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.

 

[AnnaLou]

@afroken I'm putting this here instead of the Frrry thread because I don't want to derail that thread with my "play" piece.

You inspired me to make another popcorn pouch/ cube.

I saw an old skirt with a leather patch in a thrift store for $3. That price- low for even thrift store standards- is likely due to the odd combination of faded teal (laminated goat) leather patch against a tan microsuede skirt. I can't recall the last time I saw genuine leather combined with faux.

Anyway, I bought it and unpicked the leather patch to make a little popcorn pouch. This one is just for me because the leather is in a pretty distressed state and is full of holes from the original stitching on the skirt. I'll probably use it as a catch-all because I hate to see leather get wasted.

It really is one of my favourite designs. You've picked a great bag for your trip. I'm sure you'll love everything about it when you get Frrry's beauty.

Pics are of my sample quickly fashioned at 3am because I couldn't sleep.
This isn't a stitched pouch, just a mock up. The proportions are off (the bag isn't high enough when extended) because I was limited by the size of the patch. I unpicked the patch and roughly cut up the main body of the skirt. I used the goat leather for the outer and the tan microsuede for the lining. I wanted to see if I had enough usable material to make it a functional size.
Now that I know it can be done from those bits of the skirt, I'll take it all apart and do it again properly- clean up the edges, hand stitch the body, use a better quality zipper (this one is repurposed from the skirt but gets stuck).

Thanks for giving me a fun project.

View attachment 5721966

View attachment 5721967

View attachment 5721968

View attachment 5721969

Wow! So cool! You've inspired me to try one!

 

[Bag peace]

Wow! So cool! You've inspired me to try one!

Awesome! Enjoy the process.

 

[AnnaLou]

I'm actually shocked to learn that I have only one yellow bag and no orange ones. I used to have several of each but after the last big purge, this new Dooney & Bourke is all I have left. At least I think that's it. I have bags scattered all over the house tbh, and I keep finding another one pop up every so often. I've been getting rid of most of them but a few are making it into the "keep" pile.

The next part of the New Year's resolution (after purging unused items) is to catalog what I have and properly store it, then figure out what I need. The final part of the resolution is that I will be more particular about what I bring in from now on. I used to just pick up any little cheap $20 thing that caught my eye but I don't find that strategy satisfying anymore. I'd rather have fewer, better quality items than lots and lots of cheap things, cute though they may be. That was appropriate for me when I was younger and couldn't afford nicer bags and wanted a large variety, but now I'm happier with greater quality rather than greater variety. It's still a balance of course. I'll never be one of those people who can make do with just a few bags - I'll always love variety - it's just that now I want better quality and if I have to sacrifice quantity to get it, then I'm okay with that. Also, we have a better understanding now then we used to, about the environmental impact of our purchases, so I try to keep that in mind as well.

 

[EvaH]

I bit the bullet and bought both the Chloe Marcie small in tan AND the Fendi mini peekaboo in a classic style in selleria white.

I have 0 regrets for both (especially since I got the Chloe for £750 pre prise increase on Matches with a £100 voucher on top and the Fendi tax-free at FCO for £500 off the retail price) BUT I feel bad for having added 2 bags I really wanted for a long time while I didn't want to add any this year Also trying to not splurge and get a vintage Chanel GST (2002 edition so much wider) as a future diaper as we are officially back on the TTC wagon and need some cheering up as at least if it doesn't work I can still use the bag...

At least I am still taking steps to improve my mental and physical health AND I got a new job starting in April so not all is lost xD

 

[Bag peace]

I may use it to hide my cat's treats since he's addicted to that stuff and currently opens the jar and helps himself! I don't think he'll be able to unzip the pouch!

This isn't staged! I just put a couple of treats in there a while ago to see if he would sniff them out. Walked in on him like this! He wiggled the zip open a bit...somehow. Nothing deters a true addict!

I don't know if I'm terrified or impressed. He's not supposed to be this smart! Can I coach him to open a bank vault, I wonder? No fingerprints; the perfect crime!

 

[Bag peace]

I'll always love variety - it's just that now I want better quality and if I have to sacrifice quantity to get it, then I'm okay with that. Also, we have a better understanding now then we used to, about the environmental impact of our purchases, so I try to keep that in mind as well.

Very insightful and a great approach to curating your collection.

BUT I feel bad for having added 2 bags I really wanted for a long time while I didn't want to add any this year

Congrats on the additions. Don't feel bad for shopping mindfully. Enjoy them.

At least I am still taking steps to improve my mental and physical health AND I got a new job starting in April so not all is lost xD

This is what counts most. Congrats on taking steps to improve all aspects of your life.

 

[limom]

I love Ibis too.
their buffets are spectacular
And they welcome dogs.
Did you stay at the one by the Gare de Lyon?
I have zero yellow/Orange bags or accessories

 

[JenJBS]

View attachment 5723645
This isn't staged! I just put a couple of treats in there a while ago to see if he would sniff them out. Walked in on him like this! He wiggled the zip open a bit...somehow. Nothing deters a true addict!

I don't know if I'm terrified or impressed. He's not supposed to be this smart! Can I coach him to open a bank vault, I wonder? No fingerprints; the perfect crime!

Handsome, clever boy! Cats are amazing!

 

[Purses & Perfumes]

Hello, just stopping by to say hi to everyone!
At the end of last year, I had intended to come up with handbag goals for this year, but what with one thing or another, including some health challenges, I haven't even come up with any goals this year! Perhaps I will just have to stick to the simple "use my bags more" goal for the time being.

However, one of my general goals for the year is definitely health related -- focusing on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It seemed like this winter, I was constantly catching some bug or the other. But it's not just me -- most of my friends have been going through the same thing so I think this has just been one of those winters. Additionally, I also had some significant allergic reactions, and we are still trying to figure it out. Sometimes, it's hard to pinpoint the cause of some allergies, but until I have more clarity, I am being careful, and have my allergy meds on hand. One area that it has definitely affected has been my use of perfumes. Although we are not sure if it was perfumes that caused it, I did entirely stop wearing them for a while. I might slowly start adding them back again, but even the way I wear perfumes will be different from how I was doing it before (at least for the short term). My mom used to have allergies and she always used a light, floral scented fragrance during the week, reserving the heavier, complex fragrances for outings or weekends. I am planning to do this myself, and am looking through my closet, finding some light scents to gradually start adding to the mix. I plan on wearing the same fragrance for a week at a time, and hopefully this will give me time to figure out which ones could potentially be problematic. I am also keeping a food log.

On the positive front, I have managed to lose some of the covid weight that I had gained although it has been slow going. Still, I am much closer to my original weight, which makes me happier. What helped me was systematizing portion size, and also working out at least four to five times a week. Also, regarding my personal life -- I haven't spoken before regarding my personal life, but around the time I joined the forum, my husband and I were having some communication issues, mostly caused by very busy work schedule and not having time for communication. Anyway, when covid lockdowns happened, the pace of life slowed down, and it also helped us to spend more time and communicate and gradually sort things out, and I'm happy to say it's smooth sailing now. Just thought I would share, since I've not shared this before on this thread. Coming back to handbags, looking at my collection, I feel like I have all the bags I need for my lifestyle. While it would be nice to add a red bag sometime down the line (and maybe an eggplant colored one, as well as a dark green, lol), I am quite content with my current collection. Since I am not spending on clothes, perfumes or handbags, I have turned my attention to other items on my wish list that have long been neglected. Which brings me to a topic that has been discussed a few pages back on this thread -- watches!

I have had a watch on my wish list forever. Although my knowledge of watches is quite minimal, I have always worn one when leaving the house. My collection consisted of a couple of vintage watches, which worked well, including a Must de Cartier Tank with a brown alligator strap. I am very drawn to Cartier watches, especially the classic Tank. For me, watches have to be aesthetically and visually appealing and I find Cartier watches to be very stylish. Anyway, after some debate, I ended up adding the Tank Francaise to my collection (pics to follow).

Well, this post ended up being much longer than I had intended! Apologies for such a long post!

 

[Purses & Perfumes]

Presenting my Tank Francaise in small size. It's very overcast and cloudy, so the picture is not the best.

 

[Purses & Perfumes]

View attachment 5723645
This isn't staged! I just put a couple of treats in there a while ago to see if he would sniff them out. Walked in on him like this! He wiggled the zip open a bit...somehow. Nothing deters a true addict!

I don't know if I'm terrified or impressed. He's not supposed to be this smart! Can I coach him to open a bank vault, I wonder? No fingerprints; the perfect crime!

I haven't caught up with the thread at all, but I just had to pause and chuckle at this! How adorable! Aren't cats the smartest?

 

[dcooney4]

Presenting my Tank Francaise in small size. It's very overcast and cloudy, so the picture is not the best.
View attachment 5723989

Beautiful choice!

 

[Purses & Perfumes]

My watch purchase led me into exploring watch videos and general watch content way more than I had ever done before. One of the videos on YouTube was an interview with Brooke Shields and the watches in her collection. One of them -- a gorgeous black and gold Piaget with diamonds -- she refers to as a "dress watch" that she would wear to a black tie event. It got me thinking about dress watches. Granted, I haven't been to any black tie event in ages. But I don't recall ever wearing a watch to the few I have attended in the past. Anyway, the point of this rambling is -- What do you consider a dress watch? Examples? What kind of events would you wear a dress watch to? Weddings? Cocktail parties? Interested to hear your thoughts!

 

[Bag peace]

Handsome, clever boy! Cats are amazing!

Naughty, naughty boy! The vet wants him to lose at least 1kg. The way he's going, he'll gain a few!

I haven't caught up with the thread at all, but I just had to pause and chuckle at this! How adorable! Aren't cats the smartest?

They are smarter than I'll ever be, I'll tell you that!
Glad it made you chuckle!

 

[880]

Hello, just stopping by to say hi to everyone!
At the end of last year, I had intended to come up with handbag goals for this year, but what with one thing or another, including some health challenges, I haven't even come up with any goals this year! Perhaps I will just have to stick to the simple "use my bags more" goal for the time being.

However, one of my general goals for the year is definitely health related -- focusing on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It seemed like this winter, I was constantly catching some bug or the other. But it's not just me -- most of my friends have been going through the same thing so I think this has just been one of those winters. Additionally, I also had some significant allergic reactions, and we are still trying to figure it out. Sometimes, it's hard to pinpoint the cause of some allergies, but until I have more clarity, I am being careful, and have my allergy meds on hand. One area that it has definitely affected has been my use of perfumes. Although we are not sure if it was perfumes that caused it, I did entirely stop wearing them for a while. I might slowly start adding them back again, but even the way I wear perfumes will be different from how I was doing it before (at least for the short term). My mom used to have allergies and she always used a light, floral scented fragrance during the week, reserving the heavier, complex fragrances for outings or weekends. I am planning to do this myself, and am looking through my closet, finding some light scents to gradually start adding to the mix. I plan on wearing the same fragrance for a week at a time, and hopefully this will give me time to figure out which ones could potentially be problematic. I am also keeping a food log.

On the positive front, I have managed to lose some of the covid weight that I had gained although it has been slow going. Still, I am much closer to my original weight, which makes me happier. What helped me was systematizing portion size, and also working out at least four to five times a week. Also, regarding my personal life -- I haven't spoken before regarding my personal life, but around the time I joined the forum, my husband and I were having some communication issues, mostly caused by very busy work schedule and not having time for communication. Anyway, when covid lockdowns happened, the pace of life slowed down, and it also helped us to spend more time and communicate and gradually sort things out, and I'm happy to say it's smooth sailing now. Just thought I would share, since I've not shared this before on this thread. Coming back to handbags, looking at my collection, I feel like I have all the bags I need for my lifestyle. While it would be nice to add a red bag sometime down the line (and maybe an eggplant colored one, as well as a dark green, lol), I am quite content with my current collection. Since I am not spending on clothes, perfumes or handbags, I have turned my attention to other items on my wish list that have long been neglected. Which brings me to a topic that has been discussed a few pages back on this thread -- watches!

I have had a watch on my wish list forever. Although my knowledge of watches is quite minimal, I have always worn one when leaving the house. My collection consisted of a couple of vintage watches, which worked well, including a Must de Cartier Tank with a brown alligator strap. I am very drawn to Cartier watches, especially the classic Tank. For me, watches have to be aesthetically and visually appealing and I find Cartier watches to be very stylish. Anyway, after some debate, I ended up adding the Tank Francaise to my collection (pics to follow).

Well, this post ended up being much longer than I had intended! Apologies for such a long post!

You have been very missed! im happy to hear about the smooth sailing, and hope you post re your perfume rotations and watches very soon. I love your Tank Francaise I have one dress watch that I never wear bc it’s too tiny for me to read lol. It’s a small white gold leopard pattern engraved Gerard Perigeaux watch from my grandmother.
Hugs