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

[Purses & Perfumes]

I haven't been in this thread in forever. Covid totally derailed my life for a bit there.

@diane278 I adore your curated home! It's vibrant yet edited, showcasing both your zesty personality and your discipline.


Thank you for the praise. It was a very personal memory to share (of my friend's grandmother) so I'm happy you were touched by it.

I have only just returned to my own home and one of the first things I did was air out and condition my bags. I couldn't bring myself to count them, though I will soon, but looking at the sheer volume worried me. My collection is in the mid to high 30s still (including everything like gym bag, interview bag, 3 travel bags and backpacks). That's far too many bags for one person to utilize. Sigh.
I'm also at a point where I love pretty much every bag I own. I could not see any I would release at this stage. That is problematic. I am not this excessive in any other areas of my life, so I find this frustrating.

I have 4 bags that I have chosen to use during this pandemic. I will rotate them and use with abandon (they are older and sturdier than the remainder of my collection), and I hope that I will be able to let go of them thereafter.

So my action plan now is not to add anything during the next year (which is proving difficult because I keep getting tempted), and to attempt another edit in a month or so. It is possible that having just recovered from covid, I am feeling more sentimental than usual. Perhaps some time will help me review the collection with more objectivity.

@jblended, you have been through a lot, and I so glad that you are recovered and back in your own home again.

Regarding the bags, I would say that if you love and use everything you have, just enjoy them for the time being and don't worry too much about the actual number count.

I also have a few no-buy plans going on (not bags though) and hopefully I will be able to stick to my no buys!

 

[diane278]

I haven't been in this thread in forever. Covid totally derailed my life for a bit there.

@diane278 I adore your curated home! It's vibrant yet edited, showcasing both your zesty personality and your discipline.


Thank you for the praise. It was a very personal memory to share (of my friend's grandmother) so I'm happy you were touched by it.

I have only just returned to my own home and one of the first things I did was air out and condition my bags. I couldn't bring myself to count them, though I will soon, but looking at the sheer volume worried me. My collection is in the mid to high 30s still (including everything like gym bag, interview bag, 3 travel bags and backpacks). That's far too many bags for one person to utilize. Sigh.
I'm also at a point where I love pretty much every bag I own. I could not see any I would release at this stage. That is problematic. I am not this excessive in any other areas of my life, so I find this frustrating.

I have 4 bags that I have chosen to use during this pandemic. I will rotate them and use with abandon (they are older and sturdier than the remainder of my collection), and I hope that I will be able to let go of them thereafter.

So my action plan now is not to add anything during the next year (which is proving difficult because I keep getting tempted), and to attempt another edit in a month or so. It is possible that having just recovered from covid, I am feeling more sentimental than usual. Perhaps some time will help me review the collection with more objectivity.

Welcome back! I‘m so glad to learn that you’re well and back home. It sounds like you‘re zeroing in on what works for you.

I sometimes think I’m more about the process than the end result.

 

[southernbelle43]

Welcome back! I‘m so glad to learn that you’re well and back home. It sounds like you‘re zeroing in on what works for you.

I sometimes think I’m more about the process than the end result.

Diane I think you have hit upon something with this statement, lol.

 

[diane278]

As is my habit, I’m(yet again) rethinking my latest plan of reduction. In addition, I decided thst it would be helpful if I broke my addiction to designer bags by adding a less known brand. Of course, that‘s likely to mean little when I attempt to actually stop purchasing designer bags. In other words, my edited bag journey may be the longest journey of my life.

I found a bag I liked that was inexpensive and ordered it from Mirta. Ordered on a Thursday, it arrived (from Italy) the following Tuesday. ......Boy, do I DHL.....
So......is my addiction broken? Too soon to tell....

Anyway, here it is:

The challenge continues....the editing who knows.....

 

[Bag peace]

I found a bag I liked that was inexpensive and ordered it from Mirta.

I adore round bags! Congratulations!

In other words, my edited bag journey may be the longest journey of my life.

True for us all, I think.

 

[Bag peace]

Thanks to everyone who commented telling me to take it easy on myself. I think I needed to hear that.

I've been conditioning my bags and taking stock. I have 33, plus 4 more that I'm not officially including in my total anymore after seeing the comments here (gym bag, nylon crossbodies for travel, backpack for laptop).

Of the 33 in the official count, a fair few are sentimental handmade bags that I have purchased from local artisans in different places I've lived. I hadn't expected them to hold up so well for so long, and I will never edit from this portion unless one of them falls apart. They are part of my life story.

Then there are bags that I loved and bought for myself, as well as bags that my friends and family have generously gifted me over the years. I can edit from both of these categories a little, and have indeed started to do so.
I managed to donate 3 backpacks late last year and 4 crossbodies early on this year, though my total never changes because it seems like every time I re-home one bag, I'm gifted another! I'm extremely lucky and feel very much spoiled by the gifts but, I often feel like my editing journey is taking place in a little hamster wheel going nowhere fast!
To still have such a large collection left is a hard pill to swallow. It makes me feel greedy.
This is the only part of my life that is excessive, so it never sits quite right with me that I accidentally ended up here.

For the time being, I will sit still and try to appreciate what I have (hopefully without any guilt). I'm sure I'll find a way to edit at a later point, but for now I think the collection has to just be, because forcing it isn't getting me anywhere.

How is everyone else doing on their editing journey?

 

[whateve]

Thanks to everyone who commented telling me to take it easy on myself. I think I needed to hear that.

I've been conditioning my bags and taking stock. I have 33, plus 4 more that I'm not officially including in my total anymore after seeing the comments here (gym bag, nylon crossbodies for travel, backpack for laptop).

Of the 33 in the official count, a fair few are sentimental handmade bags that I have purchased from local artisans in different places I've lived. I hadn't expected them to hold up so well for so long, and I will never edit from this portion unless one of them falls apart. They are part of my life story.

Then there are bags that I loved and bought for myself, as well as bags that my friends and family have generously gifted me over the years. I can edit from both of these categories a little, and have indeed started to do so.
I managed to donate 3 backpacks late last year and 4 crossbodies early on this year, though my total never changes because it seems like every time I re-home one bag, I'm gifted another! I'm extremely lucky and feel very much spoiled by the gifts but, I often feel like my editing journey is taking place in a little hamster wheel going nowhere fast!
To still have such a large collection left is a hard pill to swallow. It makes me feel greedy.
This is the only part of my life that is excessive, so it never sits quite right with me that I accidentally ended up here.

For the time being, I will sit still and try to appreciate what I have (hopefully without any guilt). I'm sure I'll find a way to edit at a later point, but for now I think the collection has to just be, because forcing it isn't getting me anywhere.

How is everyone else doing on their editing journey?

Try not to feel guilty. You are young and will have plenty of time to get adequate use of all your bags, even if you don't reduce the quantity.

I haven't been thinking about it much. I just don't have the energy right now. I'm not carrying bags so you would think this would be a great time to reduce, but in the past, the way I reduced was by deciding I didn't like a bag much after carrying it for a few days. So I may think I should get rid of a certain bag but I wouldn't really know for sure until I used it.

 

[dramaprincess713]

Thanks to everyone who commented telling me to take it easy on myself. I think I needed to hear that.

I've been conditioning my bags and taking stock. I have 33, plus 4 more that I'm not officially including in my total anymore after seeing the comments here (gym bag, nylon crossbodies for travel, backpack for laptop).

Of the 33 in the official count, a fair few are sentimental handmade bags that I have purchased from local artisans in different places I've lived. I hadn't expected them to hold up so well for so long, and I will never edit from this portion unless one of them falls apart. They are part of my life story.

Then there are bags that I loved and bought for myself, as well as bags that my friends and family have generously gifted me over the years. I can edit from both of these categories a little, and have indeed started to do so.
I managed to donate 3 backpacks late last year and 4 crossbodies early on this year, though my total never changes because it seems like every time I re-home one bag, I'm gifted another! I'm extremely lucky and feel very much spoiled by the gifts but, I often feel like my editing journey is taking place in a little hamster wheel going nowhere fast!
To still have such a large collection left is a hard pill to swallow. It makes me feel greedy.
This is the only part of my life that is excessive, so it never sits quite right with me that I accidentally ended up here.

For the time being, I will sit still and try to appreciate what I have (hopefully without any guilt). I'm sure I'll find a way to edit at a later point, but for now I think the collection has to just be, because forcing it isn't getting me anywhere.

How is everyone else doing on their editing journey?

Oh my goodness, you had responded to me in the MM thread to say how much you relate to my overthinking things, and I'm here to say how very much I relate to all of this! I currently have 36 bags with another 4-6 eventual planned purchases. This number includes clutches but does not include wristlets - which really doesn't make much sense because wristlets essentially ARE clutches and sometimes hold MORE than my clutches. But for some reason, in my mind, clutches count as bags and wristlets are SLGs. Anyway, my bag count also doesn't include backpacks (I have two), beach bag/gym tote type bags (I have two of those as well) or foldable nylon totes like the Longchamp Le Pilage as I consider them travel bags (I have four of these foldable totes). Like you, I am at the point where I really love all the bags in my collection, and really have trouble thinking about letting them go. I also have quite a few sentimental bags that I can't even consider letting go. My sentimental bags tend to be those gifted to me from loved ones - usually people who would not normally buy me a bag or loved ones who have passed - so they are extra special to me. Or, they are simply sentimental because of a strong emotion and memory connected to the bag.

In the past 2 years or so, I've sold about 28 bags, and I have another 11 currently listed or waiting to be listed for sale. I've also re-purposed a handful of bags so that technically, I still own them but I don't include them in my bag count. (For example, a super sentimental bag that is too small for me to use now holds my sunglasses or a tote that I've always loved now holds all my clutches and wristlets). I'm fully aware that this re-purposing and then not counting them in my bag count may be cheating, but it seems to be the best I can do for now. And, throughout the years, I've also given away some bags.

It is insane to me that I have sold, re-purposed, or given away a good 40+ bags in the past few years, and yet, my bag collection STILL hovers around 40. In fact, with the 6 on my intended purchase list, I will be at 42 bags. I've decided my absolute limit is 40, so I'll either have to not purchase one of those on my intended list or get rid of another 2 bags. I have one that is on the "maybe it goes" list and another that I can possibly (maybe?) get rid of after buying one of my intended, so I can probably keep it to 40. But 40! I feel that so ridiculous. So very excessive. I too feel like my editing is taking place in a little hamster wheel going nowhere fast! And like you, I hate the my collection is so large.

My dream would be to get my collection down to the low-mid 20s. But with the way I am, I feel that will only remain a dream. I love what I have. I love what I intend to get. And I know I'm going to keep finding bags that I love in the future.I really don't see how I can get rid of over a third of my collection. I'm trying to be OK with that. I think 40 is excessive. I'm not thrilled with that number. But I'm also trying (not always successfully) to reconcile myself with it.

Clearly I don't have any great advice to offer, but know that you are not alone in this. I feel you, and I commiserate with you!

 

[diane278]

Oh my goodness, you had responded to me in the MM thread to say how much you relate to my overthinking things, and I'm here to say how very much I relate to all of this! I currently have 36 bags with another 4-6 eventual planned purchases. This number includes clutches but does not include wristlets - which really doesn't make much sense because wristlets essentially ARE clutches and sometimes hold MORE than my clutches. But for some reason, in my mind, clutches count as bags and wristlets are SLGs. Anyway, my bag count also doesn't include backpacks (I have two), beach bag/gym tote type bags (I have two of those as well) or foldable nylon totes like the Longchamp Le Pilage as I consider them travel bags (I have four of these foldable totes). Like you, I am at the point where I really love all the bags in my collection, and really have trouble thinking about letting them go. I also have quite a few sentimental bags that I can't even consider letting go. My sentimental bags tend to be those gifted to me from loved ones - usually people who would not normally buy me a bag or loved ones who have passed - so they are extra special to me. Or, they are simply sentimental because of a strong emotion and memory connected to the bag.

In the past 2 years or so, I've sold about 28 bags, and I have another 11 currently listed or waiting to be listed for sale. I've also re-purposed a handful of bags so that technically, I still own them but I don't include them in my bag count. (For example, a super sentimental bag that is too small for me to use now holds my sunglasses or a tote that I've always loved now holds all my clutches and wristlets). I'm fully aware that this re-purposing and then not counting them in my bag count may be cheating, but it seems to be the best I can do for now. And, throughout the years, I've also given away some bags.

It is insane to me that I have sold, re-purposed, or given away a good 40+ bags in the past few years, and yet, my bag collection STILL hovers around 40. In fact, with the 6 on my intended purchase list, I will be at 42 bags. I've decided my absolute limit is 40, so I'll either have to not purchase one of those on my intended list or get rid of another 2 bags. I have one that is on the "maybe it goes" list and another that I can possibly (maybe?) get rid of after buying one of my intended, so I can probably keep it to 40. But 40! I feel that so ridiculous. So very excessive. I too feel like my editing is taking place in a little hamster wheel going nowhere fast! And like you, I hate the my collection is so large.

My dream would be to get my collection down to the low-mid 20s. But with the way I am, I feel that will only remain a dream. I love what I have. I love what I intend to get. And I know I'm going to keep finding bags that I love in the future.I really don't see how I can get rid of over a third of my collection. I'm trying to be OK with that. I think 40 is excessive. I'm not thrilled with that number. But I'm also trying (not always successfully) to reconcile myself with it.

Clearly I don't have any great advice to offer, but know that you are not alone in this. I feel you, and I commiserate with you!

Something happened the other day that may, or may not, be relevant in this struggle many of us seem to have when it comes to how many bags makes a good collection. I closed a BV nodini bag into my car door. Yup, the door was closed with part of the bag itself inside the door and part outside the door. I opened the door thinking that I probably had destroyed the intrecciato, or at least seriously wounded it. To my surprise, it was ok. But it got me thinking. I have several “extra” bags put aside that i haven’t been using. I like them, they’re in great shape....it’s only that I don’t need them in rotation. But, had I actually killed my BV bag, I could have replaced it with one of the closeted bags, with no need to search for a new one and at no expense. So, maybe just putting some aside indefinitely, is a workable concept. Perhaps I can have a collection of 12 bags.....in my closet. The bags not in my closet will be semi-retired (in the guest room closet). If they ever wear out their welcome there, they can move on to greener pastures. I think I’ll see what others I can “pull” for now.....

 

[bagnut1]

Something happened the other day that may, or may not, be relevant in this struggle many of us seem to have when it comes to how many bags makes a good collection. I closed a BV nodini bag into my car door. Yup, the door was closed with part of the bag itself inside the door and part outside the door. I opened the door thinking that I probably had destroyed the intrecciato, or at least seriously wounded it. To my surprise, it was ok. But it got me thinking. I have several “extra” bags put aside that i haven’t been using. I like them, they’re in great shape....it’s only that I don’t need them in rotation. But, had I actually killed my BV bag, I could have replaced it with one of the closeted bags, with no need to search for a new one and at no expense. So, maybe just putting some aside indefinitely, is a workable concept. Perhaps I can have a collection of 12 bags.....in my closet. The bags not in my closet will be semi-retired (in the guest room closet). If they ever wear out their welcome there, they can move on to greener pastures. I think I’ll see what others I can “pull” for now.....

LOL. The Closet for Bags Waiting for Other Bags to Kick the Bucket. Great organizing idea!

 

[southernbelle43]

Something happened the other day that may, or may not, be relevant in this struggle many of us seem to have when it comes to how many bags makes a good collection. I closed a BV nodini bag into my car door. Yup, the door was closed with part of the bag itself inside the door and part outside the door. I opened the door thinking that I probably had destroyed the intrecciato, or at least seriously wounded it. To my surprise, it was ok. But it got me thinking. I have several “extra” bags put aside that i haven’t been using. I like them, they’re in great shape....it’s only that I don’t need them in rotation. But, had I actually killed my BV bag, I could have replaced it with one of the closeted bags, with no need to search for a new one and at no expense. So, maybe just putting some aside indefinitely, is a workable concept. Perhaps I can have a collection of 12 bags.....in my closet. The bags not in my closet will be semi-retired (in the guest room closet). If they ever wear out their welcome there, they can move on to greener pastures. I think I’ll see what others I can “pull” for now.....

Diane, I am so glad you did not ruin one of your beautiful bags! This is another of your good ideas.

I fear I do not belong in this thread. I have bought 3 new bags in the last couple of months (two unknown brands and one inexpensive longchamp). I also stopped counting my bags (which I think are around 23 in number) and decided to not worry about it. I applaud you minimalists for your tenacity though and enjoy reading what you are doing. Hugs

 

[diane278]

Diane, I am so glad you did not ruin one of your beautiful bags! This is another of your good ideas.

I fear I do not belong in this thread. I have bought 3 new bags in the last couple of months (two unknown brands and one inexpensive longchamp). I also stopped counting my bags (which I think are around 23 in number) and decided to not worry about it. I applaud you minimalists for your tenacity though and enjoy reading what you are doing. Hugs

There‘s no membership requirements to be here. I may be adding a new bag myself. The past several months have proven to me that really having control over my life is an illusion. Although I’ve always known that in theory, I now know what it’s like to actually live it. It’s ok.

 

[Purses & Perfumes]

I was also wondering if I belonged in this thread since I added a bag recently. It was a planned purchase and had been on my wish list for a while. However, I went back and forth on whether I should be buying it now -- I am still not wearing designer bags with any kind of frequency. They are mostly sitting in their dust bags. I finally decided to get it, especially given another possible price increase again later this year. I'm now pretty much at purse peace at this point, or very close. At some point, I would like to add a beige bag, as my current one has some issues with the clasp. I don't know when that will happen.

I still have a couple of bags in my closet of departing bags. I have some kind of inertia when it comes to selling, and also my days are a bit tied up lately and I'm not feeling like making the effort to re-home them. For now, I have just accepted that they will sit there for a while.

 

[Bag peace]

I think it's helpful to remember that editing doesn't mean removing only, it can mean modifying and changing. New purchases can very much be part of the journey.
Which is to say, I feel like everyone belongs in here, whether their collection is increasing or decreasing, as @diane278 has created a welcoming space for us to explore the world of editing at our own pace.

This is hands down my favourite thread on the forums.

@dramaprincess713 Thanks for sharing. It sounds like we're in a very similar spot.

 

[diane278]

I think it's helpful to remember that editing doesn't mean removing only, it can mean modifying and changing. New purchases can very much be part of the journey.
Which is to say, I feel like everyone belongs in here, whether their collection is increasing or decreasing, as @diane278 has created a welcoming space for us to explore the world of editing at our own pace.
This is hands down my favourite thread on the forums.
@dramaprincess713 Thanks for sharing. It sounds like we're in a very similar spot.

Thank you for the support, @jblended...
I agree with your view that all of us belong here if we want to participate. My personal agenda includes striving for ongoing change in my life as I see change to be part of my personal growth. Since it’s my nature to embrace ongoing change, I’m thinking that my vision of Bag Nirvana is one where my bags work for now....knowing that my needs & desires will change over time. (of course, my vision is certainly not for everyone.)
Of course, my need for change means that I might feel differently tomorrow! I know I’m “all over the place” with this, but it doesn’t bother me because it’s who I am....