CC 269: The Quality Over Quantity Shopper Who Loves Hermès

Today’s Closet Confessional brings us to Portugal, where we meet a collector in her mid-fifties. CC 269 is a self-proclaimed Hermès devotee who wishes she had been more mindful of the brands she shopped early on in her collecting journey, which began over two decades ago with a Chanel Classic Flap.

CC 269 loves shopping in stores and is a frequent visitor to the Hermès boutique in Lisbon, the only Hermès location in Portugal. Her collection of Hermès is vast, and while she almost strictly purchases from Hermès at this point in her collecting journey, her collection does include some Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Chanel, Dior, and more.

While this collector feels she only shops within her means, she is looking to downsize her collection a bit, keeping only the bags she will use enough to warrant keeping. Read the full CC below, and don’t forget to submit your own!

Basic Bio

Your Age? 55
Your Gender Identity? Female
Where do you live? Lisbon, Portugal
What is your occupation? Heritage Management
What industry do you work in? Consultant
What is your annual salary range? Total household income? $400,000
Are you a PurseForum member? Yes

Onto The Bags

How many bags do you own? I honestly don’t know exactly. I’m sure I have more than I should.

What bags are in your collection?

• Hermès
• Chanel
• Dior
• Goyard
• Fendi
• Gucci
• Prada
• Valentino
• Loewe
• Longchamp
• Louis Vuitton
• Coach

How much is your collection worth? It’s worth a lot of money, I don’t know exactly how much.

What is your most expensive bag? Birkin and Kelly

Do you ever experience buyer’s remorse after purchasing a bag? If so, how do you deal with it? Never have I ever felt that. I like every bag I have. But… I should have been more selective about the brands from a younger age.

Do you feel a desire to downsize your collection? If so, what factors are driving that decision? Yes, I do not actually use all the bags I own or not enough.

What age did you get your first designer bag, and what was it? A classic Chanel Flap when I was 33 years old.

Is there a specific bag you are looking to purchase next? I use all my Hermès bags (Birkin, Kelly, Kelly Cut, Evelyne 29 and 16, Jige, Picotin 22 and 18, in-the-loop 23, Constance Slim). I’m missing the Garden Party.

Do you have a ‘holy grail’ dream bag you’ve always wanted to own? I have my ‘holy grails’ already.

Any particular bag that holds a special sentimental value? Yes, two of them. A Kelly Cut bought at FSH in 2016 and a Kelly 25 bought at Madison in 2022.

Do you feel like your bags change people’s perceptions of you or how you’re treated? Yes I do, specially the Birkin. I avoid taking it sometimes.

How do you take care of your bags? I place them in a closed closet, which I open everyday. No direct light, no dust.

On Shopping

How often do you buy new bags? Two or three times per year. I only buy Hermès nowadays.

How has your bag collection changed during the past few years, and why? I wear Hermès bags nearly everyday so I decided I will no longer waist money on other brands.

Do you prefer shopping for bags online or in-store? Why? I prefer shopping for bags in my local Hermès boutique. I love to see the color and the leather and pick a matching scarf or matching shoes.

Which stores do you frequent the most? Since I live in Lisbon and there is only one Hermès boutique in Portugal, I frequent it the most. But my favorite Hermès boutiques are FSH and Madison. After 2020, my shopping experiences at Hermès abroad have not been so pleasant as before, unfortunately.

Have you ever returned a bag after purchasing it? Why did you make that decision? Yes, at Louis Vuitton in Rome ten years ago. I lived in the heart of the historic center for two years, 5 minutes walk from Via Condotti. It was a “dangerous” area to live in because I would pass by Via Condotti everyday and there were so many temptations!

Before I decided I should only buy Italian brands while living in Rome, I bought a bright red mini Alma and a matching shawl and returned it the day after. The SA insisted it was the color to go for but, when I unpacked it at home, it did not convince me at all. So the next day, I went back and changed both the bag and the shawl for navy blue. I should have just returned it but well, that navy blue mini Alma is still in my closet, like new, I guess I used it half a dozen times in ten years…

Do you ever buy second-hand bags? Where do you buy used? No, I am scared to buy second hand because I honestly don’t trust the authenticity verifications. I buy my bags at the boutique (or on-line, but very rarely).

Do you ever donate or gift your old bags? If so, to whom? I have gifted my younger cousin some Louis Vuitton bags, as I have no daughters. All my bags are as new and most of them have their original boxes and receipts. I have never considered donating but I would definitely like to sell some of my bags.

Do you feel that social media or influencer culture pressures you to buy more bags or certain brands? No. I feel sad when I see too many Hermès bags (and fakes!) being showed off by influencers. Particularly with Hermès, which in my opinion is the most special and trustful craftsmanship, I do not like the show off. I sincerely think Hermès is a mature brand and it saddens me to see it vulgarized.

Do you consider your bag purchases financial or emotional investments? Nowadays, I only buy what I am absolutely sure I will wear multiple times. I always tell my husband that, if I die first, he will inherit a very good sum! Thus I consider that what I buy now are good financial investments but it hasn’t always been like that. For instance, if I decide to sell a Gucci bag, so well kept it looks it was never worn, I doubt it will cover its price from 10 years ago.

Do you follow the latest fashion trends when deciding on your next purchase, or do you prefer classic styles? I prefer classic styles. I do like some trends though. Let me give you a tip: when you’re 55 and have your bags, shoes and clothes in pristine condition, I promise you have almost all trends in your closet already 😉

Are sales associate relationships instrumental to your shopping? Yes, definitely yes. The right SA makes my shopping experience much more fun!

Do you enjoy shopping beyond just acquiring something new? No, not anymore. I unsubscribed my email and phone number from most brands and kept only the ones I consider very good quality. This really helps when you feel you’re overwhelmed with excessive offers, promotions, sales, discount codes, etc.

Have you ever felt you received inferior service at a store or boutique due to your appearance, ethnicity, or gender? Never but I have experienced “going through inspection” several times: bag, shoes, watch, jewelry, belt, coat…

What factors may dissuade you from buying a bag, even if you like it? The wrong color or hardware. A week before Christmas I got a call to visit the boutique for a bag I had mentioned I liked. The color was perfect but it had pink gold Hardware and that is a no for me.

Is there a brand you outright refuse to buy? Why? Zara and fast fashion in general. Because it’s mainly dupes, terrible bad cuts and shapes. It may look attractive at first but if I give it a second look, it doesn’t. I prefer quality over quantity.

Do you ever rent designer bags? If so, from where? I never rented designer bags and never even considered doing it.

How do you feel about the concept of “quiet luxury” vs. “loud luxury”? I have been very “quiet” for 8 years. I have purchased much less and much better during this time.

On Budgeting & Perceptions

Who pays for your bags? I pay for my bags and my husband gifts me one sometimes, mainly when we shop abroad.

Do you set aside a budget for your bag purchases? No. Now I only buy after giving it a second thought.
In the last 8 years, the only bag I bought immediately when I saw it was the Fendi mini peakaboo cut in nude. It had just arrived at the Fendi store in Istanbul when I visited on holidays in October 2023.

Have you ever purchased a counterfeit because you couldn’t afford a designer item? No. I would feel uncomfortable knowing I was carrying a counterfeit. I strongly advise everyone not to do that.

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 would be hypocrite if I said it doesn’t sometimes but I must say it can have the reverse effect as well.

Do you ever hide purchases from your significant other? Have you ever lied about the cost of a bag to avoid judgment? I never hide and I never lied. He’s the only person I show what I bought. My husband always gives me his opinion whenever he shops with me or when I ask him about something.

Do you ever resell bags on platforms like The RealReal, Fashionphile, or Vestiaire Collective? No. I would like to but when I realize the commissions I have to pay, I give up.

Have your friends or family ever criticized your bag-buying habits? If so, how did you respond? My friends and family, never. Other people, several times but never directly to me. I would simply not respond.

Do you think your shopping is ever a problem? Have you ever felt like you were struggling with a shopping addiction? No, I only buy what i can afford.

Let’s get personal…

What is your greatest extravagance? A few private flights.

What is your greatest fear? Me or my loved ones being seriously sick.

What is the trait you most admire in others? Honesty and loyalty.

Which living person do you most admire? My husband.

What or who is the greatest love of your life? My husband.

What is your favorite journey you have taken so far? Botswana.

What is your idea of perfect happiness? A loving and healthy family, a beautiful house with a garden with trees and flowers, one cat, one dog, a comfortable car, a cozy lounge chair and very good books, and a private chef preparing delicious and healthy meals everyday! I’m missing the dog and the chef 🙂

Any parting words you would like to share with our readers? Carefully select the bags you buy. Buy much less and much better.