In today’s installment of Closet Confessionals, we are checking back in with CC 68, whose bag collection has doubled in value since we last heard from him. As for the number of bags he owns? CC 161 now owns an amazing 72 bags, and we’ve got some stunning photos of them for you today. Two things remain true; CC 68/161’s sense of humor and obsession and love for bags—particularly Dior!
This confessor is not shy about bags, and he’s very candid about the brands he adores and the ones that aren’t for him. While CC 68/161’s access to spending on bags hasn’t changed, he still pays for half and his partner the other; some things have changed since we last talked to this Dior devotee. These days he is a bit more aware of his shopping addiction and admits that the first step to changing is recognizing the work that needs to be done. Read the full CC and look at some of CC 68/161’s stunning collection below. Don’t forget to submit your own CC too!
[sc_cc_callout]The Basics
Age: 32
Gender Identity: Male
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Occupation: Ex-editor
Industry: It used to be Background Screening, but I have since left that and am currently a full-time Tai Tai LOL
Salary: $45,000
Household Income: $45,000
The Bags
Are you a PurseForum member? No
How many bags do you own? 62 and counting, I have a Balenciaga Hourglass coming, so 63 then? Not all are high-end bags, some are from my local designers, and some are no-brand bags.
What bags are in your collection?
17 Dior bags! I have almost all the designs known to the house but my favourite will always be the Lady Dior. In fact, I have 8 of them! Three of them are in the Micro size and both of my Minis are in exotic skins (metallic python and a matte alligator). The rest are a mixture of everything else the house has to offer. Some I have sold, and some, I’ve kept for sentimental value, and future resell purposes.
8 Chanels, including the super rare Boy Brick (or the Lego Clutch) from way back when. I also have the equally coveted Tiffany Blue Tall Boy. Some generic-looking Chanel bags, and the latest would be my Heart bag in purple. Got it as a birthday present from my boyfriend.
3 Guccis, unlike every other person in Malaysia, I don’t have an insane obsession with the brand. The only one I truly liked was the Dionysus (Net-a-porter special). Which is now one of my forever pieces.
3 Louis Vuittons, again, like Gucci, is the brand that I tend to avoid. All three were hand-me-downs. My boyfriend got them, got bored and gave them to me. I would never buy one new or in the store; shoot me between the eyes if you ever saw me in there buying bags! That’s not me!
2 Balenciagas, the Metallic Edge City, and my on-the-way Hourglass. I know they’re canceled now, but in my defense, I bought them before the controversy. So, let me have this okay? LOL
3 Hermès Birkins, one in 35, Tangerine, Ostrich skin. The two are in 25, one in Rose Sakura and another in Etoupe.
The rest of my bags are from either Fendi, YSL, Marc Jacobs, Bvlgari, or local designers. I don’t go out as often, so having too many bags are not something my boyfriend would approve of. In fact, he’s finding ways to sell some of my collection as I’m writing this, but there’s no way I’m letting my babies go. Who in their right mind sells their babies? Am I right, ladies? *wink*
How much is your collection worth? In case you haven’t noticed or have never come across my confessional before, my collection has since grown from the last time I was here (CC 68 here, btw), so I think maybe nearing the $200,000 mark? The exotics and, of course, Hermès are to blame. Normal leathered bags in my collection would cost way less.
What is your most expensive bag? The exotics! And of course, my Rose Sakura B25. Surprisingly, it costs more than my exotic Lady Dior. But that baby was one of my holy grails, so it was worth every penny. I’m aiming for more exotic pieces from Hermès, but my boyfriend is not that keen on that. Let’s hope I can change his mind soon!
What are the most important brands or pieces in your collection? Dior and Hermès. Love Dior for their classic silhouette and clean lines – I worship the brand; it’s my Mecca for luxury houses! Aside from Dior, I also love Hermès, but not that keen on playing their games, so I tend to buy on the secondary preloved market. Which burns a big hole in my pocket! But this way, I can have the exact bag combination. I’m aiming for a Mini Lady Dior in Pink Ostrich and B30 in Rose Scheherazade.
What age did you get your first designer bag, and what was it? This was discussed before in CC 68, so if you really want to know, you can head on there and have a quick read on it. I was funnier then, so don’t be shocked. Covid had taken away my sense of humor. Yeah, blame it all on Ms. Rona! LOL
Is there a specific bag you are looking to purchase next? The pink Mini Lady Dior in Ostrich and that B30 in Rose Scheherazade. I really wanted a Birkin Touch, but I couldn’t justify the price for it. I rather buy a full exotic piece rather than spend that amount on a Touch Birkin. My boyfriend is not happy about it because he’s not into exotics, but I love them to the high heavens! I like Ostrich and Croc the best, and I would love to add some Stingray too, in the future.
Any particular bag that holds a special sentimental value? I have some, but my recent Mini Lady Dior in Alligator takes the cake now. I was having a hard time at work – you know, with all the stress and everything, and I was at the early stage of burning out. So bae surprised me with the bag around Christmas, I think. It was magical. He wanted me to power through for another year, and I did – well, at least until October this year LOL.
Do you feel like your bags change people’s perceptions of you or how you’re treated? It’s a mix between yes and no for me. Yes, for the people who actually know and appreciate the brand. No, for the rest. People who are in the know would take a second glimpse of me. The rest are just perplexed, well, mostly because I looked more like a girl than I am a boy. So, they wanted to make sure. But hey! I’m not complaining. Malls are my runway, and a model needs to be noticed and appreciated.
Have your bag-carrying habits changed since Covid? Not really; with or without Ms. Rona, I am a person who likes the extreme. My bags are either too small or too big. There’s no in-between. I don’t have many medium-sized bags, and truth be told, I like my micro bags the most in my collection. Even though they don’t fit anything except for my childhood trauma, it gives me a certain level of satisfaction wearing them. Plus, I love the glances, especially from guys, wondering, “What in the world fits in that”?
The Shopping
How often do you buy new bags? I’ve been a very good girl, you know, since my last confession, I have trained myself to buy bags maybe once every two or three months. I’ve learned that my purchases should be well-thought and wearable. I’m in my 30s now, so I need to be more mature and wise in my spending.
Has the Coronavirus pandemic changed your shopping habits or overall attitude towards luxury? Yes! Absolutely. Ms. Rona greatly changed my spending habits. I’m more calculative now, and I tend to focus more on styles that I know I’m going to enjoy for a long time (Read: Lady Dior, Birkin). No more experimenting, now I buy bags that I know work for me. Usually in different colours or leathers.
Which stores do you frequent the most? I’ve remained the same in this pre and post, Ms. Rona. I don’t shop in stores physically. I like my browsing experience to be virtual – preferably in my pajamas and at odd hours. I don’t like socializing that much (but I’m a fairly talkative girl, I swear! Ask my friends, they would know). So, I prefer browsing online.
Do you ever buy second-hand bags? Where do you buy used? Here in Malaysia, we have a lot of Instagram stores selling preloved and second-hand bags. Some that I frequent are @theluxfind (great selection of Hermès, including exotics!) @mybagsbunny and @deluxe_life (the owner, Parker, is a sweetheart, highly recommended!). Some of them have a physical store that you can visit, so rest assured, they are as legit as Chris Evan’s derrière.
Do you sell old bags to pay for new purchases? Yes! I’ve been guilty of selling my babies, usually by force (my boyfriend can be quite persistent in keeping my collection “small”) and sometimes, to fund an exotic piece. But I usually sell bags that I haven’t used in maybe two or three years, so I won’t miss it that much. Even though sometimes I have nightmares and the guilt of abandoning them. But hey! Life goes on, right?
I usually sell them in the previously listed Instagram stores.
Do you ever feel societal pressure to purchase more bags? No. But sometimes, I have that sudden urge to buy a new bag, and I need it there and then. But as I grew older, I learned to not succumb to that urge and really think about each of my bag purchases. Wow, look at me being mature! And I’ve realized that I’m more of an exotic girl now, so trends are not an issue because exotics are an all-year style for me.
Do you consider your bag purchases investments? No. Except for my Birkins, I don’t think my babies have great resell value. Even so, I would never sell any of my Birkins. The Rose Sakura is a rare piece, it’s in Clemence and I haven’t seen that anywhere else. Rose Sakura is usually crafted in Swift or Chevre leather, this is an ultra-rare piece and I’m sure as hell not going to let it go.
Who influences your buying decisions? No one. Just me and my head. I have some saved pages on my Instagram for inspiration but it stops there. I don’t have a go-to influencer or socialites that I follow to the T. I like my style just fine and I usually style myself according to whatever mood I’m in at that time.
Are sales associate relationships instrumental to your shopping? No. My partner handles this most of the time. I don’t shop in stores and when buying online, my purchases were directly from the store, so I don’t have an exclusive relationship and rapport with any SA or CA from any brand. My boyfriend, on the other hand, has connections left, right and center. Boy really loves to shop in stores and it shows in our bank statement!
Why do you enjoy shopping, beyond just acquiring something new? Shopping is my stress reliever. It is truly retail therapy for me. When I’m stressed, I shop. And when I say shop, I mean shop SHOP. It’s absurd sometimes looking back at my bank transaction – not to mention the embarrassment from it.
In saying that, I can proudly declare that I’m indeed a shopaholic, a handbagholic to be exact.
Have you ever felt like you received inferior service at a store or boutique due to your appearance, ethnicity or gender? I don’t shop in stores, but when I do, I rarely converse with the SA or CA. I’m the type that take whatever I want, put it in the basket, head straight to the counter, pay, and get the hell out of there. The only time I spend time browsing for products is when I’m out with friends.
The Money
Who pays for your bags? This has been consistent (since CC 68). It was and still is a half-and-half situation. He pays half and me, the other half. But, I have yet to purchase anything at the moment (I’m currently jobless) so not sure about our current situation. If it’s a big purchase or special occasion, we may revisit our terms and conditions.
Do you set aside a budget for your bag purchases? I should! and I’ve been doing that. But I haven’t had the opportunity to save that much for my handbag purchases. Maybe I should start again when I’m working.
The Taboo Topics
Have you ever purchased a counterfeit because you couldn’t afford a designer item? Yes, and this have been discussed in CC 68. I don’t want to revisit that – it gives me restless nights LOL.
Do you ever hide purchases from your significant other? No. We share everything! and since he pays for half of it, I can’t hide anything from him. Well, presents are subject to change here. We usually hide our birthday presents from one another. In fact, he surprised me with the Chanel Heart bag this year for my birthday and I gifted him the Prism Keepall. It was a whole lot of money; that Keepall, but to see his smile upon receiving that bag is priceless.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve done to afford a bag? I’ve used my insurance money to fund a Be Dior bag! It was in my previous confessional too! Not much has happened since then because I’ve learned to really think about my purchases and not be hasty with my money.
Do you think your shopping is ever a problem? Have you ever felt like you were struggling with a shopping addiction? This is a hard yes for me. I’ve spent too much. It’s not a good thing, especially nowadays when the economy is not that great. But, the first step to recovery is to admit that you have a problem – and I like to think that I’m on the road to a better spending habit.
The Rest Of It
Any other expensive hobbies or passions? Since my last confession, I have taken an interest in traveling. I like to have a staycation every now and then. Four Seasons Resort Langkawi is a great place by the way; highly recommended!
