In today’s installment of Closet Confessionals, we meet a Texan in her mid-thirties who has been collecting bags for almost two decades. At 17, she was gifted a Prada crossbody for her birthday, and since then, her collection has grown to include some coveted shapes from Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Hermès, and more.
CC 227 was even lucky enough to snag her very own Holy Grail: the coveted Birkin. She states that throughout her collecting journey, she has had absolutely no regrets and hopes to add a B30 to her rotation next. This handbag lover is also a jewelry collector, stating that her Tiffany & Co. obsession is her other expensive passion.
Of course, CC 227 snagged something from the coveted Tiffany X Fendi collaboration, and we are obsessed! Read the full CC below, and don’t forget to submit your own!
Basic Bio
Your Age? 34
Your Gender Identity? Female
Where do you live? Dallas, TX
What is your occupation? Operations Manager
What industry do you work in? Retail Luxury Jewelry
Your annual salary? $130,000
Total Household Income? $250,000
Are you a PurseForum member? No
Onto The Bags
How many bags do you own? 19
What bags are in your collection?
- Hermès Birkin 35
- Hermès Kelly 28
- Tiffany/Fendi Baguette
- Chanel Boy Bag
- Chanel Maxi Double Flap
- Chanel Classic Flap
- Chanel Classic Double Flap
- Chanel Wallet on Chain
- Hermès Evelyn
- YSL Kate
- Lady Dior
- Chanel Gabrielle Hobo
- Burberry Tote
- Tiffany Tote
- Celine Luggage Handbag
- LV Twist
- LV Clery Epi
- Prada Crossbody
- Alexander Wang Rocco
How much is your collection worth? Approximately $80K
What is your most expensive bag? Birkin
Do you ever regret any of your bag purchases? If so, which ones and why? No regrets!
What age did you get your first designer bag, and what was it? Prada crossbody I think when I was 17 years old it was a gift from my family for my birthday.
Is there a specific bag you are looking to purchase next? Birkin 30
Do you have a ‘holy grail’ dream bag you’ve always wanted to own? Birkin
Any particular bag that holds a special sentimental value? No
Do you feel like your bags change people’s perceptions of you or how you’re treated? No
How do you take care of your bags? I keep them stored in their dust bags and neatly stored in a cabinet in my closet.
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? In store I like to touch and feel and try on a bag before purchasing.
Which stores do you frequent the most? Hermès, Tiffany’s, Fendi ,Neimans and Nordstrom
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? I have gifted an old bag to my mom.
Do you ever feel societal pressure to purchase more bags? No
Do you consider your bag purchases investments? Yes
Do you follow the latest fashion trends when deciding on your next purchase, or do you prefer classic styles? Yes I definitely follow the latest fashion trends but I do love classic styles.
Are sales associate relationships instrumental to your shopping? Yes very important to me. I like to build and keep a really good relationship with my SAs from any store I shop at.
Do you enjoy shopping beyond just acquiring something new? Yes
Have you ever felt you received inferior service at a store or boutique due to your appearance, ethnicity, or gender? I have felt that and been a bit annoyed that I have to be a little pushy at first to get a sales associate to talk to me or help me with a purchase. I have felt it in Tiffany and Co and Hermès.
What are some factors that may dissuade you from buying a bag, even if you like it? Color can dissuade me, I have a toddler so him being messy and being afraid the color or material may get damaged.
Is there a brand you outright refuse to buy? Why? No
On Budgeting & Perceptions
Who pays for your bags? My husband
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? No
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? No my sister is the same as me, she actually has more handbags than 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? No
Let’s get personal…
Any other expensive hobbies or passions? Tiffany and Co Jewelry (I am a VIP client for my SA and if another SA looks up my account it says platinum next to it…yikes)
What is your greatest fear? My son was born premature losing him or him getting sick is my greatest fear
Which living person do you most admire? My mom.
What or who is the greatest love of your life? My husband, my son, and my dog…I can’t chose 1!
What is your favorite journey you have taken so far? My journey through the NICU for 6 months with my preemie son. It was the scariest but my favorite because it shaped me as a person and built an everlasting bond with my son and husband.
Would love to know how some of these people are REALLY funding their lifestyle (i.e., debt or family money)…only $250k household income, with kids, and she’s spending this level on bags and jewelry? Ok…