In today’s installment of Closet Confessionals, we meet a housewife in her early 50s, hailing from none other than Beverly Hills, California. A self-proclaimed shopaholic, this handbag lover has been collecting bags since the age of 16, when she received her first Fendi Monogrammed shoulder bag.
Ironically, CC 167’s daughter is now the same age and has also developed a love for collecting handbags; thus, she collects with the sentiment to pass bags on to her daughter. This collector loves Hermès and Chanel, only opting to shop in boutiques, as she’s not a fan of pre-loved bags. That said, her sales associate relationships are very important, and she has remained loyal to them over the years.
Read the full CC now, and don’t forget to submit your own.
[sc_cc_callout]The Basics
Age: 51
Gender Identity: Female
Location: Beverly Hills, CA
Occupation: Housewife
Industry: Family Business
Salary: $500,000
Household Income: $3,500,000
The Bags
Are you a PurseForum member? Yes
How many bags do you own? 80
What bags are in your collection?
- Hermès Birkins – 24
- Hermès Kelly – 24
- Hermès Constance – 12
- Hermès Mini Lindy – 6
- Chanel Classic – 12
- Chanel Boy Bag – 12
- Goyard – 6
- Christian Dior – 3
How much is your collection worth? Almost $1 million.
What is your most expensive bag?
Hermès Birkin 25 Crocodile
Hermès Kelly 28 Crocodile special order
What are the most important brands or pieces in your collection? Hermès special order Birkin and Kelly bags.
What age did you get your first designer bag, and what was it? 6 – Fendi monogram shoulder bag
Is there a specific bag you are looking to purchase next? Emerald green Hermès Birkin 25
Any particular bag that holds a special sentimental value? My first Hermès Garden Party – my husband’s wedding anniversary gift.
Do you feel like your bags change people’s perceptions of you or how you’re treated? Definitely. When I wear any of my BKC they treat me better. When I walk into a Chanel wearing a Birkin or Kelly, for some reason hard to get items are available. People tend to be more ‘friendly’ when they see my Hermès. When there is a long line, even at Cartier or VCA, when they see my Birkin, then they automatically invite me in even without an appointment.
Have your bag-carrying habits changed since Covid? Yes. I use bags that I can easily wipe down with my alcohol wipes. I dont know if it’s safe with epsom but I just wipe it down. Makes me feel “covid conscious.”
The Shopping
How often do you buy new bags? With Hermès, I go four times a year – twice for BK and twice for Constance. Then if anything I can think of like a mini lindy or a heart-shaped Chanel then, I go. Probably another 6 times a year.
Has the Coronavirus pandemic changed your shopping habits or overall attitude towards luxury? Not really. My sales assistants during the pandemic would let me know if there is anything on my wishlist and just send it to me.
Which stores do you frequent the most? Rodeo Drive Hermès.
Do you ever buy second-hand bags? Where do you buy used? No. I want it to be a fresh bag for me. Just like cars or clothes, I do not want them used. Probably because I am OCD and want it to be perfect 🙂
Do you sell old bags to pay for new purchases? No
Do you ever feel societal pressure to purchase more bags? Not really. It’s more like what I want and what I can pass on to my daughter.
Do you consider your bag purchases investments? Yes. Not to sell but to pass on to my daughter, who is also a bag addict at 16.
Who influences your buying decisions? The season. Like the gemstones in jewelry. For May, it’s emerald stone, so I buy green bags, I can wear in May. For July, I have red (ruby) bags. Hahah. I have four bags with a “month” gemstone color I use in a month. So for May, I use my Hermès bamboo, cactus, malachite, and menthe.
Are sales associate relationships instrumental to your shopping? Definitely. I am very loyal to my SAs. I don’t care if an item is available in a low-tax city; I would always buy from my SA.
Why do you enjoy shopping, beyond just acquiring something new? It’s a girl/princess thing, I think 🙂 I am a shopaholic, but all I buy makes sense. They’re not impulse buying. More like I know what I want, and that’s what I am buying.
Have you ever felt like you received inferior service at a store or boutique due to your appearance, ethnicity or gender? Once upon a time when I went to a Chanel boutique at SCP. I was in jeans and CDG sneakers and using the Hermès mosaique I bought in Paris when it first came out. So obviously very not classy 🙂
The Chanel SA was like, “you know that we are sold out of all classics, reissues, and GST (remember those). You will have to go on the waiting list, and it’s about three years right now.” And I left, messaged my SA there who was off that day, and she was so apologetic.
The Money
Who pays for your bags? My husband 🙂 but he thinks they are all on sale. He doesn’t really look at our bills.
Do you set aside a budget for your bag purchases? No. I just buy what I want when it is available.
The Taboo Topics
Have you ever purchased a counterfeit because you couldn’t afford a designer item? No. I would rather buy a mid-designer brand than get a fake one. Just ethically wrong to support counterfeits.
Do you ever hide purchases from your significant other? Not really, he thinks I am crazy. I just reason it’s for our daughter’s inheritance.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve done to afford a bag? Used my rental property’s income. Actually, if that’s crazy, then I am really crazy cause that is my source of money for my bags.
Do you think your shopping is ever a problem? Have you ever felt like you were struggling with a shopping addiction? No. I justify it with I do not have any bag I cannot sell for more than what I paid for.
The Rest Of It
Any other expensive hobbies or passions? Van Cleefs and Cartiers.
Anything else you would like to include? Quality over quantity. Work to get what you really want, and never settle.
