Contessa-- I think yours and Lo's threads, while they have some overlapping concepts, are distinctly different. On this topic, part of what this thread helps me realize is the impoertance of 'halting the hunt.'. As important as it is to scale down, I also think that stopping the search for awhile is equally valid. For example, I will continue to scale down but I also need to STOP searching for a bit and really enjoy what I already own. I agree that we appreciate what we have more when we don't have quite so much.
How many bags do we really need?
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Great points TejasMama, especially the imaginary lifestyle bit. I know that for myself, going from a career woman to a sahm, I have to greatly adjust my lifestyle. So there were some purging in the closet, both clothes, shoes & bags.
Gone were the days where my bags serve more as a fashion statement than function, kwim? Don't get me wrong, I love a great looking quality bag but functionality serves a big part of my decision to buy & keep a bag now.
Right now, I'll be satisfied with 5-6 bags. My rule for the year is: One in, one out.
Gone were the days where my bags serve more as a fashion statement than function, kwim? Don't get me wrong, I love a great looking quality bag but functionality serves a big part of my decision to buy & keep a bag now.
Right now, I'll be satisfied with 5-6 bags. My rule for the year is: One in, one out.
That's a simple question - we only really need one.
I have one Chanel that I use daily, a Chanel clutch for evening use, and two Chanel flaps that I rotate a few times a year. Two of them I bought gently used because I'm a big fan of recycling bags
I am a SAHM too Mimster and the only part of my wardrobe that's changed is that I don't wear my business suits anymore. My bags and shoes are all still the same. Being a SAHM doesn't mean that I have to sacrifice my style.
I have one Chanel that I use daily, a Chanel clutch for evening use, and two Chanel flaps that I rotate a few times a year. Two of them I bought gently used because I'm a big fan of recycling bags
I am a SAHM too Mimster and the only part of my wardrobe that's changed is that I don't wear my business suits anymore. My bags and shoes are all still the same. Being a SAHM doesn't mean that I have to sacrifice my style.
I have gotten very carried away with handbags - I have too many and I know it and they all cost a great deal of money - so out of about 15 premier designer bags, I wear about 4 that are my favorites - you can't make any money on selling bags you have tired of unless you practically give them away and no one on ebay believes you have an authentic bag. I might add that all my older, unused bags were to die for at the time of purchase. It is, I think, I bit of an addiction with the idea that the next one will do the trick and it never does. I have some classics ( Chanel jumbo flap and a LV damier alma) those will always be worth the money but the Mulberry, the MJ, the Dior, the Marni etc. well, not so much.
vhdos, I agree that being a sahm doesn't mean you have to sacrifice style. There's a few sahms that are quite stylish in my parent group. However, chasing after a 3yr old energizer bunny in 3-4 inch heels can be life threatening. 
Besides, I went up a size since giving birth. Great excuse to buy new shoes, no?
Besides, I went up a size since giving birth. Great excuse to buy new shoes, no?
Ha!!!
And another good reason to buy bags.....one size fits all!!!!!
Something else to ponder.......long ago, I was a "one-bag woman"!!!! How quickly things have changed. Easy to point the finger at PForum......as it's loaded with temptation, but I really need to be pointing the finger at ME........and TejasMama also made me realize that "looking" is as dangerous as purchasing.......the temptation is many a time......near impossible to resist!
Absolutely lifestyle and weather all play a role.
I travel for work often and have business dinners regularly and attend formal evening events a few times a year. As a result I need 4 types of bags.
- A clutch for formal evenings
- An everyday work bag
- An all purpose casual bag
- A carry-on trolley. It comes with a laptop messenger that can either fit in the trolley or be carried alone when I don't travel.
Obviously I only need one of each. In reality I have only one trolley, but then I have two clutchs, three work bags and three casual bags. And in addition, two whistlets.
Hmmm, I am actually not easily tempted when it comes bags buying; but still, when you sum it up like this, it still looks like my collection could use a bit of trimming!
I travel for work often and have business dinners regularly and attend formal evening events a few times a year. As a result I need 4 types of bags.
- A clutch for formal evenings
- An everyday work bag
- An all purpose casual bag
- A carry-on trolley. It comes with a laptop messenger that can either fit in the trolley or be carried alone when I don't travel.
Obviously I only need one of each. In reality I have only one trolley, but then I have two clutchs, three work bags and three casual bags. And in addition, two whistlets.
Hmmm, I am actually not easily tempted when it comes bags buying; but still, when you sum it up like this, it still looks like my collection could use a bit of trimming!
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FANTASTIC thread, Contessa!!! 
These are the types of conversations of tPF that I treasure the most, and a perfect compliment to the thread on purging.
I agree with you 100% that it's very easy for us to point the finger at tPF, when we also need to be taking into account our own attitudes and behaviors.
And to answer your original question, at one point late late year I owned around 11-13 bags (not a terribly large amount by PF standards, I guess, but too much for me personally). I was not happy with them and also extremely tired of the "sell/buy/sell" cycle occupying too much of my time - not to mention the time and energy involved in rotating bags every few days so that I made sure to use everything (an attempt to make myself feel less guilty for having more bags than I could handle).
I currently own 5 bags and 1 simple nylon work tote, and am much happier and relaxed. I research my purchases a lot more, and spending is more carefully planned. At this stage I have to talk myself into purchases, as opposed to out of them.
That said, I still could really use a small-medium casual cross-body bag, and maybe one medium-sized bright red bag. I use those types of bags a great deal, and am feeling their absence at the moment - but I am determined to wait until I see exactly what I want and the price is right. In the meantime, the world will continue to spin on its axis.
Here's what I need/have learned to avoid:
- A large, indestructible tote for work and travel with a very sturdy yet comfortable handle (Can anyone say Longchamp?)
- 1-2 red bags (my go-to color)
- 1-2 black bags (my other go-to color)
- 1 gray bag
- 1 dark orange or fuchsia bag (not absolutely necessary, but fun)
- No brown bags (love the look, but never wear them)
- Everything must be able to be worn over the shoulder or cross-body - no hand-held items only allowed.
I don't need a clutch, and certainly don't require my everyday bags to be excessively formal - if I am in need of a clutch anytime in the near future, I will just borrow one or buy a cheap one.
Being more honest with myself about what I truly need and use in terms of handbags has also impacted my attitude towards other purchases as well. My tolerance for clutter is decreasing by the nanosecond.
These are the types of conversations of tPF that I treasure the most, and a perfect compliment to the thread on purging.
I agree with you 100% that it's very easy for us to point the finger at tPF, when we also need to be taking into account our own attitudes and behaviors.
And to answer your original question, at one point late late year I owned around 11-13 bags (not a terribly large amount by PF standards, I guess, but too much for me personally). I was not happy with them and also extremely tired of the "sell/buy/sell" cycle occupying too much of my time - not to mention the time and energy involved in rotating bags every few days so that I made sure to use everything (an attempt to make myself feel less guilty for having more bags than I could handle).
I currently own 5 bags and 1 simple nylon work tote, and am much happier and relaxed. I research my purchases a lot more, and spending is more carefully planned. At this stage I have to talk myself into purchases, as opposed to out of them.
That said, I still could really use a small-medium casual cross-body bag, and maybe one medium-sized bright red bag. I use those types of bags a great deal, and am feeling their absence at the moment - but I am determined to wait until I see exactly what I want and the price is right. In the meantime, the world will continue to spin on its axis.
Here's what I need/have learned to avoid:
- A large, indestructible tote for work and travel with a very sturdy yet comfortable handle (Can anyone say Longchamp?)
- 1-2 red bags (my go-to color)
- 1-2 black bags (my other go-to color)
- 1 gray bag
- 1 dark orange or fuchsia bag (not absolutely necessary, but fun)
- No brown bags (love the look, but never wear them)
- Everything must be able to be worn over the shoulder or cross-body - no hand-held items only allowed.
I don't need a clutch, and certainly don't require my everyday bags to be excessively formal - if I am in need of a clutch anytime in the near future, I will just borrow one or buy a cheap one.
Being more honest with myself about what I truly need and use in terms of handbags has also impacted my attitude towards other purchases as well. My tolerance for clutter is decreasing by the nanosecond.
I think that being honest with yourself (general term) will make your bag purchase(s) much more fulfilling and possibly less expensive.Lo! SO nice to have you here!
And Lovebags2, great points. It's ironic that while we initially want more, less is what makes us most happy.
This is a GREAT statement. And that's what I'm finding too. Clutter is getting on my nerves.....it's everywhere!!!
And what's more, I find when it comes to handbags, the ones I want most or "have to have" are the ones I wear the LEAST!
I agree with this--in fact, you don't even NEED a handbag (you "need" food, clothing, and shelter....
)But isn't that what makes life fun? (having pretty things.)
If we all only had what we needed.....I feel like the world would be so boring and cold.
Just my two cents.
One. And I'm with TejasMama in that if I only had to have the one, it would be my Belen Echandia LM Midi in Dark Grey. That bag will cover every situation I reckon and still look/function the best imo.
I seem to have about 15 bags though and rotating them all is quite the feat and it does conjure up a bit of 'WTF, how did it get to this!' but rotate them I do (despite that lovely LM Midi be used longer than most). If I'm honest there's about 5 that I would be quite OK about never seeing again. I'm not a seller though, so I try to give them a turn now and again. I think I'll probably end up giving them away.
I don't think anybody should beat themselves up about how many they've got though. Live and learn is what I say, and feel good about it.
I seem to have about 15 bags though and rotating them all is quite the feat and it does conjure up a bit of 'WTF, how did it get to this!' but rotate them I do (despite that lovely LM Midi be used longer than most). If I'm honest there's about 5 that I would be quite OK about never seeing again. I'm not a seller though, so I try to give them a turn now and again. I think I'll probably end up giving them away.
I don't think anybody should beat themselves up about how many they've got though. Live and learn is what I say, and feel good about it.
For me, I could be okay with 3 bags:
- school bag (large, Longchamp Le Pliage)
- work bag (medium-sized, more formal, always black)
- casual bag (medium-sized)
But I usually have about 5 bags at a time. :\ Usually 2-3 casual bags of different colors, and when I get tired of one of my casual bags, I sell it.
- school bag (large, Longchamp Le Pliage)
- work bag (medium-sized, more formal, always black)
- casual bag (medium-sized)
But I usually have about 5 bags at a time. :\ Usually 2-3 casual bags of different colors, and when I get tired of one of my casual bags, I sell it.
I am truly torn on the answer to this. For me, each color of my warddrobe rainbow in a medium bag and clutch seemed a good idea at the time. I buy on sale, I use what I have, but I feel that I have too many. I'm actually working on a purge plan right now, inside my little noggin, trying to decide what to let go. The thing is, the ones that I will let go won't sell for much, so it's almost not worth the trouble when I end up with so little in my paypal after a sale.