CC 268: The One In, One Out Rule Follower Who Loves Window Shopping

Today’s CC brings us to Canada, where we meet a collector in her early fifties who has been collecting bags seriously for over 15 years. It all began just about 20 years ago, with a Coach bag, which she states was the gateway drug for her (relatable!).

Since then, CC 268 has chiefly followed a one-in, one-out rule, with her collection averaging around 5 bags at any given time. This is what works for her, and although she states that her shopping has mostly been under control—she pays on credit but pays it off every month—she does spend a lot of time just browsing.

Though she doesn’t typically follow social media trends or look to influencers (she likes what she likes), CC 268 does believe a lot of that browsing sits in her subconscious, which she’s now more mindful of! CC 268’s collecting journey has been an incredibly introspective one, and it’s a must-read. More below!

Basic Bio

Your Age? 53
Your Gender Identity? Female
Where do you live? Kelowna, BC, Canada
What is your occupation? Retired
What industry do you work in? Nonprofit Communications
What is your annual salary range? Total household income? $30,000
Are you a PurseForum member? Yes

Onto The Bags

How many bags do you own? 7

What bags are in your collection?

• Chanel Reissue Camera Bag in glazed black
• Coach Dakota Bucket in denim blue
• Alexander Wang Mini Rockie in Latte
• Saint Laurent Seau Bucket Bag in Natural Calfskin
• APC Mini Genevieve
• Rebecca Minkoff canvas Julien backpack
• Vintage Ferragamo top handle
• Uniqlo Mini Sling

How much is your collection worth? $3,000

What is your most expensive bag? The Chanel camera bag, though I bought it preloved for a very fair price.

Do you ever experience buyer’s remorse after purchasing a bag? If so, how do you deal with it? Yes, often I’m buying bags online sight unseen because I live far away from any luxury boutiques. So sometimes it arrives and isn’t the color I thought it was or isn’t as functional as I’d hoped. I always ensure I can return items for this reason.

Do you feel a desire to downsize your collection? If so, what factors are driving that decision? My collection has changed and evolved so much over the years, but I’ve always kept in the 3-8 range. I’ve always had a “one in, one out” kind of philosophy and detest clutter, things sitting in the closet unused. Sometimes this has led me to part with bags too quickly and I have regretted letting many bags go. So now I am being much more careful about purchases that will last long-term and not letting myself get swept up in the “latest shiny new thing”!

What age did you get your first designer bag, and what was it? Like many in North America, my first foray into designer bags was Coach. I was 32 and had just gotten a professional promotion, and fell hard for a red Coach Hamptons hobo. It was a gateway drug and then my first premier luxury purchase came soon after – a LV Neverfull back when they first came out. It was while researching glazing issues on the Neverfull that I discovered the Purseforum!

Is there a specific bag you are looking to purchase next? I think this year’s addition will be a *Stella McCartney Falabella mini tote. I’ve always admired the ethics of her brand and love its logo-less yet distinct style.

*Editor’s note: Since submitting her confessional, CC 268 purchased the Saint Laurent Bucket Bag listed above instead of the Stella McCartney

Do you have a ‘holy grail’ dream bag you’ve always wanted to own? Like many tPFers, my HG for a long time was a Hermès Kelly. I actually got a vintage one to try as a “tester”. I did find it fiddly and not really my style, plus it was in very delicate condition because it was so old, so I let her go (one of my regrets!). But at least I learned that a Kelly is not my HG.

Currently I think a Hermes Halzan would be my ultimate, but at the same time I’ve almost gotten to the point with luxury that I’m a bit sickened by the whole game it’s become and don’t think I could bring myself to contribute $$$$ (even preloved) for the brand. There are many vintage bags I love that sell for under $1000 that I feel are far better value, such as the LV Alma BB.

Any particular bag that holds a special sentimental value? I’m not a very sentimental person…I just love things that are beautiful and functional, and there are several bags I’ve owned over the years that were both, such as the Ferragamo Sofia, the Givenchy Pandora, the Balenciaga First.

Do you feel like your bags change people’s perceptions of you or how you’re treated? Where I live designer bags are not very common, so what I’m carrying rarely gets noticed. If I’m visiting a larger urban center, sometimes salespeople will notice and comment. On the flip side, my bags would definitely change some friends’ perception of me for the worse if they knew what I paid! This is why I love visiting tPF – because I can talk bags with like-minded people in a safe, supportive environment!

How do you take care of your bags? I don’t get bags that need a lot of babying, but I am careful with weather, spills, and storage. I really enjoy crafting so have experimented lots with dying and rehabbing vintage bags.

On Shopping

How often do you buy new bags? Approximately one per year.

How has your bag collection changed during the past few years, and why? Over the 15 years I’ve been into bags, my collection has been a constant rotation. Too much so, I think looking back. So in recent years I’ve been making a concerted effort to focus on what I will get the most use out of, what is classic long-term and practical, what is good value, and neutral to go with my wardrobe. I’ve finally stopped buying bags just because they are on sale or look stylish at the moment.

Do you prefer shopping for bags online or in-store? Why? I prefer to check out bags in store to get a feel for the quality and usability, but will often then pull the trigger online to take advantage of sales or a preloved version. I know – I’m the type of person killing department stores!

Which stores do you frequent the most? I like department stores like Nordstroms, Neiman Marcus, Saks, and Holt Renfrew (in Canada) because I can check out a lot of things without getting constantly pestered and monitored by SAs. I absolutely refuse to line up like some of the luxury boutiques are expecting us to do now!

Have you ever returned a bag after purchasing it? Why did you make that decision? Twice after buying brand new bags at boutiques, I got home and realized the color didn’t go with my wardrobe and returned the bags. The lighting in stores can be so deceptive especially when looking at mid-tone neutrals that can either skew cool or warm under different conditions.

Do you ever buy second-hand bags? Where do you buy used? I’m mostly focusing on preloved bags now, either from eBay or local consignment boutiques. Lately the prices of new luxury bags are getting absurd and the quality is deteriorating, so why give them my dollars? I’m also starting to be more environmentally conscious and trying to follow a “no new leather” mantra.

Do you ever donate or gift your old bags? If so, to whom? I once offered my niece a Coach bag but she wasn’t interested – lol! So they go to consignment when they leave my closet.

Do you feel that social media or influencer culture pressures you to buy more bags or certain brands? It’s really hard to not be influenced these days…I find that even when I consciously make the effort to avoid a trend, it’s like it subconsciously gets into my brain and all of a sudden I’m thinking “ooo, that looks like a nice style!”. But now I’m on to this little trick of the mind 😉

Do you consider your bag purchases financial or emotional investments? I think we all know that, other than Hermès and perhaps certain Chanel styles, bags are not a financial investment. But when making a decision on a bag, I do take into consideration whether I can recoup at least some of its cost if I ever decide to part with it. And in a few cases I have made profit from finding a beaten up bag really cheap, rehabbing it and flipping it. As for emotions, I guess a nice bag for me is an “investment” in my style, how I present to the world, and enjoying something that is both beautiful and functional.

Do you follow the latest fashion trends when deciding on your next purchase, or do you prefer classic styles? Very much into classic styles and silhouettes. Not to say I can’t rock a sling bag, but I will only spend a small amount on anything trend-driven. For any major purchase, I want something that will stand the test of time and look good in any trend cycle.

Are sales associate relationships instrumental to your shopping? Nope – never have created a relationship with an SA.

Do you enjoy shopping beyond just acquiring something new? Yes, absolutely! In fact I think the hunt is actually more fun than pulling the trigger. I will admit sometimes I have worried about a “window-shopping” addiction because of the hours I spend researching, contemplating, scouring different websites, etc. But this is also just the way my brain works with everything – I put this much energy into travel plans, dinner menus, and other pursuits as well.

Have you ever felt you received inferior service at a store or boutique due to your appearance, ethnicity, or gender? Sadly, yes, and it has very much turned me off brands and going into stores at all. The large city closest to my home has a visible demographic of wealthy investors and tourists, and when I walk into a store and don’t look like one of them, I have been ignored.

What factors may dissuade you from buying a bag, even if you like it? Price. And lately I have become more sensitive to the ethics of the brand’s owners. Not the hype over advertising campaigns gone awry, but if they are part of a huge conglomerate. In the past decade these brands have lost most of their interest in quality and craftsmanship, and are solely focusing on profits. I live very simply and easy on the earth, and am not going to support Bernard Arnault’s yacht.

Is there a brand you outright refuse to buy? Why? I wouldn’t say “refuse” because I would always consider something preloved where my money isn’t going directly back to the brand. But I won’t buy new anymore from LVMH brands (I’m glad Stella McCartney bought back her share in her own brand so LVMH no longer has a stake!). Or Hermès, because their mark-ups and exclusivity game is the opposite of luxury to me.

Do you ever rent designer bags? If so, from where? No, never have.

How do you feel about the concept of “quiet luxury” vs. “loud luxury”? I’ve always gravitated towards classic logo-less styles well before this whole “quiet” fad. But sometimes, a monogram print can be interesting, too. For example, the Goyard or Celine Triomphe prints are kind of geometric and cool-looking. Also, more affordable canvas options like Loup Noire and Liberty London are very beautiful, in my opinion.

On Budgeting & Perceptions

Who pays for your bags? We do…my DH and I have always had joint accounts and pool everything.

Do you set aside a budget for your bag purchases? I have an annual budget for all my discretionary spending – bags, jewelry, clothing, shoes, etc. This has been essential in keeping the financial peace between my DH and I. He just doesn’t understand my love of style but if he knows the purchase is coming out of “my” budget, it’s all okay. Given what a tiny fixed income we are on, I have a very generous allotment. Otherwise our lifestyle is very simple – though incredibly full!

Have you ever purchased a counterfeit because you couldn’t afford a designer item? Never on bags, but I will admit in the past I have bought a few silk scarves from China with Hermès prints on them. Not because I couldn’t afford real ones but I just didn’t want to pay that much! But since I’ve learned more about the counterfeit industry, no more.

Do you use financing or payment plans (like Afterpay or Klarna) for bag purchases? No. Everything is always paid for on credit card and then paid off each month

Do you think owning luxury bags helps you in professional or social situations? How so? Not really. I mostly worked in professions where designer gear wasn’t noticed, or if it was, it carried a negative connotation. Sometimes when I’m travelling I feel it has been beneficial, just as part of an overall put-together look.

Do you ever hide purchases from your significant other? Have you ever lied about the cost of a bag to avoid judgment? As my DH and I pool finances, it’s impossible to dupe him. But I’ve never shared the cost of my bags with other friends and family…I don’t even talk about my interest in bags with them to avoid the issue altogether.

Do you ever resell bags on platforms like The RealReal, Fashionphile, or Vestiaire Collective? I used to sell on eBay but now use local consignment boutiques. With shipping costs, potential for transactions to go sideways, and the fact that boutiques can often sell for a higher price, eBay wasn’t worth it for me anymore. And as I’ve become more careful about purchasing bags I will like long-term, I’m not selling much anymore.

Have your friends or family ever criticized your bag-buying habits? If so, how did you respond? My DH has had a hard time wrapping his head around my “hobby” and we’ve had many spirited discussions about it. But in the end, I’ve committed to never jeopardizing our financial security and he’s committed to respecting my choices with my discretionary budget.

Do you think your shopping is ever a problem? Have you ever felt like you were struggling with a shopping addiction? I think it used to be a problem when I was working and unhappy – buying nice things was a justification for doing work I didn’t enjoy. And the situation was exacerbated because I was less disciplined and making silly impractical choices. After lot of introspection, I feel that is all in the past, though I still spend a ridiculous amount of time looking at shops online.

Let’s get personal…

What is your greatest extravagance? This! tPF and the love of beautiful things!

What is your greatest fear? Losing my health, or anything bad happening to my son.

What is the trait you most admire in others? Unflinching self-awareness.

Which living person do you most admire? I read the Proust questionnaire in Vanity Fair every month and this question always stumps me. I admire a lot of people for a lot of reasons, ones I personally know and famous ones who don’t know me from a hole in the ground. I would have say one of the most remarkable people I’ve had the fortune to meet and talk to was Romeo Dallaire, the head of the United Nations peacekeeping force during the Rwandan genocide in 1993-94. If you’ve seen “Hotel Rwanda”, he was played by Nick Nolte. His book “Shake Hands with the Devil” describes his valiant efforts to save lives amidst unimaginable brutality and chaos. To me, he epitomizes honor and doing what’s right.

What or who is the greatest love of your life? My husband. He is an amazing individual and we have a very special love story, even surviving divorce and getting remarried!

What is your favorite journey you have taken so far? To me, the word “journey” implies something personal and spiritual. So I would say my entire life has been a journey to my current place of peace, which I am so grateful for. But if you’re talking travel, I would be hard-pressed to pick only one – probably our small ship luxury cruise on the Mediterranean, or a five-month eastern USA tour in our RV.

What is your idea of perfect happiness? I’ve finally come to a place where I realize perfect happiness is not a place or condition in the future. For me, it is every morning waking up healthy with my DH and little dog by my side, enjoying morning coffee in the sunshine, exercise, reading a good book, making a delicious meal, and getting a good sleep!