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

[Nibb]

My pleasure! Having spent a number of years here, the tpf has provided me with tons of information and enabling of Olympic proportions...not to mention comrades in arms! Last night I tackled the section of my closet I use for bag storage. I made some progress but I know there’s going to be more eliminations coming.
My closet is outfitted with a 20 year old California Closets system so there’s limited options when it comes to rearranging the sections. (I put a glass framed watercolor in the closet and failed to consider the reflection of the lighting but am too lazy to take a new photo. I also left the dumping shelf on the bottom right so I wouldn’t cut off the shelf on the right.)
View attachment 4594049
Here’s a closeup of the slide-on dividers I found on Amazon last week that really got me to my current finish line. Because I have mostly clutches, it’s a challenge to keep them upright, which is my preferred placement, especially with my limited shelf room. View attachment 4594086
So....I’m currently at 15. I haven’t made a list, but my next step is to take photos of my bags to carry on my phone as a reminder that I have more than enough right now.
There’s always the possibility I’ll add something new, but if I do, I’ll remove something else....at least that’s my plan. Thanks @Rami00 for the inspiration. And I love having this group to return to for support. As a matter-of-fact, I think I’ll be removing one more in the very near future....I’m looking at you, small mist clutch. You deserve more love.

Your closet is beautiful! I notice your beautiful bags are of a limited color pallet, an elegant pallet. I like it.

 

[diane278]

Your closet is beautiful! I notice your beautiful bags are of a limited color pallet, an elegant pallet. I like it.

Thank you. I used to have a rainbow of bags. But, as I’ve narrowed down my clothing wardrobe, I’ve found myself narrowing my bag wardrobe as well. I may have a surplus of black clutches but, currently, I’m using them all.

 

[diane278]

Omg beautiful and inspiring! And I love how you integrate art into every area of your home.

That is a stellar closet, complete with fine art. You are amazing!!!

If I had to chose between a painting and a bag, the painting would win, hands down. The piece in the closet was previously leaning against a wall, as I had no space to hang it. It looks much better in the closet!

 

[southernbelle43]

Thank you. I used to have a rainbow of bags. But, as I’ve narrowed down my clothing wardrobe, I’ve found myself narrowing my bag wardrobe as well. I may have a surplus of black clutches but, currently, I’m using them all.

(In a very staid British accent ala Maggie Smith). My dear, one can never had too many black bags.

 

[diane278]

(In a very staid British accent ala Maggie Smith). My dear, one can never had too many black bags.

Good! Then I’m safe for awhile!

 

[poulinska]

I am silently reading this post and am really impressed by your collections! Somehow I am coming from the other direction. I have only two bags (MCM Klara Hobo and LC Penelope, both blue - maybe this is a pattern?). I had two bags by abro I had to let go because I used them until they fell apart. I would love to build a collection but I have kind of a shopping anxiety, because I only want to decide on something I would really use. Everytime I have an impulse on buying a bag, I go home to sleep on it and the next day the impulse is gone...This year I haven't even used my fashion budget because I feel I can't really decide. So just from the sidelines: congrats on being able to buy bags and also letting go of them...

 

[Bag peace]

I am silently reading this post and am really impressed by your collections! Somehow I am coming from the other direction. I have only two bags (MCM Klara Hobo and LC Penelope, both blue - maybe this is a pattern?). I had two bags by abro I had to let go because I used them until they fell apart. I would love to build a collection but I have kind of a shopping anxiety, because I only want to decide on something I would really use. Everytime I have an impulse on buying a bag, I go home to sleep on it and the next day the impulse is gone...This year I haven't even used my fashion budget because I feel I can't really decide. So just from the sidelines: congrats on being able to buy bags and also letting go of them...

In my opinion, you're doing it right. Making careful, considered purchases means that you only let into your life what you truly love and can use. Your collection, be it a collection of 1 or 100, will always be perfect precisely because you are coming from this angle. If it takes one night to get over the impulse, then that bag was not right for you.

And you have seen the other end of the continuum early on in your bag adventures (Here I am, sitting with 30 bags and overwhelmed by the number) so you will not make the mistake of reaching a point where it is impractical or unmanageable. It's good to know early on that it can become unmanageable, so you are mindful and reach a number that is right for you.

I say all this with great respect and I hope it comes through. I am like you, in that I use my bags until they fall apart and I don't add anything unless I think about it a million times before buying.
I'm a nightmare for SA's because I look and try repeatedly, and compare with what I already have, I think of what something will match with and how I will use things; I never impulse shop. This is on all fronts, not just bags.
Our homes and our spaces should be carefully filled- they are not retail spaces to be filled to the brim. I see all these people on Youtube with ludicrous amounts of things that they never use (a bag collection of 400+ is the last one I saw). Why? Each bag getting used 1 day of the year? How does that make any sense?
I would much rather they left those things in the shops so they can be used by someone else. Instead they buy it all and just store it. They may as well have never been made because they are not serving their intended purpose.

Enjoy building your collection, take your time and have fun, but never lose that mindfulness which is what ensures that each piece you do let into your life will be treasured by you, and will be fully utilized as intended.

 

[southernbelle43]

I am silently reading this post and am really impressed by your collections! Somehow I am coming from the other direction. I have only two bags (MCM Klara Hobo and LC Penelope, both blue - maybe this is a pattern?). I had two bags by abro I had to let go because I used them until they fell apart. I would love to build a collection but I have kind of a shopping anxiety, because I only want to decide on something I would really use. Everytime I have an impulse on buying a bag, I go home to sleep on it and the next day the impulse is gone...This year I haven't even used my fashion budget because I feel I can't really decide. So just from the sidelines: congrats on being able to buy bags and also letting go of them...

You are very wise!

 

[poulinska]

Thank you for your kind words. Compared to lots of others I sometimes feel like, I don't treat myself enough but buying a bag I don't lik wouldn't be a treat also.

I'm a nightmare for SA's because I look and try repeatedly, and compare with what I already have, I think of what something will match with and how I will use things; I never impulse shop. This is on all fronts, not just bags.

That's the same for me! And I always feel like disappointing the SA's. But if I want it, I will come back.
So now I return to silently reading because there is a lot to learn from you all!

 

[Bag peace]

Thank you for your kind words. Compared to lots of others I sometimes feel like, I don't treat myself enough but buying a bag I don't lik wouldn't be a treat also.

That's the same for me! And I always feel like disappointing the SA's. But if I want it, I will come back.
So now I return to silently reading because there is a lot to learn from you all!

Those two little things that popped out at me:
1- A treat need not be a material thing. Just because others buy themselves things, doesn't mean you're depriving yourself by not following suit. At least, I hope you're not depriving yourself because you are deserving of all things that bring you joy.
A treat can be the fact that you're respecting yourself enough to only buy things you are certain of, or allowing yourself to browse without giving in to the pressure to buy.
A treat can also be allowing yourself to enjoy a quiet moment, a good book, the company of good friends. I don't think retail therapy is always a healthy treat (I used to indulge in it and wish I had better outlets for stress at that time).
There are many ways to treat yourself and I've learned that self-care extends beyond buying something nice. Of course, purchase what you enjoy- life is to be lived- but know that self-care comes in many forms and you shouldn't feel the need to do what others are doing.

2- I am not really on this journey at this time... as I mentioned in an earlier post I am unable to edit my closet presently because I don't want to hurt people's feelings (they gifted me the bags). However, I still contribute here when I feel I can add something useful (which I hope nobody objects to). There's no need to watch silently. Join in, chit chat, we all learn from each other no matter what stage we are at on this journey.

I have only been active on this forum for a short time but the community here is outstanding. I feel honoured to be a part of it, whether I'm just watching or actively contributing.

 

[poulinska]

1- A treat need not be a material thing. Just because others buy themselves things, doesn't mean you're depriving yourself by not following suit. At least, I hope you're not depriving yourself because you are deserving of all things that bring you joy.
A treat can be the fact that you're respecting yourself enough to only buy things you are certain of, or allowing yourself to browse without giving in to the pressure to buy.
A treat can also be allowing yourself to enjoy a quiet moment, a good book, the company of good friends. I don't think retail therapy is always a healthy treat (I used to indulge in it and wish I had better outlets for stress at that time).
There are many ways to treat yourself and I've learned that self-care extends beyond buying something nice. Of course, purchase what you enjoy- life is to be lived- but know that self-care comes in many forms and you shouldn't feel the need to do what others are doing.

2- I am not really on this journey at this time... as I mentioned in an earlier post I am unable to edit my closet presently because I don't want to hurt people's feelings (they gifted me the bags). However, I still contribute here when I feel I can add something useful (which I hope nobody objects to). There's no need to watch silently. Join in, chit chat, we all learn from each other no matter what stage we are at on this journey.

I have only been active on this forum for a short time but the community here is outstanding. I feel honoured to be a part of it, whether I'm just watching or actively contributing.

Thank you. I agree with everything you write. Whenever I try retail therapy it is because I didn't have time to go to the gym or to meditate - but I always end up with knowing that an hour of yoga is better for me. Most of the time (I would love to indulge in a great bag and when I find it, I will.)
But also: you are very mindful about your things so you are on a journey in my opinion. Thinking about what you have and why you keep it is a journey, I think? Also: yes the community is outstanding.

 

[lxrac]

Last Tuesday, I did my first bag pull and reduced my bags down to 15. So far, so good. At the very least, I now know that 15 bags will be adequate but I’m hoping to reduce that amount further. I know, without any doubt, that I can cover all my “needs” with fewer than 15 bags but I’m still not ready to let go of some simply because I really like the styles. I’m ok with this being a somewhat fluid process. In a perfect world, I’d get to a functioning collection and maintain a one-in, one-out balance.
I know....lofty expectations for a experiment that’s been in effect for only 5 days.....but a girl can dream!

Girl I wish I was strong like you. I counted I have 27 bags! And I'm a guy! Most of them are hidden, dustbagged in my closet I only use a quarter of them currently, but my love is fleeting. One day I will be obsessed again to a bag that I haven't used in a year. That's the trend that I'm noticing about me.
It took me 8 years to accumulate

 

[Nibb]

I am silently reading this post and am really impressed by your collections! Somehow I am coming from the other direction. I have only two bags (MCM Klara Hobo and LC Penelope, both blue - maybe this is a pattern?). I had two bags by abro I had to let go because I used them until they fell apart. I would love to build a collection but I have kind of a shopping anxiety, because I only want to decide on something I would really use. Everytime I have an impulse on buying a bag, I go home to sleep on it and the next day the impulse is gone...This year I haven't even used my fashion budget because I feel I can't really decide. So just from the sidelines: congrats on being able to buy bags and also letting go of them...

It sounds like you live your life mindfully. If you don’t use your fashion budget this year it won’t matter, if you don’t treat yourself to a new bag that’s fine too, your treat is not having the stress of buying something you really don’t like. All I can say from my experience is most things I impulse buy are the things I regret buying, fortunately for me I seldom buy anything on impulse. Good luck with your quest.

 

[Joule]

I am silently reading this post and am really impressed by your collections! Somehow I am coming from the other direction. I have only two bags (MCM Klara Hobo and LC Penelope, both blue - maybe this is a pattern?). I had two bags by abro I had to let go because I used them until they fell apart. I would love to build a collection but I have kind of a shopping anxiety, because I only want to decide on something I would really use. Everytime I have an impulse on buying a bag, I go home to sleep on it and the next day the impulse is gone...This year I haven't even used my fashion budget because I feel I can't really decide. So just from the sidelines: congrats on being able to buy bags and also letting go of them...

I’d like to develop some of this “shopping anxiety” you’ve mentioned. Do you give lessons?

 

[diane278]

Girl I wish I was strong like you. I counted I have 27 bags! And I'm a guy! Most of them are hidden, dustbagged in my closet I only use a quarter of them currently, but my love is fleeting. One day I will be obsessed again to a bag that I haven't used in a year. That's the trend that I'm noticing about me.
It took me 8 years to accumulate

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 use 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.)