In today’s new CC, we meet a student living in India whose collecting journey has just begun! A student about to begin studying for her Master of Science, CC 193’s love for bags is truly innate. Since she was young, this bag lover felt a pull towards handbags. As a young bag lover, she was able to kick off her collection with brands like Coach and Michael Kors, but two years ago, she snagged her first luxury designer bag. Now, she’s got her sights set on Goyard and Chloé, stating that, as of right now, she’s trying to diversify her purchases and not buy from the same brand.
That said, SA relationships are not very important to CC 193 at the moment, but what is important is buying bags she loves and will cherish. CC 193 does not believe in buying for an investment, and she also states that it’s important to follow your heart and not pay attention to what others think. Read the full CC below, and don’t forget to submit your own!
[sc_cc_callout]Basic Bio
Your Age? 24
Your Gender Identity? Female
Where do you live? Hyderabad, India
What is your occupation? Incoming Master of Science Student
What industry do you work in? Healthcare Technology
Your annual salary? $8,000
Total Household Income? $171,000
Are you a PurseForum member? No
Onto The Bags
How many bags do you own? 5
What bags are in your collection?
- Sabyasachi Royal Bengal Clutch
- Louis Vuitton Nano Noe
- Balenciaga Hourglass WOC
- Prada Pattina
- Gucci Supermini Dionysus
How much is your collection worth? $5,800
What is your most expensive bag? Prada Pattina
Do you ever regret any of your bag purchases? If so, which ones and why? Maybe the Balenciaga a little bit because of what’s going on with the brand, but I do love that bag a lot, and it’s hard for me to part with it.
What age did you get your first designer bag, and what was it? 22
Is there a specific bag you are looking to purchase next? Goyard Saint Louis Tote PM/GM or the Chloé Woody Medium Tote.
Do you have a ‘holy grail’ dream bag you’ve always wanted to own? Chanel Mini Flap.
Any particular bag that holds a special sentimental value? My Balenciaga as it was the first bag I bought with my own savings.
Do you feel like your bags change people’s perceptions of you or how you’re treated? Yes, everyone looks at my bag first and then at me, especially at designer stores. I don’t want to be judged by the bag I carry. I buy bags because I love them and I always have. From a very young age, I’d never leave the house without a bag in my hand. As I went through my tomboy phase I was really into backpacks and after that I got into crossbody bags, I used to buy MK and Coach. And finally, I was able to buy a luxury bag at 22.
How do you take care of your bags? I cleanse them with an antibacterial cleanser and condition my leather bags once in a while. Products from Havre de Luxe.
On Shopping
How often do you buy new bags? Twice a year. Hopefully, more in the future.
Do you prefer shopping for bags online or in-store? Why? I like to go to the store and try them on before buying.
Which stores do you frequent the most? Since I just started my collection of bags, I want to buy from different brands before I go back to a brand I already have.
Have you ever returned a bag after purchasing it? Why did you make that decision? No
Do you ever buy second-hand bags? Where do you buy used? No
Do you sell old bags to pay for new purchases? No
Do you ever donate or gift your old bags? If so, to whom? No
Do you ever feel societal pressure to purchase more bags? I don’t know if it’s because of societal pressure, but I do want to buy more bags, so I have a lot of options every time I go out.
Do you consider your bag purchases investments? No. All the bags I buy don’t have a good resale value, and besides I buy bags to enjoy them and not keep them stored away in a box to sell later.
Do you follow the latest fashion trends when deciding on your next purchase, or do you prefer classic styles? I prefer classic bags because they will probably never go out of fashion. And I don’t usually buy trendy bags as of now because I am not in the position financially to just go and buy whatever is trending at the moment.
Are sales associate relationships instrumental to your shopping? I wouldn’t know.
Do you enjoy shopping beyond just acquiring something new? I truly enjoy shopping as a hobby when I don’t have a budget xD
Have you ever felt you received inferior service at a store or boutique due to your appearance, ethnicity or gender? All the stores I went to, the SA’s were really friendly, except at the Sabyasachi store in Hyderabad, India. She was in such a hurry to sell off the bag and make me leave. She kept saying if you’re not interested, I have another client looking at the same bag. Didn’t really give me the time to look at the bag.
And the second time was at the LV store in Bengaluru, India. Initially, the SA was really nice, but he became a little judgemental after I told him the price range I was looking for. And he kept trying to sell a Vernis Alma BB to me, which I did not like at all.
What are some factors that may dissuade you from buying a bag, even if you like it? Probably if they were in really funky colours because I wouldn’t be able to style them as often.
Is there a brand you outright refuse to buy? Why? I think it would be Hermès. I know the bags are good investments and at this point I don’t have the money to afford one. But in the future when I do, I don’t think I’d beg an SA to give me a bag. If I’m putting in so much money, I want to feel luxurious, that they want me there. But seeing all these reels about the “Hermès Game” I’m not sure I want to put in any money or time for such a brand. As I said before, bags for me are not investments, I buy them because I like them.
On Budgeting & Perceptions
Who pays for your bags? My mom bought 3 for me, my dad bought 1, and I bought one for myself.
Do you set aside a budget for your bag purchases? As of now, if I do that, I’d not have the opportunity to go out or on trips with my friends, which is very important to me. So hopefully, in the future, after my masters, I get a job where I can set aside money for buying bags and still have enough for everything else.
Have you ever purchased a counterfeit because you couldn’t afford a designer item? Sadly yes. I bought a Goyard tote on the streets of Phuket, but I honestly cannot get myself to use it.
Do you ever hide purchases from your significant other? No, I don’t have a significant other.
Have your friends or family ever criticized your bag-buying habits? If so, how did you respond? My brother and my dad do, but again my dad did buy the Prada for me.
I stopped responding. I think it’s a waste of my time to explain to others why I buy my bags. My brother and my dad buy car parts, watches, and shoes, so they don’t really have the right to say anything to me.
Have you ever made a significant sacrifice to afford a bag? If so, what was it? No.
Do you think your shopping is ever a problem? Have you ever felt like you were struggling with a shopping addiction? I don’t think so.
Let’s get personal…
Any other expensive hobbies or passions? Fancy holidays and restaurants, getting into luxury footwear, watches and jewelry.
What is your greatest fear? Not being able to sustain my expensive lifestyle once I leave home.
Which living person do you most admire? Honestly, it would be my parents
What or who is the greatest love of your life? I don’t know.
What is your favorite journey you have taken so far? Accepting and loving the way I look.
Any parting words you would like to share with our readers? Do whatever you want, you shouldn’t have to care what others think!!
