Today we’re catching up with a confessor hailing from Scotland who has never once bought a bag with her own money. She was was just 11 years old when her collecting began, with the acquisition of a Louis Vuitton Pochette that she still has to this day! These days her collection is made up of a few LV pieces and some Chanel with a bit of Celine and more sprinkled in there too! This collector isn’t afraid to use her bags, and though she once treated them a bit more preciously these days she’s just as likely to wear a Chanel bag with sweaty gym clothes as she is to carry one out to a nice dinner. A self-proclaimed poor budgeter, this confessor spends most of her money on food, bills and other random things and is lucky enough to tap into Daddy’s wallet to pay for her bags. Read the full CC below and be sure to submit your own!
[sc_cc_callout]The Basics
Age: 29
Gender Identity: Female
Location: Scotland
Occupation: Publishing by day / Beauty Founder by night
Industry: Media & Beauty
Salary: $55,000
Household Income: $55,000
The Bags
Are you a PurseForum member? No
How many bags do you own? 16
What bags are in your collection?
In chronological order… (omg this is so fun to do at work)
Louis Vuitton Pochette
Dior Trotter Rasta mini bag (thanking my baby self for being cool)
Louis Vuitton Crossbody that I don’t think they make anymore
Louis Vuitton Speedy
Bottega Veneta slouchy woven top handle
Chanel 2.55 in black with silver hardware
Chanel Jumbo 2.55 in denim
Chanel Executive Tote in black with silver hardware
Chanel Paris – Edinburgh quilted highlander
Goyard St. Louis in bright blue
Celine Tie Knot Handle in grey
Celine Nano Luggage
Chanel 2.55 in tweed
How much is your collection worth? $21,000
What is your most expensive bag? My most recent Chanel 2.55. It’s a limited edition winter tweed and I just fell head over heels for it the moment I saw it. I think it was about £3,400. I used to be really precious with bags but I am more relaxed with them now, so it’s been out to lots of nice dinners but also worn on top of sweaty gym outfit. I realised I’m probably never going to use all my bags if I don’t wear them casually and this one makes me so happy!
What are the most important brands or pieces in your collection? My Chanel Paris – Edinburgh bag is really special to me. I’m Scottish and love Chanel so what other reason did I need…?! Chanel has been my go-to for years but lately I’m a bit disenfranchised by how many they produce, the ridiculous price hikes and how mobbed the stores are when I go in. I also LOVE my Celine tie knot handle. It looks even more expensive than it was and has that kind of stealth wealth about it, but to be honest it is so heavy even without anything in it. I use the little pouch that came inside it everyday for my phone and headphones though.
What age did you get your first designer bag, and what was it? In true obnoxious fashion, I was 11 when I got my first bag, which was the Louis Vuitton pochette. To be fair it’s held up even all these years later and I’ll always keep it.
Is there a specific bag you are looking to purchase next? I got a Goyard St Louis for university but it’s so massive that it’s not super practical for work and I really only use it for traveling these days. I’d like a new everyday tote, either the smaller Dior book bag or the small St Louis in cream (NOT with my initials on though – they peel off so easily! Such a waste of money).
Any particular bag that holds a special sentimental value? To be honest the bag I reach for the most is my Celine luggage nano – it is so bashed around and looks cool for it. I’m pretty sentimental about all of my bags though. I can tell you where and when each one was purchased and the main times I’ve used them 🙂
Do you feel like your bags change people’s perceptions of you or how you’re treated? Probably. As a teen I carried some expensive and at the time lust-worthy bags. I remember a woman staring at my speedy and feeling weird about it. I imagine people assumed they were fake! The bags are definitely conversation starters, even when I go to places like soulcycle. I don’t get it much in Scotland but in London and other big cities (especially in America), I definitely notice the difference in the way I’m treated in stores when I have a nice bag and when I don’t.
The Shopping
How often do you buy new bags? There’s no rhyme or reason to it. I hadn’t bought a new bag for a couple of years before falling in love with my latest Chanel acquisition. I just buy based on a gut feeling and whether or not I’m obsessively thinking about my life with said bag in it haha. That’s my issue at the moment – do I buy the Dior Book tote (heart speaking) or go with my head and get the St Louis which is more timeless and practical? I like the excitement factor!
Which stores do you frequent the most? Not that many. I just browse when I’m on holiday so normally places like Neiman Marcus in the states, or I go into the brand stores to see the new collections.
Do you ever buy second-hand bags? Where do you buy used? No, never.
The only one I would buy used is a Chanel Paris-Dallas bag that I turned down in-store and have been searching for ever since. The one that got away.
Do you sell old bags to pay for new purchases? No.I think I sold two bags years ago on Vestiaire Collective but they weren’t ‘special’ and I hadn’t used them much. To be perfectly honest I generally get bags as gifts so I’m not funding these myself.
Do you ever feel societal pressure to purchase more bags? No!!
I sometimes feel like that if I’m abroad and I see a new bag on someone, or when IG was flooded with the Dior Saddles a few months ago, but I wouldn’t make that kind of large purchase based on a trend. I had a Marc Jacobs Stam when they were cool and it was a lesson in never caving into a trend like that.
Do you consider your bag purchases investments? Absolutely. Investments in my happiness… haha just kididng. I dress very casual 99% of the time. I’m talking leggings and a sweatshirt or jeans and a tshirt, so for me having a great bag is the item that pulls it all together. Great hair and a chanel bag lets you get away with the morning’s pilates outfit still on for dinner haha 🙂
Who influences your buying decisions? My mum! 🙂 I am normally with her when I shop so I would always ask her opinion. I don’t really trust or to be honest care about anyone else’s opinion. I occassionally see celebs with bags and contemplate them but I’m more likely to be put off than immediately run out to buy it.
Are sales associate relationships instrumental to your shopping? No. I shop randomly and in different countries.
Why do you enjoy shopping, beyond just acquiring something new? I wouldn’t call myself a shopaholic / addict. I just get things when I feel like I love them and to be honest I hate browsing shops for too long. Especially for clothes! I could sit in Chanel all day but I absolutely cannot flip through a rack of clothes – I’d rather do it on my laptop.
Have you ever felt like you received inferior service at a store or boutique due to your appearance, ethnicity or gender? I was trying to buy a new Chanel bag in Hong Kong years ago and they wanted us to wait in a minimum 30min queue to get in. That’s a hard pass. There’s no way I am waiting in line to part with thousands of pounds. In general though, no.
The Money
Who pays for your bags? lol. Thank you dad!! 🙂
Do you set aside a budget for your bag purchases? see above 🙂
I am the worst at budgeting!! All my money goes on bills and food and random purchases from H&M. There is no method to my madness. I do need to get a grip before I’m 30 though.
The Taboo Topics
Have you ever purchased a counterfeit because you couldn’t afford a designer item? Yes! I was in Beijing with a friend and they have a huge mall filled with counterfeits. It’s so crazy! We both bought a pair of those Chanel espadrilles and I still have them somewhere but I haven’t ever worn them.
Do you ever hide purchases from your significant other? Boyfriend is pending…
But no, in general I wouldn’t hide anything. I’m very casual and not a show off so it’s not really in people’s faces anyway.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve done to afford a bag? I’ve never bought a bag myself.
Do you think your shopping is ever a problem? Have you ever felt like you were struggling with a shopping addiction? Nope.
I am not a huge shopper in general, if I am it’s just random online purchases from amazon haha
The Rest Of It
Any other expensive hobbies or passions? I love jewellry too. What girl doesn’t?! I’m not super fussy about shoes as I wear trainers most days but I do love an expensive stiletto for events and nights out.
