Ever purged your collection in pursuit of one bag? How did it go?

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I sold half of my handbag collections as well as designer jeans and misc clothing on eBay to buy a Chanel. It took me about 6 months but I was able to buy a vintage jumbo maxi flap. So worth it!!!
 
I took a few to a consignment store last week - already sold an Alexander Wang.

I've edited my collection down substantially:
>Hayden Harnett Ibiza tote (black) for travel
>Burberry Nylon Shopper (purple/black)
>Zadig & Voltaire red leather medium cross body
>Jerome Dreyfuss Billy M in green sueded goatskin
>RM mini MAB in cognac
>Jerome Dreyfuss Franky in black python
>Mulberry Alexa (large) in a deep raspberry
>Hoss Intropia dark brown medium crossbody
>Jerome Dreyfuss Bob in vision (a mushroom/taupey colour)
>Vintage black small Chanel
>RM electric purple crossbody convertible clutch
and a couple of other small ones

That's great! It looks like you have a nicely thought out set of bags. Do you want to share any tips or what experience(s) pushed you to decide to scale down? I think we're always interested in hearing about others' processes.

I have found that my nicely edited set of bags really frees me up to think about other things but I also know that I tend to start 'looking around' when I get stressed. Having done such a scale down last year feels great but I have had a few times where I've started considering other bags when I really don't need them. I think i have to be very deliberate about not looking online unless I've mentally decided I'm going to buy something and really know what something is.
 
Sure, there were a few things that pushed me to edit :)

The Money: I used to have a side gig in a high-end consignment store on weekends (that was a sweet deal and where I picked up my Chanel...she paid me but I spent all my salary back in clothes!) So I knew there would be money to be made that way. (I just checked and my Botkier sold as well.) I could eBay but don't have the time and I CANNOT stand the post office (or Fedex or UPS either.) But if you want to make MORE money, eBay for sure!

The Guy: My boyfriend moved in, and we live in New York....the land where tiny apartments meet giant wardrobes. He is an incredibly patient and tolerant guy and installed shelving especially for my shoes and purses but I still wanted to make sure he had enough space.

The Cost: Once I bought a few pricier bags that really got me thinking about losing some of the mid-priced ones...cut down on the guilt when they're just sitting there and make some cash to offset my more expensive bags. The one that really did it for me was buying a python bag - even though it was 40% off it was still the most expensive one I have ever bought!

The Needs/design: I found I was using the same bags again and again. Those bags that are adaptable and flexible (hence my Jerome Dreyfuss ones and my HH Ibiza.) Ones I can fit a 15" Mac Book in and then squash down into something smaller. JD pretty much replaced Marc by Marc Jacobs bags in my closet. I still like MMJ but his bags are EVERYWHERE in NY and tend to change after 2 seasons.

I don't really feel the need to have the latest bag, I want ones that are beautiful, versatile, well-made and will last for a long time. I could probably get another dressy clutch but my vintage Chanel goes with and dresses everything up. My Alexa is the most amazing raspberry color - kind of unusual for a satchel so I don't feel I will get bored with it.

I agree with not looking online, for me it's not looking in sale stores! There is a store around the corner selling a JD Twee for about a third of the price. I don't need it but that price is sick...As you say, have to be very deliberate!


That's great! It looks like you have a nicely thought out set of bags. Do you want to share any tips or what experience(s) pushed you to decide to scale down? I think we're always interested in hearing about others' processes.

I have found that my nicely edited set of bags really frees me up to think about other things but I also know that I tend to start 'looking around' when I get stressed. Having done such a scale down last year feels great but I have had a few times where I've started considering other bags when I really don't need them. I think i have to be very deliberate about not looking online unless I've mentally decided I'm going to buy something and really know what something is.
 
I sold about 14 Coach bags (that I did love, but were barely used) on ebay and bought about 3 or 4 Christian Dior bags with the money. I only regret selling one bag and am happy with my new collection. :)

That is awesome! My friend is telling me I should sell all my Coach and LV to get a Dior or a Balenciaga.... Sigh.. I don't know if I can!!!

What to do???!!
 
IMHO yes!

I just bought my first Bal (City) and took a Zadiq & Voltaire and a RM Mini Mab to be consigned to help pay for it. Also a Dognin bag that I bought in Paris years ago that is barely used and apparently worth more than the other two.

To me, it's worth it to only have a few that you love and use a lot (since they aren't cheap.) Those two were not used nearly as much as my other bags (Jerome Dreyfuss, Chanel, Mulberry) and I KNOW I will use the bbag a lot.

Also, it does make it a lot easier to switch bags, if I lose something, I don't have to go through 25 different bags to figure out which one I left it in.

That is awesome! My friend is telling me I should sell all my Coach and LV to get a Dior or a Balenciaga.... Sigh.. I don't know if I can!!!

What to do???!!
 
IMHO yes!

I just bought my first Bal (City) and took a Zadiq & Voltaire and a RM Mini Mab to be consigned to help pay for it. Also a Dognin bag that I bought in Paris years ago that is barely used and apparently worth more than the other two.

To me, it's worth it to only have a few that you love and use a lot (since they aren't cheap.) Those two were not used nearly as much as my other bags (Jerome Dreyfuss, Chanel, Mulberry) and I KNOW I will use the bbag a lot.

Also, it does make it a lot easier to switch bags, if I lose something, I don't have to go through 25 different bags to figure out which one I left it in.


Thank you! Nice to know. Nice thought too...
 
i used to be a die hard coach fan. i had more than 40 at one point. sold or gave away all but 3! now that I'm getting older, i don't see the point of having so many bags just sitting in my closet not being worn at all... id rather sell the ones i don't use anymore and buy something else id actually wear... i do that with clothes and shoes too.. if i haven't worn it in a yr or 2, i give it away or sell them...
 
Yep, I sold a black Mulberry Mitzy Messenger, an Oak Mulberry Roxanne Satchel and a regular Balenciaga Day in Castagna (dark brown) in pursuit of my ultimate bag - Balenciaga Giant City Anthracite with RGGH. I still have that bag now, although it gets less use in the summer months, and I adore it. I fell in love with the style so much that I bought the exact same bag in Papyrus with GSH a year later, although luckily I didn't need to get rid of any bags for that one! I have a Mulberry Alexa and a couple of mbMJ bags but nothing will ever come close to my Balenciaga bags! I never regretted selling all those bags at all!
 
xbabe82517 said:
Yep, I sold a black Mulberry Mitzy Messenger, an Oak Mulberry Roxanne Satchel and a regular Balenciaga Day in Castagna (dark brown) in pursuit of my ultimate bag - Balenciaga Giant City Anthracite with RGGH. I still have that bag now, although it gets less use in the summer months, and I adore it. I fell in love with the style so much that I bought the exact same bag in Papyrus with GSH a year later, although luckily I didn't need to get rid of any bags for that one! I have a Mulberry Alexa and a couple of mbMJ bags but nothing will ever come close to my Balenciaga bags! I never regretted selling all those bags at all!

How do you like your Mulberry? I am so eyeing one!!! Lol
 
I'm in the process of selling a TON of stuff to get a Bal City.
But, I did the purse purge a while ago.. I'm just trying to have about 4 high end bags that I put in rotation regularly & no others.

For this Bal bag, I'm selling mostly clothes that I don't wear anyway. So It feels great, I'm cleaning out my closet (which is so liberating), and winning again in that I get to buy a great bag that will last much longer than my desire to wear most of my clothes :)
 
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