In today’s installment of Closet Confessionals, we meet a stay-at-home mom hailing from Dallas, Texas, by way of India. A bag lover whose collection and zest for bags continue to grow and evolve, CC 153 began collecting bags with the purchase of a Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAC bag. Though these days, this bag lover has sold off many of her contemporary bags on Poshmark and stocks her closet with bags from Loewe, Louis Vuitton, Dior, and more.
Her premier designer bag collection began with a Chloé Mini Marcie bag, and these days she’s looking to buy a Chanel Bag next. Mainly a lover of multi-brand, online stores with great customer service, this collector is looking forward to traveling to Europe and acquiring her very first Chanel bag, which will surely be a moment to remember. Read the full CC now, and don’t forget to submit your own!
[sc_cc_callout]The Basics
Age: 38
Gender Identity: Female
Location: Dallas, TX
Occupation: SAHM
Industry: NA
Salary: $0.00
Household Income: $350,000
The Bags
Are you a PurseForum member? No
How many bags do you own? 30
What bags are in your collection? I have twelve designer bags.
- Chloe Mini Marcie tan
- Louis Vuitton Alma BB DE
- Louis Vuitton Felicie Amarante
- YSL Toy Loulou taupe
- YSL mini Lou camera bag red
- YSL Wristlet white
- Loewe small Puzzle Bag tan
- Loewe square basket bag
- Valentino Rockstud bag grey
- Fendi Zucca Camera Bag Black
- Gucci Super Mini Dionysus silver
- Dior Diorama WOC gold
Most of my other bags are Tory Burch. I also have some Coach, Staud, and Henri Bendel.
How much is your collection worth? $20,000
What is your most expensive bag? Loewe Puzzle in the small size in tan.
What are the most important brands or pieces in your collection? I love Loewe for their understated pieces. Their quality is great and I instantly feel cool wearing a Loewe bag in a sea of LV monograms. Also, Tory Burch is the best contemporary designer IMHO.
What age did you get your first designer bag, and what was it? I purchased my first contemporary designer bag at 29. It was a Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAC in red which was the IT bag at the time. I still have it but don’t use it anymore. My first high-end designer bag was the Chloe Mini Marcie which was a birthday gift from my husband when I turned 34.
Is there a specific bag you are looking to purchase next? Yes! I’m hoping to buy my first Chanel bag this year. I can’t decide between the rectangular mini and 19.
Any particular bag that holds a special sentimental value? My two Henri Bendel Jetsetter backpacks. They’re my travel bags of choice and have been all around the world with me. I love them and have so many fond memories attached to them. It’s a shame that Henri Bendel doesn’t exist anymore. My husband thinks they’re the best bags ever!
Do you feel like your bags change people’s perceptions of you or how you’re treated? I can’t say they do. People in Texas are very friendly and I’ve been treated nicely irrespective of the bag I’m carrying that day.
Have your bag-carrying habits changed since Covid? Not really. They did change after my daughter no longer needed a diaper bag. I prefer smaller bags now versus the large totes I used to carry.
The Shopping
How often do you buy new bags? Two to three times a year. Most of my bags are anniversary or birthday gifts.
Has the Coronavirus pandemic changed your shopping habits or overall attitude towards luxury? I was an avid online shopper even before the pandemic. Might be a controversial statement, but I don’t put much emphasis on the in-store experience. Waiting in a queue for 45 minutes just to get in is not very luxurious.
Being a handbag lover from a very young age has helped me become skilled at deciding if a bag is for me or not. Buying bags online is my preferred way.
Which stores do you frequent the most? Multi-brand online boutiques like MyTheresa, Luisaviaroma and Cettire etc. I also like Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom a lot. Reliable online stores with easy returns, friendly customer service, and great deals are my go-to.
Do you ever buy second-hand bags? Where do you buy used? Absolutely! I bought both my LV bags from Fashionphile. I’ve also purchased from YoogisCloset and The RealReal. However, doing research is a must because pre-loved might not always be the best deal.
Do you sell old bags to pay for new purchases? I sold most of my Rebecca Minkoff and Kate Spade bags on Poshmark when I started buying high-end designers. I’ve sold a couple of designer totes mostly because they were too big. The older I get the more careful I’ve become about not buying bags based on hype or impulse.
Do you ever feel societal pressure to purchase more bags? I’ve never felt that from anyone I know in real life. On social media, I try to maintain my sanity by not following too many luxury influencers. There are a million beautiful things in the world but I don’t have to own them to appreciate their beauty.
Do you consider your bag purchases investments? My bags are not financial investments. They’re for my enjoyment and a luxury that I choose to spend money on. What I will say though, is because of online buying and never paying full price, there have been times when I sold a bag and made a small profit. Still, I don’t consider bags sound investments.
Who influences your buying decisions? My personal style. Sometimes, trends and social media do influence me but the final decision rests on the bag working in my life and with my sense of style. An example of this is the Fendi First that I LOVE but am certain would be a bag I won’t use a lot.
Are sales associate relationships instrumental to your shopping? Not at all because a majority of my shopping is done online.
Why do you enjoy shopping, beyond just acquiring something new? Shopping and looking at beautiful things inspires me. I seek beauty as an escape from the mundane. This can easily devolve into an addiction and has in the past for me. I’ve really worked on my mental health such as identifying triggers that led to bad purchases. It’s not a problem anymore but I’m definitely aware of the dark side of using shopping as a stress release.
Have you ever felt like you received inferior service at a store or boutique due to your appearance, ethnicity or gender? I’m Indian and always get pretty good service at Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus in Dallas. Have rarely gone into designer boutiques so can’t say much about them.
The Money
Who pays for your bags? My husband. They’re usually anniversary or birthday gifts.
Do you set aside a budget for your bag purchases? No, but if it’s an unusually big purchase then I do plan for it.
The Taboo Topics
Have you ever purchased a counterfeit because you couldn’t afford a designer item? When I used to live in India, I bought bags that looked a lot like the popular designer bags of the time. I won’t call them counterfeit because the brand name was never on them, heavily influenced dupes perhaps.
Do you ever hide purchases from your significant other? Never. He pays for them.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve done to afford a bag? Nothing yet. But, I’m planning a trip to Europe with the major motivation being a Chanel bag. I guess that’s kinda crazy.
Do you think your shopping is ever a problem? Have you ever felt like you were struggling with a shopping addiction? After my daughter was born, I struggled with postpartum depression for a few years. During that time my shopping habits were out of control. At times, it felt like what I bought didn’t matter as long as I bought something.
A shopping addiction can be pernicious and difficult to detect. I have managed to overcome it with help from my husband and friends. Our family’s future and all the responsibilities that come with raising a child are a higher priority than bags for me.
The Rest Of It
Any other expensive hobbies or passions? Bags are a splurge for me. I try to be more restrained in other areas of life. One other luxury that our family indulges in is travel.
Anything else you would like to include? Thank you for reading this. I hope you enjoyed my musings on handbags and addiction. Stuff is awesome but people are better.
