Advice to those just starting handbag collections...

[Alexenjie]

If you have an addictive personality I would stay away from this web site. I was not a handbag collector in any sense of the word until I stumbled on this place.

I had a long period of unemployment and totally avoided coming here because I couldn't afford to spend money on anything but necessities like rent, phone, electricity.

Now I am employed again but not nearly so bag obsessed. I have quite a few bags but no longer feel drawn to bags that cost in the 4 figures.

 

[thenoob]

Don't buy any bags at all. Run!

I have bought so many bags that I thought I'd love forever and turned around and sold them at a huge loss a few months later... big waste of time and money.

 

[gingerwong]

I would say buy bags that you absolutely love first off. If you have been t.hinking of the same purse for months, get it but don settle on colour. I have done this a few many times and still yearn for that colour in that bag, just wait patiently. Also, don't buy because its a good deal and too hard to pass up, if you realistically won't like it after the month, what's the point. Keep just a handful of classic collections that are timeless pieces ( not a fad thing that my pass next year, unless you absolutely love it). I made the mistake of buying the Celine Micro in January 2013 as I loved it back then and now I find its not for me( I hate hand held bags). Think of your lifestyle and what bags suits you ( are you a mommy that needs to carry everything, then go for bigger totes etc.). Also, don't get too many of the same thing, get a handful maybe have a collection of 7-10. I find I bought too many purses that are so impractical for me, like the LV Papillion 26 is one example. I am left with now waiting for two bags and not compromising on size and colour, one is a Hermes and the other a Chloe.
Also, I find looking at this forum and other peeps purses has made me wanting more.

 

[Sisqo09]

Make sure the bag you are buying is authentic ladies!

 

[ladysarah]

Don't think all the "congrats" and "that looks good on you" are true. People lie on this forum, too.

:true::true: and sometimes you are encouraged to overspend by those who want to justify their own habits. Anyway one never knows what agenda people have...

If you have an addictive personality I would stay away from this web site. I was not a handbag collector in any sense of the word until I stumbled on this place.

I had a long period of unemployment and totally avoided coming here because I couldn't afford to spend money on anything but necessities like rent, phone, electricity.

Now I am employed again but not nearly so bag obsessed. I have quite a few bags but no longer feel drawn to bags that cost in the 4 figures.

Don't buy any bags at all. Run!

I have bought so many bags that I thought I'd love forever and turned around and sold them at a huge loss a few months later... big waste of time and money.

Although I will agree with you that the trend on this forum is buy more and buy more expensive. (Some of the things I see are ridiculous over consumption) the answer is balance. It is important to work out who we are and what we really need so that we are not swayed by Others. I make a clear distinction that I do NOT collect bags (or shoes or clothes....) they are used as accessories to fit my lifestyle and enhance my appearance and that's it.

 

[birkinaligator]

Agree! See if you still want to use the bag in 12 months if yes. Just do it!

 

[cupcakegirl]

GREAT thread!!! :reading:

 

[Jen123]

Something I like to remember: We enhance our lives and grow as individuals through experiences, not personal belongings!

 

[missmoimoi]

Don't start...collecting I mean.

Life was simpler and happier (YUP) when I just had 1 or 2 bags max. I didn't care and that was freedom. Now I still love my collection but it's impossible to USE them all. As I have whittled down my collection in the last 2 years, I am left with some GREAT bags that I hate to give up. YET, I still have too many to USE. It just wasn't necessary to OWN these gorgeous bags. Obtaining one doesn't mean anything...it's just a "thing"...sure, I've got good taste but whatever; the bags are just "things" and they've become a burden that needs sorting out.

If I could do it all over again, I'd stick with a good GF's advice: just buy 1 bag per year; carry it like crazy without a care in the world (i.e. let it get wrecked); then buy another great bag and throw out the old one. Unless your 1 bag is a pale colour, it could even go 2 years +

 

[Designerhbgirl]

Don't start...collecting I mean.

Life was simpler and happier (YUP) when I just had 1 or 2 bags max. I didn't care and that was freedom. Now I still love my collection but it's impossible to USE them all. As I have whittled down my collection in the last 2 years, I am left with some GREAT bags that I hate to give up. YET, I still have too many to USE. It just wasn't necessary to OWN these gorgeous bags. Obtaining one doesn't mean anything...it's just a "thing"...sure, I've got good taste but whatever; the bags are just "things" and they've become a burden that needs sorting out.

If I could do it all over again, I'd stick with a good GF's advice: just buy 1 bag per year; carry it like crazy without a care in the world (i.e. let it get wrecked); then buy another great bag and throw out the old one. Unless your 1 bag is a pale colour, it could even go 2 years +

Sometimes I wish I'd never started collecting handbags. Also wish I had been given that great advice years ago

 

[thundercloud]

I would say buy bags that you absolutely love first off. If you have been t.hinking of the same purse for months, get it but don settle on colour. I have done this a few many times and still yearn for that colour in that bag, just wait patiently. Also, don't buy because its a good deal and too hard to pass up, if you realistically won't like it after the month, what's the point. Keep just a handful of classic collections that are timeless pieces ( not a fad thing that my pass next year, unless you absolutely love it). I made the mistake of buying the Celine Micro in January 2013 as I loved it back then and now I find its not for me( I hate hand held bags). Think of your lifestyle and what bags suits you ( are you a mommy that needs to carry everything, then go for bigger totes etc.). Also, don't get too many of the same thing, get a handful maybe have a collection of 7-10. I find I bought too many purses that are so impractical for me, like the LV Papillion 26 is one example. I am left with now waiting for two bags and not compromising on size and colour, one is a Hermes and the other a Chloe.
Also, I find looking at this forum and other peeps purses has made me wanting more.

ITA.

first and foremost, you need to make sure the bag works for you and your lifestyle, so you'll actually use it. are you hard on your bags or do you baby them? do you prefer hobos, crossbody, satchels, etc? do you carry a lot of stuff or do you carry just the essentials? if you don't use the bag, what's the point?

you should really love the bag before you buy it. like others have mentioned, don't settle just because one color or texture was a better deal. you'll end up spending more money placating yourself vs just buying the bag you really wanted to begin with.

sleep on it (for a night or two or three). sometimes just giving it some time helps you determine whether you REALLY love the bag or not.

try to see the bag in person first before buying. go to a store or find someone you know who has one, etc. sometimes that will tell you instantly whether or not the bag will work for you.

if you end up not loving something, give it up and pass it on to it's next owner, who will hopefully be happy with it. no sense in keeping something you don't like or use.

moderation is key. are you someone who changes bags frequently? or do you use the same one for months on end? will you really use the bag or do you want it just to have it?

as for the money piece, i won't tell you how to manage your own finances. i wouldn't recommend spending above your means, but that's just my opinion.

and like everyone else has mentioned, tPF can be addictive and really hard on your wallet, since you'll see so many things you like, but don't necessarily need or love. i don't regret finding tPF, but i don't think i ever would have had a designer bag "collection" if i didn't.

 

[catsinthebag]

ITA.

first and foremost, you need to make sure the bag works for you and your lifestyle, so you'll actually use it. are you hard on your bags or do you baby them? do you prefer hobos, crossbody, satchels, etc? do you carry a lot of stuff or do you carry just the essentials? if you don't use the bag, what's the point?

you should really love the bag before you buy it. like others have mentioned, don't settle just because one color or texture was a better deal. you'll end up spending more money placating yourself vs just buying the bag you really wanted to begin with.

sleep on it (for a night or two or three). sometimes just giving it some time helps you determine whether you REALLY love the bag or not.

try to see the bag in person first before buying. go to a store or find someone you know who has one, etc. sometimes that will tell you instantly whether or not the bag will work for you.

if you end up not loving something, give it up and pass it on to it's next owner, who will hopefully be happy with it. no sense in keeping something you don't like or use.

moderation is key. are you someone who changes bags frequently? or do you use the same one for months on end? will you really use the bag or do you want it just to have it?

as for the money piece, i won't tell you how to manage your own finances. i wouldn't recommend spending above your means, but that's just my opinion.

and like everyone else has mentioned, tPF can be addictive and really hard on your wallet, since you'll see so many things you like, but don't necessarily need or love. i don't regret finding tPF, but i don't think i ever would have had a designer bag "collection" if i didn't.

GREAT post! I agree with so much of what you've said here, and had to learn a lot of it from experience. Especially the question of, Will I really use this bag? I've seen so, so many posts by members bemoaning the fact that they have bags they "love" but never use. It is so important to see the bag in person before buying it. There are so many bags that I have fallen hard for, only to try them on and discover they do not work for me at all!

Ditto the recommendation to sleep on it for a night or two. I'd actually change this to, Sleep on it for a WEEK or two! That's how long it takes me to really see if I'm going to continue to want a bag, or if it's just a passing fancy and a couple of weeks later, I'm on to obsessing about a different bag

And after all this trying on and waiting, I also agree to not settle, on color, size, leather, or make and model. You will only end up continuing to want what you originally wanted, and spend more money in the long run!

 

[paublina]

This is really amazing advice! Thank you! I've been wanting the same bag for literally like a year, but I've never tried it on in a store. I started re-researching and I found that the bag I *thought* I wanted and LOVED may actually not be the bag I want! I think I need to actually drive a few hours to stores and actually TRY the bags out first.

 

[thundercloud]

GREAT post! I agree with so much of what you've said here, and had to learn a lot of it from experience. Especially the question of, Will I really use this bag? I've seen so, so many posts by members bemoaning the fact that they have bags they "love" but never use. It is so important to see the bag in person before buying it. There are so many bags that I have fallen hard for, only to try them on and discover they do not work for me at all!

Ditto the recommendation to sleep on it for a night or two. I'd actually change this to, Sleep on it for a WEEK or two! That's how long it takes me to really see if I'm going to continue to want a bag, or if it's just a passing fancy and a couple of weeks later, I'm on to obsessing about a different bag

And after all this trying on and waiting, I also agree to not settle, on color, size, leather, or make and model. You will only end up continuing to want what you originally wanted, and spend more money in the long run!

thanks! and yes, i completely agree with waiting. the longer the better to see if the "bug" passes. i was debating about a celine mini luggage or small phantom for about a year and a half. when i finally tried them both on, i realized they just wouldn't work for me, since they were a bit heavy, TOO open on top and a bit awkward for me to carry (since i don't typically do well with handheld only bags).

This is really amazing advice! Thank you! I've been wanting the same bag for literally like a year, but I've never tried it on in a store. I started re-researching and I found that the bag I *thought* I wanted and LOVED may actually not be the bag I want! I think I need to actually drive a few hours to stores and actually TRY the bags out first.

yes, for sure! esp since it's typically not a small amount of money that we're spending, so you might as well find out if the bag works for you.

 

[rainrowan]

If there is a designer you are obsessing over to what may be an unnatural degree....say, you cannot afford the bag -- do not go to that designer forum for more than short periods of time. It's okay to look but when it starts impinging on your ability to sleep or be rational about it, having it in front of you is just fuel to the fire that's in your brain.

I've been in that situation, and it was one of those situations that started out pleasant enough looking at all the types of bags, until one sees others who have the ability to own not one but a great number beyond our wildest dreams -- it can really make someone who is generally uncompetitive turn into a green eyed monster and emotionally insecure with what others have and what one doesn't have. :greengrin::cry:

It's sort of like Facebook when you're friends with the Joneses, after a while....