2022 Resolution: Shopping my own bag and SLG collection. Anyone else?

[Katinahat]

2 Aug - brand showcase: A-F
4 Sept - brand showcase: G-L
11 Sept - brand showcase: M-R
18 Sept - brand showcase: S-Z
25 Sept - totes
2 Oct - satchels
9 Oct - crossbodies inc WOCS
16 Oct - shoulder bags
23 Oct - bucket bags
30 Oct - clutches
6 Nov - backpacks
13 Nov - bags that don’t count
20 Nov - pairing bags with shoes
27 Nov - pairing bags with other accessories
4 Dec - bag storage
11 Dec - SLGs
18 Dec - charms

Challenges:
Sept - bags in different locations
Oct - Halloween: wear orange or black bags
Nov - International Merlot Day: wear wine coloured bags or pair bags with wine.
Dec - use the bag.

 

[dcooney4]

20 or so of it was Noom, 9 was not having an appetite after my hysterectomy…

Congrats on the weight loss. Hope you are healing well.

 

[cowgirlsboots]

Being in California, ordering from Japan has been great for me. Often items get here quicker than they do from another place in the US, sometimes within 2 days! The US has a rule where we don't pay customs on things under $800, and since I never spend more than that online, I never have to pay it, but lately Ebay has been charging me California sales tax. Often the Japanese sellers will have things a little cheaper than the US sellers.

That´s great! I don´t know the exact numbers for our customs and tax rules, but when I look at items from abroad on ebay and the listing shows the estimated taxes the numbers always make me blanch. I think you pay customs on everything over 25€ and taxes from around 100€ on.

 

[cowgirlsboots]

It is hoarder heaven. You were made for each other.

The London story is a hilarious image. I can picture you in an old style Western covered wagon, making you way back home. How do you get across the channel?

We always went by ferry. The tunnel is too expensive to use when you are bringing a big trailer...
Here are some pictures from one of our trips...



oops!

These were taken another year when we didn´t bring the trailer:



and because the car was full the giraffe had to travel on the roof rails...


the giraffe is a kid carrier DS used to love.

 

[cowgirlsboots]

@880 when I got to read your post last night (as I was getting ready to sleep), I suddenly had a craving for Filipino breakfast! Since I started baking my own bread during the pandemic, I rarely eat rice for breakfast. But once in a while I’ll have a craving for the full deal - garlic fried rice, sunny side up or scrambled egg and any of the meats - beef tapa, pork longganisa or pork tocino, with the meat dipped in vinegar as sauce! Yum! Lol! Btw, I have progressed to sourdough baking.

@jblended Funny that you mentioned sapin sapin. I just had a helping the other day. It’s been a while since I had it, I really enjoyed eating it again. So good!!!

—-
During my early days in tpf (read: being bag crazy), I had the chance to go to Japan for work for 2 weeks. I came prepared!! I had researched possible bag resellers in the area and I would stroll the areas after we’re done for the day! I went home with a Gucci in (mini or micro?) Guccissima leather that time. And since then, when I have a trip to Japan, I make sure I scour the area for those bag shops! But I’ve not bought from them via ebay because of taxes coming in here into my country!

Don´t you have to pay taxes when you bring them into your country from abroad too? I always wonder how people handle this when they buy handbags abroad.

 

[cowgirlsboots]

I've never figured out cost per wear, although I probably should. Some of my items were bought at bargain prices so I know the CPW is low on them. I don't carry the more expensive bags more than the bargain ones. In fact, I tend to love the bags I got at a bargain more.

+1 here!

 

[cowgirlsboots]

I picked... or she picked me. Louis Vuitton Vernis Alma BB in Amarante...

View attachment 5397003

Glorious! Congratulations!

I recently bought the bigger model Alma in red Epi.

 

[Jereni]

This is so interesting to read! I think you’ve managed to be quite restrained in your purchases and this is a capsule with key styles working for you. I struggle not to buy things every month and you’ve not bought much in a year.

I do think my fluctuating size has much to do with it especially in trousers and jeans so I’m interested to see you’ve committed to slimming rather than buying more. That’s good. I think I buy things to fit better or that I feel more mentally comfortable in rather than committing to that slimming down again. I have a lot of MH issues tied up in slimming.

My new summer capris arrived yesterday in uk 12 - I got navy and this brighter colour. Is this colour okay or does it draw too much attention to problem areas? (And me last year over a size smaller hillwalking with dog - I wish I still fitted into these). I’m so conscious of my heavier bottom half.
View attachment 5397170View attachment 5397172

I think they look great! And I’m so jealous of what I assume are the Scottish highlands behind you.

If you’re still looking to scratch the circle bag itch, I could recommend the Prada Odette bag. (I don’t think it’s in production anymore, but you might be able to find one pre-loved.) It’s more oval than round, but has a top handle and a detachable strap, so you can wear it multiple ways. The Coach outlet still sells a very similar style if you want to go retail and/or cheaper.

The circle bag always seemed like an organizational nightmare to me (I dislike the hobo style for the same reason since everything falls to the bottom), so this was a really good compromise for me.

Thank you for the recommendation! I will check that out. I’d still like to find a circle bag that works. The other one been musing on is the Aspinal hat box.

It‘s interesting you say this because I have the same thoughts when I’m on vacation since what’s available to me is only those items I packed. By the end of my time away, I’m usually itching for more choices, but things seem so easy for the first several days.

Like so many, I did a lot of pandemic cleaning when there was nothing else to do. Part of that included paring down my wardrobe to only those items I love and that fit well, which has been great. I still have too many clothes, but I am happy with the progress I’ve made. And my dressing habits have changed since the pandemic started (even more casual than before), so I try to keep that in mind any time I consider a purchase. It’s hard because I have ideas about how I want to dress, which is much more glamorous than my actual life really is!

I’m the same lol. I love traveling, but I don’t often pack very light because I like to have lots of options haha. As DH and I get back into travel with places opening up again, I’m hoping to build up a good travel wardrobe that will provide versatility but not weigh me down, so to speak.

I love dresses, too. For colder months, I wear them with opaque tights and knee-high boots. If they are short-sleeved or sleeveless, I’ll pair with a cardigan. During transitional months, I wear them with denim jackets (white in spring, blue in fall) and I usually forgo the tights. For shoes during transitional months, it’s ankle booties in spring and knee-high boots in fall. HTH!

I need to do this more! I.e. wear dresses in the winter, just with better layering. It’s a look I love and just always forget to attempt.

 

[cowgirlsboots]

This is so interesting to read! I think you’ve managed to be quite restrained in your purchases and this is a capsule with key styles working for you. I struggle not to buy things every month and you’ve not bought much in a year.

I do think my fluctuating size has much to do with it especially in trousers and jeans so I’m interested to see you’ve committed to slimming rather than buying more. That’s good. I think I buy things to fit better or that I feel more mentally comfortable in rather than committing to that slimming down again. I have a lot of MH issues tied up in slimming.

My new summer capris arrived yesterday in uk 12 - I got navy and this brighter colour. Is this colour okay or does it draw too much attention to problem areas? (And me last year over a size smaller hillwalking with dog - I wish I still fitted into these). I’m so conscious of my heavier bottom half.
View attachment 5397170View attachment 5397172

There are no problem areas! It´s your body, it´s you and you are a good person no matter which size you are wearing. The pants do fit you nicely and I think I feel between the lines that you love the bright spring colour- so wear it, enjoy it! When there is a big smile on your face and energy in your step nobody will think about "problem areas" but think: look at her, she´s so attractive!

 

[cowgirlsboots]

+1

and another +1 from me....

 

[BowieFan1971]

Congrats on the weight loss. Hope you are healing well.

Thanks. Most days I am back to normal. Some days I still need a nap. The night sweats and hot flashes? They stink, but should get better/go away since I kept my ovaries. Though I am experiencing a lot of stress right now, which affects hormones. My mom’s brain tumor began progressing again after two years of being stable and she has noticeably deteriorated over the last month. I was told on Wednesday that she is dying.

 

[BowieFan1971]

There are no problem areas! It´s your body, it´s you and you are a good person no matter which size you are wearing. The pants do fit you nicely and I think I feel between the lines that you love the bright spring colour- so wear it, enjoy it! When there is a big smile on your face and energy in your step nobody will think about "problem areas" but think: look at her, she´s so attractive!

Truth!!!!!!

 

[whateve]

Thanks. Most days I am back to normal. Some days I still need a nap. The night sweats and hot flashes? They stink, but should get better/go away since I kept my ovaries. Though I am experiencing a lot of stress right now, which affects hormones. My mom’s brain tumor began progressing again after two years of being stable and she has noticeably deteriorated over the last month. I was told on Wednesday that she is dying.

I'm so sorry for the sad news.

 

[DME]

Opaque tights, knee high boots, ankles booties, and denim jackets sound wonderfully stylish. What cut of dresses do you prefer?

This is a tangential comment, but my next door neighbor always wears dresses. She is small and buys them at the off price stores like TJ Max. She buys no-iron, washes them, and hangs them over the shower rod to drip dry. (Hot climate). She always looks so polished. We jokingly call her Mrs. Clever (Beaver's mom for those of you too young to get the joke). I would copy her formula but the dresses in my size tend to look matronly.

I’m a pear shape, so fit and flare works best for me, but there are some boxier shapes I can do depending on brand. I love Lilly Pulitzer and vineyard vines for dresses. I also like Sweaty Betty for athletic wear dresses. My denim jackets are both Lilly.

 

[whateve]

I think they look great! And I’m so jealous of what I assume are the Scottish highlands behind you.



Thank you for the recommendation! I will check that out. I’d still like to find a circle bag that works. The other one been musing on is the Aspinal hat box.



I’m the same lol. I love traveling, but I don’t often pack very light because I like to have lots of options haha. As DH and I get back into travel with places opening up again, I’m hoping to build up a good travel wardrobe that will provide versatility but not weigh me down, so to speak.



I need to do this more! I.e. wear dresses in the winter, just with better layering. It’s a look I love and just always forget to attempt.

I love the look of the Aspinal hat box but decided it is just too small for me. There is even less usable space due to the shape.

 

[DME]

I wish I looked better in dresses. They are so comfortable, especially in the summer. Because I'm short and busty, I have to choose dresses that don't cut me in half and nothing with a high waist. It seems like a huge percentage of casual dresses are high waisted. I think the princess style looks good on most people, as it makes the waist look narrower.

As with everything, it’s a lot of trial and error. I’ve spent years honing in on what works for me. And since my body changes every so many years, it’s an ongoing process.