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

[diane278]

YES! YES! YES!
Yes!
Sweet Baby Jesus carrying a fringe bag at Coachella!

Well, you jarred my memory. It turns out that I have 16 bags. I’d forgotten about this messenger bag. It’s been stashed away. The buckle has a photo of me and my horse. Judging by my very flat chest, my hairstyle, and the horse, I must have been about 13 when the photo was taken (1963). The bag was made later. It’s seen a few rock concerts...
But more importantly.....This means that something else leaves the closet. I have no regrets......about then or releasing another bag into the universe. The journey continues...

 

[bagnut1]

Well, you jarred my memory. It turns out that I have 16 bags. I’d forgotten about this messenger bag. It’s been stashed away. The buckle has a photo of me and my horse. Judging by my very flat chest, my hairstyle, and the horse, I must have been about 13 when the photo was taken (1963). The bag was made later. It’s seen a few rock concerts...
But more importantly.....This means that something else leaves the closet. I have no regrets......about then or releasing another bag into the universe. The journey continues...
View attachment 4597923

Omg that is amazing!
Perhaps it needs a frame?

 

[diane278]

Omg that is amazing!
Perhaps it needs a frame?

That may eventually happen. It’s a heavy bag (for me) but I’m thinking I might be able to carry it in rainy weather when I’m in jeans (as always) and hiking boots....a throwback to my hippie days. It’s a sturdy leather that will never die. If that doesn’t work, a shadow box might be next. I have a younger friend with a daughter, a recent college grad who rides, who hinted that she would “love to have a bag like that”. So, it would end up having another life, which makes me VERY happy....and gives me another option should I decide to let go of it. Of course, she’s young and may not want it when the time comes....

 

[festus]

Hi Diane, so glad you started this thread! I've been off TPF for several months and am delighted to see this thread!
As for culling my bags, I find it much easier to let go of clothes than I do bags...

 

[whateve]

Well, you jarred my memory. It turns out that I have 16 bags. I’d forgotten about this messenger bag. It’s been stashed away. The buckle has a photo of me and my horse. Judging by my very flat chest, my hairstyle, and the horse, I must have been about 13 when the photo was taken (1963). The bag was made later. It’s seen a few rock concerts...
But more importantly.....This means that something else leaves the closet. I have no regrets......about then or releasing another bag into the universe. The journey continues...
View attachment 4597923

I love it! You have the same hairstyle now, don't you?

I've been inspired by this thread. I just pulled out 3 bags to sell.

 

[JenJBS]

As of January 1st, 2020 I'll be implementing a 1in-1out rule for my bags, and clothes. If I don't like a new bag, or clothing item, more than a current one then I should just keep using the current one instead of buying a new one since I like it better. Plus, knowing it means I will be able to buy something new will help motivate me to let go of an old item for sentimental reasons (or laziness) when it's time, rather than holding on to it once it gets too worn.

 

[diane278]

When I think back to the first time I saw a BV (in a movie) and I thought about the possibility of owning that bag, I remember wondering if it would ever come to be. It took years before it was made available again (the Lauren clutch) and I do now have one. But in between seeing it for the first time and then owning it, I went on a lengthy journey that included many other BV bags. But some of those bags owned me more than I owned them. I was worried that they wouldn’t stay pristine....that perhaps they’d get dirty or damaged. I’m over that now and see bags as something to be used and enjoyed....
I saw this today and am thinking it might be something to keep in mind. Because, while I’m totally content with my bag collection right now, I want to do what I can to ensure I remain content as time goes on.....

 

[GoStanford]

I saw this today and am thinking it might be something Because, while I’m totally content with my bag collection right now, I want to do what I can to ensure I remain content as time goes on.....

You make a very good point about contentment. Somewhat related: earlier today I read an article by Tiffany Shlain, another SF Bay Area resident and the author of 24/6, about unplugging one day a week, also known as a Tech Shabbat. I am toying with trying this out. Although my tech time can be a lot of fun for me, it's also the source of a lot of unnecessary shopping and wasted time. And it feeds the lack of contentment with what I have, when I definitely have more than enough beautiful things for a lifetime.

 

[diane278]

Hi Diane, so glad you started this thread! I've been off TPF for several months and am delighted to see this thread!
As for culling my bags, I find it much easier to let go of clothes than I do bags...

I’ve organized my closets since I was in high school....so I guess this thread was inevitable. At first, I thought there wouldn’t be much interest, but then I read the @Rami00 article on ten bags or less, and realized that she had already started the ball rolling..... (I find letting go of clothing easier, too.)

I love it! I've been inspired by this thread. I just pulled out 3 bags to sell.

Isn’t it sort of exciting to wonder where we’ll all end up, once we get our collections all dialed in? I know I want a smaller collection, but I don’t know how much smaller I want it to be......

 

[misstrine85]

I also have much easier to let to of clothes and shoes. I find bags and jewellery to be much much harder.

 

[Bag peace]

I wonder...is it because we expect our clothes to wear out, so it's easy to let them go? Whereas with bags and jewelry, we anticipate using them for long periods of time, so it goes against our instincts to release them?
On second thought, it may just be the cost of bags and jewelry is often higher, so that makes us hesitate.

Personally, I don't struggle with any of those things. I have even let go of jewelry that was custom-made because I felt it suited my friend better,as well as letting go of bags, shoes and clothing. It's just about timing for me. I have to be done with it or have outgrown it (in terms of taste) to let go, but when that time comes it is easy.

I struggle to let go of books most of all, because I worry I'll be giving them to people who don't love to read and may just toss them out. I've yet to find a local charity that accepts books, so I give to friends (and I take really good care of my books so they're in great condition when I re-home them), but I also know that not many of my friends care for books as I do.

 

[diane278]

I struggle to let go of books most of all, because I worry I'll be giving them to people who don't love to read and may just toss them out. I've yet to find a local charity that accepts books, so I give to friends (and I take really good care of my books so they're in great condition when I re-home them), but I also know that not many of my friends care for books as I do.

Books used to be a huge struggle for me too. I moved from a larger house with a library, to this smaller house and simply couldn’t fit all the books into this place. For several years, I kept many of them boxed up. Finally, I started letting them go. Once I managed to do that, I knew anything was possible....not easy, but possible.

 

[whateve]

I wonder...is it because we expect our clothes to wear out, so it's easy to let them go? Whereas with bags and jewelry, we anticipate using them for long periods of time, so it goes against our instincts to release them?
On second thought, it may just be the cost of bags and jewelry is often higher, so that makes us hesitate.

Personally, I don't struggle with any of those things. I have even let go of jewelry that was custom-made because I felt it suited my friend better,as well as letting go of bags, shoes and clothing. It's just about timing for me. I have to be done with it or have outgrown it (in terms of taste) to let go, but when that time comes it is easy.

I struggle to let go of books most of all, because I worry I'll be giving them to people who don't love to read and may just toss them out. I've yet to find a local charity that accepts books, so I give to friends (and I take really good care of my books so they're in great condition when I re-home them), but I also know that not many of my friends care for books as I do.

My local charities all accept books. There is one thrift store that sells some, and puts others outside in a bin for free. My library also takes book donations. I don't think they put them on the shelves. I think they sell them.

I struggle with letting go of bags more because they cost more, but also because I have kept track of the cost. I know exactly how much I'd be losing if I sold them or gave them away. I'm most comfortable with bags I got for a bargain, knowing I'm getting my money's worth even if I don't use them much, and that I'll recoup my money when I sell.

Clothes are easier to part with because usually it is because they are stained, don't fit anymore, or don't look good on me. I wouldn't have problems letting go of a bag, even an expensive one, if it was damaged and it wasn't worth it to repair.

 

[diane278]

You make a very good point about contentment. Somewhat related: earlier today I read an article by Tiffany Shlain, another SF Bay Area resident and the author of 24/6, about unplugging one day a week, also known as a Tech Shabbat. I am toying with trying this out. Although my tech time can be a lot of fun for me, it's also the source of a lot of unnecessary shopping and wasted time. And it feeds the lack of contentment with what I have, when I definitely have more than enough beautiful things for a lifetime.

It’s not the same, but I’m taking a break from Amazon. I doubt that requires any explanation. It isn’t easy!

 

[Rami00]

It’s not the same, but I’m taking a break from Amazon. I doubt that requires any explanation. It isn’t easy!

OMG please save me from prime, HELP.