In today’s installment of Closet Confessionals, we meet a classic-loving collector living in Paris whose love for bags is driven by history and heritage. CC 250 began collecting bags in her early 20s after getting a nice bonus check from work. It was then that she promptly marched into Selfridges to buy the iconic Louis Vuitton Neverfull bag, but quickly had a change of heart.
She opted for a Givenchy Tote instead, which remains in her collection still to this day thanks to its sentimental value, despite not using it that often anymore. An incredibly grounded and savvy shopper, CC 250 shops well within her means and only buys a bag if it feels like the perfect one.
Read the full CC below, and don’t forget to submit your own!
Basic Bio
Your Age? 37
Your Gender Identity? Female
Where do you live? Paris, FR
What is your occupation? Sales
What industry do you work in? Tech
What is your annual salary range? Total household income? $200,000
Are you a PurseForum member? No
Onto The Bags
How many bags do you own? 7
What bags are in your collection?
- Céline Box Bag
- Birkin-Inspired tote
- Burberry Backpack
- Loewe Puzzle Bag
- Chanel WOC
- Givenchy Tote
- Uniqlo Crossbody
How much is your collection worth? $8,000
What is your most expensive bag? I paid the most for my Chanel WOC. I bought it new at the boutique in Paris, and with the constant price rises it’s not hard to spend the most on Chanel. Oddly enough I tried to buy the WOC secondhand, however those on sale were more expensive than going to the boutique at the time!
Do you ever experience buyer’s remorse after purchasing a bag? If so, how do you deal with it? I felt buyers remorse years after buying my Givenchy tote, I never used it enough to justify the cost – it was my very first designer bag, so I keep holding on to it for sentimental value, but I really should sell it.
Do you feel a desire to downsize your collection? If so, what factors are driving that decision? Yes, I do. I like to have one bag for each purpose, 1 backpack, 1 tote, 1 small evening bag, 1 carryall, etc. Having mutiples never interested or tempted me, and with 7 bags I already feel cluttered. Perhaps I’ll just take the plunge and list some online and find them new homes.
What age did you get your first designer bag, and what was it? I must have been in my early 20s – my boss gave me a bonus and I was exhilarated – I had been dreaming of buying the Louis Neverfull for YEARS! I was living in London at the time, so I took my bonus cheque, treated myself to brunch with my friend, and then we went to Selfridges. While walking to the department store, I must have passed five other women carrying a Neverfull, enough to once I reached Louis Vuitton, I wasn’t sure if I wanted one as EVERYONE seemed to have one!
In store I then also discovered that they had just increased the price – again – and added a little pouch to hide the massive hike, so I had enough, turned around and bought Givenchy instead. I don’t like it when designers take advantage, and paying around £1000 at the time for coated canvas, no thank you.
Is there a specific bag you are looking to purchase next? I am dreaming of the black Kelly 35 with gold hardware, it’ll be a few more years until I can do that, but a girl’s gotta dream, right?
Do you have a ‘holy grail’ dream bag you’ve always wanted to own? Yes, the Loewe Puzzle Bag. I think it may be the best bag in the world! I purchased mine in 2019, and I wear it 300 days out of the year. I do take very good care of it, so it looks phenomenal. Just last year I had Loewe send it to Madrid for repairs, I had worn off some parts and they replaced them at a very low cost.
Any particular bag that holds a special sentimental value? My Givenchy bag, as it was my very first and I never thought I would be the girl who can afford to buy a designer bag. I always dreamed about it, and somewhere along the way there was the fictional husband who would one day treat me to anything I wanted, but earning my own money and then being able to choose to buy a bag – that was fantastic. That feeling has never subsided either, whenever I buy something for myself, I am really proud of being able to do it.
Do you feel like your bags change people’s perceptions of you or how you’re treated? Unfortunately I am guilty of this myself. When someone is covered in logos and carrying Michael Kors, I will have thoughts and assumptions about the person. It’s awful. I have noticed myself, I went to Gucci a few years ago with my sister to look at shoes, the sales ladies were all over me while they ignored my sister who was not carrying a recognisable bag.
How do you take care of your bags? I ensure they never get wet, when I don’t use them I keep them in a cloth bag of some sort (I lose the dust bags usually), and I put some cream on them to keep the leather supple (a tip from a bag authenticator I used to authenticate my Céline). And as mentioned earlier, when the wear and tear gets too much, like with my Puzzle, I went to the store and asked if they can send it to the workshop for a touchup!
On Shopping
How often do you buy new bags? Hmm I want to say once a year, but I don’t think it’s that often. I usually buy when I see the perfect bag, it’s been like that for the past 4 bags.
How has your bag collection changed during the past few years, and why? My collection has not changed, as I want one bag for each function and I already have a pretty good idea of what I like – I’m very much a buyer who values heritage and the history of the house, the origin story – there are not too many brands I’m interested in, and then also having the right brand for me and a design I love, it’s pretty much the classics for me.
Do you prefer shopping for bags online or in-store? Why? I need to touch, feel, smell and hold the bag, so online shopping is not for me.
Which stores do you frequent the most? I think I spend most of my time at Le Bon Marché, I think it’s such a lovely store. That being said, I purchased my last few bags in little vintage boutiques across Europe.
Have you ever returned a bag after purchasing it? Why did you make that decision? No, I’ve not done that yet.
Do you ever buy second-hand bags? Where do you buy used? I am highly suspicious of the online marketplaces like Vestiaire or Collector Square, I’ve heard too many horror stories, so I prefer buying in little vintage shops, second hand stores and the likes. I found my Céline in Vienna passing a shop on the street, and most recently in Copenhagen my Birkin-inspired bag in tiny vintage store.
Do you ever donate or gift your old bags? If so, to whom? Excluding to my sisters, no, I would resell them but I’ve not yet done so. My sisters did manage to bag a few bags from me…
Do you feel that social media or influencer culture pressures you to buy more bags or certain brands? Absolutely! The strategy of designers to just gift their bags to everyone online and their mother makes it very difficult to stay on track with what I want for myself. I remember that overnight everyone was shilling Polène, but I remembered I didn’t like their first design. And yet, seeing it everywhere, constantly, made me doubt my choice. Also now, with the relaunch of the Neverfull, I see so many, and they’re now marketing the bag as “reversible”, which to my knowledge it has always been – but now it’s €2500 and still only coated canvas. I get really exhausted by how aggressive these marketing tactics have become.
Do you consider your bag purchases financial or emotional investments? A little bit of both. Taking my Puzzle for example, since I bought it, the perceived value has gone up by €1000. I could resell this bag and make a small profit compared to what I purchased it for. That being said, I love my Puzzle so so much I would never part with it, not for 10x the price offered. My Céline on the other hand, I made an exceptionally good deal on it, so maybe one day when I’m in a tight spot, I would resell it for a profit. But it’s really gorgeous, so probably not..
Do you follow the latest fashion trends when deciding on your next purchase, or do you prefer classic styles? I am 100% classic all the way, I also don’t get very tempted by the latest fashion trends. Most recently bags that mimic Phoebe Philo’s Box Bag have been flooding the market, A.P.C. has their Grace bag, Sézane released the Milo, Soeur has their Bellissima, Céline relaunched the Triomphe – but at the end of the day the Box is the original, the one that inspired the rest of them. None of the new ones are more beautiful in my eyes than the one I have.
Are sales associate relationships instrumental to your shopping? Not to me, no. I am not a big enough spender to get their attention haha.
Do you enjoy shopping beyond just acquiring something new? No, I really don’t enjoy shopping. I prefer the hunt, imagining the item that I want, and then scouring the internets and shops for that specific item, preferably second hand. It’s a little bit addictive, but it adds to the experience, as I get to have what I want, and make a good deal on it, too.
Have you ever felt you received inferior service at a store or boutique due to your appearance, ethnicity, or gender? Once, at Cartier, but that was because of a watch, not a bag. I went to pick up a custom strap I had ordered, after work, and I looked a mess and was carrying my work backpack that has lots of pockets and is not in any way shape or form aesthetic. I probably had my hair up and my makeup evaporated during the workday. Not only did I get side-eyed, the SA took 20 minutes to find me in the system checking a few times if I was sure I was at the right place, then he asked me if I had paid already and the whole thing wasn’t very pleasant. I get it, I wasn’t dolled up like some other female customers in the store, but come on. Nobody accidentally stumbles into Cartier.
What factors may dissuade you from buying a bag, even if you like it? Honestly, I was thinking about maybe adding a mini Dior to my collection, however after the revelation of quasi-slavery in the factories in Italy have put me off for life. Their unethical practises in general, LVMH keeps buying up brands, the prices go up, the quality goes down – if they think charging more than €4000 for a bag that has been manufactured by men that they are exploiting for less than minimum wage who sleep at the factory, that’s unconscionable. I understand that half the cost of the bag is for the rent and decoration of the stores and marketing, but there are some things I cannot ignore. Similar to D&G, once their messages leaked and the racism was exposed, I was unable to consider purchasing there, ever.
Is there a brand you outright refuse to buy? Why? Michael Kors lol. It just became too much of a running joke over the years, and I didn’t appreciate how he outright copied existing designs constantly. I’m not sure what he’s doing now, I stopped paying attention, but when I was younger it was all the rage.
Do you ever rent designer bags? If so, from where? No, I don’t think such a service exists where I live.
How do you feel about the concept of “quiet luxury” vs. “loud luxury”? I’m team quiet luxury – I don’t see the point of spending money on items covered in logos to advertise more for the brand – they should be paying me to do that. I prefer the IYKYK way of life, and it gives a reason to go up to someone and ask them.
On Budgeting & Perceptions
Who pays for your bags? I do.
Do you set aside a budget for your bag purchases? No, I buy a bag when I see it, but my rule is that if I cannot afford to pay for it at least 3 times, I won’t buy it. Then it gives me incentive to save up the amount I need.
Have you ever purchased a counterfeit because you couldn’t afford a designer item? No, however I do own a Birkin-inspired bag. It’s pretty much a Birkin bag without the logos on it. I bought it in a vintage shop, and the reason I bought it wasn’t that I wanted a Birkin, I really didn’t, but the shape and size and material of the bag were so stunning, I couldn’t not buy it. When I tried it on, heaven opened and the angels started singing. So, to answer the question, no, I didn’t buy a counterfeit because I couldn’t afford a designer item, I ended up buying a counterfeit because I really loved that bag, but wouldn’t buy the designer item if I could.
Do you use financing or payment plans (like Afterpay or Klarna) for bag purchases? Never, those are huge traps for people, especially women, who already suffer from less financial education than their male counterparts get while growing up. I think I mentioned it earlier, but my rule is that if I can’t afford it 3 times, I don’t buy it. Never purchase something if the cost reflects what you have in your bank account, you need some savings in case things go wrong. A Gucci Mormont cannot fix a leak in your apartment.
Do you think owning luxury bags helps you in professional or social situations? How so? Nope
Do you ever hide purchases from your significant other? Have you ever lied about the cost of a bag to avoid judgment? I don’t think so, not for me. In my social situations I’m surrounded by people who do not care or know about designer bags, and in my professional situations I’ve seen a big divide in what I wear, and what the others are wearing – so I don’t think it really registers.
Do you ever resell bags on platforms like The RealReal, Fashionphile, or Vestiaire Collective? Nope
Have your friends or family ever criticized your bag-buying habits? If so, how did you respond? I get criticised constantly by my sister, but I think she’s jealous. And sometimes I get looks from my friends when I say how much a bag cost, but I don’t really care. It’s my money, I earned it, I get to do what I want with it. They buy cars or pet supplies or expensive trips, I have my bags.
Do you think your shopping is ever a problem? Have you ever felt like you were struggling with a shopping addiction? Not yet, thankfully. I work very hard on downsizing regularly, I used to have a little hoarding problem when I was younger. Now I donate, resell, throw away, to not accumulate too much.
Let’s get personal…
What is your greatest extravagance? I never not treat myself, it’s something I need to work on. It’s nice to occasionally have some treats, but I really don’t deny myself anything lol.
What is your greatest fear? I’ve been burgled, that was awful. The invasion of privacy aside, I remember being terrified they would take my bags. Since then I’ve become slightly paranoid and got a burglar alarm.
What is the trait you most admire in others? Elegance – I am brash and clumsy and uncoordinated. I love watching people who don’t stumble and spill constantly.
Which living person do you most admire? I really admire Emily Weiss for her incredible vision, taste and resilience. As the founder of Glossier, she completely changed the game. Also how she used Instagram to build a community and as her sole marketing tool – she invented how most brands operate today. Her journey from being a beauty blogger to creating Glossier is truly inspiring.
What or who is the greatest love of your life? I’m trying to be that person for myself, following Samantha Jones’ advice.
What is your favorite journey you have taken so far? My life after going to university. It’s been a ride! I am so far removed from the person I was, thought I would become and the path I thought was set out for me – and every day it just keeps getting better!
What is your idea of perfect happiness? I feel perfectly happy when I’m standing in front of the Colosseum in Rome, or walking through Florence in the evenings, or sitting in the Jardin Luxembourg with my book. More moments than things for me.
CC 250 seems like such a COOL 😎 PERSON.
I want to be her Friend.
No pictures of the collection???
I relate so much to this diarist! Same age, similiar collection and values. Thank you for sharing!