In today’s installment of Closet Confessionals, we meet a Denver-based Coloradan who is falling back in love with bags again. CC 258 got her first bag, a Louis Vuitton Pochette Accessoires, in her twenties, and she still owns that bag today, three decades later.
These days, CC 258 is having a newfound love affair with bags. Though she owns mostly vintage, she’s restarting her collecting journey with plans to acquire a new bag or two every year. She has a short list of wants right now, including a Celine Ava and a Dior Toujours bag. Her tastes strike a fine balance between loud luxury and quiet luxury, and she finds herself most drawn to bags that are more IYKYK.
Read the full CC below, and don’t forget to share your own!
Basic Bio
Your Age? 55
Your Gender Identity? Female
Where do you live? Denver, CO
What is your occupation? Branding Designer for small business owners
What industry do you work in? Branding Design
What is your annual salary range? Total household income? $160,000
Are you a PurseForum member? Yes
Onto The Bags
How many bags do you own? 9 Designer and about 20 contemporary bags.
What bags are in your collection?
- Fendi Black z roll tote in medium
- Prada brown suede tote
- Saint Laurent Muse in cream vintage (large like a tote)
- Louis Vuitton Speedy B DE 30
- Loup Noir Large tote Blue leather straps blue and purple canvas
- Ferragamo light tan suede shoulder (leather handle)
- Louis Vuitton Pochette Accessoires Monogram
- Longchamp Medium size in black, blush and burgundy
How much is your collection worth? About $6,000 USD
What is your most expensive bag? Speedy B 30 which I purchased in 2024
Do you ever experience buyer’s remorse after purchasing a bag? If so, how do you deal with it? No.
Do you feel a desire to downsize your collection? If so, what factors are driving that decision? Yes my contemporary collection but I have a lot of vintage Coach which I will hold on to. I have a 1970’s Coach Bonnie Cashin tan tote (of course).
What age did you get your first designer bag, and what was it? I was 26 Louis Vuitton Pochette in Monogram.
Is there a specific bag you are looking to purchase next? Celine Ava in white canvas
Do you have a ‘holy grail’ dream bag you’ve always wanted to own? Dior Toujours in beige medium size. It would be a nice tote like bag for my petite size.
Any particular bag that holds a special sentimental value? No.
Do you feel like your bags change people’s perceptions of you or how you’re treated? No
How do you take care of your bags? Normal daily wear but not careless either.
On Shopping
How often do you buy new bags? Every year now that I’m just starting my collection. Prior to that every now and then.
How has your bag collection changed during the past few years, and why? I’ve just started collecting again. I mostly have vintage. So I plan on buying one or two new designer bags a year.
Do you prefer shopping for bags online or in-store? Why? On-line. I don’t enjoy going to shopping centers or boutiques because it’s too time consuming and boring.
Which stores do you frequent the most?
- Nordstrom
- Neiman Marcus, rarely because I only shop on-line.
Have you ever returned a bag after purchasing it? Why did you make that decision? No.
Do you ever buy second-hand bags? Where do you buy used? Yes, I have once. WGACA NYC (on-line).
Do you ever donate or gift your old bags? If so, to whom? Some of my contemporary bags I have gifted to my sisters and my mother.
Do you feel that social media or influencer culture pressures you to buy more bags or certain brands? No.
Do you consider your bag purchases financial or emotional investments? No.
Do you follow the latest fashion trends when deciding on your next purchase, or do you prefer classic styles? I prefer classics.
Are sales associate relationships instrumental to your shopping? No.
Do you enjoy shopping beyond just acquiring something new? On-line yes, in store no.
Have you ever felt you received inferior service at a store or boutique due to your appearance, ethnicity, or gender? No.
What factors may dissuade you from buying a bag, even if you like it? Poor quality and exorbitant price.
Is there a brand you outright refuse to buy? Why? Chanel is too expensive for me and I hear the quality is poor. Also, Balenciaga because of horrible marketing campaign.
Do you ever rent designer bags? If so, from where? No.
How do you feel about the concept of “quiet luxury” vs. “loud luxury”? I lean more toward low key logo branding (IYKYK) but not quiet luxury. I just don’t want to stand out too much. I feel like people should wear whatever makes them happy. I enjoy seeing people dressed in designer logos though! I admire those extroverts.
On Budgeting & Perceptions
Who pays for your bags? Me and my husband. I buy what I want we have a joint account.
Do you set aside a budget for your bag purchases? Yes, around 3K a year is my new budget.
Have you ever purchased a counterfeit because you couldn’t afford a designer item? No.
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? In social and professional situations it makes me feel more confident.
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 hide costs and I avoid logo branding because of judgement.
Do you ever resell bags on platforms like The RealReal, Fashionphile, or Vestiaire Collective? No.
Have your friends or family ever criticized your bag-buying habits? If so, how did you respond? No.
Do you think your shopping is ever a problem? Have you ever felt like you were struggling with a shopping addiction? Yes, I did have a time period where I bought a lot of fast fashion like Anthro. But not anymore. I have way too many clothes and now prefer my vintage clothing from the 80’s with a few designer new classic additions.
Let’s get personal…
What is your greatest extravagance? Aspen Ritz and South of France Nice travel.
What is your greatest fear? Poor health.
What is the trait you most admire in others? Extroverts because I’m an introvert and reserved.
Which living person do you most admire? I really can’t think of anyone.
What or who is the greatest love of your life? My husband and son.
What is your favorite journey you have taken so far? Living in Nice for six months.
What is your idea of perfect happiness? Good health and financially comfortable.
Any parting words you would like to share with our readers? I just discovered I own mostly totes! That will help me on my next purchase. I will buy a Celine Ava or Fendi Baguette and change it up. I’m obsessed with watching YouTubers on bags and fashion content. But not the constant unboxing and crazy staged lifestyle influencers. The ladies I watch review bags and make-up and not everything is gifted which cheapens the brand imo. In Denver where I live I spot several designer bags in the wild. I shop at Whole Foods and it seems that I spot a lot there. Someone had their Lady Dior at Whole Foods dressed casually and I admire her for that. It’s a myth that we are granola plain Jane’s here in Colorado.
