CC 277: The Giver

Today, we meet a Millennial whose bag collecting began out of the need for function but quickly developed into a true passion. CC 277 has been collecting bags since a Marc Jacobs bag was gifted to her out of pure necessity when she was 18. Still, a love of bags is in her genes—her mom and aunt are bag ladies, too!

Over the years, CC 277 has learned what really works for her and her style, which tends to be a mix of trendy and classic pieces. Her purchases are well researched and thought out, though this bag lover admits to sometimes shopping to boost happiness or joy, which she has worked through in therapy.

While she will occasionally resell her bags and believes in giving them new life, CC 277 also enjoys passing them on to friends or family or donating them to a good cause. Read the full CC below and don’t forget to share your own!

Basic Bio

Your Age? 32
Your Gender Identity? Female
Where do you live? Caribbean
What is your occupation? Project Manager
What industry do you work in? Engineering
What is your annual salary range? Total household income? $250,000
Are you a PurseForum member? No

Onto The Bags

How many bags do you own? 21

What bags are in your collection?

• Fendi: 3Jours, Peekaboo Medium, Lei Selleria, Baguette, Fendace Mini Baguette
• Chanel: sevruga caviar WOC, small galuchat Boy Bag, lambskin Mini Flap Square
• Saint Laurent: Baby Sac de Jour, Toy Loulou
• Bottega Veneta: Lauren Clutch, Nodini
• Mulberry Mini Bayswater
• Balenciaga City Metallic Edge
• Gucci Ophidia Messenger
• Prada Ostrich Galleria
• Tod’s Micro Sella
• Nancy Gonzalez Christie Satchel
• Benedetta Bruzziches Vitty La Mignon
• Coach Saddle bag
• Furla Mini Metropolis

How much is your collection worth? Definitely more than I’d like to think about lol

What is your most expensive bag? My Chanel lambskin Mini Square Flap in the perfect pop of pink was my holy grail and way over my personal upper limit for spending on a bag.

Do you ever experience buyer’s remorse after purchasing a bag? If so, how do you deal with it? I buy bags to fill specific gaps in my wardrobe, and only buy bags that spark joy, after tons of research, so I don’t tend to experience buyer’s remorse.

Do you feel a desire to downsize your collection? If so, what factors are driving that decision? I don’t feel like downsizing, but I feel that I probably have enough bags right now, because I’m running out of storage space and have to actively work to rotate them and let everyone get their moment in the sun.

What age did you get your first designer bag, and what was it? A little MBMJ crossbody that I received as a Christmas present from my parents at 18, for the very practical reason that I didn’t actually carry a bag when going out at the time. It ended up sparking a lifelong obsession lol.

Is there a specific bag you are looking to purchase next? In my mind, my collection is divided into ‘nights out’, ‘casual days’ and ‘work bags’. I realized that I can do with another work bag in the rotation, but haven’t decided on a particular one as yet. All I know so far is I want top handles, an optional strap, and a top zip.

Do you have a ‘holy grail’ dream bag you’ve always wanted to own? Yes, a pink Chanel Mini Square in a puffy, juicy lambskin haunted my dreams for years, until I finally pulled the trigger and haven’t been disappointed at all.

Any particular bag that holds a special sentimental value? All my bags hold sentimental value to some extent, as I have bought them to commemorate milestones in life such as birthdays and professional successes. That definitely gives me a pause for thought if I think about selling, and a couple bags have been given a second chance because of the memories they hold.

Do you feel like your bags change people’s perceptions of you or how you’re treated? Not really. I work in a very male-dominated industry, and my colleagues mostly view bags as purely functional, so no one really notices them. I used to be worried about this when I was younger, however, and would prefer to wear IYKYK bags, without obvious logos etc., but since the experience of the pandemic I’ve come to value life and experiences as precious and I no longer worry about people’s perceptions of how I look or how I dress as long as I am happy and confident.

How do you take care of your bags? I store my bags stuffed and in their dustbags, and use leather conditioner.

On Shopping

How often do you buy new bags? Once or twice a year, usually.

How has your bag collection changed during the past few years, and why? I used to shy away from obvious logos, because I was worried about being judged by others for my bag spend. Now that I’ve grown past that, the logos have trickled in.

Do you prefer shopping for bags online or in-store? Why? Online. Unfortunately as a woman of colour, I have had some variable experiences when browsing and shopping in-store. Online I can relax, browse and purchase without the experience being sullied.

Which stores do you frequent the most? Net-a-Porter, Farfetch, Fashionphile, TRR.

Have you ever returned a bag after purchasing it? Why did you make that decision? No, all my purchases are made after a lot of research to make sure it fits my wardrobe and lifestyle. There are bags that I admire from afar, but I know they just won’t work for me (here’s looking at you, Gucci Jackie).

Do you ever buy second-hand bags? Where do you buy used? Yes, I got into buying preloved because of the sustainability element (my final year university project was on sustainable fashion) and of course another factor of late, is the savings to be had, as prices have skyrocketed. Most of my preloved bags have come from Fashionphile, while my Prada Galleria was a fantastic steal from TRR.

Do you ever donate or gift your old bags? If so, to whom? Yes, I have gifted bags to family and donated to projects that for example, dress girls for prom and women for professional interviews, when they no longer fit my purposes or haven’t been used in a long time. I like knowing that my bags can have a second act as ultimately, the purpose of a bag is to be used, not just sitting pretty in my closet.

Do you feel that social media or influencer culture pressures you to buy more bags or certain brands? No, I’m a millennial dinosaur in that I barely use social media and stay out of loop on influencer culture.

Do you consider your bag purchases financial or emotional investments? I consider my bags emotional investments because I have purchased them largely to commemorate special moments in my life or celebrate my successes. Everything depreciates in value the second you start to use it, so I don’t consider a bag to be a financial investment.

Do you follow the latest fashion trends when deciding on your next purchase, or do you prefer classic styles? I think for me, it’s a mix of both, as I buy what I like regardless of trendy or classic.

Are sales associate relationships instrumental to your shopping? No.

Do you enjoy shopping beyond just acquiring something new? I do. I actually derive a fair amount of joy from the act or ritual of shopping, especially if it’s a solo shopping trip. I can move at my own pace, get lost in my head, people watch etc., and it’s strangely therapeutic. I even look forward to going to the supermarket for this reason.

Have you ever felt you received inferior service at a store or boutique due to your appearance, ethnicity, or gender? Unfortunately yes. As a woman of colour, I have experiences which left a bad taste in the mouth with regard to in-store service. I have noticed eyes following me around or doing a quick check of my outfit, and there have been times when I have been flat out ignored. I actually have very mixed feelings about two non-bag luxury purchases, both of which I had my heart set on getting, because I experienced a 180 in service from complete ignoring to fawning and attentive when it became obvious that I had that I had the money and would be purchasing. SAs I urge you, every customer deserves consistent, fair service.

What factors may dissuade you from buying a bag, even if you like it? A bag has to be practical to me and meet my needs, so no matter now beautiful, if I have to compromise on functionality, I don’t buy it.

Is there a brand you outright refuse to buy? Why? No, I don’t want to go down the rabbit hole of refusing to buy from a brand for a blanket reason, because where do you draw the line? All brands have some unsavory practices and skeletons in the closet, that’s just the reality of the world we live in.

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 that they co-exist as after all, fashion is about self-expression, and consumers have options to reflect themselves. Personally, I lean towards being more a fan of quiet luxury, but I don’t mind a logo in some instances.

On Budgeting & Perceptions

Who pays for your bags? I do.

Do you set aside a budget for your bag purchases? No, but I certainly won’t go into debt for a bag.

Have you ever purchased a counterfeit because you couldn’t afford a designer item? No.

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? Not particularly, as before, I work in a male-dominated field, and am often the only woman in the room. I am not usually in an environment where people would recognize the bag, so they really are just for my enjoyment only.

Do you ever hide purchases from your significant other? Have you ever lied about the cost of a bag to avoid judgment? No significant other at the moment, so no worries

Do you ever resell bags on platforms like The RealReal, Fashionphile, or Vestiaire Collective? Yes, I have resold bags on TRR.

Have your friends or family ever criticized your bag-buying habits? If so, how did you respond? Luckily no. My mother and aunt are also unabashed bag-ladies, so we share the appreciation.

Do you think your shopping is ever a problem? Have you ever felt like you were struggling with a shopping addiction? Yes, I have suffered with depression and anxiety and have been able to identify that there have been low points, where my mental health is suffering, where I have turned to shopping for a little dopamine hit. I have definitely felt that while not a full addiction, do over-shop in these periods, and it is the act of purchasing, rather than the goods themselves, that I seek out. It’s something that I have worked on in therapy and am always cognizant of now.

Let’s get personal…

What is your greatest extravagance? Besides luxury, I love travel.

What is your greatest fear? To not have happiness.

What is the trait you most admire in others? Honesty

What or who is the greatest love of your life? My little rescue dog, who is a senior now. She came into my life when I needed her most, and taught me unconditional love. We have grown so much together. It’s a cliche but, even though I rescued her, she really rescued me.

What is your favorite journey you have taken so far? As tempting as it is to say ‘the journey of life’, my favorite journey is my first solo trip, which happened because my friend couldn’t make it at the last minute. Just two weeks in Italy soaking up the art and culture, eating and drinking to my heart’s content, having long restful sleep, and ending each day soaking in a relaxing spa. Pure bliss.

Any parting words you would like to share with our readers? Life is short, and precious. You never know when things are going to go south. Try to find joy in each day and don’t put off your happiness for a time in the future that you aren’t guaranteed.