In today’s installment of Closet Confessionals, we’re checking in with a collector who began her journey later in life. CC 245 was in her mid-fifties when she got her first luxury designer bag; the rest is history! Since then, she’s acquired a substantial collection of 33 bags, including everything from Louis Vuitton and Chanel to Celine and Hermès.
CC 245 was introduced to the world of luxury bags by her daughters and has enjoyed the full process. She spent the first few years learning her likes and dislikes, leading to a collection of bags she really loves. While she states that in the first few years, things got a little out of hand as she felt she was making up for lost time, she’s very at peace with her collection today.
Read the full CC below, and don’t forget to share your own!
Basic Bio
Your Age? 64
Your Gender Identity? Female
Where do you live? Canada
What is your occupation? Retired
What industry do you work in? Education
What is your annual salary range? Total household income? $110,000
Are you a PurseForum member? Yes
Onto The Bags
How many bags do you own? 33
What bags are in your collection? Hermès Kelly, Birkin, Chanel Classic Flap, Lady Dior Medium, Celine 16, Loewe Small Puzzle, etc.
How much is your collection worth? Over $150,000
What is your most expensive bag? Hermès Kelly 25
Do you ever experience buyer’s remorse after purchasing a bag? If so, how do you deal with it? Yes , I sold it after a couple of years.
Do you feel a desire to downsize your collection? If so, what factors are driving that decision? I’m on a pause as I have too many bags. I would have sold a couple of bags if the market was better. However, I love most of my bags as they are bought for different uses.
What age did you get your first designer bag, and what was it? I was 56 or 57 when I bought my first Burberry tote.
Is there a specific bag you are looking to purchase next? No I am very happy with my collection at this time.
Do you have a ‘holy grail’ dream bag you’ve always wanted to own? My journey started when I was much older and mostly increased during COVID. The first year was just getting to know my likes and dislikes. I was lucky to buy my Chanel classic flaps in 2020. My holy grail bag is my Hermès Kelly 25 SO.
Any particular bag that holds a special sentimental value? My husband bought me my first Chanel Classic Flap which was very expensive at the time for me.
Do you feel like your bags change people’s perceptions of you or how you’re treated? I was always treated well even when I wore Coach or Kate Spade. I have to say it does make a difference only in luxury stores these days when I carry my H bags. At work, I carry understated bags like the Puzzle or Celine 16. Most of my friends don’t care about designer bags. I now have a group of friends who I have connected with through TPF and we enjoy and celebrate each other’s collection.
How do you take care of your bags? I try and take care of my bags by putting them away in their dust bags. However, I don’t baby them. I use them daily.
On Shopping
How often do you buy new bags? Over the last four years my collection went from 1 to 33 so I did go down a very slippery slope. I bought three bags this year. Now I’m on a pause.
How has your bag collection changed during the past few years, and why? From March 2019 to March 2021 I bought from Chanel, LV, Dior, Gucci, Valentino, Celine etc. After March 2021 it was largely Hermès.
Do you prefer shopping for bags online or in-store? Why? I have bought a few bags online but usually I shop in store. I enjoy the feeling of browsing in store and the service you get if you connect with a good SA.
Which stores do you frequent the most? Hermès recently, followed by Chanel, LV and Celine
Have you ever returned a bag after purchasing it? Why did you make that decision? I had ordered an Alma BB world tour online and it came damaged so I had to return it. I also had to exchange a Navy Lady Dior which I bought in France as it was damaged.
Do you ever buy second-hand bags? Where do you buy used? Yes I have bought one preloved bag this year. It was Hermès C18 and I got it authenticated. It was from a local Canadian reseller on Instagram.
Do you ever donate or gift your old bags? If so, to whom? The opportunity hasn’t arisen to donate bags. I have gifted my two daughters an Evelyn 16 each.
Do you feel that social media or influencer culture pressures you to buy more bags or certain brands? Initially I was very addicted to social media and bag reviews to make my buying decisions. Now I am mostly bored by trending bags. I usually love the classics from each house. Also influencers have become too obvious about their product placements.
Do you consider your bag purchases financial or emotional investments? My bags are totally emotional investments. I love carrying my bags and I admire the workmanship which goes into them.
Do you follow the latest fashion trends when deciding on your next purchase, or do you prefer classic styles? I prefer classic styles from each luxury house. I love the Chanel classic flaps, my Hermès Kelly Birkin Bolide Evelyn, LV Alma BB, and Speedy 30…you get the gist.
Are sales associate relationships instrumental to your shopping? Only in Hermès. My first bag from Hermès was a bag I didn’t know I wanted a Garden Party 30. In Hermès I enjoy chatting with my SAs and they have been very kind to me.
Do you enjoy shopping beyond just acquiring something new? For sure for the first few years bags had become an obsession. I was making up for the forty years of not shopping luxury. Now I’m over that addiction. I do like to shop occasionally and browse in high end stores.
Have you ever felt you received inferior service at a store or boutique due to your appearance, ethnicity, or gender? I have been very fortunate in receiving excellent service from most stores. If ever I feel like the SA is not interested I just walk out. There are many fish in the market. I did notice that if my husband ever comes with me, SAs tend to perk up not realizing that he has zero interest in luxury buying.
What factors may dissuade you from buying a bag, even if you like it? I’m careful about the quality of leather and I like to avoid making impulsive decisions. If the SA is not interested in me as a person, I will not buy the bag even if I love it. It happened to me in Paris once. I just went to the next LV store and bought the same bag.
Is there a brand you outright refuse to buy? Why? I don’t have a Balenciaga bag and this was before the controversy. Now I wouldn’t buy a Chanel bag because the prices are atrocious and the quality is not up to the mark.
Do you ever rent designer bags? If so, from where? No
How do you feel about the concept of “quiet luxury” vs. “loud luxury”? Boring. I love my bright colours and I love my LV Speedy and some other canvas pieces. I wouldn’t go for Logomania but neither would I buy a boring black bag.
On Budgeting & Perceptions
Who pays for your bags? I have paid for all my bags except for two expensive ones gifted by my husband.
Do you set aside a budget for your bag purchases? I used to spend about 3-4K a month. Not anymore though.
Have you ever purchased a counterfeit because you couldn’t afford a designer item? Once a long time ago when I went to China but I regretted it.
Do you use financing or payment plans (like Afterpay or Klarna) for bag purchases? No
Do you think owning luxury bags helps you in professional or social situations? How so? No not really. I don’t like being judged and that happens a lot in the circles I usually move in. I enjoy my bags now with my daughters who actually started me on this journey. Also with my friends from TPF.
Do you ever hide purchases from your significant other? Have you ever lied about the cost of a bag to avoid judgment? Sometimes I may tell a white lie. However, usually I will own up after some time. My husband knows I am not foolish with my money.
Do you ever resell bags on platforms like The RealReal, Fashionphile, or Vestiaire Collective? I have sold one bag to Fashionphile.
Have your friends or family ever criticized your bag-buying habits? If so, how did you respond? No because I have never showed my entire collection to my extended family and friends and never would. My daughters encourage my bad habits.
Do you think your shopping is ever a problem? Have you ever felt like you were struggling with a shopping addiction? No not really. Sometimes I feel guilty about spending so much money on these expensive items but I wait for that to pass.
Let’s get personal…
What is your greatest extravagance? Jewellery and bags
What is your greatest fear? Nothing really
What is the trait you most admire in others? Honesty and loyalty
Which living person do you most admire? I have a friend in Australia who always lives true to herself.
What or who is the greatest love of your life? My husband, daughters and now my grandkids
What is your favorite journey you have taken so far? I’m an avid traveller so it’s difficult to make a choice but off the top of my head I went to Patagonia for some hiking. One of the hikes was my idea of being in heaven.
What is your idea of perfect happiness? Living in the moment and appreciating everything that has come to me due to God’s grace.
Any parting words you would like to share with our readers? I would love everybody to be in the same space as I am right now. At peace and content.
I know that other commenters get ticked off when people question the diarists ability to acquire such a collection over such a short period of time considering their household income but honestly – sometimes it doesn’t make any sense! “My husband knows I am not foolish with my money.” I don’t understand. According to the collection vs. household income, the writer has spent almost 1/4 of the household income on bags over the past 4 years. Is it a typo? Is she just including her income when the husband brings in much more? I’m not trying to question the writer or be critical of how she spends her money but sometimes the math just doesn’t add up, especially since she loves to travel and has been generous in gifting her daughter’s bags it looks like she’s not sacrificing a ton in terms of lifestyle just to afford the bags.
I mean lol what’s it to you?! adding up peoples money!! I think you forget that this is more about bags than finances… regardless this is an older lady who most likely had a life long career and maybe had an inheritance or something… again what’s it to you?! its meant to be just a fun read if she says she’s “not foolish with her money” then we shall take her word for it! THAT SIMPLE
“SAs tend to perk up not realizing that he has zero interest in luxury buying” made me LOL because this is my husband, too. 😊
I loved this confessional – the bond that is shared between her and her daughters sounds so special and cherished! Also, I really appreciated the honesty that came through while reading.
agreed! she sounds like such. wonderful and humble person who truly enjoys bags:)
I enjoyed reading your story. I am just like you as I started my collection later in life and I have a very large collection. I do ot own any Hermes as I have no desire. My favorite is Dolce & Gabbana and Gucci.
Thanks for sharing your story.