CC 263: The Collector Who Balances Bags With the Finer Things in Life

Today, we meet a handbag lover from Chicago who has been collecting bags since her early 20s. Over the years, CC 263 has honed in on what she likes, opting to sell bags that no longer work with her lifestyle. This collector doesn’t believe that her bags are financial investments, but she does believe they are emotional ones.

CC 263 states that bags are a great way to relate to others, and she enjoys bonding over bags with others, including in her professional life. A hard worker and a lover of the finer things in life, this collector balances bag buying with other expensive passions like travel and interior decorating. Read the full CC below, and don’t forget to share your own!

Basic Bio

Your Age? 29
Your Gender Identity? Female
Where do you live? Chicago, IL
What is your occupation? Consultant
What industry do you work in? Finance
What is your annual salary range? Total household income? $145,000, $310,000
Are you a PurseForum member? Yes

Onto The Bags

How many bags do you own? 12

What bags are in your collection?

• Ferragamo Boxyz small (Nior)
• Ferragamo Boxyz medium (Caraway)
• Ferragamo Aileen
• Ferragamo Travel tote small
• Loewe Puzzle small (Tan)
• Loewe Puzzle tote medium (Warm Desert)
• Loewe x Paula Ibiza Square Raffia Basket tote
• Burberry Banner medium (Thistle Grey)
• Thom Browne whale bag
• Louis Vuitton Felicie
• YSL Sac Du Jour Duffle small
• Custom Tote

How much is your collection worth? I paid ~$15,000. Besides 3-4 bags, I mainly bought them on sale.

What is your most expensive bag? Probably the Loewe Puzzle tote

Do you ever experience buyer’s remorse after purchasing a bag? If so, how do you deal with it? I had a McQueen curve bag but when I switched to an iPhone max about a month later, it was annoying to always angle my phone. I sold it.

Do you feel a desire to downsize your collection? If so, what factors are driving that decision? No, I rotate my bags and they get used.

What age did you get your first designer bag, and what was it? I was about 19-20 when I bought the Burberry Banner bag. I made a good amount of money from a trade that week so I put it towards student loans, savings, and spent a little for myself and my boyfriend.

Do you have a ‘holy grail’ dream bag you’ve always wanted to own? I really liked the Boxyz bag, specifically the Gancini closure. I had it on my wishlist since 2018 and bought it for myself when I got a promotion in 2022. And then added another one when I saw the small on sale.

Any particular bag that holds a special sentimental value? A bag I had custom made. I had a hard time finding a bag for work that was big enough to hold two laptops and lunch, that would stand on its own, and a shade of taupe so that it would work with white, black, navy, and gray. My boyfriend said I should design it myself. So I added feet, smooth leather interior, a grained leather exterior, chose the dimensions, and bag closure. I got it during the European energy crisis and I wanted to support a small business. I was able to find a leather atelier to create it over several months. It’s a sturdy bag.

Do you feel like your bags change people’s perceptions of you or how you’re treated? Yes, but more importantly I have a fun connection or conversation with bag lovers and where we like to shop.

How do you take care of your bags? I try to but sometimes life happens. You get caught in the rain or bump against something. It’s hard keeping smooth leather pristine.

On Shopping

How often do you buy new bags? I used to buy one or two a year but I’ve slowed down significantly.

How has your bag collection changed during the past few years, and why? I sold my old Celine Cabas tote because it was too shapeless and things fell everywhere in the office. I sold the McQueen Curve bag as previously mentioned due it not accommodating my phone. One day I woke up and didn’t like the way it stuck out against my body. And a Givenchy Wing tote because it felt too plastic and dug into my shoulders. I also moved and I gave away all my Kate Spade bags to a friend.

Do you prefer shopping for bags online or in-store? Why? In-store to feel the bag and see if there are defects but ultimately online for the price, selection, and to research. I try to wait until I’m in Europe to buy any luxury bags or I buy from a European site like FarFetch for the sale and currency conversion.

Which stores do you frequent the most? Ferragamo. I like some of their clothing too, but I buy from Reiss, Theory, Frame, and ALC LTD.

Have you ever returned a bag after purchasing it? Why did you make that decision? I bought a YSL wallet on chain. It was too small and impractical for me.

Do you ever buy second-hand bags? Where do you buy used? Yes, mainly Fashionphile. I did buy the Thom Browne Whale bag through an auction.

Do you ever donate or gift your old bags? If so, to whom? Yes. If someone ever told me they really liked my bag and I’m ready to part with it, I’d keep them in mind. A friend had said my Kate Spade bags were cute so before I moved I packed them all up and gave them to her. I also gave my sibling my Fjallraven backpack and Tommy Hilfiger duffle.

Do you feel that social media or influencer culture pressures you to buy more bags or certain brands? Social media introduces me to new bags but ultimately I like what I like. I saw the Ferragamo Hug bag but I think I have enough larger bags these days.

Do you consider your bag purchases financial or emotional investments? Emotional investments. I get a lot of use and happiness from them but I don’t expect to make money from it. It brings me back to the time when I visited a certain country or a period in my life.

Do you follow the latest fashion trends when deciding on your next purchase, or do you prefer classic styles? Most of my bags are discontinued now but I do ask “will I wear this a few years from now?” before I make the purchase.

Are sales associate relationships instrumental to your shopping? I used to have a good relationship with an LV Client Advisor but once I moved, I haven’t kept in touch. If an SA is being rude, my boyfriend just leads me out of the store because we don’t spend our money where it isn’t welcomed.

Do you enjoy shopping beyond just acquiring something new? I look out of boredom but I usually talk myself out of buying a lot of things.

Have you ever felt you received inferior service at a store or boutique due to your appearance, ethnicity, or gender? I didn’t have the best experience at Gucci in Paris and Luxembourg so I left.

What factors may dissuade you from buying a bag, even if you like it? If I know I won’t wear it, I won’t buy it. Ferragamo has some beautiful bags that look like artwork but I can’t see myself wearing it.

Is there a brand you outright refuse to buy? Why? Gucci. Poor experience.

Do you ever rent designer bags? If so, from where? No.

How do you feel about the concept of “quiet luxury” vs. “loud luxury”? It depends on your style and sometimes your environment. Wear what you want within reason

On Budgeting & Perceptions

Who pays for your bags? Me. But my boyfriend did buy me the YSL SJD from Italy as a birthday present.

Do you set aside a budget for your bag purchases? I no longer need to. About five years ago, I would have needed to. I have since paid off my mortgage and now I’m just saving towards retirement and quarterly international vacations. If I see something I like, I will have enough

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? Yes. When I worked in a legal office, a client suddenly changed when she saw I had something LV. (It was an SLG.) She started opening up to me and my job became much easier. I think it is nice to talk about shopping with others–even if it’s not my style–just to see what’s out there. I had a coworker who worked at Kate Spade and she would tell me which bags wore the best or some of the customer interactions she had. Another coworker showed me her custom Prada bag.

Do you ever hide purchases from your significant other? Have you ever lied about the cost of a bag to avoid judgment? No, that’s not cool with me. I never had to lie but no one has ever outright asked me.

Do you ever resell bags on platforms like The RealReal, Fashionphile, or Vestiaire Collective? Yes, but I find that they are now oversaturated and will lowball you. So now I sell on eBay, Poshmark, or Depop.

Have your friends or family ever criticized your bag-buying habits? If so, how did you respond? I had a coworker who assumed I bought a bag for $3,300. That was the price listed on Bergdorf Goodman. She went out to buy a $50 bag that was Gucci inspired to show me that I didn’t have to spend that much money on a bag. I just said her bag was nice and stopped engaging.

Do you think your shopping is ever a problem? Have you ever felt like you were struggling with a shopping addiction? No

Let’s get personal…

What is your greatest extravagance? Aside from my home, it’s probably a three-way tie between my couch $40k, the car $45k, and some of my month long vacations $35k. We enjoy fine dining and the most we’ve ever spent on a meal was $2,000. But nothing beats being financially stable.

What is your favorite journey you have taken so far? Either Japan or Australia. I admire their preservation of culture, walkability, and public transportation.

What is your idea of perfect happiness? Early retirement with no obligations.

Any parting words you would like to share with our readers? I spent a lot of time planning out my life to have gotten where I am. Do not go into debt for a status symbol. My vacations started out on $350 flights and credit card bonuses for hotel stays.