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

[Joule]

I was shocked to realize this morning that since October, I have used only four bags: a BV Veneta, a BV Olimpia, a BV tote, and a Longchamp le Pliage for bad weather. I may have to run back to my closet and ferret out a few more sacrificial lambs.
@Vintage Leather, I completely understand your base color problem. I had wanted to find a lighter-colored shoulder bag for spring/summer, but am now rethinking that. I really do prefer to stick with black and brown, no matter the season.

 

[Purses & Perfumes]

I think my biggest problem is figuring out what color is my base neutral color - I have 5 brown bags, 2 navy bags, and 9 black bags...

Some days I just think I don't know what I want to be when I grow up, so I'm playing dress up.

I haven't figured out what my base neutral color is either - this is why I have black bags, brown bags and a pinky beige bag in my wardrobe. But they all get used regularly so I think it's all good.

As for navy bags, I love them but my navy bag gets very little wear. However, I am not willing to let it go yet, since I love the bag!

 

[Lejic]

I sold my Balenciaga city - at a HUGE loss, too. 1000 GBP bought, I think in the end fashionphile gave me 160 bucks? I tried selling on eBay, kept getting buyers who didn’t pay (no idea why people keep doing that, some asked questions as if really interested, too!).

At least it’s not staring at me asking why i have a bag I don’t love like it had been for the last 3 years!!

Summary of what I’ve gotten rid of in 2019:
2-3 backpacks
1 Balenciaga city

Right now I have:
2 LV medium size purses
1 Alexander McQueen handheld clutch
1 Kenzo chain-wallet-y clutch
1 Longchamp zipped tote
1 Madewell traveler tote
1 Fossil purple crossbody <— lovely leather but I just don’t use it anymore
1 Kipling crossbody that I sometimes use on international trips, especially when I need to be handsfree but not a pickpocket magnet
1 Tumi backpack - small and light, perfect for hikes or some business trips where a crossbody isn’t appropriate
1 Bric’s workhorse of a purse - divisions are same as LV Montaigne, but much bigger and more square
1 dark but bright blood-red Lacoste crossbody. The color drew me in but I just don’t use it

11 total
1 Backpack,1 shoulder bag, 5 crossbodies, 2 clutches, 2 totes


Thoughts for 2020:

1: get rid of the Fossil, it’s buttery soft leather keeps pulling me back in but I barely wear it once a year. Goodwill, I guess?

2: Get rid of the Kipling, probably give to mom since she uses light purses like that more than I do

3: Get rid of the red Lacoste - don’t think mom or sister would like it, so another goodwill candidate

4: Get rid of the Bric’s - really nice and such a workhorse but I just don’t reach for it over the Madewell tote, so what’s the point?

After purge I’ll have 7 total:
1 Backpack, 2 crossbodies, 2 clutches, 2 totes


If we go by usage, I rarely touch the Kenzo clutch, but it has good memories of a trip with my family to Berlin so I’ll keep it. Doesn’t really take any space anyway. Maybe the framing idea would work for it, for my walk-in closet... Thank goodness for this thread!

Will I add in 2020?

Not sure. Number-wise I don’t mind going up, but usage-wise I can’t justify anything to be honest. If I love something I’ll grab it, but I’m a “have a few and love them” sort of gal with purses, so it’s much more likely that I’ll focus on SLGs this year, if anything.

Bonus pic of my Madewell tote accompanying me today at the airport!

 

[Vintage Leather]

My other problem with editing is that my bag collection seems to have multiple personalities.

Half the collection looks like “vice president of a New York advertising firm” and the other half is “preschool teacher.” The sad part is, both people have a full collection of bags.

 

[indiaink]

My other problem with editing is that my bag collection seems to have multiple personalities.

Half the collection looks like “vice president of a New York advertising firm” and the other half is “preschool teacher.” The sad part is, both people have a full collection of bags.

 

[southernbelle43]

My other problem with editing is that my bag collection seems to have multiple personalities.

Half the collection looks like “vice president of a New York advertising firm” and the other half is “preschool teacher.” The sad part is, both people have a full collection of bags.

That is cute!!! And it just shows you are young at heart while being the consummate professional. Good for you.

 

[Joule]

My other problem with editing is that my bag collection seems to have multiple personalities.

Half the collection looks like “vice president of a New York advertising firm” and the other half is “preschool teacher.” The sad part is, both people have a full collection of bags.

This made my day.

 

[diane278]

I so enjoy reading everyone’s posts here, that I’m not sure I even want to get to the point where my bag collection is all dialed in.....which I expect will happen in the very near future.

 

[bagnut1]

I so enjoy reading everyone’s posts here, that I’m not sure I even want to get to the point where my bag collection is all dialed in.....which I expect will happen in the very near future.

Yes! Ambivalence, thy name is minimalist.

 

[Vintage Leather]

I so enjoy reading everyone’s posts here, that I’m not sure I even want to get to the point where my bag collection is all dialed in.....which I expect will happen in the very near future.

Will you give up this thread? Or will you mentor others along their journey?

 

[indiaink]

Will you give up this thread? Or will you mentor others along their journey?

/chanting Mentor Mentor Mentor Mentor

 

[diane278]

Will you give up this thread? Or will you mentor others along their journey?

I started this thread so I wouldn’t be going through the editing process alone...and so that I could benefit from others’ ideas....and it’s definitely helped me. I know that in order for me to remain on track, I’ll need to stay connected. I’ve been through this process before (more than once) but it didn’t “stick” and I think it’s because I didn’t have a support group aimed at helping me edit effectively nor did I have a place where I could hold myself accountable. Part of my plan for accountability is to take a family photo pretty soon. Just committing to that, makes me a bit nervous.......

 

[bagnut1]

I started this thread so I wouldn’t be going through the editing process alone...and so that I could benefit from others’ ideas....and it’s definitely helped me. I know that in order for me to remain on track, I’ll need to stay connected. I’ve been through this process before (more than once) but it didn’t “stick” and I think it’s because I didn’t have a support group aimed at helping me edit effectively nor did I have a place where I could hold myself accountable. Part of my plan for accountability is to take a family photo pretty soon. Just committing to that, makes me a bit nervous.......

Don’t be nervous! Your collection and your photos are beautiful.

 

[diane278]

Don’t be nervous! Your collection and your photos are beautiful.

My hesitation is based on the fear that I won’t be able to maintain my self-imposed restrictions regarding my bag collection (and the fact that the final (?) bag won’t be delivered until Monday). But I’ll try to get it taken once my final piece arrives.....

 

[southernbelle43]

My hesitation is based on the fear that I won’t be able to maintain my self-imposed restrictions regarding my bag collection (and the fact that the final (?) bag won’t be delivered until Monday). But I’ll try to get it taken once my final piece arrives.....

I know you have been in the bag business way longer than I have been. But I confess that "final" is NOT in my bag vocabulary. As long as I can sell one or trade one, there is room for one. That is my story and I am sticking to it.