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.

 

[FizzyWater]

Side note: am i the only one not overwhelmed with new bag designs the past 18-24 ish months?

Sparkle! You’re back! I’m so glad you were able to take time for yourself, and selfishly glad to see you again.

I kind of actually love all the hobo bags currently, both the floppy ones and the structured crescent moon shapes. Am I going to buy any? No, because (counts on fingers) 6 BV and H hobos in every color is seriously already overkill.

I also like the Teckel and other 2000s style e-w bags. Conveniently, I also have a whole pile of Hobo Intl Lolas actually from the 2000s.

Now to wear my bags instead of stuffing everything into pockets. Again.

 

[Jereni]

Side note: am i the only one not overwhelmed with new bag designs the past 18-24 ish months?

Omg SAME. I recently sort of took a year off from handbags and feel like I missed nothing. If I see another slightly curved basic zipper bag I’m going to scream. I get the style, and I own one, but good lord the industry needs some variety.

 

[Bag peace]

Random update: 4 bags out and 1 wallet out.

I used to shop when I was depressed, now I declutter.

Have had so many bags go out this year that I've actually lost count. I'd always wanted to downsize but, not quite like this.

Happy to see you back Sparks! @Sparkletastic

 

[papertiger]

For the first time since I' ve been here I treated myself to an afternoon shopping in a nearby town all by myself. I stuck to the two second hand shops.

View attachment 6077448View attachment 6077449

The trenchcoat ( the label reads "the King 's Raincoat") technically is for my son, but he wasn't too impressed. He said he' d rather wait for the Burberry's I recently bought to fit him. So I guess even though I definetely don't need it, for now it's mine. It's a medium weight quality for cooler temperatures.
I also found a nice charcoal wool/ cashmere mens coat that will be perfectly oversized for my younger DD.

You did well!

 

[papertiger]

Question: does anyone have or know of a good purse light? I’d like something for my larger bags / totes. It would be great if it attached some way and came on automatically but I’m open to any suggestions that have worked for you.

I have an Envirosax that I take as an extra, if that's the kind of thing you mean. I wouldn't recommend one to keep delicate leather or exotics dry though as the totes are open. If you want a rain bag you need something totally impermeable and seals.

I can't be asked to do the origami to fold it. I usually just scrunch it. I think it does have something you can attach it too, but I always think that would look like I'm carrying 'poo bags' (like goggles owners have in the park).

I know people have lots of Envirosax. Whilst they come in lots of 'fun' colours and prints, I just like mine which is fairly sedate. There is absolutely no point in having more than one IMO.

 

[whateve]

Omg SAME. I recently sort of took a year off from handbags and feel like I missed nothing. If I see another slightly curved basic zipper bag I’m going to scream. I get the style, and I own one, but good lord the industry needs some variety.

I don't do well with the curved top zipper bags. I have too much trouble unzipping along the curve.

 

[Sparkletastic]

I have an Envirosax that I take as an extra, if that's the kind of thing you mean. I wouldn't recommend one to keep delicate leather or exotics dry though as the totes are open. If you want a rain bag you need something totally impermeable and seals.

I can't be asked to do the origami to fold it. I usually just scrunch it. I think it does have something you can attach it too, but I always think that would look like I'm carrying 'poo bags' (like goggles owners have in the park).

I know people have lots of Envirosax. Whilst they come in lots of 'fun' colours and prints, I just like mine which is fairly sedate. There is absolutely no point in having more than one IMO.

No. I’m thinking of a purse light to illuminate bag contents - not a light purse.

I don’t use hobos or other slouchy bags because I can’t find my things. So I wondered if there was a product to help in taking handbags from dark caverns to well lit storage.

 

[cowgirlsboots]

You did well!

Thank you! I'm really happy with my finds especially after washing everything ( I flat out refuse to pay for dry cleaning and believe that clothes have to earn the right of staying with me by surviving the washing machine- wool cycle, no spinning, of course) and repairing the small faults the trenchcoat had.
Seeing the coat combined with the big crochet shawl on my "Olga" now I ' m laughing: without even thinking about it I shopped a look. Coat, shawl, gloves and boots. The shearling handbag completes it.
My daughter loves her new coat, too.

 

[More bags]

Hey all! There is no way for me to catch up so I picked a few things to comment on but I send each of you my hugs.

I had to step away from a lot of things inc tPF. I realized I was suppressing a lot of sadness and grief under my eternally A+ “can do” attitude when my DH said - Mom, you’ve been through a lot the past few years and you act like it’s nothing. Even just the 7 surgeries you’ve had in the past 5 years with one being brain surgery would make most people buckle. You have to rest.



How dare he peek behind the mask and see I’m a frail human!!!! LOL! But, he was right. So I completely stopped EVERYTHING for 6 months - no career, no home projects, no charity work, no entertaining, no nothing.

It was very hard to admit I needed to rest/heal/grieve/cry/putter/play… just be. But I did. And Mr. Sparkle down shifted a bit which allowed us to travel, do some spa days, spend time with our (adult) kids, and… just be.

Best decisions EVER!

So I’m peeking my head out to say hi and start enjoying my loved of handbags and my friends here on tPF. I’m grateful my son didn’t let me blow off his concern and love for me. I still plan to take the next 6 months “off” as I write a book that I hope will have a positive impact on my industry (which is going down a dark path.) But, that will be fun vs the grind I have put myself through for years.

Welcome back Sparkle - it’s great to see you again. Congratulations on taking a break.

A friend said to me awhile back, ‘you are enough.’ I didn’t know how much I needed to hear that until she said it.

 

[Sparkletastic]

With massive burnout fog lifting, I finally had the mental space to clean, condition and evaluate every single bag and bag like items I have.

The great news is I still adore my collection.Some notes & observations:

• I still struggle with my Chanel jumbos. I rarely wear them but would die if I sell them. These are my bags o’ shame. LOL! I bought them thinking they’d be my go to’s and I’m just not ever reaching for them.

• I have
- 32 premier
- 2 premier minaudière
- 0 contemporary
- 2 sub contemporary
- 6 utility (laptop, etc.)
- 5 SLG’s

• I neeeeeeeed a beautiful brown bag in just the right shade.

• I have 9 bags to sell (these are not in the above count) and promised myself I’d list them this week. All except 2 are bags I bought when I was compromising instead of buying what I wanted - even if that meant waiting for what I wanted to exist. Never again.

With that in mind, I just ordered 3 bags: a Fendi First, a Dior black tote, and a Gucci 1970 python hobo. I also ordered 2 SLG’s: a Dior and a Chanel wallet. I feel super excited & optimistic about all of them and am bouncing off the walls as I wait. I also bought a pair of Prada heels and a Chanel leather cuff - funny how the non handbag purchases are happy ones but not bonkers inducing excited ones. Lol! The cuff will be my first non fine jewelry designer purchase.

It’s funny how I always buy in spurts. Anyone else like that? I will go months or even years and buy almost nothing. Then I’ll get in a mood and buy several items at once.

 

[papertiger]

No. I’m thinking of a purse light to illuminate bag contents - not a light purse.

I don’t use hobos or other slouchy bags because I can’t find my things. So I wondered if there was a product to help in taking handbags from dark caverns to well lit storage.

Can you use your phone? I use mine on the way home from the station when the dark nights roll in and our council can't be bothered to repair broken street lights.

I also have a tape-measure with an LED light attached (maybe the kinetic energy from the ribbon-rule fuels the light(?)) I take it everywhere. Very handy when shopping. I bought it at a souvenir shop (Woburn Abbey) so I don't know who makes them, but it was cheap.

 

[cecchetti]

Can you use your phone? I use mine on the way home from the station when the dark nights roll in and our council can't be bothered to repair broken street lights.

I also have a tape-measure with an LED light attached (maybe the kinetic energy from the ribbon-rule fuels the light(?)) I take it everywhere. Very handy when shopping. I bought it at a souvenir shop (Woburn Abbey) so I don't know who makes them, but it was cheap.

I take a tape measure Everywhere in my handbag too..very useful , mine doesn’t have a light on it though.
I got that trick from my Mum❤️…

 

[papertiger]

Thank you! I'm really happy with my finds especially after washing everything ( I flat out refuse to pay for dry cleaning and believe that clothes have to earn the right of staying with me by surviving the washing machine- wool cycle, no spinning, of course) and repairing the small faults the trenchcoat had.
Seeing the coat combined with the big crochet shawl on my "Olga" now I ' m laughing: without even thinking about it I shopped a look. Coat, shawl, gloves and boots. The shearling handbag completes it.
My daughter loves her new coat, too.

No justification needed. I put Ballantyne or Chanel cashmere, dip-dye Hermes scarves and Burberry trench coats in the 'delicate' cycle (20º). I literally just washed 6 vintage/newer cashmere sweaters - absolutely fine. I have shrunk a 60s wool suit, but it was too big anyway, so it fits me better now - however, I'll wash it by hand next time.

Dry-cleaning chemicals are really bad for the environment. I reserve for tailoring.

 

[cowgirlsboots]

No justification needed. I put Ballantyne or Chanel cashmere, dip-dye Hermes scarves and Burberry trench coats in the 'delicate' cycle (20º). I literally just washed 6 vintage/newer cashmere sweaters - absolutely fine. I have shrunk a 60s wool suit, but it was too big anyway, so it fits me better now - however, I'll wash it by hand next time.

Dry-cleaning chemicals are really bad for the environment. I reserve for tailoring.

That's very good to know and very reassuring! Thank you!
I don't own anything premier but two vintage Burberry's pieces. The skirt suit I washed without even thinking about it. It was dirt cheap, accordingly filthy and very moth eaten, so there was no risk at all. Meanwhile it's mended and I printed over all the repairs. The next wash will make me nervous.... will the paint stay put?
The Burberry's coat clearly smelled of washing powder when I bought it and I noticed the leather buckles had been removed and attached again. So I know what to do next time.

Haha, shrink to fit! This only happened to me once so far ( I might have forgotten not to spin)- a 60 ies dress with matching jacket and like your suit it now fits me so much better.

It’s funny how I always buy in spurts. Anyone else like that? I will go months or even years and buy almost nothing. Then I’ll get in a mood and buy several items at once.

...always!
As soon as I start actively looking for one piece - for example from my " buy when it finally gets cheap" list, I will go down the rabbit hole of browsing and research. With buying used from the low( est) end of the price scale I then will inevitably end up with a list of bargains with potential which of course do cry out: now or never.
A haul like this will arrive, overwhelm me a bit, give me something to work on and keep me away from even looking for what might be out there...

 

[Jereni]

I don't do well with the curved top zipper bags. I have too much trouble unzipping along the curve.

I often do too, or even more commonly, those bags’ zippers aren’t well made and they just don’t work smoothly.

The one I have that works great is the Polene Dix.