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.

 

[JenJBS]

I was able to buy only two bags in Italy, both from this wonderful shop in Florence that handmakes their bags in their backroom workshop you can see through a door in their shopfront. Classic styles in yummy, chewy pebbled leather that are well made at extremely reasonable prices…think full price Coach quality at Coach Outlet prices. It is third generation family craftsman owned and operated and they are truly nice people who obviously love what they do. I love supporting a business like theirs. Pelletteria Artigiana Viviani…check them out, they ship quickly too. We sent a bag to my SIL for a Christmas gift.

Hope everyone is well. Glad to be back!

Do we get to see these beauties???

 

[BowieFan1971]

Of course! Light dusty teal tote with suede lining and a classic camel saddle bag. I had to wait till Christmas for the teal bag. It was my gift from Lawrence, but I knew about it. I was only going to get the camel one, but really liked it yet was unsure of the color. My DH said “Just get it. You cannot get another like it anywhere else! It will be your Christmas gift.” So we went back the next morning before we left Florence (they opened early for us) and got it.

 

[JenJBS]

Of course! Light dusty teal tote with suede lining and a classic camel saddle bag. I had to wait till Christmas for the teal bag. It was my gift from Lawrence, but I knew about it. I was only going to get the camel one, but really liked it yet was unsure of the color. My DH said “Just get it. You cannot get another like it anywhere else! It will be your Christmas gift.” So we went back the next morning before we left Florence (they opened early for us) and got it.

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So pretty! Congratulations on adding these beauties to your collection!

 

[jp824]

Great job getting down to fifty . It is wonderful that you love all you have left. I enjoy variety as well.

Yes, variety is great as my lifestyle has continued to evolve as my kids get older and my bags and wardrobe goes through those changes as well. When I was just building my bag collection, my daughter was only a toddler and I ended up letting go of my Constance and a Kelly pochette. My daughter now is 16 and I own several Constance, but I am still kicking myself for letting go of the Kelly pochette as I’ve been waiting for awhile now for its replacement to come through my store. So now I just keep a variety of bags in my collection and I’m fine if they don’t get as much use since I will likely cycle back to them in the future.

 

[dcooney4]

Of course! Light dusty teal tote with suede lining and a classic camel saddle bag. I had to wait till Christmas for the teal bag. It was my gift from Lawrence, but I knew about it. I was only going to get the camel one, but really liked it yet was unsure of the color. My DH said “Just get it. You cannot get another like it anywhere else! It will be your Christmas gift.” So we went back the next morning before we left Florence (they opened early for us) and got it.

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Both are So lovely. The leather looks so yummy.

 

[VintageAndVino]

I always appreciate this thread each year, even when I lurk more than post.

I just redid my closets, which was an opportunity to take inventory of my stuff, literally. I’m at 93 bags and 110 pairs of shoes. Like most, this happened over decades, starting with the Coach bag I bought in 1998 (and still have!). But the number of bags has grown significantly in the last 5 years.

I love them all and have no plans to downsize. I actually have no handbag plans at all, except to enjoy them, in the spirit of the title of this thread. Might I let some go this year? Sure. Might I add? Sure. I guess my only resolution is to not judge myself nor be judged by anyone else for having and loving these lovely things. No one asks Jay Leno when he’s gonna stop buying cars.

Happy new year all!

 

[baghabitz34]

Happy New Year, everyone! Took a break with all the business of Italy, adjusting to my son being home, minor renovations/updating the house, visiting my dad for a week and the holidays. I have time now…broke my toe yesterday while painting and am now forced to wear a boot, ask for help and slow down, much as I hate it since I have a house stalled now in mid-painting chaos. Cue Munch’s The Scream….lol

Listings are sitting for me too, but I know it is not just me (or you all) because every day I get emails from Fashionphile and The Real Real with reductions on bags I pinned. Bags that should have definitely sold. Some have been so good they are hard to resist but I am not going to buy anything without a bag selling, if at all. I bought a few when prices started to drop and Japanese resellers were really cheap. Like I got a Garden Party that just needed cleaned and touched up on the corners for $350. I am thinking about taking back the bags that are sitting at the consignment shop, especially the LV canvas given they are going to cut back production, and just putting them in another closet and holding them until things bounce back.

I was able to buy only two bags in Italy, both from this wonderful shop in Florence that handmakes their bags in their backroom workshop you can see through a door in their shopfront. Classic styles in yummy, chewy pebbled leather that are well made at extremely reasonable prices…think full price Coach quality at Coach Outlet prices. It is third generation family craftsman owned and operated and they are truly nice people who obviously love what they do. I love supporting a business like theirs. Pelletteria Artigiana Viviani…check them out, they ship quickly too. We sent a bag to my SIL for a Christmas gift.

Hope everyone is well. Glad to be back!

Welcome back & Happy New Year!
Hope you had a fabulous time in Italy.

I looked at the site of the shop you mentioned…the bags look fantastic! I am on a ban until March/April, but after that, I might order one.

 

[baghabitz34]

Of course! Light dusty teal tote with suede lining and a classic camel saddle bag. I had to wait till Christmas for the teal bag. It was my gift from Lawrence, but I knew about it. I was only going to get the camel one, but really liked it yet was unsure of the color. My DH said “Just get it. You cannot get another like it anywhere else! It will be your Christmas gift.” So we went back the next morning before we left Florence (they opened early for us) and got it.

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Gorgeous!

 

[Jereni]

Of course! Light dusty teal tote with suede lining and a classic camel saddle bag. I had to wait till Christmas for the teal bag. It was my gift from Lawrence, but I knew about it. I was only going to get the camel one, but really liked it yet was unsure of the color. My DH said “Just get it. You cannot get another like it anywhere else! It will be your Christmas gift.” So we went back the next morning before we left Florence (they opened early for us) and got it.

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Stunning - I especially love the light teal one.

 

[LuxePup]

I'm currently at 256 pairs of shoes and counting, I can't let any go and they're just too beautiful to keep, all sneakers since im a sneaker head. my friends calls me the Gay Imelda Marcos. hahah ill try to use some of them but I can't guarantee that.

 

[whateve]

I always appreciate this thread each year, even when I lurk more than post.

I just redid my closets, which was an opportunity to take inventory of my stuff, literally. I’m at 93 bags and 110 pairs of shoes. Like most, this happened over decades, starting with the Coach bag I bought in 1998 (and still have!). But the number of bags has grown significantly in the last 5 years.

I love them all and have no plans to downsize. I actually have no handbag plans at all, except to enjoy them, in the spirit of the title of this thread. Might I let some go this year? Sure. Might I add? Sure. I guess my only resolution is to not judge myself nor be judged by anyone else for having and loving these lovely things. No one asks Jay Leno when he’s gonna stop buying cars.

Happy new year all!

Good for you! I know how many bags I have but not how many pairs of shoes. Once in awhile, I'll realize something isn't working for me and remove it from the collection, but I'm not trying to get down to a specific number. I know logically it would make sense to get down to at least below 50 so bags would get about a week's worth of wear a year but I'm not going to get rid of bags just to reach a number. Maybe eventually some of them will get too worn out and leave my collection that way.

 

[FlairBear]

Thought this would be fun to take inventory and also be more proactive about curating my collection and practicing self control.

I have loved designer bags since I was in high school. I really was into Gucci and Prada back then. I really started buying bags when I started working, after college. Along the years, my favorites have been Gucci and Prada when at school then when I could buy my own bags Balenciaga, Valentino, YSL, Givenchy sprinkled with Chanel and some LV, although really wasn’t a LV canvas logo girl plus I really didn’t like the vachetta. The printed canvas LV I do have was from my mom; I would never sell.

More about me… I turned 50, 3 weeks ago. There I said it; I need to be honest with myself lol. When I was younger, I was a bit rock and roll edgy. I am a bit more whimsy, vibrant, far from classic. I loved a good pop of color. I have always been into clothes and fashion, since I was 10. Being older, I am trying to come to terms with it, that I need to be a little more refined and age appropriate. Again, I have never been classic. As for work, I am on break right now. I clocked like 50-60 hours per week until 3 years ago as a software engineer and being a consultant/analyst in my early years of working. I worked for 24 years and got extremely burnt out. I quit my job to travel Dec 2019 just when COVID was starting to hit. We were all in lockdown and my mom passed away the first year of the pandemic in August. I lived with my elderly dad for 10 months afterwards and have been helping him a few days a week since. So work status now, I am somewhat in a long sabbatical, maybe eventually I will go back to work part time. If I do, I would possibly want to work in something fun fashion even, maybe. When I was working, people would make comments of my bags, but yeah didn’t really care. I loved my bags.

Currently, I have 55 bags in my designer bag collection. I have been actively and honestly trying to curate my collection the last two years. I have sold a lot, not getting my money back but losing but at least getting some funds in order to buy new bags. I decided after two years of trying and stressing and even trying my luck in Paris, I couldn’t play the Hermes game and ended up getting my one Birkin through a reseller.

My collection is Chanel- 36%, Hermes- 7%, Dior- 11%, LV- 11% (favorites are a beaded cappucine and twist), Valentino- 7%, Gucci- 5% Balenciaga- 5%, YSL- 5% the rest going to Prada, Lanvin, Bottega, Fendi and DG.

My goal is to continue to try to curate my purse collection as best as I can and use what I do have. I have 5 bags in my collection that although I don’t wear too often would never sell, since they were from my late mother. I have a few bags that I tried selling once before but I would only get very little and would rather keep or give them to my teenage nieces or friends. Although I would like to get another Hermes BKC or two in the next year or two and hopefully be at purse peace for a while, I am good with my one classic black, so I don’t see myself stressing for another. I still see myself buying other brands, but I will need to sell in order to purchase new things... one in, one out, most definitely. Also, I want to make sure new pieces are timeless pieces, think classic and less trendy. I really do want to focus and rotate my bags and use them more, really enjoy what I already have.

 

[cowgirlsboots]

Happy New Year to all of you!

Sorry, I´m late and jumping in at page 8 already a week into the new year after totally disappearing at the end of December 22!
I seam to have fallen into some mental cotton wool and now have to make my way out of it.

What are my bag goals for 2023? Honestly I don´t know. Planning isn´t on my agenda atm. All I can say is that I made it through Christmas without even thinking of getting a handbag as a Christmas present to myself. I didn´t feel the need. After making my own bag in December I kind of was content with what I have.

Christmas was very special for me this year. I spent it with my family and grown up children and for the first time in many years actually felt a kind of Christmas happiness and magic that had nothing to do with the pictures advertising features. There were lots of special moments full of warmth and deep glow.

I´ve been sick with the flu since mid December and am still not fully recovered- hence the cotton wool, I guess.

Still I´m starting the new year with a new handbag- a surprise gift by a vintage dealer I bought two cheap outfits from. She is closing down her shop and added some gifts to my delivery. I´ve been buying from her for many years.
This unexpected present made me very happy and added to my newfound perception of the Christmas spirit.

 

[cowgirlsboots]

No one asks Jay Leno when he’s gonna stop buying cars.

Love this!

 

[cowgirlsboots]

Happy New Year all!

I actually have no goals for 2023 in terms of buying or selling. I'm just going to follow my heart. I've had a tough year last year(witnessed my mom's passing at hospice after an extended stay) so I'm going to keep it easy this year.
In terms of wearing bags, I'm still just going to follow my heart.
So I guess following my heart is my goal.

That said, I've been really enjoying featherweight bags lately.
This Moynat Yoyo bag is the lightest bag I own and for that reason, I really use this bag a lot. (There's a tiny amount of cream on the bag from the waffle in the 2nd picture) View attachment 5682161View attachment 5682164

I´m very sorry for your loss xx