In today’s new installment of Closet Confessionals, we meet a collector from San Fran who has shared this collecting journey with her husband. He gifted CC 229 her first designer bag, a Gucci Sukey.
From there, this handbag lover began building a collection of her own, and in the early days, Goyard was the brand of choice. Now, she’s fully aboard the Hermès train and credits a trip to the H spa with her first bag as the clandestine meeting with her SA, with whom she has built a wonderful relationship.
CC 229 is an incredibly smart shopper. She budgets for her bags and states that she has never felt out of control with her shopping. She buys a new bag when she’s offered, which is approximately every six months. Read the full CC below and check out pictures from CC 229’s stunning collection. Don’t forget to share your own!
Basic Bio
Your Age? 40
Your Gender Identity? Female
Where do you live? San Francisco Bay Area
What is your occupation? Occupational Therapist
What industry do you work in? Health Care
Your annual salary? $130,000
Total Household Income? $350,000
Are you a PurseForum member? Yes
Onto The Bags
How many bags do you own? 25
What bags are in your collection?
- Hermès Mini Kelly (gold)
- Hermès Mini Kelly (SO – gris tourterelle and noir)
- Hermès Kelly Niloticus 32 (vintage)
- Hermès Kelly 32 (gold)
- Hermès Kelly 50 (white, vintage)
- Hermès Contance to Go (matte alligator)
- Hermès Birkin 30 Ostrich (rouge sellier)
- Hermès Birkin 30 (white)
- Hermès Birkin 30 (sauge)
- Hermès Birkin Sellier 30 (ebene)
- Hermès Birkin 35 (etain)
- Chanel Boy
- Chanel Chevron Quilted Medium Surpique Flap
- Chanel Ultimate Stitch Flap
- Chanel Limited Medium Double Flap (vintage)
- Goyard Saint Louis Tote Bag
- Goyard Marie Galante
- Goyard Bellechasse PM
- Goyard Croisiere 35
- Faure Le Page Daily Battle Tote Bag
- Faure Le Page Cartouchiere Crossbody Bag
- Gucci Canvas Sukey Tote
- Givenchy Shoulder Bag
- Saint Laurent Crossbody Bag
- Prada Crossbody Bag
How much is your collection worth? $160-200K
What is your most expensive bag? From the boutique, it has to be my Hermes Birkin 30 ostrich.
Do you ever regret any of your bag purchases? If so, which ones and why? I do not regret my bag purchases as I love all of them. The only thing is that I rarely use my Goyard Croisiere, so the cost-per-wear could be better.
What age did you get your first designer bag, and what was it? I borrowed some of my mom’s designer bags in college, but I was 27 when I had my own designer bag. It was the Gucci Canvas Sukey Tote, a gift from my husband. A year later, I started buying and building my purse collection, and my number one choice then was Goyard.
Is there a specific bag you are looking to purchase next? Hermès Kelly Sellier 25 and a Bottega crossbody bag.
Do you have a ‘holy grail’ dream bag you’ve always wanted to own? Hermès Kelly sellier ombre lizard
Any particular bag that holds a special sentimental value? It would be my one and only Gucci purse. This was a gift from my husband after he got his first paycheck when he started working here in the US. The story is that I got an LV tote and a Gucci purse as gifts from him, but I ended up returning the LV tote the next day we bought it after realizing that I didn’t like it after all.
Do you feel like your bags change people’s perceptions of you or how you’re treated? To closest friends and family, it’s all the same. I don’t get judgments from them, or they do not consider buying luxury purses a big deal. My co-workers, though, are often surprised once they discover that I own some expensive purses, as I usually do not carry them at work or during simple gatherings. I have also noticed that SAs pay more attention to me if I wear more expensive purses.
How do you take care of your bags? Nothing really special. I keep them in their original boxes after using them.
On Shopping
How often do you buy new bags? When they are offered to me from the boutique and I like them, or when I see something that I like online. Maybe it’s about one per six months or so.
Do you prefer shopping for bags online or in-store? Why? I prefer in-store so I can take a look at it closely and try them on. I love the feeling of seeing and trying on these beautiful purses. Additionally, I enjoy seeing and talking with my SA at the store.
Which stores do you frequent the most? Hermès and Nordstrom
Have you ever returned a bag after purchasing it? Why did you make that decision? Yes. As previously shared, I changed my mind on the LV tote bag and returned it the next day after buying it.
Do you ever buy second-hand bags? Where do you buy used? Yes, in-person or online from Japan. I got my very first Hermès purse from a trip to Japan and my other two Hermès purses. I brought my very first Hermès purse to the store for a spa, and that was when I met my SA. That was when I started my great relationship with him and the so-called “Hermès journey.” Thanks also to Leather Surgeons, as they made my two other second-hand Hermès purses look fresh again.
Do you sell old bags to pay for new purchases? No.
Do you ever donate or gift your old bags? If so, to whom? have gifted some old bags to family.
Do you ever feel societal pressure to purchase more bags? No, not at all. I purchase bags because I love them with also the thought of eventually passing them along to my daughter or other family members.
Do you consider your bag purchases investments? Yes, I do. Although I don’t intend to sell the purses I buy, I know that if I ever need to, I can always do so, as they are great additional investments.
Do you follow the latest fashion trends when deciding on your next purchase, or do you prefer classic styles? I usually prefer classic styles.
Are sales associate relationships instrumental to your shopping? Very much! This makes the shopping experience more fun and something to look forward to. I am fortunate that I have an SA who not only knows my preferences but also someone with whom I can easily work and share travel stories. He also knows my immediate family and is friendly to my kids when I am at the store with them. This is important to me.
Do you enjoy shopping beyond just acquiring something new? I do not consider myself a shopaholic. I allocate money for bigger purchases. I buy things as rewards for myself or to mark an important event. I like having new things, but I also know when to stop or if I’ve done too much shopping already.
Have you ever felt you received inferior service at a store or boutique due to your appearance, ethnicity, or gender? Yes. I may get less attention or inferior service if I am not dressed well or if I am carrying a less expensive or popular purse. However, this does not bother me at all and I do not make a big deal if it happens. I usually think that maybe the SA is just having a bad day or is just busy. I do not take it personally if it happens.
What are some factors that may dissuade you from buying a bag, even if you like it? The quality (if it is not well made) and the price (if it is beyond my budget).
Is there a brand you outright refuse to buy? Why? None.
On Budgeting & Perceptions
Who pays for your bags? My husband and I share the same money, so I would say it’s the both of us. I don’t buy bigger purchases without consulting my husband. We both know our spending limits.
Do you set aside a budget for your bag purchases? Yes!
Have you ever purchased a counterfeit because you couldn’t afford a designer item? No, I don’t think I will ever do.
Do you ever hide purchases from your significant other? No. He usually supports me on my purse purchases. 🙂
Have your friends or family ever criticized your bag-buying habits? If so, how did you respond? No. Only close family and friends know that I love and have luxury items. If, for some reason, other people find out, they are usually surprised that I own some of these items.
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? Our family loves to travel. We are happier spending hard-earned money traveling with the kids and eating out with them. I also like collecting tableware.
What is your greatest fear? Losing loved ones unexpectedly.
What or who is the greatest love of your life? My family.
What is your favorite journey you have taken so far? We recently achieved our goal to visit the Seven Wonders of the World.
Any parting words you would like to share with our readers? Your purses should be a collection of what you love and what brings you joy. Your purchases should not be influenced by trends or societal norms. If it brings you joy, whether it’s a luxury item or not, go for it as long as you consider your priorities. Looking at my older pieces, I do not regret buying any of the pieces in my collection as each marked a significant event or “victory” in my life, so they all hold sentimental value. Consider this when building your collection, so there will be no (or fewer) regrets later on whether you keep or sell any of your pieces.
“This woman is too poor to spend so many on these silly bags” This comment is in extremely poor taste. Finances are none of a blog reader’s business. CC 229 has an enviable collection.
How someone spends their money is really their own business. As long as this collector (and her husband) can still pay their bills and save for retirement/emergencies, then…enjoy those beautiful bags!
This woman is too poor to spend so many on these silly bags
Your comment speaks more about your poor character than her finances.Try minding the business that pays you while staying out of hers.
No judgement here, you do you, but I am struggling with buying one Hermes’ or Chanel bag at current prices and out HI is over $700k. Then again she may have inherited $$ or have a cheaper house with a smaller mortgage etc.
A closet confessional never shares an in-depth look at the confessor’s finances. We all make assumptions based on what is shared, but again, it’s merely an assumption. You may choose to travel more, eat out more, drink nice wine, and get Starbucks daily, and the next person may choose to save for bags! I don’t believe it is enough information to make a blanket statement and call someone poor because of this aspect of her life!
In my opinion financial information should not be included at all in this feature. Should just list occupation – it’s nobody’s business! If I filled this form out I would not disclose any of that info – I don’t disclose that even to family members. Why are you even asking for it? So others can pass judgement or decide if they make enough to buy over priced handbags?
💕💕💕 totally agree with this. We all spend our money somewhere somehow. You save here to spend there. That’s what I do. Cook at home every meal possible because it’s healthier and saves money. Brew my own coffee. Do laundry by hand 🤚🏼 even make my own laundry soap. Buy used clothes and toys and furniture etc…. And I splurge on designer purses here and there but even the designer purses I purchase are used. 🤗. So in other words, I save for bags 💼 👛 👜
Well somebody is jealous 😂 I simply don’t care how other people afford their bags, I just simply appreciate their collection & she has a fabulous collection. Trust me if you care less about other people’s finances and focus more on your own, you’ll be a much happier person.
She’s buying at boutique prices, so she’s roughly spending 1/6 of her income on purses, 6% of the family budget.
There could be more to the story – doesn’t spend on other things, sells to buy new, buys more pre owned in rough shape than she mentioned, ect. – but I’ll admit that the idea of paying retail every six months is a bit concerning.
Stop doing the math -it’s none of your biz as you don’t have her full financial picture – this is such an intrusion. I don’t get why people cough up that info so others can judge whether or not they can afford what they have.
You are right. Like I said in my post, there’s a whole lot of information we don’t have.
But, the confessor came here to brag. She wanted people who buy Hermes to know that she receives two quota offers a year. This is scary, with the other information she’s shared.
Now, I know you don’t like math. But this confessional is a lot more disturbing because the figures we are given are telling a pretty dark story. She’s telling us that that she’s one of the store’s vips. Which means she buys more than two bags a year from them. We know, as readers of Notorious Pink’s posts that she spends at least $20k (if she’s an influencer or friend of the boutique and only buys bags) but probably more like $40k at Hermes alone, for bags and tchotchkes. And she’s mentioned doing it for a couple years – this isn’t just a blow-out “aligning my closet” event, it’s part of an ongoing process. She wouldn’t have described her money as “hard-earned” if she didn’t have a job.
Maybe she is blowing through an inheritance. Maybe all of her money is discretionary, so why not? Maybe she’s an influencer, so buying crap is her job.
But if those maybes aren’t true, she’s confessing to trading 2 to 4 months of her life, every year, for bags. And I love bags more than the next person. But not more than my life.
I don’t see it as “bragging” I see it as sharing her bags, however she purchased them. We all have a love of bags, or we wouldn’t be here, so why not enjoy her collection without envy? I also buy Hermes quota bags, but I do other things to save money; perhaps OP does as well? I research and complete my own home repairs & improvements (like painting the inside and outside of my house; fixing anything that breaks, etc.) to avoid paying thousands to professionals. Also, I make coffee at home, pack my lunches, rarely dine at restaurants, do my own weekly lawn care, clean my home vs. a maid service, etc. Over the course of a year these things surprisingly add up. Due to this, I have discretionary income to afford the things I enjoy including bags, travel, jewelry, etc.
I won’t agree with calling her poor, as she alone earns more than the average family of 4 in America.
However, I would agree with the sentiment that she is spending too much on these “silly bags” (and note the perils of submitting your financials to the internet for consumption). Based on the facts and numbers she submitted, the value of her purse collection against her annual income (both individual and household) is absurd.
What an ignorant remark. She budgets for her bags and has been collecting for the past 13 years. Who are you to say how she spends her money?
That’s none of your business and really mean
May I suggest, Megs, that you remove the salary and annual household income lines to avoid this unnecessary and unkind scrutiny. They don’t take into account other sources of income and both are just not needed.
I’m a bit surprised that CC stores her bags in their boxes. I understood this to be discouraged as the bags need air circulation.
Can someone explain?
Beautiful bags!