CC 264: The Scientist

"I enjoy browsing online. For me it’s an escape after a stressful day at work. I see these bags as things of beauty and truly appreciate looking at them."

Anonymous

2 Comments

Apr 10, 2025

Today, we meet a confessor from SoCal who has been collecting bags for a decade. Recently, CC 264 reached the big Birkin milestone, and she stated that she feels incredibly fortunate to have reached her holy grail. Her collection, which began with a classic Chloé Marcie, spans a solid lineup of brands, and CC 264 states that it is currently in the growth phase.

CC 264 enjoys the thrill of hunting online for bags, and half of her bags were pre-loved finds purchased online. This bag lover can be an emotional shopper, and she believes that even though she is addicted to the chase of finding her next bag, she never shops outside of her means. Read the full confessional below, and don’t forget to share your own!

SUBMIT YOUR OWN CLOSET CONFESSIONAL

Basic Bio

Your Age? 45
Your Gender Identity? Female
Where do you live? Southern California
What is your occupation? Scientist
What industry do you work in? Medical Device Manufacturer
What is your annual salary range? Total household income? $230,000, $540,000.00
Are you a PurseForum member? No

Onto The Bags

How many bags do you own? 17

What bags are in your collection?

How much is your collection worth? $70K

What is your most expensive bag? Birkin 25

Do you ever experience buyer’s remorse after purchasing a bag? If so, how do you deal with it? No, not when it comes to bags. The bags purchases are usually something that I have researched and wanted for awhile. The excitement of getting a new bag masks any possible feelings of remorse. Surprisingly I can feel remorse over non-expensive non-bag purchases quite frequently.

Do you feel a desire to downsize your collection? If so, what factors are driving that decision? No. I’m most certainly in a stage where I want to expand my collection.

What age did you get your first designer bag, and what was it? I was 35 when I got my first bag, the Chloé Marcie.

Is there a specific bag you are looking to purchase next? So many! I am searching for the perfect crossbody bag. I am considering the Celine Triomphe Teen, preloved Celine Classic Teen or Dior Groove 17. The Chloé Paddington was my first designer bag love when I was little. So excited that it’s being released again. I would love to get it but that would purely be for nostalgic reasons. It’s not really my style now.

Do you have a ‘holy grail’ dream bag you’ve always wanted to own? Birkin 25 and I feel so fortunate to have reached that milestone last year.

Any particular bag that holds a special sentimental value? Chloé Marcie. It was my first designer bag and something I never thought I could afford. I got it the year I got married.

Do you feel like your bags change people’s perceptions of you or how you’re treated? Not really. Luxury bags are quite common where I live. I tend to wear my less obvious bags around people I know.

How do you take care of your bags? I’m not good at taking care of my bags. For me, they are to be enjoyed. They are all displayed in my closet without dust bags etc. They bring my so much joy every time I walk in that room. They are my little accomplishments.

On Shopping

How often do you buy new bags? One or two times a year.

How has your bag collection changed during the past few years, and why? It’s grown! I know what works for me now and buy accordingly. For example, my kids are getting bigger and I work from home mostly so there is not need for bigger tote style bags. I’m interested in small cross body and handheld bags now.

Do you prefer shopping for bags online or in-store? Why? Online. I enjoy the ability to browse online with no pressure from sales associates. I enjoy the convenience of ordering and having the bag delivered to my home. In fact, I have never purchased a bag in store. All are online purchases. Its silly really as I live a short drive from many luxury stores.

Which stores do you frequent the most? None, but I find myself browsing LV, Fendi, Celine and Loewe most online.

Have you ever returned a bag after purchasing it? Why did you make that decision? I have sold a couple of bags because I didn’t enjoy wearing them. The YSL Sunset was really bulky for me and I found the LV Felicie Pochette too small. I also sold the Saint Laurent College bag. It was early in my bag buying journey and I felt I had to sell one to buy a new one.

Do you ever buy second-hand bags? Where do you buy used? Yes, over half of my bags are second hand. I love Fashionphile and spend way too much time browsing their website. I have found their service to be excellent and they have the best pictures.

Do you ever donate or gift your old bags? If so, to whom? No

Do you feel that social media or influencer culture pressures you to buy more bags or certain brands? Not pressure but I’m definitely influenced for sure. Influencers are probably where I get most exposure to new bags on the market.

Do you consider your bag purchases financial or emotional investments? Emotional for sure.

Do you follow the latest fashion trends when deciding on your next purchase, or do you prefer classic styles? I love classic styles. However I have found recently that I’m gravitating towards quirkier vintage styles. My most recent purchase was a vintage Fendi Mini Mamma baguette and I think that may have opened the flood gates on this corner of the luxury bag market.

Are sales associate relationships instrumental to your shopping? No

Do you enjoy shopping beyond just acquiring something new? I enjoy browsing online. For me it’s an escape after a stressful day at work. I see these bags as things of beauty and truly appreciate looking at them. As I buy secondhand, I love the chase of finding a (relatively) good bargain or finding a particular bag that’s on my wish list.

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? If it’s secondhand, a bag in bad condition is a showstopper. I also am reluctant to buy from sellers with bad or no return policy such as the RealReal. In fact, I have never purchased from the RealReal for this reason.

Is there a brand you outright refuse to buy? Why? Still a little reluctant about Balenciaga. It a pity because the Rodeo in vegetable tanned lambskin looks amazing.

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 am loving quiet luxury at the moment. I love everything from The Row for this reason. I feel that you can wear these without worrying about your safety etc. However, I still love a good LV moment. My Pochette Accessories is my daily errand bag.

On Budgeting & Perceptions

Do you set aside a budget for your bag purchases? Not really. As long as my bills paid, my investments and saving goals are achieved, I feel comfortable to spend my extra cash on bags.

Have you ever purchased a counterfeit because you couldn’t afford a designer item? No but I did buy a Hermès Kelly dupe to see if the size would work for me. Thankfully I tried this route first because I have never worn it. It’s just too small. And interesting, I feel weird about wearing it because I’m worried people will think I’m intentionally wearing a fake.

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? I feel more confident/put together when I’m wearing a bag that I enjoy. So they do help me in that respect.

Do you ever hide purchases from your significant other? Have you ever lied about the cost of a bag to avoid judgment? No, he is very supportive. I always let him know before I make a purchase. Just as an fyi, not to ask permission 🙂

Do you ever resell bags on platforms like The RealReal, Fashionphile, or Vestiaire Collective? I have sold to Fashionphile. It was a good experience though they seem to offer low quotes now. It is a business…

Have your friends or family ever criticized your bag-buying habits? If so, how did you respond? My Mom rolls her eyes but knows I can afford it. I think she’s secretly happy that I’m comfortable enough financially to have this expensive habit.

Do you think your shopping is ever a problem? Have you ever felt like you were struggling with a shopping addiction? I am addicted to the chase of finding my next purchase. For now, I am ok with this addiction. I never buy what I cannot afford. I do waste too much time on this hobby however.