CC 244: CC 214 Looks Back At Her Year of Collecting

In today’s installment of Closet Confessionals, we are checking back in with CC 244, who shared her first confessional with us earlier this year. Since then, she’s expanded her collection a fair bit and has developed a relationship with a few Sales Associates, which is a change from before.

Prior to this year, shopping in-store with someone wasn’t really part of her process. While CC 244 enjoys shopping in-store now because of the growing return fees and being able to interact with the bag, some SA drama left her feeling not so great!

In her first confessional, CC 244 shared that she would have never considered her shopping a problem. This time, she notes that it might be time to check her shopping and spending after buying a lot this year. Read the full CC below, and don’t forget to share your own!

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Basic Bio

Your Age? 37
Your Gender Identity? Female
Where do you live? Orlando, FL
What is your occupation? Attorney
What industry do you work in? Law
What is your annual salary range? Total household income? $275,000-$300,000
Are you a PurseForum member? Yes

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Onto The Bags

How many bags do you own? Over 50

What bags are in your collection?

• Saint Laurent Gaby Mini Quilted Crossbody
• Gucci Super Mini Dionysus
• Saint Laurent Kate Clutch
• Demellier Paris Clutch
• Celine Victoire
• Givenchy Antigona
• Celine Soft 16
• Saint Laurent Sac Du Jour
• Louis Vuitton Speedy
• Smythson Business Bag
• The Row Piper Hobo

How much is your collection worth? Probably 20-25K

What is your most expensive bag? The Celine Victoire

Do you ever experience buyer’s remorse after purchasing a bag? If so, how do you deal with it? Recently bought a mock croc Antigona and had a moment where I questioned the purchase (an Antigona?! In 2024?! What was I thinking?!). It’s gorgeous and I got a great deal on it, so I don’t really care it’s not super trendy right now, it’s timeless. I usually give it a chance and try to get at least at little use out of a bag, then sell it if I truly regret it and can’t return it..

Do you feel a desire to downsize your collection? If so, what factors are driving that decision? Yes, I have been reassessing my collection this year and downsizing along with my new acquisitions. As I learn more about brands and as my fashion sense and bag needs change, my collection needs to keep up.

What age did you get your first designer bag, and what was it? I bought a few Coach bags early in my late teens, early 20s, but the first not Coach bag I remember buying myself was a coral pink Kate Spade tote bag. I loved it and it was cute early in my career, but I decided I needed to develop more executive presence.

Is there a specific bag you are looking to purchase next? After saying not particularly last time, I ended up adding quite a few bags to my collection since my last confession. I have been working hard to downsize quite a few of my bags.

Do you have a ‘holy grail’ dream bag you’ve always wanted to own? I’m obsessed with some really funky Alexander McQueen and Jimmy Choo evening bags, but I can’t justify the price for special occasion bags I would rarely use.

Any particular bag that holds a special sentimental value? I bought my Celine soft 16 shortly after being promoted to partner, so it will always be my “partner” bag.

Do you feel like your bags change people’s perceptions of you or how you’re treated? Absolutely yes. A beautiful, well-designed bag pulls together an outfit. At the very least, it helps me feel a sense of belonging in certain spaces I would otherwise feel awkward in.

How do you take care of your bags? I keep them neatly stored, upright and stuffed with paper. I clean and condition them once or twice a year.

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On Shopping

How often do you buy new bags? This year I bought way more than I intended, but also made a huge effort to downsize less-used bags, too.

How has your bag collection changed during the past few years, and why? Yes. I bought way too many medium-large work bags for my collection and totally overlooked the practicality and ease of mini bags. I have been obsessed with clutch and mini bags the last year.

Do you prefer shopping for bags online or in-store? Why? I used to like shopping online more, because there’s no pressure to buy, but I really like to see the bags in person before buying. Especially now that many stores are charging return shipping.

I may go back to online shopping after some recent SA drama. When I bought my Celine 16, I didn’t have a relationship with any SA, so I just walked up and worked with the first person who I saw in the handbag section — a pleasant woman 15 years or so older than me who spoke english with a strong accent. During that time, there was another associate in the bag section who introduced himself and grabbed me some more goodies — they both gave me lots of samples. He was a young, gay man about my age and we immediately clicked.

Unfortunately, only she got my number because she made that sale. She continued to text me after that day, sometimes photos of new merchandise. When I decided to buy the Victoire, I noticed one of her pictures showed what looked like a Victoire, and I texted her back, asking if they still had it and if they had the color I was looking for. They did and I gladly made an appointment and bought it from her, asking for help with a pair of jeans while I was there, giving her another nice commission despite really wanting to find an excuse to work with the other associate since my first interaction.

At one point, I texted her if she was working tomorrow, and she did not respond. I went in, and the other associate was there—a perfect opportunity. We had a great time shopping and found some common interests. He texted me regularly, both about shopping and checking in. We established a great rapport, and we talked about several things I want to buy coming up that he will help me with.

Apparently, the original associate got wind of this and is very upset, accusing the other associate of stealing “her client.” I went in to make a purchase and they were both there, I greeted both warmly. The original associate proceeded to make things weird, reminding me when the new associate left to get the things we’d been texting about that she had helped me with my bags and jeans (as if I’d forgotten) and confirming my phone number and that she had been texting me. It was clear I had caused some drama and the new associate apologized to me when she was out of earshot.

I’m very confused and upset by this whole situation. I’ve never had a SA relationship before, but it seems like if a client wants to, they should be able to change associates. Despite not really clicking with her from the beginning, I tried to make the switch as easy as possible, only going in and starting to work with the new associate after having received no response from the original associate. The original associate is acting as if I have no agency in this situation and must continue to work with her because she is the one I started out working with. This isn’t high school, and I do not have time for this drama.

Which stores do you frequent the most? Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdales.

Have you ever returned a bag after purchasing it? Why did you make that decision? I don’t think since the half-moon bag I referenced in my first confession.

Do you ever buy second-hand bags? Where do you buy used? I did buy a secondhand Carolina Herrera tote bag (in hot pink, which I still have!) and a small Dooney and Bourke shoulder bag from an upscale Goodwill once.

Do you ever donate or gift your old bags? If so, to whom? I have in the past, but not recently. Some of my older bags I am not able to sell, I will probably eventually just donate them.

Do you feel that social media or influencer culture pressures you to buy more bags or certain brands? Seeing influencer after influencer with 100s of bags in their collection certainly helps justify problematic purchasing behavior. At the very least, it makes me feel like it could be worse, I could have more than I already do.

Ironically, one of my favorite influencers was unboxing the exact YSL vanity case (in the same color!) my SA would try to sell me later, and it did make me consider buying it for longer than I otherwise would. I’ve never been a trend-follower and honestly don’t get the vanity case trend, but it looked so pretty on, I was almost swayed.

Do you consider your bag purchases financial or emotional investments? They’re both, honestly. I get the confidence from my designer bags that helps me progress in my career and therefore helps me financially. I take good care of my bags and can usually recoup at least some money from them, usually 45% or more of my original expenditure. Many contemporary brands are hard to sell for more than 10% of the original retail price after a few years, no matter how good condition they’re in.

Do you follow the latest fashion trends when deciding on your next purchase, or do you prefer classic styles? I follow the latest trends, but have tried to curate a fairly timeless collection of bags.

Are sales associate relationships instrumental to your shopping? Over the past year, I have established a relationship with a sales associate at Neiman Marcus who I adore. However, I do have to work harder when utilizing a SA to stay on track and on budget. It is very obvious sometimes that, while they act like your friend, your interests are not necessarily aligned. They are interested in getting you to spend the most money they can. Not to mention the recent SA drama I’ve already discussed. While it is nice to have that relationship, this situation has really put me off the whole thing. I can make friends whose job isn’t to part me from my money.

Do you enjoy shopping beyond just acquiring something new? Yes, I love seeing what’s out there, feeling the qualities and textures of different products, seeing what people are buying and people watching.

Have you ever felt you received inferior service at a store or boutique due to your appearance, ethnicity, or gender? At brunch one day in a more affluent area of town, my friend and I were offered bag hangers so that our bags did not have to hang off the back of the chair. Looking around the room, I saw very few others with a hanger, and I suspect she might have recognized my Celine Victoire bag.

What factors may dissuade you from buying a bag, even if you like it? If it’s too of-the-moment and trendy. At the time I bought the YSL quilted crossbody, the SA also showed me a mini vanity case, which looked stunning on me, but was a bit trendy. I don’t think many people will still be carrying vanity case bags in a few years.

Is there a brand you outright refuse to buy? Why? Nothing comes to mind.

Do you ever rent designer bags? If so, from where?I never have, but it seems great for special occasion bags and/or trying before you buy.

How do you feel about the concept of “quiet luxury” vs. “loud luxury”? I prefer a quieter, “iykyk” look. I’m a little more reserved in general and don’t necessarily like to attract attention to myself. One day, getting on the elevator with my Celine soft 16, an attorney from another firm got on at another floor with a LV OnTheGo bag. To me, it was the biggest flex was knowing that our bags were in the same price range, but only people who are truly into fashion would be able to identify mine. If someone compliments a bag of mine that is not easily identifiable, I definitely tend to believe that that person knows about fashion.

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On Budgeting & Perceptions

Who pays for your bags? I do, especially over the past year while my husband was out of work.

Do you set aside a budget for your bag purchases? No, but I probably should. For a while, it was almost like the numbers were fake and didn’t matter.

Have you ever purchased a counterfeit because you couldn’t afford a designer item? When I was a kid my mom bought me and my brother fake Tommy Hilfiger clothes from the flea market. I’m not truly sure if she didn’t know the difference, or pretended for our benefit.

Do you use financing or payment plans (like Afterpay or Klarna) for bag purchases? Never ever.

Do you think owning luxury bags helps you in professional or social situations? How so? I’ve been selling some stuff on Fashionphile. such a great easy, process!

Do you ever hide purchases from your significant other? Have you ever lied about the cost of a bag to avoid judgment? Maybe this is a character flaw of mine, but at least it gives me the confidence to help me feel like I belong in spaces I don’t necessarily feel like I do. I grew up without a lot of money, so as I navigate being a first generation lawyer and the spaces that takes me into, both personally and professionally, a designer bag helps. I tend to believe that people notice and treat you accordingly, but it’s also possible that I am treated differently because I show up more confidently. It’s almost like it’s my ticket — see? This working-class girl is one of you now.

Do you ever resell bags on platforms like The RealReal, Fashionphile, or Vestiaire Collective? No, I never lie. Our credit card statements are accessible to us both, so he could always find out. I just don’t always volunteer that information unless asled.

Have your friends or family ever criticized your bag-buying habits? If so, how did you respond? No, but very few people in my life who I suspect would criticize it probably recognize the designer labels.

Do you think your shopping is ever a problem? Have you ever felt like you were struggling with a shopping addiction? I think it has bordered on problematic this year. I have spent far more on bags this year than any other year, and I definitely need to slow down now.

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Let’s get personal…

What is your greatest extravagance? Bags, far and away. I kind of let myself get sucked into this world, but I feel like I have more or less reached the mythical “purse peace”. I have beautiful, timeless designer bags in pretty much every shape and style for almost any occasion I could come up with.

What is your greatest fear? Losing the people most important to me.

What is the trait you most admire in others? Kindness. As an attorney, I deal with unkind people all day long. It’s literally free not to be a jerk.

What or who is the greatest love of your life? At this time, I’m trying to get to a place in my life where the answer is, “myself.” Our relationship with ourselves is the only one that will last our entire lives. We interact with our inner selves far more than we will with anyone else. My mantra for 2025 is to take better care of myself. I believe some of the overshopping I did in the past year is a response to work stress. This year, I will start my career transition — starting by working from home, considering a change in firms, or perhaps leaving the legal industry altogether in order to focus on my mental and physical health. Focusing on this to stop the overbuying will be my priority. Rather than telling myself I can’t buy any more bags, I am going to commit to taking out and lining up each of my bags to look at them all whenever I feel I want another. Either the sheer effort of having to unbag them all, or the realization after looking at them that I probably have something great that’s similar, will stop me from ill-considered purchases.

What is your favorite journey you have taken so far? Always trying to be a better version of myself.

What is your idea of perfect happiness? Feeling more content in my career and relationship with my husband and my relationship with myself.

Any parting words you would like to share with our readers? Look after yourself and show up for yourself. Keep your promises to yourself sacred. Nobody cares about you more than you do.