In today’s brand new CC, we’re checking in with a young collector hailing from Germany. CC 187’s love for handbags runs deep, and as a child, she dreamt of one day owning a Celine bag. She began collecting bags at age 24 with the purchase of a Vintage Fendi Peekaboo, and in the three years since, she finally got her hands on that Celine and more!
These days, this collector has her sights set on dipping her toes into the Hermès handbag pond and states that she tends to lean towards more quiet designs than trends. Her mentality towards shopping and collecting is admirable at a young age as she tries to buy only 2-3 bags a year with her set budget. She’s never purchased something beyond her means, either. Read more now, and don’t forget to submit your own CC!
[sc_cc_callout]Basic Bio
Your Age? 27
Your Gender Identity? Female
Where do you live? Munich, Germany
What is your occupation? Head of products
What industry do you work in? IT
Your annual salary? $90,000
Total Household Income? $230,000
Are you a PurseForum member? No
Onto The Bags
How many bags do you own? 7
What bags are in your collection?
- Fendi Peekaboo Vintage
- Chanel Classic Flap vintage
- Celine Phantom
- The Row Margaux
- Coperni Swipe Bag
- Maison Margiela Japanese Tote
- Louis Vuitton Mini Pochette (use it as a bag, even though it‘s SLG)
- Longchamp
How much is your collection worth? $15,000
What is your most expensive bag? The Row Margaux is $4,500. Not sure if Vintage Chanel is currently worth more or something similar.
Do you ever regret any of your bag purchases? If so, which ones and why? I very rarely regret my bag purchases. I love all of them and never regret the money spent.
One purchase that I did regret a little was a YSL wallet on chain. I had it for a year, but it felt a bit mainstream, like everyone had it, and it was nothing special. So I sold it on Vestiaire.
I sometimes regret other luxury purchases like shoes or accessories, but not bags.
What age did you get your first designer bag, and what was it? My first designer bag was a Vintage Fendi Peekaboo. I got it after my first year of working when I was 24.
Is there a specific bag you are looking to purchase next? In the nearest plans are:
Toteme T lock top handle in milk grain
Hermès Herbag in a neutral color, preferably with the special print (but whatever I get, really)
Hermès Picotin (black/etoupe/…)
The Row Margaux 17 in burgundy
More in my dreams are the classics:
Hermès Kelly 25 or 28 retourne in beige/etoupe/something neutral
Hermès Birkin 25 or 30 in black with palladium hardware
Hermès Mini Kelly
Hermès Kelly to go
Do you have a ‘holy grail’ dream bag you’ve always wanted to own? When I was a child I really, really wanted a Celine bag, that‘s why I got one as soon as I had the money for it!
Right now, I’m dreaming more of Kellys and Birkins.
Any particular bag that holds a special sentimental value? The Fendi Peekaboo because it was my first ever luxury bag.
Do you feel like your bags change people’s perceptions of you or how you’re treated? I don’t particularly think so. Most of my bags (except the Chanel maybe) are quiet. So I don’t think most people know how expensive my bags are. I can wear my bags to work. I am always wearing my bags when going out with friends, and some of them appreciate my collection.
How do you take care of your bags? I store them in a dust bag with the paper inside, some with pillows. I am planning to get a special wardrobe open without doors for all my luxury items 🙂
On Shopping
How often do you buy new bags? 2-3 times a year.
Do you prefer shopping for bags online or in-store? Why? Depends on the brand. For Toteme, The Row РI order online, just because there is no physical store. For Chanel, Celine, Herm̬s, etc.. I like to go to the shop for the experience!
Which stores do you frequent the most? Hermès, Celine
Have you ever returned a bag after purchasing it? Why did you make that decision? Never
Do you ever buy second-hand bags? Where do you buy used? Yes, mostly Vestiaire Collective
Do you sell old bags to pay for new purchases? Not really, but sometimes I sell if I don’t want it anymore.
Do you ever donate or gift your old bags? If so, to whom? Not really
Do you ever feel societal pressure to purchase more bags? Yes, because of Instagram often.
Do you consider your bag purchases investments? Not really, maybe just the Margaux, because the price is growing so fast. But in any case, I wear the bags, so they won’t be as good as new anyways.
Do you follow the latest fashion trends when deciding on your next purchase, or do you prefer classic styles? Kind of mix. But I would say I’m more for classic than trendy.
Are sales associate relationships instrumental to your shopping? Yes, but it‘s still pretty hard…
Do you enjoy shopping beyond just acquiring something new? No, not really, at least not right now
Have you ever felt you received inferior service at a store or boutique due to your appearance, ethnicity or gender? No.
What are some factors that may dissuade you from buying a bag, even if you like it? If it’s too trendy and I feel like in a few years I won’t like to wear it anymore.
Is there a brand you outright refuse to buy? Why? Not a fan of Louis Vuitton. Too many logos for me. I‘m not sure if I’ll buy more Chanel either, just because of their ridiculous price increases. But I never say never!
On Budgeting & Perceptions
Who pays for your bags? Me
Do you set aside a budget for your bag purchases? I try, but it doesn’t always work haha. I try to limit it to around $5,000 per year, but I’m usually over it.
Have you ever purchased a counterfeit because you couldn’t afford a designer item? No, I would never do it. I’m buying bags for my own collection, not for others to see.
Do you ever hide purchases from your significant other? Not really
Have your friends or family ever criticized your bag-buying habits? If so, how did you respond?Yes, sometimes, but not much. I don’t really care cause I’m doing it for my own collection and not for others. And there are a lot of people who don’t understand the industry, so I don’t blame them!
Have you ever made a significant sacrifice to afford a bag? If so, what was it? No, never. Spent a lot of money – yes! But never spent money I didn’t have or took credit and would never do!
Do you think your shopping is ever a problem? Have you ever felt like you were struggling with a shopping addiction? A bit… sometimes, when I do too many luxury purchases, I feel a bit ashamed. But I try to get back on track with my budget and skip a few months of expensive purchases.
I have to admit, it was a bit more difficult with the living cost crisis. I love traveling, and it is far more expensive. Between traveling and buying luxury, it‘s hard to stay within the budget.
Let’s get personal…
Any other expensive hobbies or passions? I would say traveling. I love traveling with friends and family. Every year I take my mom somewhere warm, and it‘s always pretty expensive as I pay for both of us. And we always stay in nice hotels – this year going to Dubai. I also go to Paris every year before Christmas for a long weekend with a friend. We stay at Sofitel and go out to restaurants all day long, also sometimes some shopping.
I also have a longer trip in the summer with my boyfriend. Even though he pays for most stuff, I always get something myself, like I cover flights or one of the stays…
What is your greatest fear? Death of the loved ones
Which living person do you most admire? Don’t have anyone I admire fully. Maybe some influencers: I like Nataly Osmannn, the Olsen sisters, few niche fashion bloggers.
What or who is the greatest love of your life? My boyfriend!
What is your favorite journey you have taken so far? Love traveling to Paris! I also really like road trips in Switzerland.
Any parting words you would like to share with our readers? If you have a passion – follow it no matter what others say!
Just stay mindful about it! It‘s okay to buy a few bags, when you can afford it. Don’t get into debt because of it. There are so many great alternatives to luxury if you are not quite there yet: Cos, Arket are great, Everlane, Hereu and many many more…
