When you run a website about luxury goods, you hear a lot of the same question: how do people afford these things? Sometimes it’s asked in genuine curiosity, and other times, it’s a rhetorical declaration of awe and confusion at other people’s very different lives. Either way, this curiosity persists at least in part because the question of money is one that’s forbidden in traditional fashion media, which generally considers it rude to acknowledge that participating in fashion costs a lot. We’re not traditional fashion media, though, so we’re not beholden to those manners, and we want to know about your bags, your budget, and how you balance the two. So we’re introducing Closet Confessionals, and we need your help. (Don’t worry—it’s anonymous!)
Fill Out the Closet Confessionals Questionnaire
Inspired by other websites whose readers engage in fascinating, frank discussions of how they make their money work for them (like Refinery29’s popular Money Diaries series), Closet Confessionals will each feature one reader or PurseForum member responding to a number of questions about their income, shopping habits, bag collections and beyond. We want to demystify the numbers and internal negotiations that are always lurking in the background behind anyone’s love for shopping.
We’re hoping to hear from people at all points on the financial spectrum, from those who save up to buy one or two moderately priced bags per year, to those who don’t think twice about impulse-buying a crocodile Birkin. What do you do for a living? Where does the money come from? How did you start buying bags? Credit card debt? Generous benefactor? We’ll cover it all, even the taboo parts, and you can provide photos of the bags in question if you want.
To participate, all you have to do is fill out the Closet Confessionals questionnaire, which includes questions about all the personal topics we think people are most interested in. The more detail, the better—we only require you give us an email address so we can reach out for any necessary clarification, should we choose to publish your submission. No one but those putting together the article will have access to that info, and you can use an email that doesn’t link back to your real life identity. We want the kind of honesty that fashion media finds uncomfortable.
This series will be ongoing, and we hope to hear from PurseBlog readers from all walks of life and across the globe: how do you make your bag obsession possible?
I’m Jewish so I don’t confess to anyone but G-d. Which is a good thing cause if my husband found out how much some of these bag cost my would be on a totem pole!
???? too funny. Confessing only to the heavens. Luv it.
I like it already
I hope you get some frank answers, because I am curious about especially young women in their 20’s collecting Hermes, Chanels, Rolexes, and Cartiers, and people who travel first class on vacation, not for work.
I have often wondered that myself, thinking back to my 20s. But then again I did scrimp and save to afford a Fendi, and a few Dooneys. And racked up some credit card debt too. Traveling first class isn’t such a mystery. Save up miles from business travel, use credit cards that offer miles/points for every purchase (best deal going! Use them for everything and watch the points add up!), shop smart on sites such as expedia, travelocity, etc.
I am actually referring to people with substantial collections of top-end bags such as Birkins and Kellys in many different colors and exotic leathers. And you know these are brand new bags because they post reveals and modshots on Purseforum. These are people who receive Christmas presents and birthday cards from their SAs. I seriously doubt that they are everyday people who scrounge and save for one fancy bag, or buy preloved. But thank you for your input.
A stranger posts a photo of a bag… we assume it’s real. Why? Could easily be a fake. I saw expensive super-fakes in Hong Kong sold in boutiques which could EASILY pass for the real thing. (I didn’t buy, just looked)
I guess I have been naive! I had no idea that anyone had the nerve to post a fake in Purseforum, since there are many tpfers who claim to know a fake from a mile a way.
Btw, I myself have been extremely impressed with the craftsmanship of a known fake Chanel. A real one looked flimsy by comparison!
It’s all in how you carry it. I know a woman whom I strongly suspect carries fake Hermès. But the way she swaggers… you’d think she owned the company.
And you’re right. The quality of the “best” superfakes is astounding. And a little scary.
One more point: someone posts a pic of a bag in the first class cabin. How do you know they took it? Could have been a capture from another site. Lesson is… all this is entertainment so don’t believe everyone is telling the truth!!!
Lol that’s easy! Rich parents!
Or a rich boyfriend!
I will confess right here. I never pay full price for anything. I buy second hand, on sale, etc. Thrifting is almost religious experience for me, ;-). I have found some very nice stuff in thrift stores. The secret is- you need to shop at the high end stores so you know what to look for in the thrift stores. How will you know a real Gucci or Prada in a thrift store if you have never seen one in a Gucci or Prada store? Knowing what cashmere looks and feels like will make it easy to scan a rack of thrift store sweaters and pick out the cashmere quickly. Learn what really nice leather feels and looks like so you can scan a rack of belts or a rack of jackets and pick out the good ones fast.
For new stuff, always shop on sale.
When will the first article be published? Can’t wait to read!
i think the beautiful evening bag is very smart