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.

 

[pjns]

I like both. Can see why you are torn. The SDJ would probably have better resale value as it is more widely known. That is not a reason to buy a bag, but it is a factor to consider. Also consider the weight. Which ever you pick, make sure you can return in case the bag is not all that you expect.

I never really considered the weight. Will now definitely do. Will do more research then. Thanks dear x

 

[pjns]

Do they both have crossbody straps? Definitely check the weight on them . After a long day you don’t want a heavy bag . They are both lovely.

yes. Both of them have straps, I’m leaning towards the Thom Browne (maybe because of the gloss on the picture).Definitely have to check the weight. Thom Browne looks heavier. Tried SDJ the other day in Melbourne, looked fab and fairly light. But def have to check the weight. Thanks for the advice x

 

[cowgirlsboots]

This will absolutely never ever fit me. I don’t even think it would fit half of me. But I flagged it in case some lovely petite lady here might be interested.

I think for me the fit would be about the same as my navy 60ies set.... the one I butchered strips from a suit jacket into in the second attempt of altering it. I wouldn´t ever have done this to a prescious couture piece.

 

[cowgirlsboots]

I’ve found it. What a stunning piece. I can see you in it from your styling pics @880. Shame it wouldn’t fit. I do not consider myself petite but with its fit and flare it’s made for a pear like me (or DD1). It would all depend on the flare of the skirt.

Great alterations advice @cowgirlboots. You are so clever.

Thank-you! It´s definetely the right shape for a pear- but according to the measurements that pear would have to have a tiny upper body...
I think meanwhile it sold. There must be people out there who are actually that tiny... not me for sure! Not even atm when I´m down to the same weight I had at 16. Bone structure gets in the way...

 

[cowgirlsboots]

Even a tutorial can’t help me sometimes! Hand stitching if it’s simple or, more often, pay an alterations service. It makes a lot of purchases more expensive!

Oh, I´m sure it´s costly to pay for alterations. I never did so yet, but had other people ask me could I help out because the quote they had from the local tailoring service seemed too high for them. Sometimes I politely declined and shook my head in disbelief after they had left (when a neighbour told me the tailor asked for 8€/the pair to shorten his wife´s pants and she had 10 pairs to do.... oops, sorry, not me, not for free as you certainly expect!) sometimes I´m happy to help as for example when another neighbour brought one curtain panel that was already pinned and all it needed was one straight seam.

Does your passion for bags ever lead you to purchase them for other people and do you like other people purchasing for you?

Yes, I love to hunt for bags for my DD´s for Birthdays or Christmas.
And no, I really don´t like other people to buy bags for me, not even DH. He knows what I like, but he is an awful shopper and will always pay too much. So I discourage him right away.
At the last flea market though he bought a very quirky and very cheap vintage "bag" for me which I love. It´s technically a "cozy" for a warm or cold bottle, but makes a pretty handbag to go with a 50ies summer dress. I loved him buying me a surprise in this case. DS snitched and told me the price. For once DH did not overpay!

 

[cowgirlsboots]

To quote myself to continue the topic, I have thoughts on how to buy a bag for someone else . If I wanted to give someone a bag, I would do more delving into their opinions about bags. In a casual conversation, I would start talking about a bag I had recently purchased or planned to purchase. I would talk about how it ticked all my boxes in terms of size, closure type, carry type, degree of sturcture, etc. Then I would ask what was important to the other person in a bag. If they couldn't answer I would ask them about their favorite bag they had ever owned. Whenever we were out, I would comment on other people's bags and ask their opinion about specific aspects of a bag. "have you ever had a bag with a shoulder strap that long? How did you like it?" 'Or I love that bag except it is just too thick for me. I bang into stuff. What about you? Do thick bags bother you?" Or take her with you shopping for clothes and wander past the table of clearance bags and hold them up and discuss them. It would be a slow process but then your chances of getting a winner are much higher.

Great approach! With my younger DD I usually watch her closely while shopping to see which bags she likes and properly listen to her comments on other people´s bags. Last time I bought for her she had explicetely told me beforehand she was in the market for a tiny brown bag to match the new outfits we had bought together. I couldn´t find any brown, but went for a dark nude Rebecca Minkoff WOC that did the trick. After her older sister educated her on Rebecca Minkoff being a contemporary designer she iked it even more.

 

[Cordeliere]

I just had two epiphanies I want to share. I have been pondering why I am bothered by having more bags than I carry. It is neither a space nor a money issue. Partly it is the overwhelming burden of perfectionism. The bags I am considering selling are not absolutely perfect for me. They can be perfect bags but not perfect for me. Any minor thing that bothers me in the least little way (size, weight, color, feel) is fatal. I am also bothered that I made a judgment mistake in buying the bag that is not absolutely perfect for me, even though there was no way I could know in advance that it would not be perfect for me. The great is not supposed to be the enemy of the good, but in my purse collection, it is. I need to make room in my collection for the good.

My second realization that I am not bothered by other things that I buy and don't use. DH and I have a magnificent pool table that we bought over 30 years ago and don't use. We have moved it multiple times, refinished it, re-felted it and bought the table its own $$$ expensive room in terms of extra square footage in the house. We have a swimming pool we use about once a year. We have a home gym that gets used every other year. Last summer I bought a tricked out Webber grill and have never used it. Do I feel bad about any of these? No. Do I feel stressed out that I don't use any of these things. No. Why should I hold my bags to a higher standard?

 

[cowgirlsboots]

@BowieFan1971

I have questions for you. A while back you were talking about what a great value LV epi is. What are the things you like about it? I understand that it is heavier than LV canvas. Is it about the same weight as a same sized non LV bag, or is it lighter? How does it wear? Is it scratch or corner wear prone? Is there anything special to consider when evaluating an epi piece? Is epi highly faked?

In case you are wondering, the "good enough" potential travel bag I was considering is in epi (purse not luggage). It is ivory, which I am not crazy about, but the only alternative color for this bag is black, which I don't want. I got more excited about the bag this morning when I realized I could jazz it up with bag charms. It meets all my numerous hard to meet criteria except I don't love it. But love might bloom here. Please weigh in.

The alarm bells ring.... you don´t love it... you could jazz it up....

I only own the one epi LV Alma pm and a matching very vintage long wallet. I haven´t worn both so far. Both were bought preloved from a shop that sells stuff "as it is" at prices reflecting this. The bag is from the 90ies and has no significant signs or wear and tear. It was dirty, but cleaned up very nicely. The bottom corners of the Alma are normal leather. There was very slight wear.
The wallet should be about the same age- it only has two card slots.... It was rather cheap and much dirtyer than the bag. Cleaned up nicely too. It had a few tiny cracks where the flap folds which could be fixed. The interior is leather except for in the card slots (where peeling is starting) and fine. I had ordered another wallet with more non leather lining components which I returned immediately, because the peeling and stickiness were bad.

 

[880]

I totally understand the too big, or too heavy, or too boxy.

exactly
Also +1 with @cowgirlsboots directly above. Don’t buy something you need to jazz up or learn to love
i had a red epi SLG circa 1990s that just simply never aged. It probably could have survived a tank

All the bags you are deciding about are fabulous in there own way - and there in lies the problem!

@Cookiefiend, is there room in your collection and closet for bags that are just beautiful

So, here’s the sitch: I’m looking a like a work/day bag and currently choosing between the Saint Laurent Men’s Large Black SDJ and the Thom Browne‘s Black Pebbled Calfskin Large Duet Tote.

I really like the form of these two and especially because it can fit my work laptop and both has a shoulder strap (i have occasional contact dermatitis on my hands)

love both, but as per subsequent posts, like @Cordeliere ’s, it seems SDJ is lighter

like both. Can see why you are torn. The SDJ would probably have better resale value as it is more widely known. That is not a reason to buy a bag, but it is a factor to consider. Also consider the weight. Which ever you pick, make sure you can return in case the bag is not all that you expect.

I have decided finally to ask my SAs to weigh in on whether I should let go of my 35 trim II bags, each purchased for 600 or 800 USD, and worn quite a bit. After hearing everyone’s opinions, they are going to be rehomed to a younger friend who is a working mom who will use them a lot. I may also release my ebene victoria II to another friend bc when I reach for a Victoria II, I only end up using etoupe. (I used the ebene a lot circa 2012, when bittersweet brown was the new black). So, these bags have earned retirement from previous cost per wear. I’m now pondering whether to release a BV metallic hobo, that I think is gorgeous and that I got for a great price, and a 226 metallic reissue. Perhaps the hobo, since at the time, I really wanted a metallic mini cabat (but was unwilling to pay). I’m not really a hobo person, but 8 keep thinking if I ever go to a dive bar in Brooklyn and am wearing jeans it might be ideal . .. that hasn’t happened in years Lol


@Cordeliere, you have a very pampered pool table if you choose to be a perfectionist in only one area such as bags, so long as that makes you happy, why not

 

[cowgirlsboots]

Just a disclaimer that, that's my opinion regards '90s LV. I'm always interested in seeing 80s/90s Epi because they bring back memories.

I have no experience with new/newer Epi leather and would have to bow to those that do.

Alma from 1996 for you...
(pre tlc)


I made a bag organizer to make sure she keeps her shape and I keep my sanity as all my stuff tumbling around in a bag drives me crazy.

 

[cowgirlsboots]

Totally off topic. I have a long weekend with a day off work tomorrow. I’ve been feeling out of sorts so DH took me for a walk with the dog late afternoon then insisted I come out with him this evening to find some joy. I found it hard to make the effort so went for a relaxed style with jeans and this top which works with mini Alexa.
View attachment 5409944
First, pre dinner drinks at a lovely shore front inn with the sea in the background.
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And for all those of you who enjoy looking at lovely food, we went on to a harbour restaurant where they did the best steaks! Delicious food, loving company, good for the soul!
View attachment 5409947View attachment 5409946View attachment 5409948

Seeing this makes me very happy! You deserve the long week-end and nice experiences!

 

[cowgirlsboots]

Your post illustrates how important it is to have the right bag for the way you travel. Our trips are typically 25 days long and involve seeing a lot of places in whatever country we visit. We can end up with 6 legs of flights, so I have to have a purse that works through airports. As far as real luggage, DH and I each have roller bags the size of aircraft carriers. I bring too many clean clothes home so I have to learn to pack 75% of what I think I need. I would love to be able to travel with just a backpack.

This vintage Jaguar bag is my absolute travel bag. It´s thick buffalo leather and sturdy as a tank. I can pack it as full and heavy as I want - once it weighed in at 4.5 kilos- and it does not stress it at all. It has been under my feet in the car endless times and never suffered.
It´s too small for a laptop, though. But I own several bigger Goldpfeil bags from the same material- from halfway elegant shapes up to grandma´s shopper style- that would be big enough. Mine were all between 25€ and 75€ and worth every Euro.

 

[cowgirlsboots]

Spring cleaning my purse closet, and getting rid of bags I don't use. I have two black camera bags, same size. One MM Glam Slam, and one Rebecca Minkoff. Rebecca Minkoff is going to the local charity for DV victims. I only need one black camera bag. My two Ted Baker heart bags are adorable, but don't get used much. I'm going to try them out as Church bags. If I still don't use them, they will go. My Ferragamo W bag and BV Campana are both purple satchels of similar size, but I love any use them both, and I just can't part with either of them! I use my beautiful RM coral bags, not my Guess one, so it's going to the charity. My Eileen Fisher knot bag is also going - I have too many black bags! I'm getting a new Polene bag (Number 9-mini), and giving my Number Six to a friend, since I almost never use it. My patent leather MM bucket bag is going to my aunt. I have two other black bucket bags I wear a lot more, and don't have to baby like I tend to do with patent leather. I really should give up my Jimmy Choo BonBon since I almost never wear it, but can't make myself. It's a work of art, imo (pic below).

View attachment 5410838

She is a work of art! If I were you I´d keep her as exactly this.

 

[cowgirlsboots]

Well, looks likes the Gao was too good to be true. After the seller countered an offer from me and I accepted, they cancelled the order saying the bag is not available! Wow! Totally unprofessional! Very disappointed! Now I have to look again or spend more money…

I´m so sorry for you! This is disappointing and enragingly (does this word exist?) unprofessional!

 

[JenJBS]

She is a work of art! If I were you I´d keep her as exactly this.

Thank you!