boyfriend got me for my first job interview. Or the purple MiuMiu baguette with an appliqué leather flower (really...) I carried to my sister’s wedding... and other bags that are packed away and I will never wear but I will never get rid off. Those DO NOT count.

About totes and clutches and seasonal pieces not counting... I think that is a bit of a stretch, but it is making me feel my collection is very small, so it is good

@880 I need you to stop talking about crinoline. Now. Just stop.

I love your way of thinking!

i had the chance to buy a sun motif bag like this for half the price or less but that was years ago.

HERMES Sun Motif Mini Flap Hand Bag ◯Y 3C Red Box Calf Vintage 01453 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for HERMES Sun Motif Mini Flap Hand Bag ◯Y 3C Red Box Calf Vintage 01453 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

i also passed on an ile de ShKi in great condition in porc (which is a fantastic hardy leather that wears and patinas beautifully. I was considering an art bag redo of one (I don’t remember if it was ostrich or not; I could be confusing it with another model) in something like silver metallic, but I didnt like to mix metals (ghw) so passed, and then forgot about it. . . Now the bags are higher priced for corcheval leather, a precursor to epsom.

HERMES Ile De Shiki 2way Hand Bag Bicolor Navy Courchevel 12◯Y AK16883g | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for HERMES Ile De Shiki 2way Hand Bag Bicolor Navy Courchevel 12◯Y AK16883g at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

a few years ago, there were crinoline Kellys and birkins for relatively reasonably priced resale every summer. Now, only toile, and few and far between. And outrageously priced. I’m pretty sure this one, in summer of 2020 was 16K which was an outrageous price, and now 19K, WTF. A crinoline or tri color Kelly used to be 3-6K usd. And a crinoline birkin, 5-7K. I always figured I had plenty of time to pick one up.

Hermes Birkin 30 Bag Toile / Barenia Leather Palladium w/ Crinoline Bag Charm at 1stDibs | hermes toile bag, hermes birkin toile, birkin 30 barenia

View this item and discover similar for sale at 1stDibs - Guaranteed authentic Hermes Birkin 30 bag featured in coveted Toile and Barenia leather. This rare Birkin bag is complimented with palladium hardware.

www.1stdibs.com

Forget the single color crinoline barenia birkins. You might as well try to find a unicorn.

here is a gorgeous vibrato Kelly, but the price is beyond the pale.

Hermes Kelly 28 Sellier Black Box & Vibrato Leather Palladium Hardware - 2000, D | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Hermes Kelly 28 Sellier Black Box & Vibrato Leather Palladium Hardware - 2000, D at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

what does seem to be well priced now are Trim IIs (I don’t see many trim I) and bolides. I try to remember, they’re only bags and will come around again. What’s been impossible to find and repurchase are older CSGMs that I mistakenly let go. . . I could kick myself now. and the beautiful older CSGMs in great condition (from before my time as a collector) Malleries seller Little scarf fairy had a gorgeous lanieres pheasant from the 1990s that I thought would stay unsold bc of its price, and it’s gone. I do frequently check @sdsurfchick ’s site it’s all Goode for scarves, great quality, fair prices.

@BowieFan1971, saw your post below. I think you could rock bolder color (both brighter and darker) as well as the subtle warm tones you favor. Just saying in case you want to expand the rabbit hole and fall deeper Lol.

So true, once I found a beautiful Jige clutch in gold vintage a few years ago from a Japanese reseller It sold before I could buy, i was really sad about that!

Time to be brave and show my first purchase of the year.

View attachment 4957143View attachment 4957144View attachment 4957149

Did I keep my goals in mind? Yes!

• no random purchases - definetely not random: Dior, not my exact era, but a close sibling, a kind of bag I didn´t have, yet, leopard print calfskin to make my inner diva happy.
• only buy what I love- I saw this one and fell for it head over heels!
• research, research, research- of course I did my research: I needed to see all the features to check for authenticity and I checked the price point. This bag sold for way less than any other one I saw for sale. The only thing I did not find out is the exact model name. Is this 2014 bag a Promenade pouch or a Miss Dior Promenade pouch... all I know is that it belongs into the evolution line that started with the New Lock and the designer should be Raf Simmons.
• what I don´t care for has to go- preferrably be sold- does not apply here
• use the proceeds to upgrade
• wear my handbags, clothes, shoes without fear of ruining them- I unwrapped this one and wore it for an errand no 30 minutes after receiving it. Good sign!

View attachment 4957147

• enjoy!- absolutely! I love leopard and I really like this size as a bridge between oly grabbing my wallet and wearing a full size handbag.

Re research: I really had to laugh when the seller told me she had worn this bag only twice after buying it 2 years ago at the Dior store in Munich. (Or maybe it should? Should I ask the Munich store whether they have more of the long discontinued bags?) She had sent me lots of photos including one of the serial number. I didn´t comment on it- her storyline doesn´t matter to me. I love the bag!

Congratulations! beautiful Dior! I love animal print!

View attachment 4957468
Decided to carry my Delvaux Tempete today. I'm having a hard time capturing the honey-gold color and this picture is the one that comes the closest to the bag's actual color.

Your Delvaux is beautiful!!!