CC 247: The Color Queen

In today’s installment of Closet Confessionals, we meet a bag lover through and through, hailing from Toronto. She has been curating her collection for two decades. In the 20 years since getting her first bag, a Coach tote, she’s amassed an amazing collection of Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, and more. A self-proclaimed maximalist, CC 247 enjoys color and fun and has since moved towards buying mostly vintage, as the bags she lusted for earlier on in life are coming back around.

A down-to-earth, well-rounded collector, CC 247 enjoys passing along bags to friends or family that she’s outgrown, though she will sell on consignment if she finds she regrets a purchase. Currently, she’s on the hunt for a vintage Louis Vuitton Graffiti bag, and as always, she’ll find a bargain! Read the full CC now, and don’t forget to share your own!

Basic Bio

Your Age? 46
Your Gender Identity? Female
Where do you live? Toronto, ON
What is your occupation? Executive Assistant
What industry do you work in? Non-profit
What is your annual salary range? Total household income? $170,000
Are you a PurseForum member? Yes

Onto The Bags

How many bags do you own? I’d rather not count

What bags are in your collection?

• Balenciaga Black Mini City
• Balenciaga Grey XXS Toronto Shopping Tote
• Balenciaga Cognac Club
• Bottega Veneta Porridge Small Cassette Bucket
• Bottega Veneta Tangerine Mini Cassette
• Chanel Black Timeless Vanity Case (I can attach a strap and use it crossbody)
• Fendi Zucca Baguette
• Fendi Black Wool Baguette
• Givenchy Nude Goatskin Small Pandora
• Gucci Marmont Red Super Mini
• Hermès Black Box Kelly
• Louis Vuitton Grenade Epi Speedy 25
• Louis Vuitton Monogram Nano Noe
• Louis Vuitton Monogram Mini Sac HL
• Louis Vuitton Mini Lin Navy Alma Long
• Louis Vuitton Multicolor White Lodge Pm
• Louis Vuitton Monogram Lorette
• Marc Jacobs Denim Patchwork Tote Bag for work
• Marni Red Brushstroke Nano Trunk Bag
• Saint Laurent Purple Denim Toy Lou Lou
• Valentino Small Burgundy Rockstud Bag
• Several Coach, Marc Jacobs and Longchamp bags for work
• Plus an ungodly amount of Stoney Clover Lane

How much is your collection worth? Around $40,000 (yikes)

What is your most expensive bag? My vintage Hermès Black Kelly 28. I bought it more than a decade ago from a lovely tPF member when no one wanted vintage bags, so it was a fraction of what it would cost today.

Do you ever experience buyer’s remorse after purchasing a bag? If so, how do you deal with it? It’s been a long time since I experienced buyer’s remorse, but I used to deal with it by returning the bag, sending it for consignment or selling it on Poshmark.

Do you feel a desire to downsize your collection? If so, what factors are driving that decision? I started 2024 with the intention of downsizing my collection and I was doing so well, but the summer sale season rolled around and I started accumulating again. It hasn’t helped that I keep finding the bags I lusted over in my teens for a fraction of their original cost.

What age did you get your first designer bag, and what was it? My first contemporary designer bag was a Coach Monogram Tote, that I bought at 27 that I think my mother still has. My first luxury designer bag was a Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene Speedy 30 and I was 28. I still remember working up the courage to call the store to see if they had one in stock, then rushing to buy it right away.

Is there a specific bag you are looking to purchase next? I’d love a bag from the graffiti Louis Vuitton collection, but I can’t seem to find one I like in decent condition.

Do you have a ‘holy grail’ dream bag you’ve always wanted to own? Not at the moment. I always thought I’d want a Birkin since those are held up as the “holy grail” by so many but when I was offered one, I turned it down because they aren’t really my style.

Any particular bag that holds a special sentimental value? My Grenade Epi Speedy 25 and my Monogram Speedy HL because my husband bought them both for me. My Speedy 25 was a wedding present 16 years ago and my Speedy HL was part of my 45th birthday present.

Do you feel like your bags change people’s perceptions of you or how you’re treated? Because I’m a plus-size BIPOC woman I’ve had horrible experiences shopping in all types of stores, but I’m always treated better when I carry a designer bag while shopping. I’m also a colourful dresser who mixes patterns so when I add a designer bag to my outfits people tend to underestimate my competence, depth and intelligence.

How do you take care of your bags? I clean and dust them regularly since they’re displayed around my “mom-cave”.

On Shopping

How often do you buy new bags? Whenever I find a great deal on a bag I love.

How has your bag collection changed during the past few years, and why? My bag choices have shifted from new designs to vintage ones because I’m tired of seeing my bag being carried by every Instagram influencer. My daughter has also challenged me to shop more sustainably so I’ve been examining my choices and searching for bags I loved years ago as opposed to the “bag of the season”.

Do you prefer shopping for bags online or in-store? Why? I’m a complete online shopper and it’s rare for me to buy a bag in-store because I’m a sales shopper and I hate crowds. I also shop from a lot of online consignment stores that aren’t local to my area.

Which stores do you frequent the most? In-person I shop at Coach, Longchamp and occasionally at Holt Renfrew. Online I’m still an Ssense shopper since their sales are so good.

Have you ever returned a bag after purchasing it? Why did you make that decision? I’ve returned plenty including bags and my main reason is because they didn’t work for my needs or were too delicate for my lifestyle.

Do you ever buy second-hand bags? Where do you buy used? I’ve been buying from Poshmark Canada quite a bit and from Canadian online consignment stores to avoid additional duties and taxes. I’ve been fortunate to also build relationships with some trusted instagram sellers who will keep an eye out for what I’m looking for.

Do you ever donate or gift your old bags? If so, to whom? Yes! Everyone in my family has at least 1 of my old bags. Both my mother and my mother-in-law joke that they’ll never have to shop for bags again.

Do you feel that social media or influencer culture pressures you to buy more bags or certain brands? I used to follow “hot” brands or influencers on social media, get really excited for new releases, see whatever it was everywhere and be tired by the time it hit the stores. I now make sure I only follow people who have their own style and who shop in ways I’d want to emulate.

Do you consider your bag purchases financial or emotional investments? Purely emotional because I never buy a bag with the intention of selling it. I can think of many other things I’d sell before parting with my bags.

Do you follow the latest fashion trends when deciding on your next purchase, or do you prefer classic styles? I look at colour trends to see what I have that would already work for the coming season, but I buy more for my lifestyle. For classics, I love bags that have a classic shape in an unexpected material or bright colour. I only own 3 black bags total.

Are sales associate relationships instrumental to your shopping? Not anymore since I mostly buy online, but the relationships I have with the consignment stores I shop at are crucial.

Do you enjoy shopping beyond just acquiring something new? I enjoy the people-watching aspect of shopping and seeing how stores style clothing. A lot of times when I go shopping, I come home with nothing because I know that I can find a better price online.

Have you ever felt you received inferior service at a store or boutique due to your appearance, ethnicity, or gender? Yes, but strangely nowadays I tend to be better treated in luxury stores than I am in contemporary or “straight-size” clothing stores.

What factors may dissuade you from buying a bag, even if you like it? If I’ve seen it on too many people. If the workmanship is shoddy. If the materials are too delicate.

Is there a brand you outright refuse to buy? Why? There are some brands I’ve never bought from, but that’s because I don’t like their products.

Do you ever rent designer bags? If so, from where? Never. I’d honestly have no idea where to start.

How do you feel about the concept of “quiet luxury” vs. “loud luxury”? I understand the trend, but I also find a lot of “quiet luxury” content to be racist, classist and socioeconomic biases because it highlights an aesthetic that I and many others will never be able to achieve. Plus I find many tones of beige to be boring.

On Budgeting & Perceptions

Who pays for your bags? I do, but hubby will chip in once in a while.

Do you set aside a budget for your bag purchases? Nope! I’m still a buy it and figure out how I’ll pay for it later sort of person.

Have you ever purchased a counterfeit because you couldn’t afford a designer item? Once, when I was on vacation, but now that I understand what counterfeit items fund, I will never buy one again.

Do you use financing or payment plans (like Afterpay or Klarna) for bag purchases? I have, but I don’t like to have more than 2 payment plans going at any one time across all platforms. It’s a personal rule that’s worked well for me.

Do you think owning luxury bags helps you in professional or social situations? How so? I tend not to carry my bags in professional situations unless I’m really comfortable because I got tired of the “how did you afford that?” questions I used to get. The only way my bags help in social situations is as conversation starters because my friends and family love to know what I’ve bought or what I’m looking for.

Do you ever hide purchases from your significant other? Have you ever lied about the cost of a bag to avoid judgment? Nope. I send the link to almost every bag I buy to him before I purchase to get his opinion and since I’m a bargain hunter I also tell him how much I saved by showing him the price elsewhere.

Do you ever resell bags on platforms like The RealReal, Fashionphile, or Vestiaire Collective? I would if consigning things from Canada wasn’t such a pain. I always say I’ll try Vestiaire, but I haven’t wanted to part with any of my bags yet.

Have your friends or family ever criticized your bag-buying habits? If so, how did you respond? They all know better than to criticize my habits (to my face). Plus, if they did they wouldn’t “inherit” anymore bags from me.

Do you think your shopping is ever a problem? Have you ever felt like you were struggling with a shopping addiction? I’ve been questioning whether I need to buy every single thing I like. My hubby always tells me that I can admire something and not own it and I’m definitely moving in that direction.

Let’s get personal…

What is your greatest extravagance? I’d actually say my sneakers. During the pandemic I was an essential worker and I had to walk miles everyday so my sneaker collection grew, while my collection of ballet flats and heels shrank. I’m also a planner girl, with a large collection of planners in a lot of different sizes.

What is your greatest fear? Not being around to see my daughter grow up.

What is the trait you most admire in others? I admire minimalism, but I’m a maximalist. Once my husband challenged me to wear only 10 pieces of clothing to work for 10 straight days. I was also allowed 3 pairs of shoes, 2 purses and unlimited accessories. It was a wonderful challenge, but I was glad to have a choice again.

Which living person do you most admire? My daughter. She’s very introverted, as I am, but she’s leaps and bounds braver than I was at her age and I am now. She’s also the funniest person I know.

What or who is the greatest love of your life? Myself. I love my daughter, my husband, our friends and family, but loving myself as I am is amazing.

What is your favorite journey you have taken so far? I always thought I was supposed to be successful in a monetary sense, with a large house and a fancy career. While having money is great, the contentment I’ve found in my 40’s has been amazing.

What is your idea of perfect happiness? Travelling with my husband and daughter. Last year my daughter and I did a European tour, which was amazing, but we definitely missed having someone to carry our luggage!

Any parting words you would like to share with our readers? You know you best, so your opinion is the only one that matters.