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.

 

[cowgirlsboots]

You are so modest-you make it sound so easy..it’s absolutely Not!xx

Don't undersell your talent

Seconded!

Thank you! I´m not really used to being enough, to doing well enough. There always is something I could have done better with more of an effort.
My Mum was an expert seamstress. Her work used to be perfectly neat (she knew how to follow instructions to a t... oops, I usually don´t even have any or if I do, I do not read them) and I never managed to reach this level.
She used to say: "you are creative, you are quick, you can do makeshift like no other, but you´ll never be really neat..." It sticks!

Plus I cannot shed the mindset, that only bought is really valuable. What can it be worth when I can make it with my own hands and from scratch?

Your kind words make me feel very good! Thank you! I guess I should stop comparing what I have to what is out there (in the boutiques) and out of my reach anyway and actually believe in the pride that warmly rises inside me when I finish a project and know I did all I could at this point. It´s good to see the flaws, too. This way I can avoid them at the next project.

 

[cowgirlsboots]

November stats:

bags out: 0 (well, kind of 3 out... I´ll explain.)
bags in: 4 plus my me-made red flap
no slgs in or out

All the sales made me go crazy online window shopping only to realize there is nothing I really, really want. A few bags made it into my cart and were kicked out later- no regrets. I don´t need to buy anything just because the price is good and it is "kind of nice" or from some brand I "should" look into.
The fleamarkets have stopped for the year, so no temptations lurking...

3 of the bags I bought were donor bags, bought for 5€ or under on ebay with the purpose to take them apart and harvest as much hardware and leather as possible, so they left me as bags as soon as they entered the house:

# Zara flap bag to get the chains (amazing quality!) for my red flap bag, a magnetic closure, some plastic interfacing, some more small hardware pieces and an introduction to industrial cheap bag making. (Not impressed!)
# Bershka camera bag for chains (really solid, too), D-rings and insight into the pattern.
# Massimo Dutti bag for the brown leather, some hardware and the amazing Bree guitar strap it came with. That strap alone would usually have been at least 15€ preloved. Here I got it included in the 5€ price tag of the bag.

Bag no. 4 is a small black vintage Kuhn Fine Line crossbody with a very nice closure. Orignally it was meant to be a donor, but until I need the closure I can as well keep the bag intact and try whether there is room for a small crossbody in my life. This 5€ bag is like new.

 

[A bottle of Red]

Thank you! I´m not really used to being enough, to doing well enough. There always is something I could have done better with more of an effort.
My Mum was an expert seamstress. Her work used to be perfectly neat (she knew how to follow instructions to a t... oops, I usually don´t even have any or if I do, I do not read them) and I never managed to reach this level.
She used to say: "you are creative, you are quick, you can do makeshift like no other, but you´ll never be really neat..." It sticks!

Plus I cannot shed the mindset, that only bought is really valuable. What can it be worth when I can make it with my own hands and from scratch?

Your kind words make me feel very good! Thank you! I guess I should stop comparing what I have to what is out there (in the boutiques) and out of my reach anyway and actually believe in the pride that warmly rises inside me when I finish a project and know I did all I could at this point. It´s good to see the flaws, too. This way I can avoid them at the next project.

You should be proud of your efforts and progress, I'm sure your mother was an incredible seamstress, and you can be as well!
Most likely the neatness can be acquired and along with your inner talent and flair you will get even better.

 

[DME]

Thank you very much! This bag is totally my style, so it's a real treat to get mod shots!
Also, I spy the most adorable stuffed toys on the bed! It's a bit random but, my elderly cat refuses to sleep without his teddy. He'd love yours! (apologies if you're not a cat person!)

You’re welcome! Glad you liked this bag! DH, DD and I are all big stuffed animal fans. Have to admit I was hoping no one would notice (since I’m probably too old for this), but… I also love cats. And dogs. Grew up with many of each. And if it makes your cat feel any better, there’s a certain polar bear stuffie I snuggle with each and every night.

 

[dcooney4]

You’re welcome! Glad you liked this bag! DH, DD and I are all big stuffed animal fans. Have to admit I was hoping no one would notice (since I’m probably too old for this), but… I also love cats. And dogs. Grew up with many of each. And if it makes your cat feel any better, there’s a certain polar bear stuffie I snuggle with each and every night.

I love stuffed animals too.

 

[jbags07]

The orange Hermes shopping bag charm really appeals to me!

Me too! So darn cute

Thank you so much! You all don´t know how much all your positive feedback means to me!

What everyone said, about not short selling yourself….is so true. You have incredible talent and skill many of us wish for! I can’t even sew a button. Thankfully DH’s mom is/was an incredible seamstress and taught him all that, so he is at the sewing machine when needed lol. To craft handbags as you do — first, the vision and creativity, and then the skills to execute your vision. Is truly amazing And it must be such a fun hobby too. I absolutely LOVE that you use your mom’s sewing machine. That is so cool!

 

[DME]

I love stuffed animals too.

Glad it’s not just me! They mutilply like rabbits in my house. I have two on the list for the trip to the mall this weekend (which may just get me booted from this thread since, well, this isn’t shopping our closets).

 

[Bag peace]

Taking a moment to rant because I cannot believe it! I've got covid again!

I get it, I'm in the hospital weekly, I'm bound to pick up everything going, but for crying out loud! How many times am I going to deal with this? It's also annoying because the rest of the world has seemingly moved on from it but, here I am, curled up in the corner being pounded by this freaking virus over and over again.

Also, just really ashamed in general because, of course, I've infected my mum and have to try not to let the guilt drive me crazy.

 

[cecchetti]

Taking a moment to rant because I cannot believe it! I've got covid again!

I get it, I'm in the hospital weekly, I'm bound to pick up everything going, but for crying out loud! How many times am I going to deal with this? It's also annoying because the rest of the world has seemingly moved on from it but, here I am, curled up in the corner being pounded by this freaking virus over and over again.

Also, just really ashamed in general because, of course, I've infected my mum and have to try not to let the guilt drive me crazy.

Get well soooooooon!!!!!!!

 

[dcooney4]

Taking a moment to rant because I cannot believe it! I've got covid again!

I get it, I'm in the hospital weekly, I'm bound to pick up everything going, but for crying out loud! How many times am I going to deal with this? It's also annoying because the rest of the world has seemingly moved on from it but, here I am, curled up in the corner being pounded by this freaking virus over and over again.

Also, just really ashamed in general because, of course, I've infected my mum and have to try not to let the guilt drive me crazy.

Get well soon!

 

[Purses & Perfumes]

Taking a moment to rant because I cannot believe it! I've got covid again!

I get it, I'm in the hospital weekly, I'm bound to pick up everything going, but for crying out loud! How many times am I going to deal with this? It's also annoying because the rest of the world has seemingly moved on from it but, here I am, curled up in the corner being pounded by this freaking virus over and over again.

Also, just really ashamed in general because, of course, I've infected my mum and have to try not to let the guilt drive me crazy.

Oh no, so sorry to hear this. Covid is doing the rounds again, and I've heard of many people getting it, so please don't feel guilty about it. My neighbor's son just recovered from it. Get as much rest as you can, and sending wishes for a speedy recovery to you and your mom.

 

[Purses & Perfumes]

I forgot to post November stats, but there's not much to report. No bags in or out. I bought some basic stuff like T shirts and loungewear but not much other than that. I'm mostly doing gift cards for holiday gifts this year.

We are getting close to mid-December. It's probably a bit early, but I have started to think about handbag and wardrobe goals for the upcoming year. I'll wait to post them in the new thread since I am still mulling over some of them in my mind.

 

[cecchetti]

I’ve just got back from a Christmas lunch with a good friend …
I gave her a card, chocolates and handbag from my collection gift wrapped in a large box, so one bag out this month..it was a bit of a last minute decision..I hope I don’t regret it..

So I’ve just created a vacancy for a new bag in 2024..I’ll spend December researching a new bag although I have a wishlist already, hopefully I won’t gift and more at the spur of the moment..

 

[Bag peace]

Get well soooooooon!!!!!!!

Get well soon!

Thank you both so much. I'm just a bit grumpy because I'm ill. Hopefully this will be over before we know it and I'll stop being a sourpuss.

Oh no, so sorry to hear this. Covid is doing the rounds again, and I've heard of many people getting it, so please don't feel guilty about it. My neighbor's son just recovered from it. Get as much rest as you can, and sending wishes for a speedy recovery to you and your mom.

Thank you so much! It's oddly reassuring to hear that it's not just me. There's almost no talk about it anymore and I felt I was going mad when they swabbed me and told me it's positive. I'm taking every precaution I can (including masking all the time) but nobody else is, so it's frustrating that I'm the one who keeps catching every single strain.

 

[Bag peace]

I gave her a card, chocolates and handbag from my collection gift wrapped in a large box, so one bag out this month..it was a bit of a last minute decision..I hope I don’t regret it..

I don't think you'll regret making your friend happy! Very kind of you to gift it and I'm sure she'll love it.
Edit: @cecchetti I'm wondering which one you gave away. You have such a tightly curated collection, I imagine it wasn't easy choosing one to let go of!