Closet Confessionals

CC 37: This Bridal Shop Owner Has A Strong Opinion On Those Wearing Fakes

Plus she shares thoughts on foolish SAs

Today’s submission hails from the capital of Utah, where this late-20s bridal shop owners finds great joy in each bag in her collection. She only shops in boutique stores while traveling for work, and should she finds herself snubbed by a sales associate in a boutique, she proudly takes her business next door in best Pretty Woman fashion. Enjoy today’s read and don’t forget to submit a confessional of your own. The more detailed, the merrier!

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The Basics

Age: 29
Gender Identity: Female
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Occupation: Bridal Shop Owner
Industry: Fashion, Retail
Salary: $75,000
Household Income: $200,000

The Bags

Are you a PurseForum member? No

How many bags do you own? ~15

What bags are in your collection?

Prada – Paradigme (went in for Galleria and walked out with even better)
YSL – Monogram Wallet On Chain
LV – Graceful MM
Burberry – The Banner

+ few other contemporary bags like Frye Melissa leather tote, MK Saffiano tote, big fan of Rebecca Minkoff, a few Kate Spades & Tory Burches, unfortunately also some Coaches!

How much is your collection worth? ~$12,000

What is your most expensive bag? Prada Paradigme… I love it so dearly. Only carries it during New York bridal fashion week. Always have a dust bag with me and wiped it with baby wipe followed microfiber cloth after every use.

What are the most important brands or pieces in your collection? Every piece is important to me. I remember exactly the days I bought them or received them as gifts. They just bring me joy!

What age did you get your first designer bag, and what was it? 27 if I count the “designer” when I first bought my Prada on my own with salary from my bridal shop. I don’t take salary out that often since my husband has a great job but this was soooo worth it!

When I was 19, my mom got my first signature Coach purse and my aunt got me Coach crossbody for my birthday. That’s how it all started: doubling down!

Any particular bag that holds a special sentimental value? Like I said above… all bags does. Of course my Prada and YSL held the most sentiment. My best friend and I got matching ones for both when we were in Spain. She got tan and I got black. It’s extra special because we live in different countries and I don’t get to see her that often.

Do you feel like your bags change people’s perceptions of you or how you’re treated? Oh yes. In my industry, designer bag is almost like a requirement since I go to a lot of fashion shows and networking events.

I don’t have a problem with it since I also enjoy it. I also love seeing other women’s most prized collections. Fashion weeks are the cream of the crop.

The Shopping

How often do you buy new bags? Whenever I feel like it. After I went on buying my two most expensive bags back to back, I went on hibernation until my husband got me a Louis Vuitton for my upcoming 30th birthday. I would have gone longer. I was just content and happy.

Which stores do you frequent the most? I, of course, browse online a lot since it’s a hobby. But when I buy, I always buy straight from designers at the boutiques. There’s no designer boutiques in Salt Lake City but I always travel. So I buy when I’m in the big city. It’s more fun that way.

Do you ever buy second-hand bags? Where do you buy used? Nope…. not my jam! My husband got me a Prada wallet from this consignment store when we were at Seattle. I was kinda mad at him but thanked him also. He popped my 2nd hand bag “cherry”.. lol That’s my only 2nd hand “bag”. Technically I didn’t buy it.

Do you sell old bags to pay for new purchases? Nope… probably won’t in the future. If my funds are low, I just don’t buy.
I’m still young. I’m trying to build a classic collection here. If the bag has worn out, it has stories to tell.

Do you ever feel societal pressure to purchase more bags? Not really.. more like a personal pressure since it’s my pride and joy!

I work with models and influencers and I know they have their own struggles to make ends meet. When they are prancing around some designer bags on social media, I don’t believe that their life is all that breezy.

I once had an influencer literally begging me a free wedding dress because she has no money and showing off some LV #speedy on her page… She gets a big LOL from me instead.

Do you consider your bag purchases investments? No since I am not planning to resell… but if it’s investments for my sanity, yes. 🙂

But once I have my Chanels and Birkins in my collection, I will help my net worth and that’s about it.

Who influences your buying decisions? ME!

I do ask my girlfriends’ opinions before I make a bigger purchases though. My hubs is too nice to me to say NO.. He would teasingly say “what a bad wife” and then would hug me. He can’t be mad since his hobbies are expensive too. We have no kids yet. So purchase decisions are still relatively easy.

Are sales associate relationships instrumental to your shopping? Yes since I enjoy boutique shopping. I don’t like having a long term relationship though. But it’s crucial in the boutique. When I bought my Prada, my SA brought out 3 of the same and let me choose one. I like that kind of service.

Why do you enjoy shopping, beyond just acquiring something new? In younger years, I shop as a stress relief retail therapy. But these days, I shop because I make money and because I can. That’s the kind of self accomplishment. It’s addicting.

No I am not shopaholic… not anymore!

Have you ever felt like you received inferior service at a store or boutique due to your appearance, ethnicity or gender? Could be. But I don’t care nor I dress up to shop.

If this boutique doesn’t want to sell me, I can go to the other one next door. It’s their loss not mine since I know my credit limit on my plastic. 😉

If the SAs do that, they are a fool. #prettywoman

The Money

Who pays for your bags? Me mostly!

But I do also get a lot of bags as gifts from my mom, my aunts and my husband. I am one lucky duck.

Do you set aside a budget for your bag purchases? No. I do it backwards though. If I want a bag, I make sure that we won’t go broke in the next couple of weeks. If it’s all good, I buy it.

The Taboo Topics

Have you ever purchased a counterfeit because you couldn’t afford a designer item? No… never!

Here’s my theory… What are you trying to prove with this fake bag?

If you are working at Walmart and carry LV monogram, we all know that’s fake. She can’t simply afford it.

When I acquired my LV Graceful, my mom didn’t want me to because there are so many counterfeits with LV monogram these days. I said to my mom “With my social and economic standing, do I look like I need to carry a fake?”

Same applies… I am not quite there yet to easily and happily buy Chanel or Hermes (aka above 5k bags) … Thus, I am not trying to prove anything to anybody else by buying fake, cheap stuff.

Do you ever hide purchases from your significant other? No… I can’t hide. I am too happy and skipping for like a whole month. Plus he’s the first one I show it off to.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve done to afford a bag? Nothing much. Like I said above, I don’t buy it if I can’t afford it.

When I was 22 and still in college, I was staring at this Rebecca Minkoff Crossbody for good ol’ 40 mins. At that point, my boyfriend (my husband now) got impatient and bought it for me. He just wanted to get out of Nordstrom… lol

Do you think your shopping is ever a problem? Have you ever felt like you were struggling with a shopping addiction? Yes when I was in younger days. I still do shop but not like maxing-out-my-credit-card shop.

Owning my own business teaches me a lot to manage my personal finances too.

The Rest Of It

Any other expensive hobbies or passions? I love traveling and occasionally upgrade to first class seats. I can’t help it. I freak out when I go to crowded airports and impulse upgrade it at the gate. I also collect Victorian jewelry.. That one usually gets out of hand. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. At least for bags, there’s always another one.

Anything else you would like to include? My only advice is that if you can’t afford it, don’t do it. That will take a joy out of buying a designer purse once you get your bill… I love PurseForum. It keeps my most purse intel up to date.

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