Share Your Edited Bag Closet Journey......

[Bag peace]

I like your mom, she has her head on straight.

Indeed she does! Thank you for that, I cannot tell you how much it means to me.
About to turn 75 and living her best life- working full time, socializing, laughing at every opportunity. She flat out refuses to accept that there's an age limit to experiencing life. I'm very fortunate to have her as a role model (though I'm far from reaching her high standards, lol).

 

[lxrac]

It’s not that I’m strong....it’s more that have many years of experimenting under my belt. I purchased my first designer bag at 24. (It was 1974 and the bag was a LV.....yup, I was a designer bag virgin.) I broke out into a sweat and felt faint. I suspect my journey has probably been longer than most, if not all, the others posting here. I know myself better now....and I’m easier on myself. I know it’s inevitable that I’ll still make mistakes. But that’s ok with me. I don’t see your ‘being a guy’ as an indication of how you should feel about bags. I’m just at a point in life where I really enjoy the process of editing. I find that I must have my bags in my sight line, or I don’t user them....even though I’ve read again and again that they should be kept in their dustbags. (I have a tendency to disregard rules.) My bag journey will never be over....I’ll always be experimenting....and I hope I’ll always be eccentric. I’m 69 and even if I end up in a seniors care facility some day, I plan to have more than one bag with me. (I mean that.)

very well said! Editing is very common. On youtube some youtubers even do capsule wardrobe ideas. I love it. I read an article that people should edit their closets every 3 or 4 months.

 

[diane278]

I’m getting close to having my little grey Verrou clutch framed. I love it as a piece of sculpture much more than as a clutch. I force myself to use it, although rarely, but it’s so small that even carrying a phone and a card case is a challenge. It’s vintage and I had Leather Surgeons give it a spa treatment, as it had bad fading from sunlight. I’m not even considering letting it go. My framers are great and I think I can have it mounted into a shadow box without having it damaged. Then I can hang it in my closet as art. I’m basically turning my already small closet into a bag repository. Maybe I just want to have it out of the “bag” category?

 

[Bag peace]

Maybe this would be a new job - so I could afford more bags?
I guess it is kind of a FOMO. Whenever I try to buy a bag I think: oooh - this would be the last bag for a long time so it has to be perfect and what if an even nicer bag comes along?! What doesn't make it easier is that I bought a bag from a small shop at camden market (house of martin if anyone knows it). This bag was so perfect in size and everything that I am still searching for a similar option but dressier. This is my shopping anxiety

I must say that there is no such thing as the perfect bag. Holding off because the next one might be better will only prevent you from enjoying anything at all. I know if you're looking at high-end designers, the amount of money involved makes the decision harder (I don't own anything higher than the old Marc Jacobs bags, for this reason) and as a result it becomes difficult to commit. You can opt to go for great quality contemporary before committing to something steeper.

Here's the secret: the next one will always be better. The entire market is designed to make us constantly consume. There's more variety than ever before and companies roll out so many options each season that it becomes stifling.
You don't need to own the best one, or the perfect one, you just need to own the one that works for you at a price point that won't make you cringe.
Because your usage and needs will change in time, anyway. What you think is the perfectly functioning bag today may not be right at all next year. For instance, I used to adore clutches and hoped to own a BV clutch one day. Now I've had an accident that makes hand-carrying impossibly painful. If I had bought a BV clutch years ago, I would have enjoyed it while I could. By waiting, I've missed out entirely because that is no longer functional in my life.

With that in mind, grab the piece that you love in the moment. Use it to the fullest, enjoy it. Should another, better bag come along, know that you can admire it from afar and it's okay that you don't own it.
I have a feeling you won't be lusting after the next bag and the next, because once you commit to a purchase it will be the right one for you at that phase of life.

Tangentially, I'd like to link this thread here:
https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/yippee-my-first-hermes-my-journey.981006/
I adore this approach. I believe this TPF member has only 1 H bag (this may have changed since). But the love, care and fun she has with it is, in my mind, the epitome of how one bag can be the perfect number, or the ultimate edited bag closet.

 

[diane278]

That quote could have been spoken verbatim by my mother!
She is in her mid-70s and I think her bag collection is at about 16, but her shoe collection closer to 60, lol.
Funnily enough, I see now that she is on a similar journey of her own. She is forever editing her belongings on-the-go, rather than making big purges once or twice in a year. She is forever looking over her closet, making sure she enjoys her pieces and using everything. She quickly pulls and donates anything that she feels isn't quite right for her (in terms of fit, style or changing taste).
She's particularly enjoying the process of using her belongings all the time and not saving stuff for special occasions as she once did (although she still works and a lot of her high heels have to be saved for weekend wear).
And she has always said, if she ends up in a care home, she expects to take her bags, shoes and fine china with her.

By any chance, does she live in California? I really do want to know if I end up in a care home, that I’ll have like-minded people around me. We’ll be a small stylish girl gang with great bags & accessories!

I’m at about 21, which feels like too many, but I feel like they all serve a purpose. They’re all pretty unique. I actually got every single one out last night to try to figure out what to sell. To my surprise, my husband agreed with me that my collection seemed to have very little “redundancy” and he couldn’t think of anything super obvious to edit, either. I recently started keeping track on a note on my phone how many times I use each bag. It’s getting me to start using lesser used bags more often.

It sounds like you’ve already managed to have acquired the right bags for you. If that’s the case, you are light years ahead of me! I think those of you here, who are tracking usage, are onto a great editing idea. I’ve never done it....maybe I’m afraid of what I’ll learn if I do?

 

[Bag peace]

By any chance, does she live in California? I really do want to know if I end up in a care home, that I’ll have like-minded people around me. We’ll be a small stylish girl gang with great bags & accessories!

Unfortunately not- England! You're welcome to hop over to our side of the pond! We're very friendly.
I get the impression the two of you together would paint the town red!!!!

 

[southernbelle43]

Indeed she does! Thank you for that, I cannot tell you how much it means to me.
About to turn 75 and living her best life- working full time, socializing, laughing at every opportunity. She flat out refuses to accept that there's an age limit to experiencing life. I'm very fortunate to have her as a role model (though I'm far from reaching her high standards, lol).

I identify with this. I, too, am retired and older and think her philosophy will contribute to a long and happy life.

 

[ElainePG]

Just saying.....View attachment 4595261

Thanks for this… it's hysterical!

 

[ElainePG]

I’m at about 21, which feels like too many, but I feel like they all serve a purpose. They’re all pretty unique. I actually got every single one out last night to try to figure out what to sell. To my surprise, my husband agreed with me that my collection seemed to have very little “redundancy” and he couldn’t think of anything super obvious to edit, either.

I recently started keeping track on a note on my phone how many times I use each bag. It’s getting me to start using lesser used bags more often.

It might well be that 21 is the correct number of bags for you! If there isn't any overlap in terms of size, color, style, and so on, and you're always able to reach for the right one at the right time, you're probably at just about the perfect number.

Tracking is a good idea. I started doing it a couple of years ago, and re-homed several bags as a result.

Also, keep in mind that at some later time in your life, you might have a different "ideal number" of bags, or the style distribution may change. F'rinstance, I no longer attend many dressy events, so I only have a few clutch bags.

 

[GoStanford]

That quote could have been spoken verbatim by my mother!
...She is forever looking over her closet, making sure she enjoys her pieces and using everything. She quickly pulls and donates anything that she feels isn't quite right for her (in terms of fit, style or changing taste).

She sounds wonderful! I think her habit of doing the cleanup quickly and often is a really good one. I would like to try that. Maybe by keeping stuff and letting it settle in my closet, I've prolonged the indecision.

How nice that she uses and enjoys her lovely things. Good role model!

 

[southernbelle43]

Thanks for this… it's hysterical!

You are most welcome. It is my goal to find all of the humor in life.

 

[Bag peace]

She sounds wonderful! I think her habit of doing the cleanup quickly and often is a really good one. I would like to try that. Maybe by keeping stuff and letting it settle in my closet, I've prolonged the indecision.

How nice that she uses and enjoys her lovely things. Good role model!

Thank you!

It was a journey for her too. She used to save things (like certain shoes and jewelry) for certain occassions.
Then, as the years passed, people started telling her she was too old, wearing heels wasn't appropriate, she might forget her diamond ring somewhere...
I was so offended for her (she dresses simply, conservative but chic, and has a memory sharper than mine so has never lost her jewelry), but she took it in stride and reminded me- we are the authors of our lives and if others don't like it, they may read a different book.
Since that time, she has stopped waiting for the right occassion, saying everyday we are alive is itself the special occassion. If we like something, we should use it immediately. Why wait until we are too old to enjoy it and give people the chance to judge?
People still comment at times, but she just smiles and keeps it moving.

Sorry for the random segue...it's somewhat related...or it was before i started rambling

 

[diane278]

I know clutches aren’t for everyone on a regular basis, and I also carry a bag I can sling over my shoulder when I feel the urge, but I wear my clutches very casually, too. I decided to post a couple of old photos (most are from the BV forum ‘what are you carrying today?’) showing how casual I think clutches can be. Again, I know not everyone wants to carry something small that needs to be held, but I want to suggest that they aren’t always dressy. I rarely dress up for anything.

One of my mantras is “no ironing”.....

Come on.....gotta love a clutch worn with jeans & hiking boots, right? It was a rainy day....perfect for breaking in boots...

Thoroughly wrinkled linen. This is about as dressed up as I get in the summer: I added a pendant necklace...

 

[diane278]

Thank you!

It was a journey for her too. She used to save things (like certain shoes and jewelry) for certain occassions.
Then, as the years passed, people started telling her she was too old, wearing heels wasn't appropriate, she might forget her diamond ring somewhere...
I was so offended for her (she dresses simply, conservative but chic, and has a memory sharper than mine so has never lost her jewelry), but she took it in stride and reminded me- we are the authors of our lives and if others don't like it, they may read a different book.
Since that time, she has stopped waiting for the right occassion, saying everyday we are alive is itself the special occassion. If we like something, we should use it immediately. Why wait until we are too old to enjoy it and give people the chance to judge?
People still comment at times, but she just smiles and keeps it moving.

Sorry for the random segue...it's somewhat related...or it was before i started rambling

I appreciate any reminder I can get about ‘living in the moment’. Thanks!

 

[southernbelle43]

I know clutches aren’t for everyone on a regular basis, and I also carry a bag I can sling over my shoulder when I feel the urge, but I wear my clutches very casually, too. I decided to post a couple of old photos (most are from the BV forum ‘what are you carrying today?’) showing how casual I think clutches can be. Again, I know not everyone wants to carry something small that needs to be held, but I want to suggest that they aren’t always dressy. I rarely dress up for anything.

One of my mantras is “no ironing”.....
View attachment 4596583
Come on.....gotta love a clutch worn with jeans & hiking boots, right? It was a rainy day....perfect for breaking in boots...
View attachment 4596584
Thoroughly wrinkled linen. This is about as dressed up as I get in the summer: I added a pendant necklace...
View attachment 4596582

And you are one chic lady!