In today’s installment of our fan-favorite closet confessionals series, we meet a young handbag collector hailing from London. This purse lover may only be 25, but she’s incredibly smart when it comes to bag buying, opting to research her buys well before pulling the trigger, and only buying pieces she truly loves. Sometimes that means new carries enter her life once a season, but other times that means passing up the hottest new releases and holding off for a bag that really catches her eye. While occasionally this confessor is made aware of a purse thanks to seeing it on the arm of a celeb or influencer, she remains true to herself and will not buy a bag just because someone famous is carrying it—wise for her age! Though this marketing exec first fell in love with handbags thanks to Nicolas Ghesquière’s reign at Balenciaga, currently she’s eyeing something Chanel, but is hesitant thanks to the recent price increases. All in all this bag lover knows how to budget and shops within her means, something many of us can aim to be better at. Read the full CC below and don’t forget to submit your own!
[sc_cc_callout]The Basics
Age: 25
Gender Identity: Female
Location: London
Occupation: Marketing Executive
Industry: Jeweller
Salary: $36,000
Household Income: $66,000
The Bags
Are you a PurseForum member? Yes
How many bags do you own? 20+
What bags are in your collection?
Celine Medium Luggage Tote
Celine Medium Triomphe
Saint Laurent Small Sac De Jour
Balenciaga Day with G21 GHW
Balenciaga City with G12 GHW
Balenciaga Envelope with G12 GHW
Balenciaga Neo WOC
Valentino Small Glam Lock
Alexander Wang Diego
Coccinelle Arlettis Mini
Longchamp Neo Large Shopping Tote
Longchamp Neo Small Shopping Tote
Longchamp Le Pillage Paris Edition Large Shopping Tote
Ted Baker Half Moon Crossbody
Plus 10 other non-branded
How much is your collection worth? $16,000
What is your most expensive bag? Celine Medium Luggage Tote
What are the most important brands or pieces in your collection? Balenciaga, I fell in love with Nicolas Ghesquière Motorcycle Bag in the 2010s and it kick-started my obsession with designer handbags.
What age did you get your first designer bag, and what was it? I brought myself a Balenciaga City with Regular Hardware at the age of 19, as a present to myself for finishing my undergraduate degree, which I started at the age of 16. It was a lot of money at the time but I had been saving from my part-time jobs for the last few years, so I felt it was the right time to make a purchase. Since then, I have sold this particular bag and bought a G12 Gold Hardware version in its place. But its fair to say my love for the Balenciaga Motorcycle style has not faded over the years.
Is there a specific bag you are looking to purchase next? I have nothing on my wish list at the moment but maybe a Chanel? But I just can’t get over these crazy price increases, so I might skip Chanel all together and aim for Hermès.
Any particular bag that holds a special sentimental value? Saint Laurent Sac De Jour because my dad, who is extremely against my love for designer items, bought it for me as a ‘well done’ present for finishing my Masters degree.
Do you feel like your bags change people’s perceptions of you or how you’re treated? I don’t think so and to be honest I don’t really care if it does or it doesn’t. I buy bags because I love them, not for anyone else’s benefit or to change people’s perception.
The Shopping
How often do you buy new bags? If a fall in love with a bag I will buy it, so it could be as often as once a season or I could go a couple of seasons without buying one at all. It just depends on what’s available and what I fall in love with. I try to research as much as I can before purchasing a new bag. I also try to limit what I have in my collection. So if I buy a new bag, I also try to let go of a bag from my collection.
Which stores do you frequent the most? Harrods all the way!
Do you ever buy second-hand bags? Where do you buy used? Yes, if I see the right bag at the right price. In fact my Celine Medium Luggage Tote is pre-owned from eBay, I was late to the game but the medium size (long discontinued now) is just perfect.
Do you sell old bags to pay for new purchases? Not necessarily but I do sell my bag to keep my collection limited.
Do you ever feel societal pressure to purchase more bags? No, I wouldn’t say so. Like I’ve said I only buy bags I love and while a lot of the bags in my collection are popular styles, I bought them because I love them, not because of trends or marketing.
Do you consider your bag purchases investments? They can be if you buy the right bag and keep it in the right condition. But it’s very rare to be able to make money on used designer bags.
Who influences your buying decisions? Myself and my own love of designer bags. Sometime influencers and celebrities will bring a bag to my attention but I wouldn’t buy it just because they are wearing it.
Are sales associate relationships instrumental to your shopping? I don’t have a special relationship with any SAs as it can be months or a year before I go back to the same brand again. But if I go into a store and have a bad experience with a SA, I simply just won’t buy anything with them. I will just leave it and buy it another time.
Why do you enjoy shopping, beyond just acquiring something new? I tend to already know what I want by the time I physically go to the store, so shopping is more of an end result rather than an experience. I enjoy researching and reading about the bags far more than the shopping experience itself.
Have you ever felt like you received inferior service at a store or boutique due to your appearance, ethnicity or gender? My friend from Asia was searching for a LV Pochette Metis last year, she tried everyday and in various LV boutiques around London but they would just turn her down saying they had none in stock. But when I asked, the SA simply wanted to see my ID (I gave her a my UK driving license) and she straight away said she had one available. So perhaps it does make a difference if you were wearing the right clothes (I was wearing a Burberry Trench Coat and carrying one of my Balenciaga bags) and came from the right country.
The Money
Who pays for your bags? Me
Do you set aside a budget for your bag purchases? I set aside shopping money every month, so when I see the right bag I have money put aside to make that purchase.
The Taboo Topics
Have you ever purchased a counterfeit because you couldn’t afford a designer item? No
Do you ever hide purchases from your significant other? No, if I bought something, I’m going to wear it.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve done to afford a bag? Nothing I can think of in terms of affording a bag. But I have asked a friend who was going on a 3 week trip around the US to buy a Chanel purse for me from London Heathrow duty free on her way out there and carry it around with her the whole trip with the box. She wasn’t someone who was interested in luxury and would never buy something that cost this much. So for her to carry around a $700+ purse in her bag left her scared that she was going to lose it or something would happen to it. It was a lot to ask and in hindsight maybe I shouldn’t have asked as she wasn’t as comfortable with luxury as I was.
Do you think your shopping is ever a problem? Have you ever felt like you were struggling with a shopping addiction? No, I only spend within my allowance and know where my limit lies. A word of advice to someone who want to buy luxury is to only buy what you can afford, no bag is worth getting into debt for.
The Rest Of It
Any other expensive hobbies or passions? Bags are pretty much the only passion and love.
Anything else you would like to include? Remember to be yourself, only buy what you can afford and love. Don’t buy something just because someone else has it or because it’s popular. As Coco Chanel said ‘Fashion fades, only style remains the same’, so it’s important to stay true to who you are and your style.
