In today’s installment of Closet Confessionals, we’re chatting with a worldly Hermès collector who has been collecting Hermès bags since he was 14—wow! At 16, he got his first H offer, a Togo Kelly 40 PHW, which he still owns and uses 12 years later.
Though he strictly owns Hermès bags aside from a classic Bottega, CC 234 doesn’t buy into the idea that bags are investments. He buys 1-2 bags per year but states that these days, he should be downsizing, not acquiring them.
Sentimentality is a big part of collecting for CC 234, who has procured a set of Black Box Calf Kellys, each from a different year of importance in his life. As a private authenticator, he follows two important bag rules: store bags on their backs and in their dust bags—noted!
Read the full CC below, and don’t forget to share your own.
Basic Bio
Your Age? 28
Your Gender Identity? Male
Where do you live? NYC, London, Houston
What is your occupation? Commercial/Residential Real Estate Investor & Private Hermès Authenticator
What industry do you work in? Real Estate & Authentication
Your annual salary? $715,000
Total Household Income? $825,000
Are you a PurseForum member? Yes
Onto The Bags
How many bags do you own? 45- Excluding clutches and smaller bags.
What bags are in your collection?
How much is your collection worth? 775,000 USD (retail) 1M USD (resale)
What is your most expensive bag? Hermès Matte Poro Croc HAC 50
Do you ever regret any of your bag purchases? If so, which ones and why? Yes, but I have either returned, exchanged, of sold those pieces.
What age did you get your first designer bag, and what was it? 14y.o.—I was gifted an HAC by my parents, but I regrettably sold it. I purchased my first bag when I was 16y.o.— Togo Kelly 40 PHW that I still use almost every day.
Is there a specific bag you are looking to purchase next? Nooo, I need to get rid of bags really.
Do you have a ‘holy grail’ dream bag you’ve always wanted to own? Kelly Lakis 40 PHW. I used to have one in a smaller size, but I sold it because I was not in love with the size.
Any particular bag that holds a special sentimental value? I think all my current bags are sentimental for different reasons— each one is a snapshot of a different period in my life. Of course, there are a few favourites that stick out: my Black Togo Kelly 40, because it was the first bag I was offered and the first bag I bought myself.
I also own a handful of Black Box Calf Kellys (mostly vintage or secondhand) that I purchased based on important years in mine and my family’s lives— one from the year of my parent’s marriage, one for both of my parents’ birth years (two total), one for my birth year, and one for my younger brother’s birth year. Not only are the Box Calf Kellys sentimental, but they also directly reflect different eras of Hermès craftsmanship and construction.
Do you feel like your bags change people’s perceptions of you or how you’re treated? I would hope not, but I know this is a foolish hope. I would never want to be judged favourably or unfavourably because of a bag I own.
How do you take care of your bags? Two simple rules: 1. I store bags on their backs, never standing up, usually in their dust bags. 2. Though there exist several qualified third-party repair companies, I prefer only to send my items to Hermès for repairs.
On Shopping
How often do you buy new bags? Less frequently than I used to, but still about one or two per year— no more than that, though.
Do you prefer shopping for bags online or in-store? Why? Online. There is so much more selection and one is more likely to find rare pieces.
Which stores do you frequent the most? Houston, NYC Meatpacking, Dallas, FSH
Have you ever returned a bag after purchasing it? Why did you make that decision? Yes, quality issues.
Do you ever buy second-hand bags? Where do you buy used? Yes, namely eBay, Fashionphile, or 1stDibs.
Do you sell old bags to pay for new purchases? I do sell old bags, but not to fund new purchases.
Do you ever donate or gift your old bags? If so, to whom? Yes, to my mom. She shares and gifts to me too.
Do you ever feel societal pressure to purchase more bags? No. Never.
Do you consider your bag purchases investments? No, I am vehemently opposed to that school of thought.
Do you follow the latest fashion trends when deciding on your next purchase, or do you prefer classic styles? No, always classic or things that I genuinely love.
Are sales associate relationships instrumental to your shopping? Yes! At my home store, I have been shopping with the same Hermès SA ever since I started shopping at Hermès many many moons ago. We can talk about anything, which is such a great thing. She has never pressured me to buy anything, and she knows my style (sometimes better than I do). I would not have the love for Hermès I have today if it weren’t for my SA. I do think it’s important to remember the necessity of boundaries, kindness, and mutual respect in this type of “relationship”.
Do you enjoy shopping beyond just acquiring something new? Maybe in some ways, but shopping is certainly not something I have an unhealthy attachment to.
Have you ever felt you received inferior service at a store or boutique due to your appearance, ethnicity, or gender? Definitely, mostly on the basis of race.
What are some factors that may dissuade you from buying a bag, even if you like it? Practicality, I suppose?
Is there a brand you outright refuse to buy? Why? Prefer not to answer. (Yes.)
On Budgeting & Perceptions
Who pays for your bags? Myself, unless it is a gift from parents (which is quite rare).
Do you set aside a budget for your bag purchases? Somewhat, but the price is not fixed.
Have you ever purchased a counterfeit because you couldn’t afford a designer item? Never, though I would not judge those who do.
Do you ever hide purchases from your significant other? I suppose I would need a significant other first. Ha.
Have your friends or family ever criticized your bag-buying habits? If so, how did you respond? No.
Have you ever made a significant sacrifice to afford a bag? If so, what was it? No, sounds like a horrible idea.
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 parting words you would like to share with our readers? Only ever buy what you love, never spend more than you can afford, only buy on credit if you can pay it off at the end of the month, be kind to yourself and others, store your bags on their backs!
The last two confessionals have been terrific and included some good practical advice. i apprecate that this person who has probably the only bags that come close being investments has wisely refused to consider bags investments. I’ve never understood people who thinks of bags as investments. I mean one makes an investment hoping for an increase in value and the vast majority of bags decrease in value.
Mature and sensible; I enjoyed CC 234’s perspective on his bag purchases.
I’m realizing, while reading this CC, that collecting ‘anniversary year’ BBKs is an actual trend amongst Hermès enthusiasts. When we were parsing through my family’s collection a few years ago, I wondered often why there were so many of that particular bag featured (in different sizes/structures, for a bit of variety). My sister offhandedly observed that the years corresponded to certain familial anniversaries (birth years, marriage years, wedding years, etc.).
I’d known that collectors would often search for birth year Ks, but I didn’t know it was like… a thing, lol. So thank you, CC 234, for putting that puzzle together.
Oh my. This lovely Hermes fan seems mature beyond his years, and his advice about buying only what you love is very smart. Never ever say “I could make this work”. Save your money and wait for the visceral reaction. Also, let’s talk real estate! 🙂 🙂
To have not ONE but MULTIPLE Black Box Kelly’s sound like a DREAM!! Great share, thanks CC234! 🙂