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.

 

[Jereni]

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.

Sounds like a good collection assessment!

I can understand your dilemma over your Chanel jumbos. I don’t own those but obv they are magnificent pieces, just somewhat heavy.

I too tend to buy in spurts I think. I’ve been on a little bit of a spurt since late June, or at least compared to the year prior when I bought nothing. Still, I’m feeling ok about it bc I’ve exited much more than I’ve brought in, and I’m musing on selling a few more.

The ‘year off’ really allowed me to identify what I enjoy using time and time again, and which bags that I didn’t buy earlier have still stuck in my mind and are worth pursuing.

 

[Sparkletastic]

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 could use my phone but sometimes it’s lost too!

I would love something like the lights on my closet shelves - subtly attached and motion activated - a girl can dream. LOL!

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.

What are good brands of cashmere to buy?

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.

I’d love to see your painted pieces!

...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...

Yes!!! We’re sisters in this and you’ve explained it perfectly. I was on my eternal search for the perfect black tote and saw the Fendi first(s) had plummeted in price which made me comfortable to pull the trigger. Then I thought - after being irritated with myself about the compromise bags I need to sell - “what bag do I really WANT” and I knew it was either a Gucci top handle stirrup or a Gucci 1970 python. The indulgence of the 1970 won and so I hunted down the very impractical one I wanted. I who hate to shop will literally buy clothes just to wear this bag.

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.

I’m glad to hear this about the Dix. I really want to take the plunge into Polene but worry my desire to get CPW out of my premiere bags will guilt me into not reaching for it.

I need to really let the CPW idea go.

Sounds like a good collection assessment!

I can understand your dilemma over your Chanel jumbos. I don’t own those but obv they are magnificent pieces, just somewhat heavy.

I too tend to buy in spurts I think. I’ve been on a little bit of a spurt since late June, or at least compared to the year prior when I bought nothing. Still, I’m feeling ok about it bc I’ve exited much more than I’ve brought in, and I’m musing on selling a few more.

The ‘year off’ really allowed me to identify what I enjoy using time and time again, and which bags that I didn’t buy earlier have still stuck in my mind and are worth pursuing.

All my Chanel Jumbos but one are single flap. So they’re roomy and not at all heavy. I just don’t know why I don’t reach for them except they don’t feel “fun”. And I’m more in a fun mood currently. Plus I never see anyone wearing them so I kinda forget about them.

 

[papertiger]

I could use my phone but sometimes it’s lost too!

I would love something like the lights on my closet shelves - subtly attached and motion activated - a girl can dream. LOL!

What are good brands of cashmere to buy?

I’d love to see your painted pieces!

Yes!!! We’re sisters in this and you’ve explained it perfectly. I was on my eternal search for the perfect black tote and saw the Fendi first(s) had plummeted in price which made me comfortable to pull the trigger. Then I thought - after being irritated with myself about the compromise bags I need to sell - “what bag do I really WANT” and I knew it was either a Gucci top handle stirrup or a Gucci 1970 python. The indulgence of the 1970 won and so I hunted down the very impractical one I wanted. I who hate to shop will literally buy clothes just to wear this bag.

I’m glad to hear this about the Dix. I really want to take the plunge into Polene but worry my desire to get CPW out of my premiere bags will guilt me into not reaching for it.

I need to really let the CPW idea go.

All my Chanel Jumbos but one are single flap. So they’re roomy and not at all heavy. I just don’t know why I don’t reach for them except they don’t feel “fun”. And I’m more in a fun mood currently. Plus I never see anyone wearing them so I kinda forget about them.

Cashmere at different price points:

Affordable
Marks and Spencers (British)
Cos (Swedish)

Don't be tempted by Uniqlo


Investment
Brora (British)
Eric Bonnard (French)
Vintage Ballentyne (British)
New Ballentyne (Italian)
Pringle (British)
Barrie (British)
Polo RL US (sometimes available via TK / TJ Maxx)
N. Peal (British)

Off the Charts
Loro Piana (Italian)
Hermes (French)
Johnston's of Elgin (British, makes for Hermes but half the price)

 

[papertiger]

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.

More a thing with RTW and make-up. It's definitely a phenomenon.

I do RTW twice a year, so at least it's on purpose. I buy an investment piece, occasionally couple of pieces. This year it was two suits (one's home, the other still in alteration).This/These are central points to my seasonal wardrobe. Everything else has to work around, including clothes I have already. I then bought: Shirts; ties; shorts; tees, jeans; scarves; etc which added-up, but not as much as if I had just bought willy-nilly. Apart from Gucci shoes and dog collar, most has been vintage, high-street or I own already. I felt very guilty about the cashmere scarves because I didn't need them. At least everything new works with everything existing.

Major shifts can help me weed-out 'what was I thinking?', 'I'll never be that person again' and 'what's that?' for the charity shop. Plus, the major fashion shows also come twice a year so it makes me feel inspired longterm. Next SS, I'll be heading (or keep heading) luxe 1960s (a la Celine SS25) just a bit more relaxed (which means I'll have almost everything already).So whilst I so a "spurt" of RTW buying, it also prompts me to edit and repairs.

Make-up is like an on/off switch. Don't buy anything bar a mascara all year and then bam, I have boxes. It is a dark-evening, coming-up to Christmas thing - I need to be really aware Oct-Jan. It used to be seeing the beautiful displays in department stores and pretending I was only buying gifts for others .

Today I forced myself to empty my Liberty cart which was full of Lisa Eldridge and Hourglass. I have so many beautiful lipsticks to use-up and just bought new (Hermes, Guerlain x 2, Mac x 2). How often do I wear red lipstick? Hardly ever. I own at 3 full-size Hourglass finishing powders already that are not even half-used but there I was buying 5 more plus 3 blushers, a bronzer and a strobe highlighter. I just bought 4 blushers (Mac and drugstore) and a Mac bronzer. I have an unopened bottle of Nars foundation on my bathroom self, just bought a Fenty stick, and I was stalking LE's Enhancing skin tint like she'll never restock. 1 bottle of foundation lasts me more than a year!!!! Mid- September, I had to buy a new waterproof mascara for a shoot (Benefit - rubbish) now, somehow I have 6 new ones including a free with purchase and Burgundy Maybelline Sky High - which makes me look like I've been (but it was 3 for 2 offer ).

 

[Sparkletastic]

Cashmere at different price points:

Affordable
Marks and Spencers (British)
Cos (Swedish)

Don't be tempted by Uniqlo


Investment
Brora (British)
Eric Bonnard (French)
Vintage Ballentyne (British)
New Ballentyne (Italian)
Pringle (British)
Barrie (British)
Polo RL US (sometimes available via TK / TJ Maxx)
N. Peal (British)

Off the Carts
Loro Piana (Italian)
Hermes (French)
Johnston's of Elgin (British, makes for Hermes but half the price)

Thanks! I just knew you were the person to ask! (Running off to capture some cashmere!)

 

[whateve]

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 used to have a tiny flashlight attached to my keychain.

 

[whateve]

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.

I buy in spurts too. I think the endorphins I get from shopping make me want to do it again. If something I buy turns out to be great, it makes me feel optimistic about buying other things. If something turns out bad, I get discouraged and slow down on buying. The other thing that happens is that when I'm looking for something, I will see other things I like so I end up buying more than just what I was looking for.

 

[Sparkletastic]

I used to have a tiny flashlight attached to my keychain.

That’s a great idea!

I buy in spurts too. I think the endorphins I get from shopping make me want to do it again. If something I buy turns out to be great, it makes me feel optimistic about buying other things. If something turns out bad, I get discouraged and slow down on buying. The other thing that happens is that when I'm looking for something, I will see other things I like so I end up buying more than just what I was looking for.

Yes! That’s probably a big part of my buying. The endorphins from the excitement of capturing a deal is huge for me. I couldn’t care even a teeny bit about the boutique experience.

I found that out when I bought my then holy grail from the Dior flagship in Paris. They were heavenly in how well they treated me. But nothing compares (for me) to getting a beautiful item in great condition at a great price.

So, like you, getting what is a “win” for me breeds energy around finding other “wins”. Getting a dud and / or having to pay full price for an item that is “acceptable” or a fair exchange stalls my buying.

I do have to remind myself though that I tend to have a higher hit rate when I do one or two buys at a time than when I go on a mini spree.

 

[papertiger]

I do have to remind myself though that I tend to have a higher hit rate when I do one or two buys at a time than when I go on a mini spree.

 

[whateve]

That’s a great idea!

Yes! That’s probably a big part of my buying. The endorphins from the excitement of capturing a deal is huge for me. I couldn’t care even a teeny bit about the boutique experience.

I found that out when I bought my then holy grail from the Dior flagship in Paris. They were heavenly in how well they treated me. But nothing compares (for me) to getting a beautiful item in great condition at a great price.

So, like you, getting what is a “win” for me breeds energy around finding other “wins”. Getting a dud and / or having to pay full price for an item that is “acceptable” or a fair exchange stalls my buying.

I do have to remind myself though that I tend to have a higher hit rate when I do one or two buys at a time than when I go on a mini spree.

Ever since I started buying second hand, I've discovered that I get more excited about those finds than from things I find at retail stores. Nothing beats the thrill I get from finding something great randomly at a thrift store or coming across a poorly listed, cheaply priced item on ebay.

 

[Sparkletastic]

Questions of the day:

Within your collection…

• What specific model of bag do you find most practical and happy to use?
• What specific model of bag do you just love to own?
• Do these categories match? Why or why not?

For me, I looooove wearing my Prada double zip totes. The bags’ organization is perfection with a zippered section front and back and then an open middle section with a slip pocket and another zip pocket. Also they can be worn in hand or crook of arm with the attached handles OR shoulder or crossbody with the detachable strap. Plus the saffiano leather is completely carefree without looking or feeling plastic-y. I fully intend to buy more as they’re very reasonably priced resale. I don’t care that they get some negative feedback because I’ve never had a quality issue. I foolishly sold 2 others I owned when I was trying idiotically to keep my collection at a certain size for literally no good reason.

I looove owning and wearing my Dior Dioramas. They’re “jewelry pieces in my handbag collection that still provide great function due to the medium size, light weight and ease of access.

(Interestingly, for love to carry - I give an honorable mention to my medium and mini Chanel classic flaps. As much as the jumbos get little love from me, I really enjoy carrying the smaller sizes even though I’m not a tiny bag person. )

Pics for eye candy. Please show your bags too!

 

[Sparkletastic]

Ever since I started buying second hand, I've discovered that I get more excited about those finds than from things I find at retail stores. Nothing beats the thrill I get from finding something great randomly at a thrift store or coming across a poorly listed, cheaply priced item on ebay.

We are sooooo alike on this point!!!

 

[papertiger]

@Sparkletastic and others interested in


• What specific model of bag do you find most practical and happy to use?
Hermes Evie, literally by default. I love the colour (black) the leather (Clemence) the ghw (I bought one because H stated making the Evie with ghw) as well as the size, comfort and anonymity of it (pocket forward).

I also like my Emmys (now discontinued). They were coveted in the '80s and I inherited 3. So well organised.

All the cartridge-style (horseshoe shape) or camera bags like the Gucci Lady Web, Dior Bobby, Gucci Soho Disco, Chanel Tassel etc. They're good alternatives for the Evie, when I need a bit more dressy.

• What specific model of bag do you just love to own?
H Boldies, Plumes, Gucci BTHs, Dome bags (Catherines) which are similar to H Bolides. I love they're so traditional and beautifully Modern at the same time.


• Do these categories match? Why or why not?

Practical is not always beautiful aesthetically. Evie is a sports bag (around stables and horses). I have gone out in the evening with it, but I'm not really happy doing that. I feel similarly about a cartridge/saddle bag shape.
Bolides, Plumes and BTHs are statement dress-bags in the way one wears statement jewellery. I point of focus rather than for schlepping. I could take a small dome-shaped or box bag out for an occasion or evening date and feel en pointe as well as look authoritative for everyday.
Camera bags are quite a good compromise between the two, particularly of there's a tassel or chain.

 

[880]

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.

There are motion activated purse lights on Amazon that seem to have solid reviews. But, I just use my phone

The bag that I love to use that is most practical for me is a medium sized, slim, short shoulder carry. But, I don’t carry much. But, the bag I most use is a felt TPM Evelyn. It can be overstuffed. It can go through rain. It’s discreet and almost unseen next to clothes.

 

[Sparkletastic]

There are motion activated purse lights on Amazon that seem to have solid reviews. But, I just use my phone

The bag that I love to use that is most practical for me is a medium sized, slim, short shoulder carry. But, I don’t carry much. But, the bag I most use is a felt TPM Evelyn. It can be overstuffed. It can go through rain. It’s discreet and almost unseen next to clothes.

I’ll have to look again on Amazon. The purse lights I saw had so so to terrible reviews.