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

[platinum_girly]

Hi ladies,
Have been reading this thread and slowly and surely have managed to get through all 96 pages of it
I have read all of your stories and feel like i have come to know you all (strangely) through reading about your bag purging (and buying) over the past several months,
I am attempting to do the same myself (purge my collection) but not so much in order to buy just one premium designer bag but just to let go of the lesser used beauties and make room for more practical all purpose items instead,
Thus far i have decided that a LOT of my Chanels need to go (and when i say a lot, i mean maybe 3-4, that is a lot for me to deal with letting go of because comprises nearly ALL of my Chanel collection)
I just love them but don't really use them for varison reasons, of which i will explain below:
1. Chanel sky blue Valentines charms bag - this was a gift from my lovely hubby for our anniversary/valentines last year, i love it dearly but with the colour and the style, i probably used her twice in this past year or so and for the past few months has just sat in her dustbag
2. Chanel 2.55 in baby pink with GHW - this bag was my FIRST Chanel bag, i was lucky enough to win her in a competition held by a UK magazine company, she was my perfect colour, style, EVERYTHING, but now - i am trying to "classy up" for want of a better term and am thinking she will not fit into my new wardrobe/look....
3. Chanel black jumbo lambskin with GHW - again a gorgeous bag and i agree with most- a classic but since i bought my vintage black Chanel flap with GHW i just don't use her because i much prefer the size and the style of the vintage piece, plus i have this weird love for anything vintage in pristine condition, plus i see the jumbo on TOO MANY "normal, everyday" people and on TOO MANY celebrities and i would rather own and carry something rarer i guess
So i have decided to either give away to my dearest friends and to send to the salvation army the last one i think as i am very into giving to the less fortunate and donate MANY items each year to the various charities of my choice,
I am hoping in the near future (or maybe distant, who knows?) to accumulate the items in my wishlist as i feel these will all be much used bags and ones that i have thought long and hard about and know i will adore, so thanks to you all for confirming that it CAN be done and that we don't need a wardrobe full of high end bags in order to be fashionable and "worthy" lol!
xoxo

 

[thedseer]

Thanks everyone for your lovely comments! If it’s actually light out when I get home, I may try to take a better picture. The leather is so soft, and I love the suede lining. It’s been tough to purge sometimes, but purging for a fantastic, classic bag makes it all worth it.

Best of luck to you, canadianstudies, and keep us updated! You will love it!

I would love another BV down the road; would like a Bal next though – but not allowing myself until I purge more. Just this morning I took down one of my listed bags because I had second thoughts. I think I need to do a little reevaluation.

Can’t wait to see your new Bals ladies!

 

[leilani01]

i've not yet mastered the art of taking pictures of bags, but i'm hoping to take a better one tomorrow with my other acquisition, while the sun is still out.

in the meantime, here's a crappy indoor with flash picture of my new lovely, a bottega veneta large nero veneta

Congratulations on your nero large veneta! She looks gorgeous...but be aware that BVs tend to multiple.

 

[Vintage Leather]

So i have decided to either give away to my dearest friends and to send to the salvation army the last one i think as i am very into giving to the less fortunate and donate MANY items each year to the various charities of my choice,
I am hoping in the near future (or maybe distant, who knows?) to accumulate the items in my wishlist as i feel these will all be much used bags and ones that i have thought long and hard about and know i will adore, so thanks to you all for confirming that it CAN be done and that we don't need a wardrobe full of high end bags in order to be fashionable and "worthy" lol!
xoxo

I don't know about the British revenue service, but here in the US, there is a greater tax advantage to selling and donating the money v. giving the item.
The American IRS treats all handbags as having the same value - $5 last time I looked. If you claim your Chanel bags even for a depriciated amount ($800?) and are audited, you will have to pay interest and penalties on the difference between what you claimed, and what they will allow you to claim.

 

[knasarae]

Lo, I love how inspirational and supportive this thread has become to so many people!! I am getting there also, slowly but surely (don't want to rush myself and give up the wrong bag, lol).

I have cut my collection by almost half but I still have too many bags, imo. But I'm just going to keep going slowly trimming here and there. My main problem is my MACs. I'm down to 11 now but I can't think of any I could give up. I honestly use them all.

 

[kiwishopper]

K, honestly if you use the bags, then they are functional to you. I used to have close to 20 bags and I have been trimming and replacing my collection down to around 10. Honestly, 10 is a good number for me. I do use the same bag for at least 2-5 days before I change. Sometimes I will change within the same day If I am going out after work etc. If a bag has been sitting there for more than a season that's a sign for me to let it go.
I also follow one in one out (or try to) rule. I have been managing to maintain the "magic" number 10 for a while now lol

 

[knasarae]

Ten seems like a good number for me too. I think eventually I could get there (MACs not included, lol)

 

[jxwilliams]

Hi ladies!

I keep following this thread and wanted to check in (I love everybody's updates).

I probably have about 1 bag I use regularly (5 days out of the week) and a couple cross body bags. Since I've purged, I just don't feel like I can commit to any bag! Usually I buy mid range bags but I am having a difficult time (mentally) taking the plunge to a LV (or something that I could carry daily that would totally work for me) in the $1500 range. I KNOW that I can easily justify buying 4 bags for $1500 but spending that on one bag....

There are a few that I really like in that range but....$1500...on a purse!? But then if it's the only bag I wear for a year then it will SAVE me money because I'm not buying all these other bags...

Am I the only one with this issue? As always, thanks for listening...

 

[thedseer]

Sounds like you’ve done really well with purging – congrats! I totally know what you mean.

Aside from some collection “editing” I would call it (sort of a one in, one out replacement), the BV has been the only thing I’ve been able to commit to. There are a few bags that I’ve thought pretty seriously about (Mulberry Alexa or a PS1, for example), but I keep second guessing myself. I think purging makes it harder to purchase, and I want to think them out completely now, especially for that higher price – and also make sure that the quality matches the price. The BV was definitely the most I’d paid for any bag before, but I did get it for a good deal (about 45% off retail – used, but looked untouched), and I know I’ll have it forever. Certainly doesn’t make it easier that not too long ago I never spent more than $30ish on a bag, and I wouldn’t have more than a couple at a time…

 

[jxwilliams]

thedseer thank you for your response!

For me this thread has really worked in making me put some serious thought into purchasing a bag. Like you, I am second guessing myself mainly because I don't want to deal with re-selling or returning--I want forever bags! BTW, I seriously love your BV!! It is so classic and beautiful! Wear her in good health!

 

[klj]

Lo..where are you..I must see your new Bal!

 

[klj]

Sounds like you’ve done really well with purging – congrats! I totally know what you mean.

Aside from some collection “editing” I would call it (sort of a one in, one out replacement), the BV has been the only thing I’ve been able to commit to. There are a few bags that I’ve thought pretty seriously about (Mulberry Alexa or a PS1, for example), but I keep second guessing myself. I think purging makes it harder to purchase, and I want to think them out completely now, especially for that higher price – and also make sure that the quality matches the price. The BV was definitely the most I’d paid for any bag before, but I did get it for a good deal (about 45% off retail – used, but looked untouched), and I know I’ll have it forever. Certainly doesn’t make it easier that not too long ago I never spent more than $30ish on a bag, and I wouldn’t have more than a couple at a time…

I feel the same with my Chloe...I'm commited for life(and the most I've ever paid for a bag too)
I'm really down to 3 Mam's now 1 Mac and 2 rockers...1 Chloe.
I sold a grey bag(edited..lol) because I know I want Anthra Bal for my one and only grey bag after I weighed it all out...and I think I want one more Paraty in Black..classic colors in the more expensive bags..then there will be no regrets.
I know I've said it a whole bunch of times..but I'm really loving your BV..its sooo pretty!

 

[thedseer]

I feel the same with my Chloe...I'm commited for life(and the most I've ever paid for a bag too)
I'm really down to 3 Mam's now 1 Mac and 2 rockers...1 Chloe.
I sold a grey bag(edited..lol) because I know I want Anthra Bal for my one and only grey bag after I weighed it all out...and I think I want one more Paraty in Black..classic colors in the more expensive bags..then there will be no regrets.
I know I've said it a whole bunch of times..but I'm really loving your BV..its sooo pretty!

thank you!! i LOVE your chloe as well - i can totally see why you'd want another!

i realllly need to purge more of my RMs, especially since i don't really need so many of the same bag. but it's hard!

 

[LabelLover81]

I just sold three bags to Avelle. I offered it to three different sites and put them on craigslist, and after that Avelle offered me the best prices. So after all that hard work.... I'm getting another Valentino! I figured my ban doesn't count if I'm selling bags to get another, right?!

 

[Loquita]

Everyone’s doing so well! I sold another bag last week, and have 2 offers on another (does anyone have any experience/recommendations for shipping to Asia?), so selling has picked up which is good. I still have some more to sell, most of which are not listed, so I need to get on that.

Love all this Bal talk! - I’ve been flirting with the idea of a Bal for a while now, and have been doing a lot more research recently. Would love to find a velo in black, anthra, or sang, or might go for a city.

And I’ve been slightly “bad” recently – after my BV purchase, I bought another bag, which I decided immediately upon receipt wouldn’t work for me, and then I purchased a beautiful and very htf bag from a lovely tpfer – maybe not the best thing to do when I’m supposed to be purging, but I’m so thrilled to have found it! I’ll post pics of that and my BV tonight (I’ve been really slow with the reveal, but work has been insane).

In addition to moving myself this summer, my parents are now somewhat spur of the moment selling their house and moving in the next 2-3 months. In theory, I shouldn’t have too much stuff at their house anymore since I haven’t lived there for 6 years, but it does mean that I have to be more aggressive about getting rid of everything and anything, since I’ll now have to take some things that they’ve been storing for me and move them to my next place. So I’m going to try to aim for even less bags, if I can. Moving is such a pain.

Hey there!
I am very far behind (work has been CRAZY - more on that in a sec, because the news is good), but I just wanted to say that if you still need any help w/ shipping to Asia, please feel free to PM me...I am catching up on PMs now, too!

And I am with you re: the Sang Velo love. I have only seen a few even pictured, and they all belonged to PFers. Very, very tough to find. I am going to hold off until the fall for a Velo, me thinks - but I am definitely wanting one!