In today’s installment of Closet Confessionals, we meet a collector from London who has been collecting bags for just a few years. In that time, CC 226 has curated a lovely collection of pieces spanning brands like Chanel and Celine.
CC 226 has loved bags for a long time, long before they even understood what the luxury world was really like! In fact, it was a family friend’s Birkin Bag that sparked CC 226’s love as a child, and now that bag has become their holy grail!
CC 226 does favor the secondary market, but only when the bags are true vintage and no longer in production. In fact, one of the most special pieces in CC 226’s collection is a Balenciaga City Bag, and its production year is a representation of the year that this collector really fell for designer bags.
Read the full CC below, and don’t forget to submit your own!
Basic Bio
Your Age? 34
Where do you live? London, UK
What is your occupation? Project Manager
What industry do you work in? SaaS
Your annual salary? $93,000
Total Household Income? $130,000
Are you a PurseForum member? Yes
Onto The Bags
How many bags do you own? 13
What bags are in your collection?
Celine:
Chanel:
Loewe:
Balenciaga:
Isabel Marant:
Bottega Veneta:
- Small Jodie in Oat
How much is your collection worth? £24,240
What is your most expensive bag? My Medium CF.
Do you ever regret any of your bag purchases? If so, which ones and why? All of my purchases are classics, both in shape and versatility. My collection is fulfilling a specific use and a dream from my younger years. So I would say no.
What age did you get your first designer bag, and what was it? The Chanel 19 was my first designer bag at the age of 31.
This was a big milestone purchase for me and marked my career & personal success at that time. Prior to that was not inspired to make such big purchase. I wanted to create a tradition of “marking a significant achievement with a special purchase” for myself.
Is there a specific bag you are looking to purchase next? 4 on my list at the moment:
Hermès Barenia Birkin in 30 or 35
Hermès Her Bag backpack in navy blue
Chanel Medium CF in a dark tweed
Gucci Medium Jackie in brown
Do you have a ‘holy grail’ dream bag you’ve always wanted to own? When I was young, a family friend was going around with this amazing “brown bag” carrying everything and anything everywhere. I kept that image in my head and years after falling in love with bags in general, I discovered it was a Hermès Barenia Birkin. So yes, a Hermès Barenia Birkin in 30 or 35 would be my ‘holy grail’!
Any particular bag that holds a special sentimental value? My Balenciaga City, purchased 2nd hand in excellent condition. This bag’s production year represents the year I actually started getting into bags and view bags as part of someone’s personal style.
Do you feel like your bags change people’s perceptions of you or how you’re treated? Not necessarily because of the fact of having the bag. In general, I believe is the person holding the bag, that makes the bag talk. And that talk could change people’s perceptions of you and how you will be treated for better or for worse.
How do you take care of your bags? I don’t particularly baby them. Most are on my clothes rack if they are used frequently and the rest in their dust bags/boxes.
On Shopping
How often do you buy new bags? 1-2 times a year.
Do you prefer shopping for bags online or in-store? Why? In-store, I want to feel them and see the quality up close. Also I have this irrational idea that bags and generally items purchased in boutiques (specifically in stand alone boutiques) are of better quality than ones in department stores. Maybe it is due to the overall better customer service experience you get in the stand alone boutiques.
Which stores do you frequent the most? I mostly visit the stand alone boutiques of a brand and mostly when I intend to buy a specific item.
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? Yes, only when they are truly vintage (10+ years) and no longer in circulation or made in a specific date or from a specific designer era. The hunt is definitely a thrill and the satisfaction when you make the “kill” is incredible! All my Balenciagas and the Céline Phantom are second-hand bags, from specific years/eras and in good value/price ratio.
Do you sell old bags to pay for new purchases? No.
Do you ever donate or gift your old bags? If so, to whom? I have “gifted” bags to my mom, but you could say we share them in a way.
Do you ever feel societal pressure to purchase more bags? No.
Do you consider your bag purchases investments? It is an interesting diversified asset to have but unless you have two of the same and enjoy the bag, are you really selling? So I would probably say no.
Do you follow the latest fashion trends when deciding on your next purchase, or do you prefer classic styles? Classic styles that will hold their value in relevance.
Are sales associate relationships instrumental to your shopping? No. I always appreciate receiving excellent customer service from SAs as a walk-in customer.
Do you enjoy shopping beyond just acquiring something new? For bags I enjoy shopping with a purpose or fill a specific need. But I do enjoy browsing/window shopping for shoes or clothes.
Have you ever felt you received inferior service at a store or boutique due to your appearance, ethnicity, or gender? Never.
What are some factors that may dissuade you from buying a bag, even if you like it? If quality in person doesn’t match the one in the photo and if I don’t see a use case for it in my day life.
Is there a brand you outright refuse to buy? Why? LV, other than a short lived crush on the Noé Bucket, I was never attracted to their products.
Goyard, this brand for some reason the way that it has blown up everywhere rubs me the wrong way. Maybe because of the only product of them standing out being that canvas bag.
On Budgeting & Perceptions
Who pays for your bags? I do.
Do you set aside a budget for your bag purchases? No.
Have you ever purchased a counterfeit because you couldn’t afford a designer item? Never.
Do you ever hide purchases from your significant other? No.
Have your friends or family ever criticized your bag-buying habits? If so, how did you respond? Yes, and usually from people who tend to buy multiple, similar designs of the original. My response was, if they keep buying the dupe to satisfy the actual want, in the end probably you would have spent almost the same money of the original. To clarify, these comments usually address the low/mid-range price designer bags (<4K).
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? No.
Let’s get personal…
Any other expensive hobbies or passions? Traveling is my passion.
Any parting words you would like to share with our readers? Every designer bag purchase has a story behind it. However make sure it is a positive one! Only buy a designer bag if you can afford buying two at purchase time, never go into dept for one.
