2024 Resolution: Shopping my own Bag and SLG Collection

[Sparkletastic]

December Activities and Challenges - pick and choose as you please.

I. 2024 Year In Review Reflection
(Thanks @Vintage Leather)

Utilize these thought starters to evaluate your collection, your usage patterns and your lessons learned in 2024.
• What is your most useful purse?
• What is your best purchase of the year?
• We’ve all had a lot of lifestyle changes this year - how has it affected your style?
• What is the one thing we’ve learned this year that you want to take into the next?

II. Setting 2025 Goals
Take this month to consider what you want to do with your handbag collection, wardrobe or even your beautiful life in 2025. Share these thoughts in January when we start the 2026 Shopping Your Closet thread.

III. End of year optional challenges

• Holiday colors: December has many holidays celebrated across the world - red & green, brown & gold, blue & white and more! Pick the holiday that you want to honor and wear / show off your bags in those traditional colors.

• End with a bang: As we come to the last part of the year, wear the last bag you’ve purchased at least 3 times this month.

@Vlad please pin this to the top of our thread.

 

[Struck by Designer-Cupid]

Spoiler: personal update

I wasn't going to post this but, I think I need to.
My mum has been fighting for her life for the past week. Multiple failed surgeries and many close calls. She has a very long and complex road ahead of her. She's in an induced coma to protect her until she completes the next set of surgeries.
This thread knows how much I adore my mum, so you will know that I'm falling apart. It came out of nowhere and just spiralled so quickly.
While her doctors and surgeons have been incredible, I am frustrated by the nursing care she received this past week and especially yesterday when her issues weren't mentioned to the doctors as early as they could have been. I had to advocate for her at every turn to bypass the nurses stubbornly telling me to wait for her to improve, and we barely got her into surgery on time as a result.
I don't know what posting here accomplishes for me. I just know that I'm very alone and this is my personal hell, so virtual support is all I've got.
I guess...please send any thoughts and prayers you've got her way.
I'm not losing hope and I am urging her to get through this. Taking it one bit at a time.
Thank you

This is so sad, sending you and your mum hugs and prayers and good wishes x

 

[dcooney4]

The last few days I have been thinking a lot about all the stuff we accumulated over the years. I started looking in the coat closets. We have a lot of coats because our weather is so unpredictable. I already have one big down coat out. I have so many things to go through. I am not feeling great this week so will get back at it next week. Spring cleaning while it is snowing outside is not a bad thing.

 

[cecchetti]

The last few days I have been thinking a lot about all the stuff we accumulated over the years. I started looking in the coat closets. We have a lot of coats because our weather is so unpredictable. I already have one big down coat out. I have so many things to go through. I am not feeling great this week so will get back at it next week. Spring cleaning while it is snowing outside is not a bad thing.

Feel better soon❤️

 

[dcooney4]

Feel better soon❤️

Thank you!

 

[EvaH]

Happy new year everyone! Wishing you great health and fantastic memories with loved ones.

This was my favourite thread on the forum last year and I am a bit sad I couldn't continue contributing. I hope to do better this year. I realised I had a bit of post partum depression and used shopping as a great dopamine release and so when health went pear-shape again last spring I used that time to apply and start a PhD instead of spending more money on shoes and bags 😂 I have really enjoyed reading many of your contributions here and in other threads talking about consumption though and reflecting on your wisdom and experiences!

My goals for 2024
- bring this pregnancy to term and NOT find refuge in shopping when it gets real tough (it has been real tough and I haven't so far - very proud of myself)
- use what I have : I need to find a system that will help me move all my stuff around more freely (I put lots of things in my bags) and get maybe a selection of 3-4 bags out at the time so I am not always using the same bag
- get some of my cheaper bags on rotation (I love my Strathberry and Cambridge Satchel but I gravitate more towards the more expensive ones) to my mum
- get a Bolide, a Trim or a GP 36 via the lottery in Paris as a push present this summer.

I also really want to continue growing my mother's and father's collection of Hermes scarves and ties for mother/father day. It's a lot of fun!

I gave up on the idea of a home store or SA because I am just way too emotionally fragile right now to be rational about it all and the weekly/monthly check in to see what is out there always ended up with me getting something.

I will continue to dream about the Fendi mini Peekaboo though (the white version that I bought and return and a grey version that I saw online last autumn!)

 

[DME]

Spring cleaning while it is snowing outside is not a bad thing.

I used my day off work on Tuesday due to the snow to do exactly this! I was happy to go through closets and drawers to unload some things; more productive than my usual TV watching on a snow day. Now I just need to get them to the consignment store, or post online at work. I also have a few items to submit for quotes from FASHIONPHILE or Yoogi’s.

Hope you’re feeling better!

 

[Sibelle]

I just came across this article. Seems like this will be the it-thread for 2024 . We are on the right track!

For 2024, the quiet luxury trend is out and 'loud budgeting' is in — here's how to make the most of it

TikTok's loud budgeting trend encourages consumers to take control of their finances and be vocal about making money-conscious decisions.

www.cnbc.com

 

[papertiger]

Spoiler: personal update

I wasn't going to post this but, I think I need to.
My mum has been fighting for her life for the past week. Multiple failed surgeries and many close calls. She has a very long and complex road ahead of her. She's in an induced coma to protect her until she completes the next set of surgeries.
This thread knows how much I adore my mum, so you will know that I'm falling apart. It came out of nowhere and just spiralled so quickly.
While her doctors and surgeons have been incredible, I am frustrated by the nursing care she received this past week and especially yesterday when her issues weren't mentioned to the doctors as early as they could have been. I had to advocate for her at every turn to bypass the nurses stubbornly telling me to wait for her to improve, and we barely got her into surgery on time as a result.
I don't know what posting here accomplishes for me. I just know that I'm very alone and this is my personal hell, so virtual support is all I've got.
I guess...please send any thoughts and prayers you've got her way.
I'm not losing hope and I am urging her to get through this. Taking it one bit at a time.
Thank you

Spoiler: Hugs and prayers to your mother and you

Many of us have been through similar on this thread. Everyone has just one mother and yes, it's the worst. It took me 2 years to not cry when I thought of her after my mother died, I know I did a lot, but I also feel I let her down. For 3 years hospitals and doctors did tests and found nothing, we had to fight to get her help and treatment and of course by that time it was too late. Well done to get your mother to surgery and through the other side.

The reality it's one of the hardest times. I am so pleased your mother has you. I'm glad the doctors and surgeons have been good, stay strong and make sure the other health professionals do their job properly. Do not give-up, stay positive, don't be intimidated by anyone but also consider getting some help even if it's just someone to talk to.

 

[papertiger]

Always nice to connect with a fellow vintage hoarder
You are SO fortunate your mom taught you sewing skills! I agree the quality of vintage is amazing, plus the designs. Being able to alter/remake pieces to suit you is just incredible. It is hard to resist adding new pieces. There are so many amazing pueces here in the US, especially on etsy.

I do have a couple of bags of my moms clothes from the 60s, and some things i purchased for ‘one day’ when i would lose weight. But most vintage clothing is so tiny lolol. So i focused on bags and scarves. My bag collection got up to around 700 at its height. I had to decide to get rid of them all in order to stop Before we moved i sold some large bulk amounts to a couple of etsy sellers , donated a bunch, and have been selling the rest myself. Really tired tho of selling so i think i will do another group purge. I am keeping maybe 15 bags. A lot of the bags i had/have, worked better when i was in my 20s, 30s, early 40s anyway. My style and taste has changed so its easier to let go. I just sold today a vintage 60s wicker Rodo bag tho i am not wanting to part with

Have u ever heard of Vera Neumann or was she mostly just a US thing? I have hundreds of Vera scarves….tons of table cloths, tea towels, calendar towels, blouses, etc. they are all pieces of art.

Editing to clarify — we are collectors not hoarders! The problem arises when you’ve been collecting for many years, collections get out of control. I collected vintage bags for 30 years so thats how i built such a large collection. But sometimes we reach a certain age and that mindset dissipates. Thats where i am at. I don’t want to collect and build up these large amounts of stuff anymore. Edit, delete, donate, sell, curate. Shop my own closet lolol.

700 bags, you have made me feel better

Hi everyone! Hope it’s ok that I’m joining midway through the first month.

After a lot of spending last year, with some of it quite impulsive, I want to try and hold myself better accountable and take a step back to enjoy what I have rather than lusting after what I don’t.

My goals are:

1. Enjoy the bags and jewellery that I have - I’m aiming to wear what I have at least 5 times.
2. Wear my favourite clothes and bags for even the most mundane activities - no more keeping things for best!
3. Limit myself to only buying what sets my heart on fire and is different from what I have - I have my staples covered.
4. Take a good hard look at what I do have and let go of some of my bags as I have too many sitting on shelves when they could be loved much more by someone else.

I’ve had a hard couple of years so last year I went a bit too far with the “treat yourself” mentality - although I do have some beautiful things from it.

Welcome, and excellent objectives!

A real pleasure!

And I´ve been grateful to my Mum ever since I realized that the sky is the limit (well, almost...as I never made it to the pro level of sewing skills, but certainly know how to wing it) once you know how to make things.


Haha, lots of them are! Browsing through etsy I noticed that most vintage clothes from the US are actually very tiny. On German ebay you will at least find bigger sizes now and then.
The two dresses with matching jackets I recently bought without knowing any measurements ("maybe a size m," the listing said) arrived and are actually a good size.
I was too cold to undress for a proper fitting, but put them on over my t-shirt and sweatpants and they were both fine. One dress needs about a centimer added to the part where the ribcage V starts over the waist, but that´s normal for me. I seem to have a fairly pronounced ribcage and nothing squishy on top of it...
Both dresses are handmade by a home sewist, but in really good quality using great fabrics. To my joy they arrived clean! It´s so rare over here to receive vintage that actually has been cleaned before shipping. Mostly you get vintage stains and odours as an extra.

Oh man.... that´s a number! And a true collection!
So I´m fine... there might be 50 vintage bags hiding in the shadows, maybe 20 more... but no serious numbers.



Sorry, no. She really must be a US thing.


Haha! Yes! Collectors!
I hear you. I am experiencing the change of mindset with my prams. I haven´t bought one in at least 2 years. My pram collection is where you find the serious numbers here.... I always liked prams and dolls prams, but when I had my last child 15 years ago I really started collecting. There definetely are 400 plus (plus, plus...) prams between my partner and myself. I must admit that I have not been caring much for them since Covid, though. Somehow I lost my mojo and they have been lingering. Still they will stay and one day I will clean them all up and display them properly.

With vintage bags and clothes there are lots - well small lots compared to what you describe- and I always have to be careful not to let them get too many. I´m 55. At some point I´ve decluttered pieces that simply were "too young" for me and everything I own now is theoretically wearable. There are a suitcase or two full with pieces that are too big. I lost some weight a couple of years ago. Who knows whether it´ll pile up again... so I simply leave these items as are and will fit them when I know I will actually wear them.

400 prams, you make me feel better too.

I came across an article by Ann Patchett in the New Yorker that was published back in 2021, talking about how her best friend’s father died, and that prompted her and her husband’s own death cleaning. What I found interesting was how she talked about what she cleaned as it fit three categories 1) the person she thought she’d become (silver flatware and crystal champagne flutes) 2) the person she was (beloved childhood dolls) and 3) the person she became (her typewriter).

It made me think about how much our identities can get wrapped up in stuff.

Being a collector, my spare time was (heck, it still is) spent browsing the shows and sale sites. Many of my friends are also collectors, or dealers. I’ve been known to pick up “state of the market” analysis papers to read for fun. (Memphis and folk art are both selling at levels that are worthy of note?)

Two of my family members are retired antiques dealers, which is how I got into vintage. Of course, they also taught me the whole “source the inventory, use it in your home until the market picks up, then sell the inventory” philosophy. Which is likely why I have bag churn issues, and think of my bags as investments - even the ones I’m highly unlikely to sell.

But how do you change your view of yourself?

My mother had been an antiques dealer. Just as we would have a fabulous, ancient 'new' fruit bowl it would be gone - to someone who made her an offer she couldn't refuse. My father made furniture so we'd get a sample kitchen table on Tuesday only to have a different one to eat off Friday. I think this maybe why I find it hard to sell or move on stuff, I think it's important to feed both who we are and who we want to be and make them meet in the middle. Maybe I misunderstood, but what I buy expresses who I am, actually that's never really changed. I'm happy just being me. IMO, nothing wrong with pizza on bone china.

 

[papertiger]

Happy new year everyone! Wishing you great health and fantastic memories with loved ones.

This was my favourite thread on the forum last year and I am a bit sad I couldn't continue contributing. I hope to do better this year. I realised I had a bit of post partum depression and used shopping as a great dopamine release and so when health went pear-shape again last spring I used that time to apply and start a PhD instead of spending more money on shoes and bags 😂 I have really enjoyed reading many of your contributions here and in other threads talking about consumption though and reflecting on your wisdom and experiences!

My goals for 2024
- bring this pregnancy to term and NOT find refuge in shopping when it gets real tough (it has been real tough and I haven't so far - very proud of myself)
- use what I have : I need to find a system that will help me move all my stuff around more freely (I put lots of things in my bags) and get maybe a selection of 3-4 bags out at the time so I am not always using the same bag
- get some of my cheaper bags on rotation (I love my Strathberry and Cambridge Satchel but I gravitate more towards the more expensive ones) to my mum
- get a Bolide, a Trim or a GP 36 via the lottery in Paris as a push present this summer.

I also really want to continue growing my mother's and father's collection of Hermes scarves and ties for mother/father day. It's a lot of fun!

I gave up on the idea of a home store or SA because I am just way too emotionally fragile right now to be rational about it all and the weekly/monthly check in to see what is out there always ended up with me getting something.

I will continue to dream about the Fendi mini Peekaboo though (the white version that I bought and return and a grey version that I saw online last autumn!)

HNY, and congratulations on your forthcoming delivery

I use a rotation system for every quater season (but larger - 8-ish bags). Suggestion: I don't do a mood board more a mood. I'd recommend thinking about your current/planned style/lifestyle and sorting a 'capsule wardrobe' for the season/period (already owned - putting other things to the back/away) so you know most of the bags are going to work whichever, whatever the occasion. Wardrobe can lead or bags can lead. E.g. I was definitely into red bags 2023, also had a felling for mod/mid-'60s/minis/formal x casual mix so took out clothes and bags accordingly.

Before you chance the lottery system in Paris, I would chance your SA once more. Just be matter of fact and give her a list saying "One of these are what I'd like to celebrate the exciting arrival of my new baby, please look out for me if you could, all help would be greatly appreciated". No luck, then try Paris. A Trim you can get more easily pre-loved and they're quite well priced.

 

[dcooney4]

I used my day off work on Tuesday due to the snow to do exactly this! I was happy to go through closets and drawers to unload some things; more productive than my usual TV watching on a snow day. Now I just need to get them to the consignment store, or post online at work. I also have a few items to submit for quotes from FASHIONPHILE or Yoogi’s.

Hope you’re feeling better!

Good luck! Thanks for the well wishes.

 

[EvaH]

Spoiler: personal update

I wasn't going to post this but, I think I need to.
My mum has been fighting for her life for the past week. Multiple failed surgeries and many close calls. She has a very long and complex road ahead of her. She's in an induced coma to protect her until she completes the next set of surgeries.
This thread knows how much I adore my mum, so you will know that I'm falling apart. It came out of nowhere and just spiralled so quickly.
While her doctors and surgeons have been incredible, I am frustrated by the nursing care she received this past week and especially yesterday when her issues weren't mentioned to the doctors as early as they could have been. I had to advocate for her at every turn to bypass the nurses stubbornly telling me to wait for her to improve, and we barely got her into surgery on time as a result.
I don't know what posting here accomplishes for me. I just know that I'm very alone and this is my personal hell, so virtual support is all I've got.
I guess...please send any thoughts and prayers you've got her way.
I'm not losing hope and I am urging her to get through this. Taking it one bit at a time.
Thank you

Sending you love, prayers and strength 🙏🏾

 

[Bag peace]

I see I have been quoted a lot but I have not read anything yet. I will get to your posts when I can.

Spoiler

Mum has had 5 surgeries in 10 days. She has just finished the last one. She is in a critical state and they cannot predict if this operation will succeed or not. They are doing all they can.
I am now 2 months behind on my own treatments, which I started postponing when I got covid in Dec. I ended up collapsing while waiting for her to come out of surgery. It added another level of chaos.
Good thing I was already in the hospital. They stabilized me and I just need to hold it together to be there for mum now.

I'm an emotional wreck and cannot find strength to deal with all that is happening. People around me are just creating noise in their attempts to help. I'm trying to find peace when I am with her, to just tell her she is loved. I hope she can hear me.

I'm not giving up on her. We just need to get through this stage safely. One hour at a time, as the doctor told me.

 

[JenJBS]

I see I have been quoted a lot but I have not read anything yet. I will get to your posts when I can.

Spoiler

Mum has had 5 surgeries in 10 days. She has just finished the last one. She is in a critical state and they cannot predict if this operation will succeed or not. They are doing all they can.
I am now 2 months behind on my own treatments, which I started postponing when I got covid in Dec. I ended up collapsing while waiting for her to come out of surgery. It added another level of chaos.
Good thing I was already in the hospital. They stabilized me and I just need to hold it together to be there for mum now.

I'm an emotional wreck and cannot find strength to deal with all that is happening. People around me are just creating noise in their attempts to help. I'm trying to find peace when I am with her, to just tell her she is loved. I hope she can hear me.

I'm not giving up on her. We just need to get through this stage safely. One hour at a time, as the doctor told me.

My heart breaks for you. Keeping you and your mom in my prayers. I'm sorry to hear you collapsed, but glad they could help you so quickly. Hoping this final surgery was successful for you mom.

 

[DME]

I see I have been quoted a lot but I have not read anything yet. I will get to your posts when I can.

Spoiler

Mum has had 5 surgeries in 10 days. She has just finished the last one. She is in a critical state and they cannot predict if this operation will succeed or not. They are doing all they can.
I am now 2 months behind on my own treatments, which I started postponing when I got covid in Dec. I ended up collapsing while waiting for her to come out of surgery. It added another level of chaos.
Good thing I was already in the hospital. They stabilized me and I just need to hold it together to be there for mum now.

I'm an emotional wreck and cannot find strength to deal with all that is happening. People around me are just creating noise in their attempts to help. I'm trying to find peace when I am with her, to just tell her she is loved. I hope she can hear me.

I'm not giving up on her. We just need to get through this stage safely. One hour at a time, as the doctor told me.

Sending you and your mom hugs. Thinking of you both!