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.

 

[dcooney4]

I hope everyone has a wonderful day tomorrow whether you celebrate thanksgiving or not.

 

[cecchetti]

I hope you can be my Borsalino twin. You probably have coluoring close to neutral, you can probably make either work but my store didn't have the snow leopard or I would have bought that as well. They do custom too.

You have to try, as you pointed out, it can come down to nuance. My new Eleneanora is such a lovely colour, but I never would would have picked it for me from the shelf, the SA made me try it. I have most of the trad colours plus a few more unusual. I was thinking I may like a bright rose, shocking pink or even orange, I never would have thought 'lilac'. Some of my H scarves work with it so beautifully too. You have to try.

I love snow leopard as well -in fact I love it so much that I own a mini one -Baryshnikov!

 

[More bags]

Happy Thanksgiving to our US friends!

 

[cecchetti]

Happy Thanksgiving to our US friends!

Yes, Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

 

[DME]

Since it’s after midnight here on the east coast of the U.S., Happy Thanksgiving to all here who celebrate! I’m thankful for all the great discussion and kindness here on this thread.

 

[papertiger]

I love snow leopard as well -in fact I love it so much that I own a mini one -Baryshnikov!

Nothing can be more beautiful

 

[cecchetti]

Monthly stats-I cannot believe it’s the end of the month already, although November has been overshadowed by the sudden deaths of my sister’s father in law, and my friend of many decades, Tony Hirsh of Hirsh, London.

Bags carried during the month were my Raylowi navy crocodile, Jimmy Choo navy alligator, and for the funeral Marc Jacobs matte black mock croc leather bag.

My Mum is stable, she seems to have good days whilst I’m there, I shower both parents with affection, grateful to have them.

RTW/clothes-16 in, 3 out..I bought a Sprung Freres shearling coat(whilst living in Paris I had a Sprung Freres fur coat-it was so cold that everyone had a fur coat in the winter), and the rest was a big shop on Skins, which I love.

I don’t feel ready for the parties etc and busy time in December-but tomorrow it’ll be Here!

 

[Sparkletastic]

Happy Post Black Friday to all who celebrate. I’m shouting my victories where I find them: I successfully kept myself from buying anything on Black Friday. Yay me!

Sparkle’s November Stats
Ins / Outs / Listed
• Bags: 1 in / 0 out / 7 listed for sale
(In: Prada Chocolate Brown Vitello Daino Logo Bowler Bag)
• SLG’s 0 in / 0 out / 0 listed for sale

Challenges completed:
• Love ‘em and leave ‘em: Instead of reaching for my most worn bags I was able to get rotation on 8 other bags this month. The best things is 3 of the 8 were new bags and another 3 were bags I’ve owned and almost NEVER worn. Another “yay!”

Bags Worn

1. Dior So Black Studded Diorama WOC
2. YSL Black Lou Camera
3. YSL Black Rive Droite cloth tote
4. (Can’t remember the name) Backpack
5. Kipling Hello Kitty Soft tote
6. Jimmy Choo Black Mini Bon Bon bag
7. Jimmy Choo Brown Bon Bon Bucket bag
8. Prada Black Striped Saffiano & Calfskin Galleria Double Zip Tote

 

[Sparkletastic]

We’re having a blast this holiday with our children. DS had announced he was going to cook the entire holiday meal. 😱 (I admit I was prepared with a secret restaurant reservation LOL!) Well, I’m thrilled to report I was dead wrong and my concerns were completely unfounded. The meal was insanely good! I plotted and lay in wait all night to eat leftovers for breakfast. Smothered turkey wings. Who’d a thought they’d be so yummy?? I’m also tempted to hide the key lime cake from the rest of the family and claim fairies stole it.

Happily, my relative thriftiness and minimalism are something my kids have caught. (Other than my obvious handbag habit, I typically squeeze my pennies til Lincoln is begging for mercy LOL!) Anyway, on our visit last month to see the kiddos we noticed that DS’s car was a deathtrap because he literally had duct taped one of the side mirrors to the car. As we looked closer, we saw that was one of the car’s better features. He’s working full time, in grad school part time at night and trying to start a business - all while staying out of debt so his money is squeaky tight. So, Mr. Sparkle and I surprised him and took him shopping yesterday to purchase a safe, reliable and presentable preowned car for him as a combo bday / Christmas present. (His current car was so bad they wouldn’t even give $500 as a trade in!) It’s an SUV so it will help him in his business as well. It felt good to support him as he works so hard. Parenting is a CRAZY journey. 10 years ago I thought he’d never be moved to do anything in life but play video games and ignore his dirty laundry. I was ready to sign him up for a traveling circus!

DD’s BF is lurking around quite a bit. He has that “I’m thinking of marriage” air about him. Sigh! I’m not a fan of him… eh. He’s not bad. Just…okay-ish. So I hope I’m wrong or that DD would say no. But, that’s not my job to determine <said through gritted teeth>. My place is to simply support whatever decision she would make. i am happy to report, however, that she earned a promotion at her firm so that will be fun to celebrate with her next weekend!

In all, we’re having a lot of fun - tonight is dinner with friends since we’re in my hometown. How is everyone else enjoying the holiday / weekend?

 

[FizzyWater]

We’re having a blast this holiday with our children. DS had announced he was going to cook the entire holiday meal. 😱 (I admit I was prepared with a secret restaurant reservation LOL!) Well, I’m thrilled to report I was dead wrong and my concerns were completely unfounded. The meal was insanely good! I plotted and lay in wait all night to eat leftovers for breakfast. Smothered turkey wings. Who’d a thought they’d be so yummy?? I’m also tempted to hide the key lime cake from the rest of the family and claim fairies stole it.

Happily, my relative thriftiness and minimalism are something my kids have caught. (Other than my obvious handbag habit, I typically squeeze my pennies til Lincoln is begging for mercy LOL!) Anyway, on our visit last month to see the kiddos we noticed that DS’s car was a deathtrap because he literally had duct taped one of the side mirrors to the car. As we looked closer, we saw that was one of the car’s better features. He’s working full time, in grad school part time at night and trying to start a business - all while staying out of debt so his money is squeaky tight. So, Mr. Sparkle and I surprised him and took him shopping yesterday to purchase a safe, reliable and presentable preowned car for him as a combo bday / Christmas present. (His current car was so bad they wouldn’t even give $500 as a trade in!) It’s an SUV so it will help him in his business as well. It felt good to support him as he works so hard. Parenting is a CRAZY journey. 10 years ago I thought he’d never be moved to do anything in life but play video games and ignore his dirty laundry. I was ready to sign him up for a traveling circus!

DD’s BF is lurking around quite a bit. He has that “I’m thinking of marriage” air about him. Sigh! I’m not a fan of him… eh. He’s not bad. Just…okay-ish. So I hope I’m wrong or that DD would say no. But, that’s not my job to determine <said through gritted teeth>. My place is to simply support whatever decision she would make. i am happy to report, however, that she earned a promotion at her firm so that will be fun to celebrate with her next weekend!

In all, we’re having a lot of fun - tonight is dinner with friends since we’re in my hometown. How is everyone else enjoying the holiday / weekend?

Yikes. You’re doing the right thing with your kids, but it’s so hard!

I posted in a different thread that I spur-of-the-moment decided to host a crazy-complicated Thanksgiving for our neighbors and ourselves. It was super fun, everything hurts, and the dishwasher has been running full-tilt since Monday. And the BF left to visit family Friday and I could only pawn off one sauce on the neighbors, so the leftovers are all mine to soldier through. (I’m going to present them with half the pies tomorrow though, sternly!)

I was dumb enough to run errands today; the Christmas markets are finally open and everyone’s out shopping and I couldn’t even get any fun food because leftovers!!! I did get my BF’s present and came across a tagine for free(!) as well as the rest of the errands, so I feel vaguely accomplished. And everything hurts.

 

[Sparkletastic]

Yikes. You’re doing the right thing with your kids, but it’s so hard!

YES! Every stage is crazy making and challenging from infants to young adults. LOL! But, it’s also filled with wonderful moments. Having kids or being child free - each definitely have their benefits!

I posted in a different thread that I spur-of-the-moment decided to host a crazy-complicated Thanksgiving for our neighbors and ourselves. It was super fun, everything hurts, and the dishwasher has been running full-tilt since Monday. And the BF left to visit family Friday and I could only pawn off one sauce on the neighbors, so the leftovers are all mine to soldier through. (I’m going to present them with half the pies tomorrow though, sternly!)

I was dumb enough to run errands today; the Christmas markets are finally open and everyone’s out shopping and I couldn’t even get any fun food because leftovers!!! I did get my BF’s present and came across a tagine for free(!) as well as the rest of the errands, so I feel vaguely accomplished. And everything hurts.

Wow! You’ve been super busy!! Hosting a big TG dinner is no small feat. Congrats!!!

I still think you could get yourself a small nibble treat - you deserve it!! Or maybe a massage!

Other than taking care of DS for Xmas, I haven’t bought even one gift. And I’m usually done by now. Kudos for you on getting your BF’s gift already despite the crazy crowds!

 

[papertiger]

I cannot believe it's almost December!

November Stats
Ins / Outs
Bags: 0 in / 5 out!
Beaded raffia '60s kiss-lock purse, suede and patent clutch, broken globe-print holdall, broken bucket bag - and another that's so unmemorable I can't remember
SLG’s 0 in / 1 out, a beaded purse

3 large bags of party clothes for Age Concern 'Black Tie Event'. Most never worn.

Resisted: the Gucci centenary bamboo belt-bag at TK Maxx at 75% off. It's missing its web-stripe additional handle otherwise I think I may have succumbed. Had it been the all-leather version I would not been able to walk by either.

Didn't resist another Borsalino hat. It's hard when you find an unusual colour in a classic style. I've worn at least 6 'proper' hats this month (proper mean non-soft woolly thing). Yesterday, I wore a dark red mohair trilby I bought in Japan.


Challenges:
Found and wore my olive suede Prada waist bag (worn over the shoulder). It's the last Prada bag I own. Honestly, I don't know whether it's fashionable or not.
Didn't wear my Evie for a few days as you can see below.

Matchy matchy (well almost): Dark red bag, dark red hat, very dark red leather gloves and very dark red Diorific Khol Deep Ruby lipstick (no eye makeup). My only mistake was I put on Deep Ruby before I went out, but then took the wrong Diorific Khol Bright Topaz (bright pink) lipstick with me. Diorific cases look the same. It was so annoying.

Mended(ish) Judith Leiber patchwork convertible clutch

Bags Worn
Vintage '00s Olive suede Prada waist bag
Vintage 1990s Gucci black horseshoe shoulder bag
Vintage 1980s Olive Burberry shoulder bag
Black Hermes Evie
Vintage 1980s Emmy dark-red large shoulder tote bag
Vintage 1980s Emmy navy shoulder bag
Liberty London black leather briefcase
Liberty London black leather padded laptop case

Got a lot of love for my older bags recently. I had flu so I lost around 10 days of bag user days.

 

[Sparkletastic]

I cannot believe it's almost December!

November Stats
Ins / Outs
Bags: 0 in / 5 out!
Beaded raffia '60s kiss-lock purse, side and patent clutch, broken globe-print holdall, broken bucket bag - and another that's so unmemorable I can't remember
SLG’s 0 in / 1 out, a beaded purse

3 large bags of party clothes for Age Concern 'Black Tie Event'. Most never worn.

Resisted: the Gucci centenary bamboo belt-bag at TK Maxx at 75% off. It's missing its web-stripe additional handle otherwise I think I may have succumbed. Had it been the all-leather version I would not been able to walk by either.

Didn't resist another Borsalino hat. It's hard when you find an unusual colour in a classic style. I've worn at least 6 'proper' hats this month (proper mean non-soft woolly thing). Yesterday, I wore a dark red mohair trilby I bought in Japan.


Challenges:
Found and wore my olive suede Prada waist bag (worn over the shoulder). It's the last Prada bag I own. Honestly, I don't know whether it's fashionable or not.
Didn't wear my Evie for a few days as you can see below.

Matchy matchy (well almost): Dark red bag, dark red hat, very dark red leather gloves and very dark red Diorific Khol Deep Ruby lipstick (no eye makeup). My only mistake was I put on Deep Ruby before I went out, but then took the wrong Diorific Khol Bright Topaz (bright pink) lipstick with me. Diorific cases look the same. It was so annoying.

Mended(ish) Judith Leiber patchwork convertible clutch

Bags Worn
Vintage '00s Olive suede Prada waist bag
Vintage 1990s Gucci black horseshoe shoulder bag
Vintage 1980s Olive Burberry shoulder bag
Black Hermes Evie
Vintage 1980s Emmy dark-red large shoulder tote bag
Vintage 1980s Emmy navy shoulder bag
Liberty London black leather briefcase
Liberty London black leather padded laptop case

Got a lot of love for my older bags recently. I had flu so I lost around 10 days of bag user days.

Wow! What a great job with your wardrobe this month. It’s especially impressive knowing you are still caring for your DH and had the flu.

I’m convinced I need to book a ticket and hang out on your doorstep pretending to be a fashion deprived waif so I can con you into giving me the amazing clothes you let go of.

I own some items that are over 20 years old but nothing I would consider worthy of the moniker “vintage”. You’re inspiring me to go back to thrifting with a vengeance since I am focusing on upgrading my clothing in 2025.

 

[whateve]

We’re having a blast this holiday with our children. DS had announced he was going to cook the entire holiday meal. 😱 (I admit I was prepared with a secret restaurant reservation LOL!) Well, I’m thrilled to report I was dead wrong and my concerns were completely unfounded. The meal was insanely good! I plotted and lay in wait all night to eat leftovers for breakfast. Smothered turkey wings. Who’d a thought they’d be so yummy?? I’m also tempted to hide the key lime cake from the rest of the family and claim fairies stole it.

Happily, my relative thriftiness and minimalism are something my kids have caught. (Other than my obvious handbag habit, I typically squeeze my pennies til Lincoln is begging for mercy LOL!) Anyway, on our visit last month to see the kiddos we noticed that DS’s car was a deathtrap because he literally had duct taped one of the side mirrors to the car. As we looked closer, we saw that was one of the car’s better features. He’s working full time, in grad school part time at night and trying to start a business - all while staying out of debt so his money is squeaky tight. So, Mr. Sparkle and I surprised him and took him shopping yesterday to purchase a safe, reliable and presentable preowned car for him as a combo bday / Christmas present. (His current car was so bad they wouldn’t even give $500 as a trade in!) It’s an SUV so it will help him in his business as well. It felt good to support him as he works so hard. Parenting is a CRAZY journey. 10 years ago I thought he’d never be moved to do anything in life but play video games and ignore his dirty laundry. I was ready to sign him up for a traveling circus!

DD’s BF is lurking around quite a bit. He has that “I’m thinking of marriage” air about him. Sigh! I’m not a fan of him… eh. He’s not bad. Just…okay-ish. So I hope I’m wrong or that DD would say no. But, that’s not my job to determine <said through gritted teeth>. My place is to simply support whatever decision she would make. i am happy to report, however, that she earned a promotion at her firm so that will be fun to celebrate with her next weekend!

In all, we’re having a lot of fun - tonight is dinner with friends since we’re in my hometown. How is everyone else enjoying the holiday / weekend?

Children are so rewarding and frustrating! I can feel your pride in yours the same way I feel about mine. It's such a wonderful feeling when you worried about them so much and they surprise you with their success. My son also played video games and we worried he would be living with us up through his 30s but he actually turned the video games into a career and is now a success story. It still amazes me at how domestic he has become since he bought his first house. It seems so grown-up!

Your holiday sounds wonderful. We had a low key meal, just DH and me. Everything was delicious and we have tons of leftovers. The kids rarely come home anymore. They are spread out across the country. My older daughter has plans to visit us in May. I'm really looking forward to it.