2023 Resolution: Shopping my Own Bags and SLG Collection

[Vintage Leather]

A long standing tradition in this thread is to remind ourselves of how wonderful our own collections are by showcasing them. We can see how far we have come, collection wise, and we reminded that we have all (or most of) what we need making it easier to shop our own closets.



• New theme weeks start each Sunday

• Don’t jump ahead but, if you miss a week, please do show your bags “late”.

• Show bags individually or in a group

• You do NOT have to wear the bags that week

• For added fun, show old pictures from previous years to demonstrate how you have curated it over time.

• This is completely voluntary. There is no pressure to post at any time.





So what are the showcases? In the Fall, we group our bags by makers! Feel free to show bags, small leather goods, or however it is easiest to organize!

August 13 - Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta

August 20 - Burberry, Celine

August 27 - Coach, Chanel

September 3 - Chloe, Dior

September 10 - Dooney & Bourke, Fendi

September 17 - Ferragamo, Givenchy

September 24 - Goyard, Gucci

October 1 - Hermes, Kate Spade

October 8 - Loewe, Longchamp

October 15 - Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs

October 22 - Michael Kors, Miu Miu

October 29 - Mulberry, Prada

November 5 - Proenza Schouler, Rebecca Minkoff

November 12 - Saint Laurent, Tods

November 19 - Tory Burch, Valentino

November 26 - Bags by Jewelers: Bulgari, Cartier, Tiffany Co, Van Cleef & Arpels. Alternatively, the pillboxes, compacts and other lovelies made by jewelers that fit in your bag.

December 3 - independent artisans and custom bags.

 

[whateve]

I think it would be great for you to do one too. Should be a relatively quick project, so we might actually finish it! I’m 4/5 of the way through on the first of a pair of socks. Maryland Sheep and Wool is coming up, too, and I’m supposed to finish these socks before I buy any more yarn.

Socks sound so hard. Are you using double pointed needles? I don't mind double points but I hate circular needles.

I'm making an afghan which might end up being huge. I'm mad at myself for putting the colors in the wrong sequence.

 

[More bags]

Thanks! I think your chanel is gorgeous! It’s a TGM picotin, no longer in production. A few other TPFers have this one.

For this week‘s theme, I have metallic bags scattered throughout a few group pics and two metallic camo carry on roller bags. i prefer gunmetal metallics to bright gold. Though I am warming up to bronze.
View attachment 5764930View attachment 5764931View attachment 5764932View attachment 5764933View attachment 5764934View attachment 5764935

Your metallics are gorgeous @880!

@baghabitz34 great first tote to start your tote collection. I didn’t realize the Marc Jacobs The Tote Bag has a zipper, is it only for the large size? The smaller MJ totes are cute.

@nyeredzi I hear you on the Prada raffia tote featured on TPB, the price is eye watering. It doesn’t fit my lifestyle and where I live. If you lived somewhere hot and close to the beach or pool it could be a fun bag.

@whateve I love your Poppy Cinch photo, especially the skates bag charm.

@dcooney4 I love the interior colour of your metallic MZ Wallace.

@Pessie spectacular Cabat!

 

[dcooney4]

Your metallics are gorgeous @880!

@baghabitz34 great first tote to start your tote collection. I didn’t realize the Marc Jacobs The Tote Bag has a zipper, is it only for the large size? The smaller MJ totes are cute.

@nyeredzi I hear you on the Prada raffia tote featured on TPB, the price is eye watering. It doesn’t fit my lifestyle and where I live. If you lived somewhere hot and close to the beach or pool it could be a fun bag.

@whateve I love your Poppy Cinch photo, especially the skates bag charm.

@dcooney4 I love the interior colour of your metallic MZ Wallace.

@Pessie spectacular Cabat!

The leather MJ mini tote has a zipper. I have one also. Great bag !

 

[More bags]

Which brings me to a question:
Have you gone from being lukewarm to really loving something? Or vice versa? How have your bag tastes changed in that respect? Interested to hear!

How my bag tastes have changed:

1) Top Handle Bags: I went from not caring for top handle only bags (when my kids were younger) to really enjoying top handles (with shoulder straps). They are currently one of my favourite styles.

2) Totes: I used to be an owner and frequent user of totes. They were useful as work bags, and running around with young kids. Then Covid, change of work role and industry, more frequently working from home, kids have grown older, not carrying a lot when I go out, and I am not reaching for totes.

What I learned:

• Different bags serve me for different ages and stages of life and career
• My needs have changed
• Currently, I don’t carry a lot
• I am frequently carrying medium sized bags, less frequently, my large and my small bags

 

[More bags]

My metallic bag, no change between 2017 to 2023. Also shown previously with my grey bag family.

2017, and 2023

• Chanel 14P Silver Metallic Reissue Camera Case

 

[DME]

I think it would be great for you to do one too. Should be a relatively quick project, so we might actually finish it! I’m 4/5 of the way through on the first of a pair of socks. Maryland Sheep and Wool is coming up, too, and I’m supposed to finish these socks before I buy any more yarn.

One of the many reasons I love tPF: I learn something new every day! I live in Maryland (been here almost 27 years now) and have never heard of this festival until today. I live in the next county over and work in the county where this festival takes place. Apparently I have been living under a rock!

I would love, love, love to see a photo of your socks, and am hoping you (@whateve) will show photos of your bags, if you make them.

 

[whateve]

I have one metallic clutch, the BV Knot and it is actually made of metal (pics coming in a day or so, perhaps sooner if I can find any on my phone). Thinking of metallics makes me reflect on how our bag tastes can change. A few years ago, I wasn't particularly enamored of metallic bags. Well, that has certainly changed as I have come to appreciate them more and more. I am particularly drawn to BV's beautiful metallics -- the sheen, the depth and shades are beautiful. @Pessie, your BV Cabat is just gorgeous!

Coming back to changing bag tastes, the reissue is another example. I've gone from being lukewarm to really appreciating it, and now wish I had got one before the incessant price increases.
Which brings me to a question:
Have you gone from being lukewarm to really loving something? Or vice versa? How have your bag tastes changed in that respect? Interested to hear!

I used to not like crossbody bags. I loved hobos. Now I think most of my bags are crossbody. I only like crossbody for smaller bags. Most of my more recent purchases are smaller bags. For larger bags I still like hobos but I need a larger shoulder drop than I used to. I like a drop of at least 8 - 10 inches. I don't have any totes anymore.

 

[880]

Have you gone from being lukewarm to really loving something? Or vice versa? How have your bag tastes changed

Absolutely. Hardware metal; shoulder carry versus hand carry; tote versus smaller bag; structured versus retourne; styles

This is why I try very hard not to rehome things too quickly and to only buy forever pieces.

thank you @More bags . love your aesthetic.

@whateve , the afghan sounds lovely and I hope you will post it

 

[Purses & Perfumes]

My only metallic bag: BV Knot. I was in the middle of putting my winter dresses away, so snapped a pic with one, but this bag is perfect year round, and works just as well with spring and summer outfits too.

The ring belonged to my mom. It has a Tiger's eye stone set in the center, and I felt the color of the stone somehow went with the overall vibe of the dress.

 

[Purses & Perfumes]

How my bag tastes have changed:

1) Top Handle Bags: I went from not caring for top handle only bags (when my kids were younger) to really enjoying top handles (with shoulder straps). They are currently one of my favourite styles.

2) Totes: I used to be an owner and frequent user of totes. They were useful as work bags, and running around with young kids. Then Covid, change of work role and industry, more frequently working from home, kids have grown older, not carrying a lot when I go out, and I am not reaching for totes.

What I learned:

• Different bags serve me for different ages and stages of life and career
• My needs have changed
• Currently, I don’t carry a lot
• I am frequently carrying medium sized bags, less frequently, my large and my small bags

Indeed, the different ages and stages of life and career play a major role in influencing our bag choices. Top handles with shoulder straps are my favorite style too. For a while, when Covid emerged, crossbody styles played a bigger role in my life, but I have now reverted to top handle bags as my most favored style. Loved reading about how your bag tastes have evolved over time.

 

[Purses & Perfumes]

I used to not like crossbody bags. I loved hobos. Now I think most of my bags are crossbody. I only like crossbody for smaller bags. Most of my more recent purchases are smaller bags. For larger bags I still like hobos but I need a larger shoulder drop than I used to. I like a drop of at least 8 - 10 inches. I don't have any totes anymore.

I prefer crossbody bags to be on the smaller side too. Did you start favoring crossbody styles during Covid? In the early days of the pandemic, I wanted a hands-free option, which is when I started using them very frequently.
Hobos are probably the least represented in my wardrobe, but I actually like a semi-structured hobo with a longer shoulder drop. The ones that puddle are the hardest for me to get on with even though many of them have beautiful smooshy leather.

Absolutely. Hardware metal; shoulder carry versus hand carry; tote versus smaller bag; structured versus retourne; styles

This is why I try very hard not to rehome things too quickly and to only buy forever pieces.

Do you predominantly hand carry your bags these days? I like to hand carry my bags too, and have noticed that even though I like the added feature of a longer strap, I rarely use it unless absolutely necessary. In fact, I will often just slip the top handle on my arm, if I want to be hands free. As for hardware metal, I like silver, palladium and gold, but with gold, I prefer champagne gold to the brighter yellow gold.

 

[BowieFan1971]

My only metallic bag: BV Knot. I was in the middle of putting my winter dresses away, so snapped a pic with one, but this bag is perfect year round, and works just as well with spring and summer outfits too.
View attachment 5766328

Wow! That’s sharp!

 

[whateve]

I prefer crossbody bags to be on the smaller side too. Did you start favoring crossbody styles during Covid? In the early days of the pandemic, I wanted a hands-free option, which is when I started using them very frequently.
Hobos are probably the least represented in my wardrobe, but I actually like a semi-structured hobo with a longer shoulder drop. The ones that puddle are the hardest for me to get on with even though many of them have beautiful smooshy leather.

Do you predominantly hand carry your bags these days? I like to hand carry my bags too, and have noticed that even though I like the added feature of a longer strap, I rarely use it unless absolutely necessary. In fact, I will often just slip the top handle on my arm, if I want to be hands free. As for hardware metal, I like silver, palladium and gold, but with gold, I prefer champagne gold to the brighter yellow gold.

I started carrying crossbody styles before covid, about the time when I downsized what I carry. I had some trouble adjusting to putting the strap over my head. It seemed awkward and sometimes still does. If I'm walking around with my bag I'll wear it crossbody but if I'm going to be taking it off almost immediately I'll just put it on my shoulder or hand carry it. That's when it is nice to have a top handle. The thing I appreciate most about crossbody is being able to access things inside without taking the purse off.

I don't have a problem with puddly bags. I love smooshy leather. I only love bags that puddle if they were designed that way. They are hard to photograph though. If a bag is supposed to be structured, I want it to stay that way.

 

[nyeredzi]

Socks sound so hard. Are you using double pointed needles? I don't mind double points but I hate circular needles.

I'm making an afghan which might end up being huge. I'm mad at myself for putting the colors in the wrong sequence.

Oh no! Are you going to unravel it? You can always just say you did it intentionally, lol. You were improvising the color sequence. It was like ... color jazz.

I do use double points for socks. I hate circulars for socks, hard to maneuver such a tiny little circle. I have seen people knit socks on a single set of circulars, but I'd think at some point, like at the toe, it's just too narrow and they'd have to either switch to double points or use 2 circulars. I love circulars for big enough things, like hats or sweaters. All knits, no purls! But if you are comfortable with double points, socks are not hard, especially if you keep the pattern simple. The trickiest part is the heel. Allow me to share my most difficult socks, from a pattern called QBert (hmm, looks like the project name changed to Q ... maybe copyright issue?). In my current life, I'd never attempt these. I'm burned out, and need relaxing yarn projects.

 

[whateve]

Oh no! Are you going to unravel it? You can always just say you did it intentionally, lol. You were improvising the color sequence. It was like ... color jazz.

I do use double points for socks. I hate circulars for socks, hard to maneuver such a tiny little circle. I have seen people knit socks on a single set of circulars, but I'd think at some point, like at the toe, it's just too narrow and they'd have to either switch to double points or use 2 circulars. I love circulars for big enough things, like hats or sweaters. All knits, no purls! But if you are comfortable with double points, socks are not hard, especially if you keep the pattern simple. The trickiest part is the heel. Allow me to share my most difficult socks, from a pattern called QBert (hmm, looks like the project name changed to Q ... maybe copyright issue?). In my current life, I'd never attempt these. I'm burned out, and need relaxing yarn projects.

View attachment 5766356

Wow, those are impressive! They look fantastic. I used to make some intricate things when I was younger but I never tried socks. Now I can only manage the basics. I hate circulars even on big things because I always feel I'm fighting with it.

I'm not going to unravel it. It's almost half done. It was supposed to be a buffalo check. The instructions said to use the darker color, but that only works when you are using black for the neutral color. I am using white for the neutral so it should have been the lighter color. So it just looks like regular checks. I'm disappointed. I'm considering switching it up after I get to the halfway point but it might look weird. I'm doing C2C so it would be on the diagonal. I'm curious as to how it was supposed to look.