In today’s fresh installment of Closet Confessionals, we meet a bag lover from down south who has been collecting bags for 8 years. In less than a decade, this Texan has amassed a collection of over 20 bags, many of them being Louis Vuitton, which also happened to be what started CC 216’s bag love to begin with.
It was only in 2016 that our confessor, well, confessed to her husband that she would love to have at least one nice bag. The rest, you could say, is history! CC 216 is not a fan of the mini bag trend or trends in general, for that matter. She buys what she likes and what suits her needs and doesn’t listen to all of the noise on social media.
Read the full CC now, and don’t forget to share your own with us!
Basic Bio
Your Age? 46
Your Gender Identity? Female
Where do you live? Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas
What is your occupation? Senior Consultant
What industry do you work in? Marketing
Your annual salary? $90,000
Total Household Income? $300,000
Are you a PurseForum member? Yes
Onto The Bags
How many bags do you own? 21
What bags are in your collection?
- Mulberry Amberly -Mulberry green
- LV Stephen Sprouse Roses, Pochette Accessories
- Alaia Laser Cut Clutch – white
- YSL WOC -black
- Gucci Marmont Med., Porcelain Rose
- LV Favorite MM DA
- LV Turenne MM mono
- LV Odeon PM (OM) mono
- LV Galliera PM DA
- LV Neverfull GM mono
- LV Evora MM DE
- LV Soufflot MM (OM) Dune
- LV Alma PM Pomme D’Amor
- LV Greta Multi White
- LV Neverfull MM, Sunrise Pastel
- Chanel Ultimate Soft Hobo Small, black
- Burberry Buckleigh tote -light blue
- Balenciaga City Metallic Edge, blue roi
- Givenchy Antigona small, metallic oxblood
- LV Horizon 55, mono
- Tumi Voyageur Tula Crossbody, navy
How much is your collection worth? $28K
What is your most expensive bag? The Horizon was the most expensive purchase, but my most expensive bag to date is my Sunset Pastel Neverfull.
Do you ever regret any of your bag purchases? If so, which ones and why? I regret nothing!!! Lol
What age did you get your first designer bag, and what was it? Christmas 2016. It was my LV Turenne. I remember mentioning to my husband that I would love to have at least one REALLY nice bag someday, and his response was, “Well… buy one.” When I told him how much LV canvas bags can cost, his response was the same. I nearly fainted from surprise and excitement. I started researching immediately to find the right bag.
Is there a specific bag you are looking to purchase next? At this point, I’m looking for certain vintage bags (like the LV monogram miroir) or bags in a color I don’t already own (teal). I find that the style of the older designs better fit my aesthetic.
Do you have a ‘holy grail’ dream bag you’ve always wanted to own? Chanel Metallic Caviar Chevron Quilted Medium flap in light gold. So dreamy……
Any particular bag that holds a special sentimental value? My Turenne. She was my first, and I still think she’s beautiful. And I’ll always remember how sweet my husband was to tell me to buy the bag that I wanted.
Do you feel like your bags change people’s perceptions of you or how you’re treated? Sometimes. Here in the DFW area, LV canvas bags are a dime a dozen. No one really pays much attention to them However, when I go into a designer store, I feel like I get better treatment when I wear my designer bags. Also, don’t wear my designer bags when I visit my clients because I need to be careful about the image I present.
How do you take care of your bags? I clean my LV canvas with Saddle soap, and the leather, with a leather cleaner/conditioner. But that’s only after I’ve let them sunbathe for few days to get a nice tan. I use that same leather cleaner/conditioner for my all leather bags. When not in use I store them in their dust bags, some with stuffing some without.
On Shopping
How often do you buy new bags? Once or twice a year, usually. That can change if I find a bag that’s on my wish list at a great price and in great condition.
Do you prefer shopping for bags online or in-store? Why? I prefer online shopping. Being in designer stores, I have mixed experiences on how SA’s have treated me. No one has ever been downright rude, but some have been incredibly dismissive. On the other hand, some have been amazingly wonderful, and those are the ones I continue to work with when I want something new.
Which stores do you frequent the most? LV, Gucci, Fashionphile, and Tiffany’s.
Have you ever returned a bag after purchasing it? Why did you make that decision? Not yet though I did come close. I purchased my Bal from Yoogi’s Closet. It was described as “like new,” but there were several blemishes that weren’t described at all. I emailed the company to let them know I was unhappy and included photos of the blemishes.
They apologized and offered me additional money off to make up for the error, and I decided to keep the bag. Not too long after that, the whole Balenciaga scandal happened, and now I don’t feel comfortable wearing her. Should have just returned her.
Do you ever buy second-hand bags? Where do you buy used? All the time. Most of my secondhand bags were purchased from Fashionphile. I also purchased from Yoogi’s, Facebook Marketplace, and private groups. Though I doubt I’ll be buying through FMP future. I am too nervous I’ll get scammed.
Do you sell old bags to pay for new purchases? Nope, at least not yet.
Do you ever donate or gift your old bags? If so, to whom? I’ve given all of my contemporary designer bags to my daughter, but other than that, no.
Do you ever feel societal pressure to purchase more bags? No. I’m old enough to know that social media creates unrealistic expectations of what people should have. I buy what I like and want, not what someone tells me I need is the coolest new it bag.
Do you consider your bag purchases investments? In a sense. Some of the bags that I’ve purchased have gone up in value, some have not. I wear my bags, but I’m also not hard on them. I hope to be able to someday to pass them down to my daughter or maybe even a daughter-in-law… someday.
Do you follow the latest fashion trends when deciding on your next purchase, or do you prefer classic styles? Definitely prefer the Classics. I also prefer some practicality like pockets, enough room to carry slightly more than the essentials, shoulder straps, etc… Personally, I found the mini bag trend to be ridiculous. I’m very tall and felt like those tiny bags would look like I was carrying a Barbie purse. Plus there’s no way I could fit anything that I would need in those tiny bags. They were absolutely adorable but completely impractical for my life.
Are sales associate relationships instrumental to your shopping? Nope.
Do you enjoy shopping beyond just acquiring something new? Yes. I enjoy seeing what’s new in the market.
Have you ever felt you received inferior service at a store or boutique due to your appearance, ethnicity, or gender? Only once. I was picking up a bag I’d had repaired at LV. I was dressed pretty casually and had a contemporary designer bag on at the time. My SA wasn’t in that day, and the lady who helped me allowed my newly repaired bag to fall off the counter onto the floor on my side. Then looked at me and waited for me to pick it up. Didn’t apologize or anything.
What are some factors that may dissuade you from buying a bag, even if you like it? Lack of shoulder strap, price, having to meet a quota, size.
Is there a brand you outright refuse to buy? Why? I’m open to buying any brand, but some just don’t have anything that makes my heart happy.
On Budgeting & Perceptions
Who pays for your bags? My husband and I.
Do you set aside a budget for your bag purchases? No. As I only buy 1-2 bags a year, I don’t really need to budget. However, as bags continue to increase in price, it may be something I do in the future.
Have you ever purchased a counterfeit because you couldn’t afford a designer item? Never. I’ve been tempted, though.
Do you ever hide purchases from your significant other? Nope. My husband has an eagle eye and notices everything.
Have your friends or family ever criticized your bag-buying habits? If so, how did you respond? No. I’m very lucky in that.
Have you ever made a significant sacrifice to afford a bag? If so, what was it? No (I feel like I’ve written that word a lot in this interview) lol.
Do you think your shopping is ever a problem? Have you ever felt like you were struggling with a shopping addiction? Fortunately, no, but I do enjoy the hunt and the acquisition.
Let’s get personal…
Any other expensive hobbies or passions? My bag collection is mostly complete and my wants have gravitated to quality jewelry, clothing, and shoes. As my older items wear out (or my taste changes), I’ve been replacing them with better-quality pieces.
What is your greatest fear? Losing my husband or my kids. They are my whole world.
Which living person do you most admire? My father. He is the most selfless person I know. He’s always there to help ( the amount of knowledge that man has astounds me) and loves unconditionally.
What or who is the greatest love of your life? My husband. He is my soulmate, my best friend, my love.
What is your favorite journey you have taken so far? I was able to travel internationally with my daughter relatively recently. Experiencing different countries and cultures with her was an amazing opportunity that I will forever treasure.
Any parting words you would like to share with our readers? Don’t feel like you have to have every new bag that hits the market. Buy what makes you happy, but be smart about it.
