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.

 

[SakuraSakura]

Hi everybody! I hope you're doing well.

I just wanted to give a quick little review about my recent amarante vernis Alma BB purchase.

Pros: I feel like a pretty little lady wearing it. I'm enamoured by the deep,rich red and how it sparkles in the sunlight. The dome satchel is such a classic piece. I like that it's structured as my belongings stay in one place. The BB size is perfect for my necessities. Honestly it's the perfect milestone present - a bit flashy and decadent but oh so deserved. It's sitting next to me right now. I have a crush on it. Pass it on.

CONS: From what I've gathered, people do not like the finger-prints. They can be noticeable upon closer inspection but you know what bothers me more? Vernis gathers dust... literally. Dust clings to it. That isn't a huge issue but it barely goes mentioned. I noticed that the long strap tends to unclip when carried too. The safest option of carry is either handheld or through the crook of your arm.

All in all I'm really happy with it. Everything has its faults.

 

[Cordeliere]

Very interesting question! Thanks @Katinahat for making it a discussion topic after @lill_canele mentioned it.
I’ve thought about letting go of bags that are not getting much love, but then I find a renewed passion for them a few years later when my style inevitably changes again and am glad I held onto them - especially with all the crazy price increases and the insane resale market, since letting go and buying back would make for an expensive decision!
I’m about to head into that transition phase again; I can feel it. It will be interesting to see where my fashion style heads this time.

Good point to remember about how a bag that does not work now can work later. When you figure out your new style, do share.

 

[Cordeliere]

Interesting that you asked that question now, since I just took a bunch of bags (at least 12) for consignment yesterday, including my orange Picotin 18. It was just a tiny bit too small in that I did not like how the bag looked when I put my essentials in it. I would consider a 22, but prices on pre-loved Picos have gotten insane and new supply stinks. I may be able to net as much as a $1000 profit off my bag, which is welcome but insane. I also pared down my LV and Gucci collections, along with my other bags. I had some bags I bought because they fit criteria and were excellent buys, but were not what I really wanted. They were “good enough.” I am not going to do that anymore. I will pay more (within reason) to get what I want, not just close enough to it. I am going to get an orange bag (brand undecided but would love another H) to replace the orange Pico and still need a red bag (which may be a Italy purchase.) I am also replacing 2 brown mono Guccis with one in a style that is more me. The other Gucci (Bardot) may or may not get replaced. The 2 LVs and Prada will not get replaced, nor will the other bags of mixed brands. I will take a loss on a few, but will make enough on others to make up for it. I want to only have bags I will enthusiastically wear and love the idea of getting more wear from the bags that I have. I have a few more to consign in the fall (browns and dark reds) and some SLGs I want to take. I will still have bags that will not be worn every day, like the Kelly, but the rest? They need and deserve to be used. And the more I use them, the less they cost.

Do you use a local consignment store? How are the fees at the place you use?

Totally agree on the insane pico prices. I have been looking for an orange/cyclamen vibrato pico for years, so I get a daily email from Vestaire Collective showing what picos came in. Prices are often in the high 4s. Seems crazy to me.

I am trying to resist a "good enough" travel bag, because I think what I want does not exist. Good enough is really never good enough. It is a battle between optimal functionality and love. I am telling myself it is better to make do with what I have rather than spend money on a bag that I don't really love. It pains me to have a non loved bag.

That is great that you take the prospective on break even on the whole lot, and that you don't lose money. Makes selling less painful. Good luck on finding a replacement.

 

[BowieFan1971]

Do you use a local consignment store? How are the fees at the place you use?

Totally agree on the insane pico prices. I have been looking for an orange/cyclamen vibrato pico for years, so I get a daily email from Vestaire Collective showing what picos came in. Prices are often in the high 4s. Seems crazy to me.

I am trying to resist a "good enough" travel bag, because I think what I want does not exist. Good enough is really never good enough. It is a battle between optimal functionality and love. I am telling myself it is better to make do with what I have rather than spend money on a bag that I don't really love. It pains me to have a non loved bag.

That is great that you take the prospective on break even on the whole lot, and that you don't lose money. Makes selling less painful. Good luck on finding a replacement.

I am using a local store. I will make 40% on bags under $100, 50% on ones $100-499, 60% on $500-999, 75% on $1000 and up. I will lose money on my Alma DE (which kills me but lesson learned about “place holders” and patience, though I did get the bag (Saleya PM DE) whose place it was holding for a steal, so it kinda works out) and some under $100, but break even or make money on the rest. But I am tired of haggling and sitting on bags. I am tired of the mental pressure of looking at bags I don’t use. I really don’t get pleasure from merely owning them, though I have in the past.

 

[DME]

Yes , it was driving me a little crazy. I went to Gucci, mulberry, Carolina Herrera, Marc Jacobs, Tory Butch outlets and a few others . I am very pale and certain tans look hideous on me. So I happened across this one . It was attached to a string with an alarm and of course while I was trying to look at it , I set it off. Luckily I had already caught the managers eye to get someone to unlock it for me. I wanted to get a better look at it but the woman took it and my name and said she would have it at the register for me. It was the shops opening day so I took it and a woven tiny leather bag. Hence all the questions after purchase rather than before.

I’m fairly pale, too, so understand how this color can be tricky. So glad you found a bag in this shade that you like! Keep us posted on whether you decide to keep it. And that thing with the alarm sounds like something that would be just my luck, too.

 

[whateve]

I guess they are making for people who think nothing of spending that amount on one outfit.

Covid checks?

Wow, you know so much!

Im sorry to hear that. I think people everywhere are suffering this impact.

I think you are a tailor! I can hardly hem trousers myself.

Wow, what a purchase. A bargain not a steal!

Interesting it’s a family hobby and great to share something like that with DH too. No wonder you need such an awesome closet!

That’s like gardening is a hobby for my family - passed in down generations, although I’m far from an expert or green fingered in comparison to my parents or grandparents. Totally off the point of the strand but are some hints of what we’ve created in our outdoor space. I love roses!

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Gorgeous! I love roses too. DH doesn't. He hates that they have to be pruned so often. I put a rose bush in my front yard that I bought specifically for the smell. Both my daughter and I think it smells divine. DH can't smell it but he can smell other roses. Isn't that odd? I love the smell of orange blossoms too - we live in an orange growing area so the smell is here a lot - but DH says they smell good at first, then get overwhelming. I never feel they get overwhelming.

We used to have more rose bushes than we do now. Several of them didn't survive. Part of it is that I have a "bulldozer" (really a giant tortoise) in my yard that walks through things instead of around them. He broke many sprinklers around the roses until we got the bright idea to make them popups. He loves to eat the roses but he never eats them off the bushes. He only eats them when I cut them for him.

 

[whateve]

Thanks @whateve! That is such a good idea! I’ve been looking up straps online since I read it. So many options with a hint of pink and more if I were to add ones with no pink
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All under £20 and all with GHW to match the Alexa. All are crossbody straps but the style I think would completely adjust to half the length for shoulder carry - do you have experience of that? I’m quite short!

Several of them would look great with your bag. I'm sorry, I don't actually have any experience with these. I bought one once to go with a bag but sold it with the bag soon afterwards.

 

[DME]

I am using a local store. I will make 40% on bags under $100, 50% on ones $100-499, 60% on $500-999, 75% on $1000 and up. I will lose money on my Alma DE (which kills me but lesson learned about “place holders” and patience, though I did get the bag (Saleya PM DE) whose place it was holding for a steal, so it kinda works out) and some under $100, but break even or make money on the rest. But I am tired of haggling and sitting on bags. I am tired of the mental pressure of looking at bags I don’t use. I really don’t get pleasure from merely owning them, though I have in the past.

Wow, I wish my consignment store had a structure like that. I make a flat 40%; it would be great to make more on pricier items. However, it’s a popular local shop with a secondary beach location and what I bring in typically moves fast, so… I‘ve been consigning since I was in my teens and, while I’m used to making 50% of the sale price, this store have overall done much better by me than other other shop I’ve used. I took in my first items the Friday before our county shut down for COVID in March 2020, which was interesting timing. The owner has been a pleasure to work with, which is a plus since others have been less-so and in several ways. It’s a trade-off, I suppose.

 

[whateve]

In the US, when the government did the first lockdown, lots of people couldn't pay their rent or buy food because they had no savings. Our congress voted to send every single American a payment of $1,200. Our income was not impacted, but my husband and I both got checks (slightly less than $1,200 each as they were income adjusted). The covid checks were great for those who could not work, but the knowledge workers could work from home and were still working, as were the essential workers. It was the restaurant workers who were hit really hard.

Over the course of the pandemic, they sent eligible people two more checks. People could get unemployment payments that were higher than normal. Social service agencies paid rent for people. There was so much money rolling in, people were reluctant to go back to work. All that extra money sloshing around in our economy is a major factor in the bout of high inflation that the US is currently dealing with. People who were still working and who got covid checks spent them on new furniture, TVs, and probably purse addicts spent it on purses. Lot's of demand for goods due to free money from the government, and not enough goods due to supply chain problems.

Here are the US covid payments. These are per person, not per household.

• $1,200 in April 2020
• $600 in December 2020/January 2021
• $1,400 in March 2021

On a different topic, I love your stone walls.

I never understood why they didn't have people report these on their taxes so it could be refunded to the government if the people didn't need it. It would have been better for the national debt.

ETA: My daughter works for our state and they gave checks too, but they also cut her salary, so they took money from her to distribute it elsewhere. She was struggling before the salary cut. She continued to work during lockdown but it would have been nice if they hadn't cut her pay.

 

[whateve]

What a beautiful garden!
I might never leave it! We added to our landscaping in 2020 and it has become a haven for me - I sit on the patio and just look at all the green. Yesterday, I planted a few flowers (literally I planted 16 vinca ), and they’ve added a pretty pop of pink.
(only a few because I forget to water them, and the squirrels and/or rabbits eat them, so I only plant a few)

What a beauty PT!

We have private fenced gardens outside of two of our bathrooms. In October, I redid the one outside the master bath with all new plants and a new fence. There are a lot of flowers. I'm impatient for the time when it becomes more lush and all the plants are bigger.

 

[whateve]

I edited your quote down to the parts I relate to most. For me the answer is mostly yes on the "less interested" question. About half of my collection is small date bags. I used to say that the date bags were like peanuts. There is always room for one more. (I was wrong. My last small bag purchase was one too many). The answer is definitely yes on the "less interested" issue for my medium and large bags. Not only do I feel less interested as I get more, I feel overwhelmed by them because I am not using them enough.

I have a magic number. I want to cap my collection at 18 bags. Currently I have 22 plus 4 that I don't count (2 from long ago past and two travel bags that don't really work). There is no logical reason for 18. My body relaxes thinking about 18. My body tenses when I think 22. Plus I am still searching for the perfect travel bag, so I would go to 23. Yikes.

Yesterday I thought about selling my 4 least favorites. The idea made me happy. Only 18 bags. Yeah. Then I went to my bag armoire and looked at the 4. My reaction was "they are wonderful. They are works of art. Look at that leather. Look at that craftsmanship. What? Am I nuts? I was think of letting those go????"

My conclusion was I should keep them all, and leave one on the couch at all times to pet. I don't have to carry them. I can just cuddle them and enjoy them. DH thought this whole struggle was hilarious. I think what will happen is I will probably sell one of the four per year over the next four years. After I cuddle them a while, I can set my least favorites free.

I could try to carry them more, but I am not good at rotating. (The ladies who rotate easily are my heroes.) I have considered putting two or three per week on or in the buffet by the front door to make switching in and out easier. As I deep clean our house over the summer, my goal is to move our tax records to storage to make room for bags in the buffet.

My short answer is I am going to try to give all my bags more cuddle time and make it easier rotate them more.

I decided 15 is the perfect number, not including special occasion bags. That way I could carry each bag twice a month. I'm nowhere near that number and it would take a disaster that destroyed most of my collection for that to happen.

 

[whateve]

Hi everybody! I hope you're doing well.

I just wanted to give a quick little review about my recent amarante vernis Alma BB purchase.

Pros: I feel like a pretty little lady wearing it. I'm enamoured by the deep,rich red and how it sparkles in the sunlight. The dome satchel is such a classic piece. I like that it's structured as my belongings stay in one place. The BB size is perfect for my necessities. Honestly it's the perfect milestone present - a bit flashy and decadent but oh so deserved. It's sitting next to me right now. I have a crush on it. Pass it on.

CONS: From what I've gathered, people do not like the finger-prints. They can be noticeable upon closer inspection but you know what bothers me more? Vernis gathers dust... literally. Dust clings to it. That isn't a huge issue but it barely goes mentioned. I noticed that the long strap tends to unclip when carried too. The safest option of carry is either handheld or through the crook of your arm.

All in all I'm really happy with it. Everything has its faults.

Have you tried wiping it down with a dryer sheet? I don't know if it would work but it works on other things.

 

[Cordeliere]

I am using a local store. I will make 40% on bags under $100, 50% on ones $100-499, 60% on $500-999, 75% on $1000 and up. I will lose money on my Alma DE (which kills me but lesson learned about “place holders” and patience, though I did get the bag (Saleya PM DE) whose place it was holding for a steal, so it kinda works out) and some under $100, but break even or make money on the rest. But I am tired of haggling and sitting on bags. I am tired of the mental pressure of looking at bags I don’t use. I really don’t get pleasure from merely owning them, though I have in the past.

Those are good percents IMHO.

 

[dcooney4]

I am using a local store. I will make 40% on bags under $100, 50% on ones $100-499, 60% on $500-999, 75% on $1000 and up. I will lose money on my Alma DE (which kills me but lesson learned about “place holders” and patience, though I did get the bag (Saleya PM DE) whose place it was holding for a steal, so it kinda works out) and some under $100, but break even or make money on the rest. But I am tired of haggling and sitting on bags. I am tired of the mental pressure of looking at bags I don’t use. I really don’t get pleasure from merely owning them, though I have in the past.

It is similar at the consignment shop I use. Clothes you get 40 % , bags 50% unless the bag is expensive then she works out a slightly better deal.

 

[Cordeliere]

Part of it is that I have a "bulldozer" (really a giant tortoise) in my yard that walks through things instead of around them. He broke many sprinklers around the roses until we got the bright idea to make them popups. He loves to eat the roses but he never eats them off the bushes. He only eats them when I cut them for him.

Did he come with the property? Did he adopt you? Did you adopt him?
Not many people have their own giant tortoise.