Good to know I am not alone! I agree that it will take a really fabulous and different color to attract my attention (and wallet) at this point! The prices have definitely played a role. If the cost was less, I would not hesitate as much or be as picky.
no red?!
Anyway I knew I was done with my collection as soon as I looked at my savings account lol! seriously though I feel like I have lost my craving for bags. I do love everything I have and I feel like I dont need any more. I can see myself buying SLG, shoes, CJs and maybe evening piece.
Good point... Need some color!
Hi G&Smommy,
I love this thread you started. Its interesting to see different peoples perspectives here. I have come to realize that for most obtaining even one Chanel bag is a dream come true, and the women like many of us, that are TPF followers have multitudes of colors, styles, leathers etc etc. So quite honestly "satisfaction or need" in our collections is a very relative thing! I think the replies here represent a very "Chanel sku'd population".
I agree with many of you that have posted here, that there comes a saturation point, a point at which there is a decreasing desire to accumulate, and comes a desire to only buy for the passion of our personal style and taste.
I am definitely at the stage where very few colors can fill a void in my collection. I also only prefer the classic styles, because I know that I out grow my likes and dislikes too quickly to support whimsical expensive seasonal buys. This realization comes with some maturity.
Having said that, I feel somewhat safe buying classic Chanel's because I know that if they are well taken care of, they will hold their value, if not increase.
The rationalization I use is that if I really want to buy a handbag and spend $5000 or more, I had better buy one that I can get rid of later and at least recover my money spent. So its a "safe spend", if that makes sense. For example, I have bought the elusive Jackie O gucci python for $6000 and know that if I wanted to sell it, i would be at a great loss.
I don't buy handbags to sell, but its comforting to know that if I wanted to trade for a newer version of a particular color that my investment is holding. So I guess what I am trying to say is that I am content with my collection, but I don't feel I need to restrict myself to definite limits and look forward to the colors ahead. I had a very busy buying season this year but I had many basic voids to fill that many of you probably did years ago. I worked in reverse and bought colors several years ago and added my basic black, pearly beige, white and red now. Not to mention my Sparkle Beauty, which as ridiculous as it is, I just feel it requires no justification because I LOVE IT! I know I must be sounding like a hypocrite now, so I'll just move on......
Price increases put us all in pressure mode, but then again that is what has driven the value up of all of our "older bags" and provided that 'safe spend' security. I can't compare jewelry purchases to bags, because jewelry and watches are almost always the 'smarter choice' because you wear them all the time. It also has to do with the stage of life you are at. If you are starting out, the joy of that first Chanel cannot be compared with your fifth!
This forum desensitizes us to the "value" of $5000 spent. $5000 is indeed a vacation, a watch that lasts a lifetime, a jewel that gets passed on, a portion of college tuition, a new sofa for the whole family to enjoy, childcare while one pursues a hobby or a dream, new landscaping for your home, hehe etc etc, you get my drift.........
A Chanel Bag is a luxury splurge, 2 is ultimate, and 7,8,9.....well thats a collection that certainly is not the norm.....ladies lets all count our blessings.
Let's enjoy and savor our collections, and the anticipation of whats next! But keep our spending in perspective to each ones individual circumstance (giving myself some self advice first)
G&Smommy you have an exquisite collection to be admired by all
I'm completely with you on the resistance level!
I'm not sure I answered the question, but shared my viewpoints from my "CHANEL SKU'D PERCEPTION
Thanks! I have never taken full collection pics. I have a few reissue family pics. This one is a little out of date.
I think about red a lot but know I would rarely use it so I can't justify the price. I have had red WOCs in the past and that is all that makes sense for me. I love brights in SLGs though!
Thanks bluekit! It is nice to be at a point where it is easier to say "no"! It used to be so hard! The prices definitely make me evaluate my purchases more closely. I am not saying "no" forever, just that I feel pretty satisfied and it will take something really special to justify adding another!
i actually bought my reissue 227 because of ur previous reveals congratz on ur wonderful collection! i just hope that someday i will get 2 that point of satisfaction i luv ur vca & tennis bracelet btw
Don't worry, I'm not going to hold you to the nos. I feel the same way on most days! It is nice to have the staples covered so if something nice comes along, great! If not, you won't feel the urge to buy something that doesn't completely fits your current lifestyle.
I have been buying Chanel for years, wayyyy before the insane prices and back when there were very little quality problems. I liked to collect bags. I liked knowing I had them, even if I do not wear them. I bought without thinking. Not any more!
I am extreemly picky now. I used to buy a few bags each season and now I am lucky if I can find one that is worth my money. I love seasonal bags and they always would capture my intrest and not that many have. I may be jaded! After a while, the collecting this gets old and your money is better spend. In my case it was with VCA as well.
To answer your first question here, I know mine is complete as I still have bags that I do not use and that is excessive in itself. I know there are still colors I want, but I am just not into the " collecting" frame of mind at all right now. I have a lot of bags , I just weeding my bags and they are more than enough. I want the lilac , but I would probally be scared to use it and if it got dirty, I would feel sick knowing I wasted 5k, when I could of spent that on amazing jewelry.
Thanks sjunky! I also have many that are sitting in my closet with tags on them which makes it hard to justify adding another. Also, I compare prices to VCA now. Would I rather spend the $ on a bag that will likely sit in my closet or a piece of jewelry I am more likely to use every day? The jewelry is starting to win! There are still bags I want but I am doing a better job at talking myself out of them based on likely usefulness and cost. I have purchased too many bags (and other items) over the years just because they are pretty but then never used them, or did not use them enough to justify the cost. I am trying to do a better job in evaluating my purchases and making good buying decisions.
Much to my surprise, I am starting to feel as if my Chanel collection is complete. I can still see myself acquiring smaller items like SLGs, shoes, and RTW (on sale, of course), but I really feel I have all of the bags I currently "need" (relative term) or could reasonably use. I am still wait listed for a number of items but I am finding it really easy to say "no" as most feel repetitive of what I already have in my collection or not special enough to justify the ever rising prices.
My current collection (after some selling and exchanges) consists of the following (many of which are still NWT):
Black Patent Jumbo SHW
Black Lamb Jumbo Bijoux Chain
Pearly Beige Jumbo GHW
Navy Caviar Jumbo SHW
Metallic Black Reissue 227
Dark Gold Reissue 227
Pale Gold (more silver IRL) Reissue 227
Dark Navy Reissue 227
Black Reissue Camera Bag GHW
Grey Reissue 226
Taupe Reissue 226
Silver Lambskin Ice Cube Flap
CC Pocket Tote in Black
5 WOCs
Vintage Black Lamb GHW Messenger Flap
Vintage Black Lamb GHW Camera Bag with Tassel
A few wallets and card cases
More shoes than I count!
Some dresses, cardigans, and jackets all bought on sale
I feel like I have varied collection of colors and styles that largely work for my life (though my Jumbos don't get used enough) and know I don't "need" to acquire any others.
Has anyone else reached this point? Was it a fleeting satisfaction or did you truly feel done? I have spent so much time the last few years on researching and building my Chanel collection, I almost don't know what to do with myself if my collection is truly complete!
Purge! I have with some and do not miss them, well one I do and regret it. But those that I have purged, I was able to get nice VCA and Cartier.
I had 5 black flaps, I am down to 2. wtf was I doing with 5 black flaps? LOL. Jewelry makes me feel more feminine and is so pretty. A jumbo looks like other jumbos, KWIM?
I wanted a Chanel bag this week, but got the VCA Frivole earrrings instead. Same price, I can see myself at 60 with the gorgeous earrings , the bag not so much.
I honestly think for me it comes down to, they all do look alike. I admited it to myself , I would always justify it, but really they are too much alike.I do not want dupes of bags. No one can tell the difference and I wasn't feeling different having them all, so the answer was easy for me.