Some closet confessionals are incredibly long and detailed, while others are shorter and to the point. While this is the latter, the confessional does not miss a beat on sharing and being incredibly funny while doing so. This week we take a look into the bag habits of a 46 year old male educator and aesthetician living in Australia. He loves his bags, so much so that he owns 184 of them with a collection totaling over $500,000. Like majority of other designer handbag enthusiasts, he refuses to purchase a counterfeit bag and on top of that shares some of his favorite sales associates. Read below to learn more!
[sc_cc_callout]The Basics
Age: 46
Gender Identity: Male
Location: Melbourne, AUS
Occupation: Educator and Aesthetician
Industry: Beauty
Salary: $110,000
The Bags
Are you a PurseForum member? No.
How many bags do you own? 184
How much is your collection worth? 500k.
What is your most expensive bag? Hermès Birkin 35 in Rouge Hermès Chamonix Leather (2003)
What are the most important brands or pieces in your collection? Louis Vuitton – Speedy: Iconic and versatile. I have 5.
49 Prada bags
8 Chanel
7 Dior
5 Céline (Don’t like the new logo and spelling)
Goyard and Fauré Le Page… Fendi. Quite a few other brands.
What age did you get your first designer bag, and what was it? On my eighteenth birthday, a married lover bought me my first bag, a black Chanel 2.55.
Any particular bag that holds a special sentimental value? My first Speedy. Loved something so simple and practical. It has traveled the World with me. I call him Luc-Henri.
Do you feel like your bags change people’s perceptions of you or how you’re treated? Absolutely. My Birkin always gets me a table even at restaurants that are full!
I really just want to be known for being me.
I have collected bags since 1990 and have always carried them – as a man. And proudly.
The Shopping
How often do you buy new bags? Every couple of months.
Which stores do you frequent the most? Designer boutiques, as well as David Jones (Dept. Store). I only buy pre-loved from one place – and this place is Melbourne’s Finest and most trusted reseller.
Do you ever buy second-hand bags? Where do you buy used? Yes. Mio Tesoro in Melbourne’s South Yarra precinct. Only six of my bags are pre-loved.
Elaine and her team @MioTesoroVintage source the crème de la crème, and I trust them implicitly.
Do you sell old bags to pay for new purchases? Never. I keep them all.
Do you ever feel societal pressure to purchase more bags? No. I just buy for the pleasure and love of it all.
Do you consider your bag purchases investments? Absolutely.
Who influences your buying decisions? Myself.
Are sales associate relationships instrumental to your shopping? Only two. Mathieu at Saint Laurent in Paris, Printemps, and a couple of amazing sales associates at LV in Melbourne, as well as Elaine at Mio Tesoro.
They are like family. I trust their judgement. They are honest and always willing to find something I will love.
Why do you enjoy shopping, beyond just acquiring something new? I love to buy bags, as they are the most important part of who I am and how I love, aside from family and friends. I work very hard and travel a lot, so I love to reward myself.
Have you ever felt like you received inferior service at a store or boutique due to your appearance, ethnicity or gender? Absolutely. Céline offers awful service at their Chadstone store.
I am ignored because I am portly, male and older – even when I wear carry their bags and wear their shoes in there!
Therefore, I buy my Céline in Paris or David Jones.
The Money
Who pays for your bags? I do. Although my ex of twelve years bought a lot of them for me. Especially the original graffiti phase of LV; the Gucci Indy; YSL Mombassa and also my Dior bags: saddle, Greene St, Columbus and Gaucho.
Do you set aside a budget for your bag purchases? Never.
The Taboo Topics
Have you ever purchased a counterfeit because you couldn’t afford a designer item? I would prefer to be eaten by a pack of wild sharks.
Do you ever hide purchases from your significant other? No!
What’s the craziest thing you’ve done to afford a bag? Sold a car to finance bags by taking out a new loan with a higher value, to incorporate the said bags.
Do you think your shopping is ever a problem? Have you ever felt like you were struggling with a shopping addiction? I used to in my twenties. Not in my forties.
The Rest Of It
Any other expensive hobbies or passions? Shoes. Travel is thankfully paid for my work.
Anything else you would like to include? I love bags. My motto: bags don’t hurt people… people hurt people. (Unless you hit someone with a bag. I think that is cruel to the bag.)
