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

[dramaprincess713]

So about a month ago, I bought a pre-loved Deadly Ponies bag, and once it came, I immediately realized it won't work for me. It was from Vestiare Collective though, so no returns. I did re-list it, and it just sold, but I'm out about almost 20% from the total amount I paid. Luckily I didn't pay that much so that really amounts to me only being out $15, but it's still annoying to me since I literally re-packaged it after opening it.

There is a lesson I can take from this though. For one thing, pre-loved is awesome, but unless I'm really certain of a bag, I really should go with options that allow returns. This is obvious, but I can get really caught up in a good deal and rationalize the h*ll out of the purchase while convincing myself the bag (or whatever item it is) will "probably" work just fine. "Probably" is not good enough, and a "good deal" quickly becomes wasted money if the item doesn't work for me after all. I liked the aesthetic of this bag, but if I was being honest with myself, I would have realized the size and style were probably not right for me. I really need to work on not getting caught up in the allure of a "good deal" while I let reason fall to the wayside. This is so HARD for me. It feels silly how difficult it is!

I am happy to say though that I managed to NOT purchase another Deadly Ponies bag during their archive sale about a week or so ago (gosh, was it really just a week-ish ago?!). It was another one that was an amazing price, so drawn to the leather, great color, but I was quite uncertain of the size and style. I was already deep into rationalizing it to myself though, but @southernbelle43 so wisely pointed out that I'm attracted to the leather, NOT the bag, and that I should wait for something that makes my heart sing. That was enough to pull me out of that hole (albeit, slightly kicking and screaming ). Now though, I'm feeling really good about not buying that bag. It was final sale, so another that would not have been returnable, and even though I still have pangs of "missing out", I know deep down that it very likely wouldn't have worked for me. And if I'm being honest, it's not even a bag that I love. I just really want that amazing deer nappa, but that's not a great reason to purchase a bag I don't need or love.

So, while I never even counted this Vestiare Collective bag in my collection as it went on my "to sell" list as soon as I got it, I am glad that it is officially out . And yes, losing money on it is annoying, but I'm glad it's only $15 I'm out for a bag I never used rather than hundreds. It's a $15 lesson to be more mindful and thoughtful with my purchases - I hope I remember it!

 

[whateve]

So about a month ago, I bought a pre-loved Deadly Ponies bag, and once it came, I immediately realized it won't work for me. It was from Vestiare Collective though, so no returns. I did re-list it, and it just sold, but I'm out about almost 20% from the total amount I paid. Luckily I didn't pay that much so that really amounts to me only being out $15, but it's still annoying to me since I literally re-packaged it after opening it.

There is a lesson I can take from this though. For one thing, pre-loved is awesome, but unless I'm really certain of a bag, I really should go with options that allow returns. This is obvious, but I can get really caught up in a good deal and rationalize the h*ll out of the purchase while convincing myself the bag (or whatever item it is) will "probably" work just fine. "Probably" is not good enough, and a "good deal" quickly becomes wasted money if the item doesn't work for me after all. I liked the aesthetic of this bag, but if I was being honest with myself, I would have realized the size and style were probably not right for me. I really need to work on not getting caught up in the allure of a "good deal" while I let reason fall to the wayside. This is so HARD for me. It feels silly how difficult it is!

I am happy to say though that I managed to NOT purchase another Deadly Ponies bag during their archive sale about a week or so ago (gosh, was it really just a week-ish ago?!). It was another one that was an amazing price, so drawn to the leather, great color, but I was quite uncertain of the size and style. I was already deep into rationalizing it to myself though, but @southernbelle43 so wisely pointed out that I'm attracted to the leather, NOT the bag, and that I should wait for something that makes my heart sing. That was enough to pull me out of that hole (albeit, slightly kicking and screaming ). Now though, I'm feeling really good about not buying that bag. It was final sale, so another that would not have been returnable, and even though I still have pangs of "missing out", I know deep down that it very likely wouldn't have worked for me. And if I'm being honest, it's not even a bag that I love. I just really want that amazing deer nappa, but that's not a great reason to purchase a bag I don't need or love.

So, while I never even counted this Vestiare Collective bag in my collection as it went on my "to sell" list as soon as I got it, I am glad that it is officially out . And yes, losing money on it is annoying, but I'm glad it's only $15 I'm out for a bag I never used rather than hundreds. It's a $15 lesson to be more mindful and thoughtful with my purchases - I hope I remember it!

I wouldn't be too upset at losing $15. I've lost over $100 on some of my resales. I try to look at the overall picture. I've made money on some resales, so I'm in the positive. It's always a risk buying online, which is why I look at return policies, and consider how I would fare if I had to resell rather than return. Still, I have bought many things from Kate Spade sales, which are final sale, and have had to resell many of them. I don't know why I keep shopping there!

 

[dramaprincess713]

I wouldn't be too upset at losing $15. I've lost over $100 on some of my resales. I try to look at the overall picture. I've made money on some resales, so I'm in the positive. It's always a risk buying online, which is why I look at return policies, and consider how I would fare if I had to resell rather than return. Still, I have bought many things from Kate Spade sales, which are final sale, and have had to resell many of them. I don't know why I keep shopping there!

Oh no, losing $15 isn't bad at all! Honestly, I worried I'd have trouble reselling it at all, and I'm very happy that it sold as fast as it did. It's annoying because I literally didn't use the bag at all - I barely even tried it on - so it's annoying to me to lose any money on an item I never used and hardly owned. But it's annoyance at myself for not listening to my own logic and reason and letting myself get carried away. Lesson learned, but I hope I can remember it next time!

 

[ConsciFashion]

So about a month ago, I bought a pre-loved Deadly Ponies bag, and once it came, I immediately realized it won't work for me. It was from Vestiare Collective though, so no returns. I did re-list it, and it just sold, but I'm out about almost 20% from the total amount I paid. Luckily I didn't pay that much so that really amounts to me only being out $15, but it's still annoying to me since I literally re-packaged it after opening it.

There is a lesson I can take from this though. For one thing, pre-loved is awesome, but unless I'm really certain of a bag, I really should go with options that allow returns. This is obvious, but I can get really caught up in a good deal and rationalize the h*ll out of the purchase while convincing myself the bag (or whatever item it is) will "probably" work just fine. "Probably" is not good enough, and a "good deal" quickly becomes wasted money if the item doesn't work for me after all. I liked the aesthetic of this bag, but if I was being honest with myself, I would have realized the size and style were probably not right for me. I really need to work on not getting caught up in the allure of a "good deal" while I let reason fall to the wayside. This is so HARD for me. It feels silly how difficult it is!

I am happy to say though that I managed to NOT purchase another Deadly Ponies bag during their archive sale about a week or so ago (gosh, was it really just a week-ish ago?!). It was another one that was an amazing price, so drawn to the leather, great color, but I was quite uncertain of the size and style. I was already deep into rationalizing it to myself though, but @southernbelle43 so wisely pointed out that I'm attracted to the leather, NOT the bag, and that I should wait for something that makes my heart sing. That was enough to pull me out of that hole (albeit, slightly kicking and screaming ). Now though, I'm feeling really good about not buying that bag. It was final sale, so another that would not have been returnable, and even though I still have pangs of "missing out", I know deep down that it very likely wouldn't have worked for me. And if I'm being honest, it's not even a bag that I love. I just really want that amazing deer nappa, but that's not a great reason to purchase a bag I don't need or love.

So, while I never even counted this Vestiare Collective bag in my collection as it went on my "to sell" list as soon as I got it, I am glad that it is officially out . And yes, losing money on it is annoying, but I'm glad it's only $15 I'm out for a bag I never used rather than hundreds. It's a $15 lesson to be more mindful and thoughtful with my purchases - I hope I remember it!

This is so true and relevant. I've got like $1500 worth of stuff which just doesn't make sense in my closet but which I either couldn't return or didn't realise at the time that it doesn't fit. Getting rid of it is such a pain though. How did you sell it?

 

[whateve]

Oh no, losing $15 isn't bad at all! Honestly, I worried I'd have trouble reselling it at all, and I'm very happy that it sold as fast as it did. It's annoying because I literally didn't use the bag at all - I barely even tried it on - so it's annoying to me to lose any money on an item I never used and hardly owned. But it's annoyance at myself for not listening to my own logic and reason and letting myself get carried away. Lesson learned, but I hope I can remember it next time!

I've done that too. One bag I realized I was going to have to resell it as soon as I tried to lift it out of the box and realized it weighed a ton! If I've used something at least a few times, I feel that the loss is equivalent to paying rent on the bag.

I have clothes in my closet that still have tags. I don't know if I'll ever wear them and it is too late to return. It's not worth selling them either.

 

[Bag peace]

I'm in such a weird place with regards to editing. Firstly, I'm stuck abroad and am not sheltering at my own flat. I figured I would be home by now, but as the lockdowns continue, it'll be at least another month before I'm back in my own space. I miss my cats terribly but my vet video chats with me to show me how well they're enjoying their time at the cattery!

Anyway, all plans to edit my life during this quarantine are out the window, and instead I find myself constantly looking at bags online. I'm not usually one to turn to retail therapy during times of stress but these days I am.
I'm not buying- yet- but am unsettled by the fact that I went from 'content and editing' to 'wanting all the bags'.
I feel like I've lost myself a little and it's weird. The process of editing was helping me become more of myself and the fact that I'm mentally so far away from that now is jarring.

I’ve edited mentally, but haven’t physically removed anything. I don’t want to deal with packing and shipping, but a couple of bags will be heading to my granddaughter when things calm down.

I have one to mail to my daughter and another one to mail to my niece. If this quarantine lasts too long I will have 3 bags left, lol. Maybe that is all I need?

I'm glad to see that some are still on track and at least have plans to further streamline your lives so that you're happier with the items you own.

 

[diane278]

I'm in such a weird place with regards to editing. Firstly, I'm stuck abroad and am not sheltering at my own flat. I figured I would be home by now, but as the lockdowns continue, it'll be at least another month before I'm back in my own space. I miss my cats terribly but my vet video chats with me to show me how well they're enjoying their time at the cattery!
Anyway, all plans to edit my life during this quarantine are out the window, and instead I find myself constantly looking at bags online. I'm not usually one to turn to retail therapy during times of stress but these days I am.
I'm not buying- yet- but am unsettled by the fact that I went from 'content and editing' to 'wanting all the bags'.
I feel like I've lost myself a little and it's weird. The process of editing was helping me become more of myself and the fact that I'm mentally so far away from that now is jarring.
I'm glad to see that some are still on track and at least have plans to further streamline your lives so that you're happier with the items you own.

I would never be able to continue editing if I weren’t in my own home. Being here, I can edit and still see & touch what I’m keeping. Hang in there! Once you get home, things should be easier. Take care of yourself....

 

[Catash]

Due to my maternity leave and the stay-at-home order, I finally found some time to give my collection some thoughts. The first step is to get rid a few bags I don't use much because of the shape, weight or lack of a shoulder strap. I bought them before I have children. Now as a mom with young kids, I find myself reaching mostly for LV Neverfull and small crossbody bags. I still use top handle bags, but they need to be light weight or have a shoulder strap. I am thinking about selling my Givenchy Antigona, Saint Laurent SDJ and Celine Micro Luggage to partially fund a Hermes Bolide 31 that fits better into my lifestyle. Feel a bid sad because these are beautiful bags. However, I must overcome my sentiment to achieve the goal!

 

[Katinahat]

I'm in such a weird place with regards to editing. Firstly, I'm stuck abroad and am not sheltering at my own flat. I figured I would be home by now, but as the lockdowns continue, it'll be at least another month before I'm back in my own space. I miss my cats terribly but my vet video chats with me to show me how well they're enjoying their time at the cattery!

Anyway, all plans to edit my life during this quarantine are out the window, and instead I find myself constantly looking at bags online. I'm not usually one to turn to retail therapy during times of stress but these days I am.
I'm not buying- yet- but am unsettled by the fact that I went from 'content and editing' to 'wanting all the bags'.
I feel like I've lost myself a little and it's weird. The process of editing was helping me become more of myself and the fact that I'm mentally so far away from that now is jarring.





I'm glad to see that some are still on track and at least have plans to further streamline your lives so that you're happier with the items you own.

So sorry to hear you are stuck abroad without your cats! It’s a hard time at home let alone away. Thinking of you.

 

[swallowtails]

I like the only 10 bags idea. A few years ago while I was just getting into designer bags I tended to experiment with different brands and styles to get used to the brand and ended up with many bags, many of which I haven't used more than once or twice. Since then I've been more cautious. I tend to / am trying to let go of less-used bags before jumping on anything new, and sleep on exciting new finds so I'd have a bit of time to think things over from a practical point of view, which for me is ultimately why a bag gets more uses than another. Do I like it just because of the shape / leather / brand? What occasions do I see myself using it? Is the tote strap too short? Sometimes it feels like a bit of a game since it's so easy to persuade myself that yes, that clasp is a bit complicated but I will get used to it since it's a lovely bag, when personal experience has always proved otherwise. If I'm even 10% unsure, it's better to return it; I find that I regret purchases more often than returns, so I tend to be pretty strict.

I don't have a personal 10 bag rule (because I live in a small apartment, even 10 bags may be too many for me), but I minimise by categorising the bags I love and use according to function: I have a shoulder bag for work, a handbag for dinners/concerts, a soft clutch for more formal occasions (which sometimes doubles as a handy pouch), a Freitag for the outdoors, 3 totes and a Herbag for everything else. Every bag is black, so they go with everything in my primarily grey/black wardrobe (I rely more on scarves for colour). More wriggle room for totes (I love totes, they are foldable) but generally once a function is 'taken', I'm hard pressed to find reasons to buy another bag eg for work; I'd have to sell the one I have to make room for another so they don't 'compete'. These rules have served me pretty well for the past year and I hope to downsize my collection a bit more (probably don't need so many totes!) and selling off bags I don't use anymore.

 

[Purses & Perfumes]

Hello everyone. I know it has been a while...in fact, since my last post in this thread, our world has changed so much, with the onset of the health crisis. For a little while there, I didn't even think about my bags or editing my closet -- it receded to the background as other matters took precedence. And I am still not doing anything about editing or downsizing. In fact, I acquired a couple of handbags a short while before the crisis escalated. So essentially my handbag closet has been in kind of a limbo. However, my vision for my handbag closet has remained quite clear and fairly precise (there was a discussion earlier in this thread about a vision board for handbags and that is a great idea.)

To provide an update from when I last posted here, the last time I posted in this thread in February, I was trying to decide if I should keep my Boxyz bag or if it was too similar to my other brown bag. Well, I decided to keep it; it's a beautiful bag. But I have yet to wear it anywhere. It's still in its pristine state with tissue paper, tags, and plastic on hardware. Around the same time, I purchased a new pink LV bag in anticipation of spring, and that one hasn't been used yet either.

I think that having a vision or clear mental picture of my edited bag closet has given me quite a bit of purse peace. I still think that about ten bags or so is a good number. I am not there yet from a practical standpoint, but at least I know what I need to let go of (no uncertainty there), and what my edited closet will look like. I have to find new homes for a few bags, and I am not sure when that will happen. I would like to add maybe one more bag when the current situation improves. I know the bag editing process has been a very slow one for me, but hopefully I will get there sometime soon.

 

[Joule]

I did such a good job of paring down my number of bags last fall, but my collection seems to have had trouble losing the weight it somehow gained over the holidays. Just gave 3 bags to a colleague, and have pulled another 7 to offload onto my mother and sister. Apparently, I’m one of those yo-yo dieters in all areas of my life.

 

[Purses & Perfumes]

Hello, how is everyone doing? I just popped in with a small update - I gave away two bags recently but bag editing is not over for me yet. I still have a few bags left, and I guess I need to figure out the best way to re-home them. Right now, I am not feeling very motivated to do anything about them due to the general health situation here. Also, I am care-giving for a family member so I think I will just have to wait until the general health situation significantly improves in my state before I figure out the best way to re-home these bags. I have still not used any of my bags; the only one I use is one I can toss in the washing machine.

 

[inverved]

Over the weekend, I've come to the realisation that I don't know how I feel about my Louis Vuitton bags anymore.

I currently have two (#8 and #9):


I will need to think on it more as I don't want to make a rash decision, but with logomania and maximalism trending these days, it has turned me off carrying the Pochette Metis (and I love this bag like crazy because it's so practical) but for a bag of similar size, I tend to go for my medium-sized contemporary bags and I feel like the Alma BB doesn't have enough presence for me to justify having it and mainly use it when I wear shoes that contain silver and want a crossbody.

Otherwise, I was thinking of replacing both bags with a Chanel bag with silver hardware.

Time will tell...

 

[bagnut1]

Over the weekend, I've come to the realisation that I don't know how I feel about my Louis Vuitton bags anymore.

I currently have two (#8 and #9):
View attachment 4757049

I will need to think on it more as I don't want to make a rash decision, but with logomania and maximalism trending these days, it has turned me off carrying the Pochette Metis (and I love this bag like crazy because it's so practical) but for a bag of similar size, I tend to go for my medium-sized contemporary bags and I feel like the Alma BB doesn't have enough presence for me to justify having it and mainly use it when I wear shoes that contain silver and want a crossbody.

Otherwise, I was thinking of replacing both bags with a Chanel bag with silver hardware.

Time will tell...

Or, a mini Bolide?