2025 Resolution: Shopping my own Bag and SLG Collection

[papertiger]

Do wet want some new challenges in August?

How about wearing one non-black neutral per week (whatever is a neutral for you)

 

[whateve]

I think bag goals definitely expire. As time passes, our tastes, styles, functionality requirements and even the space we have to store our bags can increase or decrease. So we modify goals as we go.

What I think can be more resistant to change are Holy Grail bags. Usually that is the ultimate bag a person craves but struggles to get because of cost, scarcity, etc. I think these deeply held desires sort of “hard bake” as the person dreams about and works to acquire the bag. I’m honestly glad I don’t have a Holy Grail bag. It would drive me batty to be hunting a scarce bag that I just “needed” to own. I’ve heard some people use personal shoppers to snag a rare bag. I’d hate to have to resort to that level of effort.

In any case, the Chanel medium flap is neither for me. It’s just a bag I think I’d be happy to wear that hadn’t reached my to-buy list until now. I think I may have outgrown my love for Chanel as they just don’t feel as special to me as they once did. I enjoyed wearing my black jumbo C yesterday but it was a mild, settled love - not an effusive, giddy love.

So, we’ll see what I think when the bags arrive.

My bag goals expire and I get new ones. I'm fickle. What I considered the perfect bag a few years ago now annoys me. That's why I've decided that for this year, I'm going to stay away from designer and buy only relatively inexpensive bags from a variety of brands. I just ordered a bag from Portland leather that was really inexpensive.

I do have Holy Grail bags but I'm not actively searching for them. I don't feel comfortable spending that much on a bag that might not live up to expectations.

 

[Sparkletastic]

My bag goals expire and I get new ones. I'm fickle. What I considered the perfect bag a few years ago now annoys me. That's why I've decided that for this year, I'm going to stay away from designer and buy only relatively inexpensive bags from a variety of brands. I just ordered a bag from Portland leather that was really inexpensive.

I do have Holy Grail bags but I'm not actively searching for them. I don't feel comfortable spending that much on a bag that might not live up to expectations.

You wisely came to a realization I’m just starting to stumble into.

I think some of my over the top buying of bags last year was fueled by me trying to scratch the itch of wanting a new perfect-for-me bag. I don’t see anything out there calling my name. But instead of sitting out of buying, I’ve been chasing the rush of scoring “the” bag.

I honestly feel like bags are having a boring era. Between the desert of “quiet luxury” removing unique styling from bags and conglomerates putting pressure on once independent brands to stop being artists and start being production factories, we’ve lost the zest, zeal and magic that used to permeate collections.

The last bag that I truly lost my mind over was my silver microcannnage Dior Diorama. In 2016, I literally flew to Paris with DD to buy it in the flagship store for the “full experience”. Now I’m not moved to drive 20 min to buy anything from any of the top brands.

Sigh, I want to feel that cuckoo over a bag again. I want to know that 2025 was the year I bought “x” and swoon with delight. I still feel that way over custom jewelry pieces. But bags? Not at all.

 

[Sparkletastic]

Doing my check in early as I’ll be pretty busy the next couple of days.

SPARKLE’S JANUARY RESULTS

• Banned til optimally healthy: My dear pocket friends helped me to be gentle and give myself grace as I recover & heal. So I’m replacing the ban with a happiness generating goal from my past years: “Enjoy a 100% purchase success rate.” This will ensure every bag I add is one to celebrate and this approach is a more loving way to care for myself during this time of healing.
• Wear at least 26 bags a minimum of 4 times: 1 bag. I’m going out of the house so infrequently right now that I’m not optimistic about this goal. But, I’m going to keep it to stay focused on rotation.
• Exit 10 bags: This goal also changed for the better! Instead of simply selling bags out of frustration, I’m thoughtfully evaluating them for potential - even if it requires a teeny bit of effort. Every decision must bring peace and joy. So, the new goal is “Capture peace and joy as I evaluate 12 (not 10) on-the-bubble bags.” As of Jan 31, I’ve joyfully made final determinations on 10 bags
  • 7 are exiting my collection (2 sold, 3 consigned, 2 listed for sale)
  • 3 are staying (1 upgraded & to be received, 2 reclaimed)
  • 2 TBD
• Purchase no more than 3 bags: 1 in yesterday. It was a low risk purchase and I LOVE IT. I’ll share pictures this weekend.

Totals
- Premier Collection: 39 bags (down 1)
- Contemporary Collection: 0 bags
- Others: 15 items

 

[papertiger]

Back to handbags. I’d mentioned that I have a black medium single flap Chanel w/ghw (not a Diana) on my allowed-to-buy list. My issue has been finding one in great condition.

Well, I just ordered two from Fashionphile with the hope one will be perfect for me. But, after I checked out, I had an odd flash of a question - Do I still want this bag? 😱 This may be a leftover want that’s expired.

I’ve really enjoyed wearing everything but my Chanel bags the past couple of years. And I’ve cooled on wanting bags that are widely faked in favor of having something less on people’s radar. I don’t mean quiet luxury as I hate that over used term and avoid the “look” like the plague. I just mean owning a bag I don’t see everywhere - one that is more a reflection of my taste than any trend. I would go bespoke but I’m not willing to pay those prices.

So, this will be interesting. There may be a bag epiphany on the horizon. In the interim, I loaded my black C SF Jumbo to wear for tomorrow.

I was in Chanel today (just looking at new refill Rouge 31 lipsticks - my '25 resolution/style update is lipstick). Some very elegant ladies in the store wearing classic CF. Report back, I'd love to hear how you got on. I seldom wear my Chanels except my Tassel flap for casual evening.

 

[whateve]

I just realized that the Portland leather bag I bought the other day was cheaper than the beef jerky I ordered for DH except for tax and shipping.

 

[papertiger]

We are approaching the end of the month, and I still haven’t established goals for the year.

In my defense, I fell off a mountain while hiking Jan 1, and have been slowly recovering - a lot more slowly than I used to.

I’ve shopped a fair piece this this first month of the year, mostly for gifts. I’ve counted the gifts I will receive, but not the ones I’ve purchased. But should I? When will VintageMama’s collection need to be dealt with and become my issue?


Does anyone else have a “bags that don’t count” category, and what is in it? And if a NoCount bag moves into a different usage, does it count, or is it a ghost in the collection?

I’ve been using a travel bag as a briefcase for work - travel bags Don’t Count, but work bags do. Reusable shopping bags Don’t Count, but what if they’re treated silk?

Personally: bags that are outward bound (either as listed for sale or designated as gifts) don’t count. Likewise, travel, hobby and reusable shoppers are part of my NoCount list - and the travel and shoppers go as accessories if I do sell them. But VintageMama and I were debating if it’s the functionality or cost that determines if something is a bag.

All bag count for me apart from cotton shopping tote bags. Briefcases, suitcases, purses on chain, everything counts if it's taking-up space.

Even bags to eb sold/were on sale/are going be sold/donated/gifted. They all count until they are gone

 

[papertiger]

I think bag goals definitely expire. As time passes, our tastes, styles, functionality requirements and even the space we have to store our bags can increase or decrease. So we modify goals as we go.

What I think can be more resistant to change are Holy Grail bags. Usually that is the ultimate bag a person craves but struggles to get because of cost, scarcity, etc. I think these deeply held desires sort of “hard bake” as the person dreams about and works to acquire the bag. I’m honestly glad I don’t have a Holy Grail bag. It would drive me batty to be hunting a scarce bag that I just “needed” to own. I’ve heard some people use personal shoppers to snag a rare bag. I’d hate to have to resort to that level of effort.

In any case, the Chanel medium flap is neither for me. It’s just a bag I think I’d be happy to wear that hadn’t reached my to-buy list until now. I think I may have outgrown my love for Chanel as they just don’t feel as special to me as they once did. I enjoyed wearing my black jumbo C yesterday but it was a mild, settled love - not an effusive, giddy love.

So, we’ll see what I think when the bags arrive.

Settled love doesn't sound too bad. Giddy love makes me nervous

 

[papertiger]

You wisely came to a realization I’m just starting to stumble into.

I think some of my over the top buying of bags last year was fueled by me trying to scratch the itch of wanting a new perfect-for-me bag. I don’t see anything out there calling my name. But instead of sitting out of buying, I’ve been chasing the rush of scoring “the” bag.

I honestly feel like bags are having a boring era. Between the desert of “quiet luxury” removing unique styling from bags and conglomerates putting pressure on once independent brands to stop being artists and start being production factories, we’ve lost the zest, zeal and magic that used to permeate collections.

The last bag that I truly lost my mind over was my silver microcannnage Dior Diorama. In 2016, I literally flew to Paris with DD to buy it in the flagship store for the “full experience”. Now I’m not moved to drive 20 min to buy anything from any of the top brands.

Sigh, I want to feel that cuckoo over a bag again. I want to know that 2025 was the year I bought “x” and swoon with delight. I still feel that way over custom jewelry pieces. But bags? Not at all.

Bag-wise nothing is calling to me either.

Jewellery, sunglasses and clothes maybe, but I prefer the bags I have already to what's out there to buy.

 

[Sparkletastic]

I was in Chanel today (just looking at new refill Rouge 31 lipsticks - my '25 resolution/style update is lipstick). Some very elegant ladies in the store wearing classic CF. Report back, I'd love to hear how you got on. I seldom wear my Chanels except my Tassel flap for casual evening.

Do you seldom wear them out of boredom or because you are too excited wearing newer items in your collection or…?

I just realized that the Portland leather bag I bought the other day was cheaper than the beef jerky I ordered for DH except for tax and shipping.

Well, THAT has to feel like a win!!!

Settled love doesn't sound too bad. Giddy love makes me nervous

I enjoy both feelings. Any love means the bag is still working for me. From there my feelings drop off the cliff to irritation and ultimately must-get-this-out-of-my-house. i’m almost never neutral on a bag I own.

Bag-wise nothing is calling to me either.

Jewellery, sunglasses and clothes maybe, but I prefer the bags I have already to what's out there to buy.

I’ve been wondering how others are feeling about current offerings. Unfortunately, DD is the only other person I know who actively likes / collects / follows designer bags so I don’t get a good gauge on how trends are faring. Social media is such a mess with influencers alternating between hauls and de influencing depending on how they want to manage their views that I never pay attention to them.

 

[Sparkletastic]

I’d mentioned that I’m craving truly unique bags. I’m utterly uninterested in what I’m seeing in the market and / or looking like everyone else. So, I’ve been looking for a bag to send to an artist who tattoos designs on leather goods.

I think I’ve found the right bag. I wanted to add a functional burgundy bag to my collection and thought this vintage Cartier bag would be perfect for my tattoo experiment. It’s a medium sized bag with lots of capacity and great organization as it has a center zippered section with open sections in front and back. The Cartier symbol is beautifully embossed on the oval “clasp” on the front but the picture makes that hard to see.

I think it will be the perfect blank canvas to have the Cartier panthiere applied for a very striking piece. I’m inspired by how they’ve depicted the cat in various ads and jewelry.

For context, here is some of the artist’s work.


My only issue is after initial correspondence, the artist has gone quiet. I have found a few other people who do similar work so this project may take a while as I vet the right person. But this is a fun way to “play” with my bags and avoid buying out of my (unmet) desire for the truly unique.

(P.S. This is an example of a bag I don’t count. I consider it an art project unless and until it’s done because I won’t be wearing it as is)

 

[Sparkletastic]

This is my “in” for January. And she definitely meets my 2025 goal of 100% happiness with new acquisitions.

Jimmy Choo large BonBon bucket bag in ivory leather with ghw.

This was an almost no risk purchase. I loved carrying the caramel colored one I purchased last year and really wanted one for warm weather wear. Happily, it was available in this light color.

This is such a functional bag as it holds everything and I like the hand / arm and shoulder carry options.

She will be my last JC BonBon as I now have 2 minis and 2 medium (and love each one!) Anything new to my collection will need to have a different shape.

 

[papertiger]

Do you seldom wear them out of boredom or because you are too excited wearing newer items in your collection or…?

Long story alert

I didn't have many lipsticks until about four months ago. I never had the confidence to wear it. I was a bit frightened by anything that wasn't almost my lip colour. I am an ethnic minority in the UK. My lips are large and quite pigmented, my eyes are not small but narrow and slanted. Wherever I went, people asked where I was from. Not that that is a bad thing to ask, just the repetition of it especially considering London is a very diverse cosmopolitan city. I felt quite self-conscious of my full lips growing-up, and tried to make the most of my eyes for 'balance' my trying to 'open them out' with makeup techniques. I don't usually change my appearance drastically apart from clothes. Wearing lipstick is one of the most extreme image/personal transformations for me.

Last September, I went to an event which I didn't organise but was asked to host. We had to dress. The stylist asked the makeup artist to "bring out my best features" and chose a bright corral lipstick. I was like . Anyway, I let everyone do their job, had pictures taken and I thought I looked OK (as in the lipstick look didn't frighten me ha ha). The stylist was also a style consultant and determined I was closest to 'bright Spring' in 12 season colour theory - (I was 'typed' as a 'soft Autumn by friend who was a colour theory enthusiast rather than a professional a while ago). I'm sceptical of most so-called theories especially typologies, but I can see why I'm not an Autumn (now). I was obviously choosing the wrong lip colours too: tawny browns, terracotta, probably too dark, milky or subdued. I knew I couldn't do a 'nude lip' either.

Also, I've been more into tailoring day, night or day-to-night recently which often calls for a little more presence of make-up. Now have a Mac hot red-pink, a Byredo balanced red (Fire & Rain) a Guerlain (can't remember the name) and today a Rouge 31 matte sherbet pink (Accessoire) satin red-purple (Roman) and a pink-red (Imaginaire).

On bag trends: I think there only so many permutation's of generic bag styles/shapes/sizes before the trend comes back again. I think I have most covered Everything else is just embellishment, and that is much more down to personal style.

 

[papertiger]

I’d mentioned that I’m craving truly unique bags. I’m utterly uninterested in what I’m seeing in the market and / or looking like everyone else. So, I’ve been looking for a bag to send to an artist who tattoos designs on leather goods.

I think I’ve found the right bag. I wanted to add a functional burgundy bag to my collection and thought this vintage Cartier bag would be perfect for my tattoo experiment. It’s a medium sized bag with lots of capacity and great organization as it has a center zippered section with open sections in front and back. The Cartier symbol is beautifully embossed on the oval “clasp” on the front but the picture makes that hard to see.
View attachment 6124609
I think it will be the perfect blank canvas to have the Cartier panthiere applied for a very striking piece. I’m inspired by how they’ve depicted the cat in various ads and jewelry. View attachment 6124622View attachment 6124623

For context, here is some of the artist’s work.
View attachment 6124610View attachment 6124611

My only issue is after initial correspondence, the artist has gone quiet. I have found a few other people who do similar work so this project may take a while as I vet the right person. But this is a fun way to “play” with my bags and avoid buying out of my (unmet) desire for the truly unique.

(P.S. This is an example of a bag I don’t count. I consider it an art project unless and until it’s done because I won’t be wearing it as is)

Go for it!

 

[Love Of My Life]

Long story alert

I didn't have many lipsticks until about four months ago. I never had the confidence to wear it. I was a bit frightened by anything that wasn't almost my lip colour. I am an ethnic minority in the UK. My lips are large and quite pigmented, my eyes are not small but narrow and slanted. Wherever I went, people asked where I was from. Not that that is a bad thing to ask, just the repetition of it especially considering London is a very diverse cosmopolitan city. I felt quite self-conscious of my full lips growing-up, and tried to make the most of my eyes for 'balance' my trying to 'open them out' with makeup techniques. I don't usually change my appearance drastically apart from clothes. Wearing lipstick is one of the most extreme image/personal transformations for me.

Last September, I went to an event which I didn't organise but was asked to host. We had to dress. The stylist asked the makeup artist to "bring out my best features" and chose a bright corral lipstick. I was like . Anyway, I let everyone do their job, had pictures taken and I thought I looked OK (as in the lipstick look didn't frighten me ha ha). The stylist was also a style consultant and determined I was closest to 'bright Spring' in 12 season colour theory - (I was 'typed' as a 'soft Autumn by friend who was a colour theory enthusiast rather than a professional a while ago). I'm sceptical of most so-called theories especially typologies, but I can see why I'm not an Autumn (now). I was obviously choosing the wrong lip colours too: tawny browns, terracotta, probably too dark, milky or subdued. I knew I couldn't do a 'nude lip' either.

Also, I've been more into tailoring day, night or day-to-night recently which often calls for a little more presence of make-up. Now have a Mac hot red-pink, a Byredo balanced red (Fire & Rain) a Guerlain (can't remember the name) and today a Rouge 31 matte sherbet pink (Accessoire) satin red-purple (Roman) and a pink-red (Imaginaire).

On bag trends: I think there only so many permutation's of generic bag styles/shapes/sizes before the trend comes back again. I think I have most covered Everything else is just embellishment, and that is much more down to personal style.

I'm in your lane with lipsticks as I think they can perk up any outfit especially having a "red lip"
which I'm a big fan of. The more shades you try the more you will find your comfort zone & don't
be so self conscious about your full lips. There are plenty who spend a fortune to have what you have.
Personally love La Bouche Rouge, Serge Lutens, Dries Van Noten, several Hermes shades of
lipstick , Tom Ford, YSL & By Terry
Just purchased the new Rhode lip shape contour. Will pass along a review

 

[Sparkletastic]

Long story alert

I didn't have many lipsticks until about four months ago. I never had the confidence to wear it. I was a bit frightened by anything that wasn't almost my lip colour. I am an ethnic minority in the UK. My lips are large and quite pigmented, my eyes are not small but narrow and slanted. Wherever I went, people asked where I was from. Not that that is a bad thing to ask, just the repetition of it especially considering London is a very diverse cosmopolitan city. I felt quite self-conscious of my full lips growing-up, and tried to make the most of my eyes for 'balance' my trying to 'open them out' with makeup techniques. I don't usually change my appearance drastically apart from clothes. Wearing lipstick is one of the most extreme image/personal transformations for me.

Last September, I went to an event which I didn't organise but was asked to host. We had to dress. The stylist asked the makeup artist to "bring out my best features" and chose a bright corral lipstick. I was like . Anyway, I let everyone do their job, had pictures taken and I thought I looked OK (as in the lipstick look didn't frighten me ha ha). The stylist was also a style consultant and determined I was closest to 'bright Spring' in 12 season colour theory - (I was 'typed' as a 'soft Autumn by friend who was a colour theory enthusiast rather than a professional a while ago). I'm sceptical of most so-called theories especially typologies, but I can see why I'm not an Autumn (now). I was obviously choosing the wrong lip colours too: tawny browns, terracotta, probably too dark, milky or subdued. I knew I couldn't do a 'nude lip' either.

Also, I've been more into tailoring day, night or day-to-night recently which often calls for a little more presence of make-up. Now have a Mac hot red-pink, a Byredo balanced red (Fire & Rain) a Guerlain (can't remember the name) and today a Rouge 31 matte sherbet pink (Accessoire) satin red-purple (Roman) and a pink-red (Imaginaire).

On bag trends: I think there only so many permutation's of generic bag styles/shapes/sizes before the trend comes back again. I think I have most covered Everything else is just embellishment, and that is much more down to personal style.

I’m so excited for you. There is a lot of goodness in your post! New lippies to play with, great information on complementary colors and best of all - you gaining a deeper appreciation of your beautiful mouth. That’s all deserving of a happy smile!