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.

 

[momasaurus]

I'm still refining my goals, but here they are for now. I participated in this thread for several years, but often ended up buying more pretty things because of all the pictures. I am weak, LOL. This year I want to stick to the thread's title and SHOP MY OWN COLLECTION!

Shop mindfully: be aware of food sources and manufacturing conditions

Watch out for impulse buying (it’s on sale!) and aspirational shopping

Avoid thinking "If it doesn't work out I can sell it," because that has become too difficult

Admire pictures of everyone’s scarves and bags without wanting one for myself !!!

Avoid buying something in every color just because one color works

Rotate and use all my lovely bags (track), change Calvis monthly

Continue to curate my scarf collection and enjoy each precious piece

Sell two bags (already listed)

Set limits on tPF, be aware of mindless scrolling and don’t overdo the “socializing”

 

[DME]

I find the advice to wait when you see a bag for a month doesn't work with certain brands. I buy quite a bit from Mz Wallace. When they do a new drop, it often sells out the first day and very rarely is made again. I need to come up with new criteria when it comes to those bags. They are super light weight, so weight is not a factor. What I have been going with is will I actually wear it. I need more criteria as they are like candy and I want more flavors.

Not sure where you purchase these, but is the return window sufficiently generous? Nordstrom sells this brand and I know their return window is very generous, but not sure about other outlets that sell them, including the brand itself. I’m thinking at least 30 days? That would allow you to purchase, then have time to figure out what to keep and what to return. For items I know will sell out (not just bags), or for items where I’m on the fence, i just make sure there’s a decent return window (and a store nearby since I prefer to return in person), then take the plunge.

 

[Purses & Perfumes]

Chanel bags….i never carry them. 2 are mint condition 90s era flaps and i am afraid to carry them b/c i want to keep them in pristine condition. Should i just use them? Definitely not ready to sell. But they sit unused. Never use my reissue either but i just can’t sell it

Are they lambskin? If you're hesitant to use them, I would suggest just taking them to small outings like dinners or something like that, where there is less chance of them being scratched or getting dings. I was hesitant to use my lambskin flap in the beginning, but once I accepted the first scratch or scuff (it's really not that obvious), I found it easier to use and carry without worrying about it.

 

[cowgirlsboots]

Hello! I duck in and out of tPF depending on how stressful work and life have gotten. Here are my goals for 2024:

1. Continue the ban I started a few years ago on buying bags at thrift stores.

2. I would like to get more selective with the clothes I buy at thrift stores, also. In the size I am currently wearing, I am finding myself buying clothes if the fit and cut are right, even if the color and/or print range from "just not me" to "hideous." No more. Everything must be right or I will not buy it. My body deserves that at every size.

3. I have started a rudimentary bag usage record. I will keep this record current, and use it to remind myself to carry bags I don't habitually reach for.

How nice to see your post! I´ve been missing you. Happy new year!

 

[dcooney4]

Not sure where you purchase these, but is the return window sufficiently generous? Nordstrom sells this brand and I know their return window is very generous, but not sure about other outlets that sell them, including the brand itself. I’m thinking at least 30 days? That would allow you to purchase, then have time to figure out what to keep and what to return. For items I know will sell out (not just bags), or for items where I’m on the fence, i just make sure there’s a decent return window (and a store nearby since I prefer to return in person), then take the plunge.

I mostly buy direct from them . Though if it is not an exclusive I will shop elsewhere. I think I will try Nordstrom as you suggested. I like the longer return policy from Nordstrom. I won’t wear them unless I keep them, but I do like to think what outfits I will wear with them. There are no stores near me , so I am stuck doing it online.

 

[cowgirlsboots]

Bag and wardrobe goals 2024

1) I do not need any new bags.
I have far more than enough and many of them cater to a fantasy life I will never ever have. Still they have a place, because they make me happy as a dreamer and a collector.
All I have to do is remember what I have and pull it out when the bag "need" starts nagging.

2) Most likely I do not need any new clothes (except for homewear basics.)
I have far more than enough (...) is remember what I have and pull it out (and alter) when the outfit "need" starts nagging.

I´ve been watching lots of the usual youtube videos lately: "what I got for Christmas", "2024 wishlist" etc. To my amazement none of them triggered any "need".
Well, nice for these people to have got all theses wonderful items, nice for them to have lists and most likely will turn them into purchases, but honestly there wasn´t a single item I would like to own.
That puzzled me and I dutifully went onto ebay, vestiaire and all the other sources looking for things I might "need" or even want and there was nothing! What spoke to me all were bags I already own and still love, only at unbelievably inflated prices.

Ok, I spotted a few real bargains, but so far I haven´t bought anything. I mean yes, they are bargains and I might not get them that "cheap" ever again, but the biggest part of their appeal is the price and I most likely will never really want to own them anyway...

 

[cowgirlsboots]

Bag and wardrobe goals 2024

1) I do not need any new bags.
I have far more than enough and many of them cater to a fantasy life I will never ever have. Still they have a place, because they make me happy as a dreamer and a collector.
All I have to do is remember what I have and pull it out when the bag "need" starts nagging.

2) Most likely I do not need any new clothes (except for homewear basics.)
I have far more than enough (...) is remember what I have and pull it out (and alter) when the outfit "need" starts nagging.

I´ve been watching lots of the usual youtube videos lately: "what I got for Christmas", "2024 wishlist" etc. To my amazement none of them triggered any "need".
Well, nice for these people to have got all theses wonderful items, nice for them to have lists and most likely will turn them into purchases, but honestly there wasn´t a single item I would like to own.
That puzzled me and I dutifully went onto ebay, vestiaire and all the other sources looking for things I might "need" or even want and there was nothing! What spoke to me all were bags I already own and still love, only at unbelievably inflated prices.

Ok, I spotted a few real bargains, but so far I haven´t bought anything. I mean yes, they are bargains and I might not get them that "cheap" ever again, but the biggest part of their appeal is the price and I most likely will never really want to own them anyway...

I´m laughing at myself right now!
There will be an occasion for a nice dress next year and being me I already started the hunt- hours on ebay until I realised that all I´ll have to do is find the suitcase in which my 50ies brocade dresses with the matching jackets (idea 1) or the 70ies chiffon gowns with the batwing sleeves (idea 2) are hiding... I certainly own several of each kind plus a "project" 60ies dress with a jacket that could be easily altered into the shape I want. There is at least one slim silk 50ies dress with a matching coat too. Shop your own closet Anja!

 

[msd_bags]

In relation to your comment about there being no forever bags, do you mind me asking why? Is that a personal thing for you, or do you find that most people on this forum / people in general don’t tend to be overly attached to their bags? I ask because there are at least a couple of bags I own which I don’t ever envisage selling, simply because I plan to pass them down to my daughter or sisters one day. I would only pass the bags on to them if I felt that they would really love and treasure them and so to me they kind of feel like they will be forever bags. I don’t know for sure, of course, but I’m very interested to hear your thoughts on what you’ve discovered so far

It’s a personal thing for me. Somehow I realized that my preferences change. Some years ago, on this thread, I would say “I think this is a forever bag” every once in a while. But then years later, I didn’t feel the same way! Although I don’t have, say, classic Chanel bags (which are sort of timeless, or are they?) or other “classics”. And I also don’t have girls to pass them on to.

 

[Bag peace]

@jblended , very best wishes for your kitty. Its very difficult when our fur babies are ill so much worry and stress! One of our puppies was recently diagnosed with a horrible and mostly fatal disease, but he has been responding beautifully to treatment. Sending all the good vibes to your kitty that he also responds well to treatment

Thank you!
I hope your pup continues to improve! Sending him healing vibes!

 

[dcooney4]

It’s a personal thing for me. Somehow I realized that my preferences change. Some years ago, on this thread, I would say “I think this is a forever bag” every once in a while. But then years later, I didn’t feel the same way! Although I don’t have, say, classic Chanel bags (which are sort of timeless, or are they?) or other “classics”. And I also don’t have girls to pass them on to.

I found that there is no forever bag for me either. As my life changes so do my bag needs.

 

[Sibelle]

I am a bit proud of myself. I sold the first bag for this year 🥳. It was "only" a Coach bag, but still, it's one bag less that I do not use 🙂.
I am also about to sell a LV wallet that I do not use anymore.

Also I started to clean out my cellar. This is huge for me as this has been on my todo-list for over a year. I feel so good that I finally started. Still a long way to go, but I will do this step by step 🙂.

On the other hand I received a new bag that I technically bought in 2023 and does not count for 2024 . I am still contemplating if I should keep the bag. It is a Bottega Veneta and it was a good deal and it is gorgeous - just maybe a bit on the small side. I feel a bit anxiety to send it back as I heard some horror stories about this vendor (people returned bags and vendor received empty boxes...).

 

[Sibelle]

It’s a personal thing for me. Somehow I realized that my preferences change. Some years ago, on this thread, I would say “I think this is a forever bag” every once in a while. But then years later, I didn’t feel the same way! Although I don’t have, say, classic Chanel bags (which are sort of timeless, or are they?) or other “classics”. And I also don’t have girls to pass them on to.

It is similar for me. There are some bags in my collection that I considered forever bags some years ago, but now I feel differently and also already let some of these bags go. Nowadays I don't have a lot of bags that I would say stay with me forever. Probably 4 or 5. My tastes and preferences seem to change a lot.

 

[jbags07]

I find the advice to wait when you see a bag for a month doesn't work with certain brands. I buy quite a bit from Mz Wallace. When they do a new drop, it often sells out the first day and very rarely is made again. I need to come up with new criteria when it comes to those bags. They are super light weight, so weight is not a factor. What I have been going with is will I actually wear it. I need more criteria as they are like candy and I want more flavors.

That is very tricky. The special releases that sell out fast do sell well on the resale market though, especially if you’ve not used them. There is an MZ Wallace BST FB group ……i love multiples if i like a bag so i am not one to give advice on limiting purchases lol. Maybe do a picture folder with your current MZ bags — colors and styles. That way when they drop new bags, you can easily see if you already have ones that are too similar? To help decide what to add.

 

[jbags07]

I am still putting together my goals to post here, but OMG these are also TOTALLY ME:
~Shift from collect to carry mode. No more buying just to collect, only keep/add bags i can actually carry.

~Stop buying in every color/size when i like a style.

Feels good to hear i am not the only one who does this
Let’s work on it together!
(After i added Bolide #5 )

 

[jbags07]

Thank you!
I hope your pup continues to improve! Sending him healing vibes!

Thank you, and sending to your kitty too