CC 128: The Collector Who Loves How Fashion Makes Them Feel

"I feel energized wearing nice clothes/bags/shoes"

In today’s installment of Closet Confessionals, we meet a collector whose passion for handbags stems from how bags make them feel. A smart shopper who hasn’t done anything too crazy to purchase a bag, this collector began loving bags in their early twenties with the acquisition of an adorable Miu Miu clutch.

These days though, this handbag lover has been bitten by the Chanel bug and hopes to add another Chanel piece to their collection soon. Nonetheless, one of the most important pieces in this luxury lover’s closet remains to be a Chloé Paraty bag, which was purchased early on in this confessor’s journey. Read the full CC now, and be sure to submit your own!

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The Basics

Age: 36
Location: SF Bay Area
Occupation: Business Systems Analyst High Tech
Industry: High Tech
Salary: $126,000
Household Income: $300,000

The Bags

Are you a PurseForum member? No

How many bags do you own? 9

What bags are in your collection?

How much is your collection worth? $22,000

What is your most expensive bag? Chanel Reissue 225.

What are the most important brands or pieces in your collection? At the moment it’s Chanel. It’s classic and I know it’ll still be in style for many years to come.

What age did you get your first designer bag, and what was it? I think I was around 24-25 and got the Miu Miu clutch from Net-a-porter.com. I was too intimidated to shop in person for luxury goods at that time, so I frequently purchased them online, and thankfully, Net-a-porter existed then. Now that I’m older, I appreciate shopping in person for the experience. It feels different clicking behind the screen vs. touching the bag in person. I’m still thankful online luxury shopping is still here for those that can’t make it to the store.

Is there a specific bag you are looking to purchase next? After getting two Chanel bags, I think I’m officially into Chanel. I’m looking forward to get a classic or chevron pattern WOC. I’ve always liked Chanel’s chevron pattern.

Any particular bag that holds a special sentimental value? Chloé Paraty. I remembered wanting this bag so badly when I first saw it, and took some time to save up for this purchase. The leather is so soft and it was easy to carry. I used it every day in my first job and it still looks brand new. I really love Chloé and always appreciate their craftsmanship in leather shoes or bags.

Do you feel like your bags change people’s perceptions of you or how you’re treated? I didn’t notice much here in the US, I think most places I shopped at treated me fairly regardless which bag I carried. In Asia, I noticed there were some differences especially at luxury stores, but then I also noticed most people in Asia also dressed up when they shopped at luxury stores.

Have your bag-carrying habits changed since Covid? I used to carry small bags before Covid and travel to more places. Now that I stay home more often, I usually carry my Goyard PM tote, which also carries my daughter’s toys!

The Shopping

How often do you buy new bags? Once a year when I get my bonus.

Has the Coronavirus pandemic changed your shopping habits or overall attitude towards luxury?I don’t shop in person as much as I used to, I shop online and recently started using a personal shopper.

Which stores do you frequent the most? I went to Neiman Marcus the most, usually to check out the latest offerings from Chanel since there weren’t any Chanel stores near me.

Do you ever buy second-hand bags? Where do you buy used? Yes! I purchased from Rebag, Fashionphile, and once directly from a fashion blogger.

Do you sell old bags to pay for new purchases? I haven’t sold any bags yet.

Do you ever feel societal pressure to purchase more bags? No. I usually think about how a bag will fit into my lifestyle before getting one.

Do you consider your bag purchases investments? I think the Chanel bags feel like an investment but not the others.

Who influences your buying decisions? I’m guilty of watching lots of Youtube videos and looking at pictures from Pinterest! Sometimes beautiful IG pictures make me think about certain bags, but ultimately, I think through really hard before getting a bag.

Are sales associate relationships instrumental to your shopping? No

Why do you enjoy shopping, beyond just acquiring something new? I really like nice outfits even though I don’t go out much due to COVID. I feel energized wearing nice clothes/bags/shoes so maybe that’s the reason?

Have you ever felt like you received inferior service at a store or boutique due to your appearance, ethnicity or gender? Now when I reflect on those experiences [shared above], I think I received inferior services due to looking young. In my 20s, I looked like I was still in high school so SAs may not have taken me seriously. I haven’t felt this way for awhile, maybe due to not shopping in person as much as I used to, or I just really am not bothered if SAs leave me alone.

The Money

Who pays for your bags? Myself

Do you set aside a budget for your bag purchases? Not a strict budget, but mostly when I receive my bonus I’ll use part of that for a new bag.

The Taboo Topics

Have you ever purchased a counterfeit because you couldn’t afford a designer item? Yes, and I regret that decision. Although they look almost identical to the original item, hardware does not last after a few months of daily wear. I bought these items when I was young and could not tell the difference at first, but after getting a real handbag I realized quality is not something that can be replicated.

Do you ever hide purchases from your significant other? No. I may not disclose right away but I certainly don’t go out of my way to hide it!

What’s the craziest thing you’ve done to afford a bag? Nothing. I’ve always saved up for a bag.

Do you think your shopping is ever a problem? Have you ever felt like you were struggling with a shopping addiction? Nope!