CC 272: The Collector Who Follows Her Heart

In today’s CC, we meet a small business owner who has been collecting bags for almost two decades. It all began with a Marc Jacobs Stam, and since then, CC 272 has shifted to follow a mindset of quality over quantity. This collector also believes that a collection of around ten bags is the perfect number for her as long as she has a bag that serves every need, season, and occasion.

CC 272 sometimes feels that owning luxury bags puts a particular perception on her. She states that growing up in a modest home has caused her to be introspective about buying and owning luxury goods. This collector is a truly thoughtful shopper, buying what she loves and following her heart.

Read the full CC below and don’t forget to submit your own!

Basic Bio

Your Age? 41
Your Gender Identity? Female
Where do you live? Columbus, Ohio
What is your occupation? Small business owner
What industry do you work in? Retail
What is your annual salary range? Total household income? $90,190
Are you a PurseForum member? No

Onto The Bags

How many bags do you own? 9

What bags are in your collection?

• Saint Laurent Bellechasse in navy
• Saint Laurent Toy Vicky lambskin crossbody in red
• Chanel 2002 Surf Line Choco Bar Flap Shoulder Bag
• Mansur Gavriel Pleated Mini Cloud Clutch in Crema
• Khaite August Hobo in Coffee Suede
• Chanel Twin Pearl Mini Rectangular Flap in black lambskin (spring 2024)
• Hermès Picotin 18 in Bleu Pale Clemence
• Chanel Beauty Lock Tweed Bag (green tweed/white leather from Cruise 2018)
• Bembien Mia rattan bucket bag

How much is your collection worth? $33K

What is your most expensive bag? It wasn’t at the time, but the Chanel surf bag is now selling at $12K, so I guess that one.

Do you ever experience buyer’s remorse after purchasing a bag? If so, how do you deal with it? Yes, I bought my first Chanel bag from the boutique last May (the Twin Pearl) because I had been looking on the preloved market for a black bag flap. I became obsessed with the Twin Pearl partly because I’ve always loved pearl details and it was both in one bag.

It’s a really fun twist on a classic flap, but the quilts are bigger than typical which I just didn’t pick up on in the photos. When it arrived, I was a bit bothered by the quilts size but too much time passed so I couldn’t return it. My remorse was minor, though because I’ve gotten a lot of use out of that bag and really do love the fact that the straps are so adjustable.

Do you feel a desire to downsize your collection? If so, what factors are driving that decision? Not really. I have 9 bags which is more than plenty but I do feel that they serve every need, season and occasion. I generally don’t believe there’s any reason to have more than 10 bags at any given time. The only one I want to move out is Saint Laurent toy Vicky because it’s just too small for minimal daily essentials.

What age did you get your first designer bag, and what was it? 23. Marc Jacobs Stam bag in ivory. I sold it a few years later because it was so heavy with nothing in it and I carried it a total of less than 10 times, and easily got color transfer since all I wore back then were jeans.

Is there a specific bag you are looking to purchase next? I keep a wishlist and currently have 3 on it. Of that I will narrow down to one because again, trying to keep my collection at 10 or under.

Prada Small Logo Embossed Softy Shoulder Bag in black
Balmain Pierre Bag in anthracite suede (I was just reminded of this bag which I had loved back in the day)
Bottega Veneta Small Andiamo (not sure which color)

Do you have a ‘holy grail’ dream bag you’ve always wanted to own? Hermès Kelly Pochette in Beige Marfa with GHW.

Any particular bag that holds a special sentimental value? Yes, the Chanel Surf Bag. I was in high school when I saw in Elle magazine and was smitten with it. It took only 20 years but it’s finally mine. I don’t think I’ll ever sell it because it’s so special and kind of symbolizes the idea that almost nothing will pass you by if you’re just patient and willing to hunt for it.

Do you feel like your bags change people’s perceptions of you or how you’re treated? I’m not sure, but I do have a bit of hangup about consuming luxury. I think because I have a few luxury bags whose branding is front and center, some may perceive that I’m in a higher income bracket than I am, and I don’t love that feeling. Maybe that has to do with my modest upbringing as compared to having a bit of ability to treat myself as an adult.

How do you take care of your bags? I keep them in dustbags and occasionally will use leather conditioner on them.

On Shopping

How often do you buy new bags? 1-2 per year

How has your bag collection changed during the past few years, and why? I feel like I’ve been on a bag-buying spree in the past 2 or so years, at least for me. Prior to 2019, I was really only buy bags from contemporary brands or small indie brands but I learned that sadly, the $600 bags I was buying before were of not of enduring style or quality. For me at least, a single high-priced purchase that I’ll put a ton of thought into and take really good care of is better than 4 cheaper bags.

Do you prefer shopping for bags online or in-store? Why? I’ve only ever bought my bags online, partly because I don’t live near a Chanel, Hermès, etc. At least half of my bags were preloved.

Which stores do you frequent the most? I mostly shop for apparel and accessories on eBay, Poshmark and The Real Real, or from independent boutiques local to me like Pivot and Rowe. Shoes I more tend to buy new from Farfetch, Netaporter, Nordstrom.

Have you ever returned a bag after purchasing it? Why did you make that decision? No.

Do you ever buy second-hand bags? Where do you buy used? Definitely and my next bag will probably be second-hand. I’ve bought from eBay, Poshmark, Rebag and Fashionphile.

Do you ever donate or gift your old bags? If so, to whom? Yes.

Do you feel that social media or influencer culture pressures you to buy more bags or certain brands? No, but only because I’m very strict with myself. I tend to follow my heart when it comes to bags anyway, but I always ask myself, do you love the way this bag looks and functions regardless of who makes it? Also, do you see yourself loving and using this bag 2, 5, 10 years from now? That’s the only way I could justify the prices of these things

Do you consider your bag purchases financial or emotional investments? Emotional investments but I have told my husband that if we’re desperate, I’ll sell the Chanel Surf bag!

Do you follow the latest fashion trends when deciding on your next purchase, or do you prefer classic styles? I don’t necessarily swim against the current but I will truly go by how I feel about the design and whether I think it’s beautiful, even if it’s not currently trending. I do like to have a couple of classics around though, such as Chanel flaps

Are sales associate relationships instrumental to your shopping? A bit. In the case of the Chanel Twin Pearl, I called a bunch of boutiques inside Neimans but was told it wasn’t in stock. I didn’t at the time have a profile with Chanel, but I told a friend of mine how much I wanted that bag. She offered to engage her SA, and the SA found the bag at another location for me. My friend ordered the bag on my behalf. So I guess a good friend and SA can be quite instrumental to getting a hard-to-find bag.

Do you enjoy shopping beyond just acquiring something new? Yes, I keep a wishlist in my Notes app, and enjoy the hunt. I usually look forward specific items and most of the time they’re available preloved. I’ve been able to find pieces I loved since I was a teenager following fashion in the late 90s, so I am sort of a collector of very select things.

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? Prominent branding. It won’t prevent me from carrying it, but where I live, I can sometimes feel self-conscious about the Chanel double-C.

Is there a brand you outright refuse to buy? Why? Louis Vuitton and Dior. I loved some of Marc Jacobs’ LV bags and sometimes dream about a Stephen Sprouse or a Sophia Coppola collab bag, but I just find the contemporary ones oversaturated and basic. I personally won’t carry anything with the monogram and find it insane that a PVC-coated canvas bag can sell for it does just because it’s LV. Dior because there’s just no excuse for exploiting workers. In fact, I won’t buy any brand that has been exposed for labor abuses.

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 like both actually. There’s a mood and time for understated bags that are all about the shape, structure and leather and also for bags like the Chanel Surf, which I love breaking out post Memorial Day every year

On Budgeting & Perceptions

Who pays for your bags? Me

Do you set aside a budget for your bag purchases? Yes, not a specific budget but I have a rule that whatever I spend on a bag, I must match in contributing to my savings account or my son’s 529 savings account.

Have you ever purchased a counterfeit because you couldn’t afford a designer item? No and I think anyone considering a counterfeit should read Dana Thomas’ book Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster

Do you use financing or payment plans (like Afterpay or Klarna) for bag purchases? No, if I can’t pay my credit card balance in full after a bag purchase, I don’t buy it.

Do you think owning luxury bags helps you in professional or social situations? How so? No, at least in my experience.

Do you ever hide purchases from your significant other? Have you ever lied about the cost of a bag to avoid judgment? No and no. My husband has told me he doesn’t want to know.

Do you ever resell bags on platforms like The RealReal, Fashionphile, or Vestiaire Collective? Yes, I’m currently trying to sell a bag for the first time – the Saint Laurent Toy Vicky on eBay

Have your friends or family ever criticized your bag-buying habits? If so, how did you respond? No.

Do you think your shopping is ever a problem? Have you ever felt like you were struggling with a shopping addiction? No. I put a lot of thought into my purchases and have a one-in, one-out policy for most shopping

Let’s get personal…

What is your greatest extravagance? Traveling. It’s very recent that I’ve been able to travel internationally, and I’m starting to tick off places I’ve always dreamed of going to.

What is your greatest fear? Harm to one of my loved ones.

What is the trait you most admire in others? Kindness

Which living person do you most admire? My mother-in-law. She and the family have always treated me as one of their own and she has experienced some unimaginable loss in recent years but she’s a survivor.

What or who is the greatest love of your life? My husband. If I could choose two I would include my son, but as a mother, that saying by (I think) Abraham Lincoln is true: “The best thing a man can do for his children is love their mother.” I grew up in a “broken home” and the love that my husband and I have for each other trickles down and is shaping my son for the better.

What is your favorite journey you have taken so far? I own my own business and the two careers I had prior to it really culminated in what I do now. For a while I felt like a misfit for not having stuck to one career but some journeys just aren’t linear.

What is your idea of perfect happiness? Quality time with the ones I love.

Any parting words you would like to share with our readers? I adore my bags and am guilty of babying some of them but deep-down, know that these are supposed to be utilitarian things (and will be garbage someday, let’s face it). So I try to enjoy and get as much use out of them as possible.