In today’s installment of Closet Confessionals, we meet a collector whose love for bags is inherent. CC 271 has been a fashion lover since she was a preteen, and at 13, she purchased a counterfeit Chanel WOC that remains oddly sentimental.
Even though CC 271 has amassed an eclectic collection of designer bags, it’s that WOC that remains one of the most important yet unused bags in her closet. That bag reminds her of who she once was and her journey to where she is today.
CC 271 once worked in fashion, which impacted her love of bags and appreciation for every part of the collection process. CC 271 admits to having a bit of a deal-finding addiction, and does worry that her shopping might be an issue, yet she states that she does budget for luxury purchases.
Read the full CC and don’t forget to submit your own!
Basic Bio
Your Age? 30
Your Gender Identity? Female
Where do you live? San Francisco
What is your occupation? Tech
What industry do you work in? Tech
What is your annual salary range? Total household income? $220,000
Are you a PurseForum member? No
Onto The Bags
How many bags do you own? 10
What bags are in your collection?
- Vintage Chanel Champagne Shoulder Bag
- Ombre Loewe Flamenco
- Lizard Celine Mini 16
- Michino Paris Mini Lutece
- Want Les Essentials Mini Backpack
- Bottega Veneta Ombre Tomas Meier Resort Hobo
- Vintage Givenchy Ostrich Baguette
- Vintage Hermès Chocolate Trim I 31
- Chanel WOC
- Longchamp Nude Tote
How much is your collection worth? $24,000
What is your most expensive bag? Celine Lizard Mini 16
Do you ever experience buyer’s remorse after purchasing a bag? If so, how do you deal with it? Sometimes I feel a sting if I ever buy a bag for retail price – most of my collection has been purchased either secondhand or when traveling for a tax refund so when I buy a bag outright I really love it and am determined to wear it all the time to get my cost per wear down.
Do you feel a desire to downsize your collection? If so, what factors are driving that decision? Sometimes I think that I’m being excessive with my purchasing habits so when I have a bag that I don’t use anymore (that doesn’t have sentimental value) I toy with the idea of selling one or two. But for the most part given my collection is right for me. For example, I gave my mom the Hermès trim bag because she really deserves to wear nice bags.
What age did you get your first designer bag, and what was it? Not sure if this counts but when I was 12, I begged my parents for a Tokidoki crossbody which became a birthday/ Christmas gift combined.
For designer when I was 13, young and foolish, I ended up buying a fake Chanel WOC by saving up my allowance.
Is there a specific bag you are looking to purchase next? I just purchased a secondhand silver iridescent stingray Fendi ISeeYou in petite size but still pondering whether it’s the right choice for my collection.
Do you have a ‘holy grail’ dream bag you’ve always wanted to own? I’ve always wanted a crocodile or alligator Kelly in 20 or 25 in either miele or a blue color. Potentially bleu sapphir, blue saint or in a Japanese indigo dye in Hanada or Ai.
Any particular bag that holds a special sentimental value? Both the fake Chanel WOC and the Want Les Essentials mini backpack.
The Chanel WOC represents the child in me that wanted to become the woman that I am today. And while I don’t wear it, every time I look in the closet I am reminded of who I was and the work it took to become the woman I am today.
The Want Les Essentials backpack is a reminder of my early 20’s and how I ran that bag into the ground. At the time, it was my one bag – the one I used to run errands, to go out to dinner, to go to parties, and while it’s now misshapen and used I love it even more as a reminder of the memories who I was when I lived in NYC.
Do you feel like your bags change people’s perceptions of you or how you’re treated? Definitely – when I walk into stores or meet new people there is definitely better treatment. People are definitely friendlier and more open to chatting.
How do you take care of your bags? I keep them away from light in the closet – some bags have liners but for the most part I tend to be care free. If it’s raining then I won’t wear any of my exotics.
On Shopping
How often do you buy new bags? I tend to purchase 1-4 a year.
How has your bag collection changed during the past few years, and why? Yes – I have since increased my income and my bag purchasing in my early 20s was 1 bag every 2-3 years and now I can purchase 1-2 every year now if I wish.
Do you prefer shopping for bags online or in-store? Why? I prefer shopping in store to get a feel for how the bag will look on my body and touch the leather and hardware. However when purchasing, the majority of them will be online because I prefer purchasing secondhand.
Which stores do you frequent the most? In store, I tend to go to Bvlgari, Celine, Bottega Veneta, and Neiman Marcus. I like that the service there is more relaxed compared to when I go to Chanel.
Online I tend to scroll through The RealReal, Amore Vintage, Fashionnica, Vintage instagram accounts, and Japanese resellers on Ebay.
Have you ever returned a bag after purchasing it? Why did you make that decision? Never
Do you ever buy second-hand bags? Where do you buy used? Primarily I purchase my secondhand bags on The RealReal, eBay, or from vintage resellers on Instagram.
Do you ever donate or gift your old bags? If so, to whom? I gave my mum my Hermès trim because she really loved it.
Do you feel that social media or influencer culture pressures you to buy more bags or certain brands? No – I don’t feel like it pressures me to purchase more bags from a I need to catch up or comparison perspective but I do follow certain vintage resellers and influencers to get a sense of whether a bag would be right for my collection. There are a lot of luxury YouTubers I follow to get a sense for the wear and tear of the bag, how much can fit inside, comparisons of leathers (i.e exotics) and how they may look on different body types so I find social media to be really helpful for the extensive research process I do before purchasing a bag.
Do you consider your bag purchases financial or emotional investments? They are a combination of both. Bags are definitely an emotional investment for me feeling more “special” but intrinsically I love the craftsmanship and how they complete an outfit while being functional for my lifestyle.
From a financial perspective, I don’t think of bags as an asset class.
While purchasing and selling bags could net some profit, I believe the most a bag can do from an investment perspective is potentially open networking opportunities (though often not).
Do you follow the latest fashion trends when deciding on your next purchase, or do you prefer classic styles? I do follow a lot of the fashion trends to decide what is for and not for me. My taste tends to be classic with a flare for color (blue) but ultimately my interests don’t tend to follow trends.
Are sales associate relationships instrumental to your shopping? No
Do you enjoy shopping beyond just acquiring something new? Yes – I used to work in fashion so store design, sales people’s knowledge, UX design, and just seeing what inventory is out there is really soothing and therapeutic to me. I love the business of fashion so seeing advancements and newness in the industry is always great.
Have you ever felt you received inferior service at a store or boutique due to your appearance, ethnicity, or gender? Yes I have, due to my race, age, and perceived socioeconomic status.
What factors may dissuade you from buying a bag, even if you like it? Size, strap length, leather quality, linings, price.
Is there a brand you outright refuse to buy? Why? Dolce and Gabbana because they are racist.
Do you ever rent designer bags? If so, from where? None
How do you feel about the concept of “quiet luxury” vs. “loud luxury”? I think it’s all very silly. People are just different across all social and socioeconomic classes – wear what you want.
However I do think it’s smart to be discreet when traveling or in certain careers where “loud luxury” may be tasteless.
On Budgeting & Perceptions
Who pays for your bags? Myself
Do you set aside a budget for your bag purchases? I have a budget that extends for all luxury purchases which isn’t specific to bags. If it fits into the broader budget, then bags may be included.
Have you ever purchased a counterfeit because you couldn’t afford a designer item? Yes, when I was 13 I purchased a fake Chanel WOC, but since then I refuse to purchase counterfeits.
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? Definitely – people like to talk about bags and I do think I get treated better in social situations. However since I work in tech, I only bring my Longchamp in because I don’t want to be judged by my coworkers.
Do you ever hide purchases from your significant other? Have you ever lied about the cost of a bag to avoid judgment? No – I always run my purchases by my SO and tell him what I spent and ask if he likes the bag. He tends to have great taste so we are pretty much aligned.
Do you ever resell bags on platforms like The RealReal, Fashionphile, or Vestiaire Collective? No mostly clothes and shoes have been sold on TheRealReal.
Have your friends or family ever criticized your bag-buying habits? If so, how did you respond? My parents think I’m a bit ridiculous but since I purchase all my bags myself they can’t really say anything else. Plus I may buy a bag or two for my mom and then she really can’t complain.
Do you think your shopping is ever a problem? Have you ever felt like you were struggling with a shopping addiction? I do think I have a bit of a shopping addiction. Bags aren’t really my main problem but the relaxation of chronically scrolling and finding deals on the secondhand market is really time consuming. My main vice at the moment is jewelry but I’m really measured in my spending and haven’t gone overboard. It’s more of a behavioral thing of always wanting to explore what’s out there in the world.
Let’s get personal…
What is your greatest extravagance? Honestly my education was the most extravagant purchase.
But in terms of true luxury, I’d say investing really heavily in my mattress, duvet, and Sferra sheets have been the most worthy purchases.
What is your greatest fear? Losing my health.
What is the trait you most admire in others? Knowing oneself truly and living life to their values.
Which living person do you most admire? My mother.
What or who is the greatest love of your life? My SO.
What is your favorite journey you have taken so far? I love going to Seoul and Tokyo.
What is your idea of perfect happiness? My current life + a deep tissue massage.
Any parting words you would like to share with our readers? The ultimate luxury is having our health and our loved ones around us. Cherish the time we have.
