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.

 

[A bottle of Red]

@A bottle of Red I didn't manage to today. I had to go to a meeting with DH after work - and then the bike repair shop (apparently it looks like it'll cheaper to buy a new one - but I love my mountain bike ).

I was back in my Burberry peacoat today, last weekend I was crossing the street to avoid walking in the sun, this week I was crossing to find it.

No pressure at all for pictures

 

[DME]

Had to go pick stuff up at the consignment shop that didn’t sell. Feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the stuff in my closet. It all fits, but I prefer more open spots. So I listed a bunch of stuff. With holidays coming I really want to clear more space. Give me your best tip on getting rid of clutter.

If you have an alternate space, I highly recommend moving these items out of your closet if you’re not planning to keep them. Even when my consignment shop sends stuff back, it’s usually because the items are not current season and they want them back next season, but don’t want to store them, so send them back to me. I keep some plastic bins in my basement where I store items for sale/consignment. (We have a kind of Craig’s List at work, so some items get sold there.) I also keep bags and boxes of donation items down there and donate twice a year when the items pile up enough. I still see them regularly since they’re near my treadmill, but they’re not taking up valuable real estate in my closet since I know I’m not keeping them. And that helps me from feeling overwhelmed by what’s in my closet.

 

[dcooney4]

If you have an alternate space, I highly recommend moving these items out of your closet if you’re not planning to keep them. Even when my consignment shop sends stuff back, it’s usually because the items are not current season and they want them back next season, but don’t want to store them, so send them back to me. I keep some plastic bins in my basement where I store items for sale/consignment. (We have a kind of Craig’s List at work, so some items get sold there.) I also keep bags and boxes of donation items down there and donate twice a year when the items pile up enough. I still see them regularly since they’re near my treadmill, but they’re not taking up valuable real estate in my closet since I know I’m not keeping them. And that helps me from feeling overwhelmed by what’s in my closet.

Yes, it is all spring/summer stuff. That is a great idea. Though at the moment We have boxes six feet high with various things from my kids in the storage area. The rest of the basement is a real living space. Though I will see if I can get rid of some of their stuff, to put a bin from me. Is it safe to put leather in plastic bins? I am thinking the bags should stay in the closets for safety. The clothes I can put down and that would help a lot. Thank you!

 

[dcooney4]

I'm the worst person to get rid of stuff - as you all know, so I'm not going to say I'm an expert. For me curate means don't make mistakes whilst collecting, editing, I'm really bad at. But going to the Gucci Cosmos gave me a jolt. I'm not a museum and some of my things are more impressive and in better condition than what I saw. Why am I not wearing the good stuff? I'm going to see Chanel exhibition at the V&A this week - hopefully it'll spur me on again.

The only thing that works for me is to organise piles.

Start by bye-bye clothes to rag.

Clothes/shoes/bags that served you well but either need repairing, mending or major laundering. If they've been waiting for treatment 'forever' you're not going to get around to it - let them go.

Things that were never perfect like '00s too short tees or jeans that cripple you - be gone!

Clothes/shoes/bags/books nice enough to pass on

I have a big plastic bag of stuff in the car right now. It didn't sell, I can't wear it, so it's going (charity). It will be joined by things I now have a better version of. Wooden-soled boots I loved went in the charity pile because I have Gucci clogs, I have so many black boots it literally hurts to give away, my black calf hair Bumper boots had to go, they are 19 years old and they are so warm I can only wear them in snow/ice. I have a better Italian aprés-ski pair in Scotland.

To keep (and use)

You must go through everything! Found Chanel black lace-ups (never worn because - well who knows why?

) keeping. They were with spare hangers and magazines.

I like the three-pile suggestion. I will add a fourth pile as fall/ winter to consignment shop. Maybe I can get Dh to donate some stuff because he is starting to encroach on my side of the closet. The man never gets rid of anything.

 

[stacy_natalie]

Just got back in town from weekend in Charleston. Leaving again tomorrow for 2 back to back work trips. Will be so glad to get a break from all this travel. Anyway just stopped by house to unpack/pack and remembered to snap photos of my bags for this week.....

1 Marc jacobs. Don't know much about this bag but was trying to find one like the bag in the devil wears prada movie. I believe it may be the same color but not same size or color hardware.

 

[stacy_natalie]

While gathering LV bags from closet for a quick photo, I stumbled across this old Gucci I don't think I remembered to include a couple weeks ago in my Gucci photo. This was purchased in Maui probably around 2005 I believe it was called the ellipse and even back then I was drawn to the pink trim! She got alot of use back in the day and has seen better days but all in all held up in decent condition all things considered.

 

[stacy_natalie]

Keeping on theme for the week, here are my Louis Vuitton bags (and a couple pairs of shoes)....Sadly missing is my very first LV bag, the ikat neverfull in rose velours, which I loved but had to return due to defective melting glazing they were unable to repair. Currently having melting glazing issue on another bag

 

[DME]

Yes, it is all spring/summer stuff. That is a great idea. Though at the moment We have boxes six feet high with various things from my kids in the storage area. The rest of the basement is a real living space. Though I will see if I can get rid of some of their stuff, to put a bin from me. Is it safe to put leather in plastic bins? I am thinking the bags should stay in the closets for safety. The clothes I can put down and that would help a lot. Thank you!

For long-term storage, I wouldn’t recommend plastic bins since there’s little airflow. However, if it’s just until the seasons change, then the plastic bins have worked well for me with no damage to any bags stored that way. If I’m concerned about it, I just leave it out on top of the bins.

 

[jbags07]

I was tagged by @880 to share my BV collection here I hope its ok to share brands from the weeks i missed too. It was a good exercise for me to start clearing out my bag shelves to reorganize and to make a visual record of my current collection…and find more bags to let go of. I’ve always had large bag collections (i have a collector mentality) and as i’ve shifted taste, brands, etc i’ve had a lot of bags to sell. I’ve reached a place where i only want to add bags i KNOW i will love & carry, & will be part of my collection for a long time. I think i understand what styles and colors work for me now too, so hopefully the days of buying bags just b/c i like them are over. Same with the buy/sell rollercoaster.

I get attached to my bags so its hard to let go. I’ve sold a lot of bags the last few years tho, and its getting easier. I do have a harder time parting with premier bags, and i had quite a few that didn’t work for me color or style wise, that i just never reached for. To motivate myself this year to sell them all, i decided to fund a Kelly with the proceeds. The momentum continued.…and i was able to rehome 35 premier bags (all of my Bals, some Gucci’s, Celine, Loewe, Ferragamo’s, Chanel & a lot of BV this past year. I sold 50 contemporary and vintage bags too, and a handful of slg’s. Letting go of these bags helped me fund a few Hermes bags, and really changed my outlook. I don’t want to collect, i only want to add bags i will actually be able to use. Even if some are only occasional bags.

I know this was more appropriate for the beginning of the thread, and i hope it was ok to share. The collector in me has a lot of trouble letting things go, and once i saw the pix i took of my remaining bags (excluding BV), it was wonderful to see how much i’ve sold. I have some regrets, but — i would love to continue curating my collection. There are a few bags on my wishlist too but for now i am going to enjoy what i have, and shop my own bag closet.

Thanks for letting me share! Next week i will organize and post my BV

Stats - i sold a bag as i was writing this! And i sold 5 bags last week on poshmark, so it looks like sales are picking up.

Love vintage Coach….


This Fendi is on its way to me but if its not love its going back!


Ferragamo woc’s and a matching wallet.

The Gucci on the left was my first designer bag. I purchased it in 1988 at the Gucci counter in Macy’s for my 18th birthday. Its aged better then i have

 

[jbags07]

I love vintage Dooney & Bourke

 

[jbags07]

My Hermes collection minus scarves/twillies


Bleu Zanzibar Picotin 18 Clemence leather & Rose Extreme/Rose Mexico/Rouge de Coeur Picotin 18


Swift Birkin 35 Noir & Clemence Birkin 30 in Chartreuse


Black Box Kelly 32 (1996), Rouge H Box K32 (2010), Chocolate Box K32 (1992)


Blue Thalassa Clemence Bolide 35 & Orange Clemence Bolide 31


I think this red 35 Relax is in Evercolor, unsure of which red tho….Black Fjord Bolide 35

 

[jbags07]

Louis Vuitton collection

 

[stacy_natalie]

Missed Hermes and Loewe weeks, and just made MJ

Navy MJ Venetia with red contrast stitching. I really love this b

Spoiler: The other thing

DH has become more positive since take ownership of his diet/treatment. He still hasn't been properly and clearly diagnosed which is just so stressful

Good news for shopping from our own closets fans, after visiting Gucci Cosmos exhibition in London I was just determined to find my own priceless possessions. I shopped till I almost dropped and found:

Frida era Gucci purple croc jacket with silver hardware that my late uncle bought me, and another Gucci calf-hair military-style jacket I bought myself, plus Tom Ford for Gucci springbok jacket my (sadly, now also late) mother reluctantly bought me sooooo long ago, all I haven't worn for years, all in perfect condition - all will be worn and worn this AW. Time for patina!

I was so excited at the Gucci exhibition, I couldn't take it all in. I was ridiculously exited . I took pics and vids just so I could enjoy it later. What it told me mostly was "Sort your wardrobe out!!!!!". Some of the things we already have are better than these 'luxury' brands sell now, and if they did still sell such quality/materials, I for one couldn't afford them. I can't remember the last time I saw a crocodile or fur jacket at Gucci (well I can - it was 2018 and it was a mink for £48K).

I also found my mother's yg lion ring with the diamond collar and emerald eyes Now I can wear my tiger and my lion (like my little tiger and little (late) lion) wherever I go.

Happy to hear things are more positive for your husband! Hopefully he will continue to progress in a positive way.

Your navy bag with red stitching reminds me of a sofa my parents had when I was a young child. It was dreadful but I remember them mentioning it was custom made and likely hot stuff back in the 1970s. I will have to see if I can find a photo of it somewhere! Lol

 

[whateve]

My Hermes collection minus scarves/twillies


Bleu Zanzibar Picotin 18 Clemence leather & Rose Extreme/Rose Mexico/Rouge de Coeur Picotin 18
View attachment 5878553

Swift Birkin 35 Noir & Clemence Birkin 30 in Chartreuse
View attachment 5878554

Black Box Kelly 32 (1996), Rouge H Box K32 (2010), Chocolate Box K32 (1992)
View attachment 5878555

Blue Thalassa Clemence Bolide 35 & Orange Clemence Bolide 31
View attachment 5878556

I think this red 35 Relax is in Evercolor, unsure of which red tho….Black Fjord Bolide 35
View attachment 5878557View attachment 5878558View attachment 5878559View attachment 5878560

I love those picotins!

 

[jbags07]

I love those picotins!

Thank you! They are the cutest bags and i love them in a pop of color