If you had asked me a decade ago if I thought it was possible to own too many bags, I probably would have said no. I don’t remember exactly how many bags I owned then, but it was probably around a handful or so.
My collection also lacked much direction or thought. I simply decided whether or not I liked something, and if I liked it, I wanted it. If I really wanted it, I would find a way to get it.
How I shop in my thirties is vastly different (truly, thank goodness) than how I shopped in my twenties. I value quality over quantity, and I aim to truly love and use my bags, even if that means letting go of things.
The Sweet Spot
As my mentality has changed, I’ve realized that at least for me personally, it is possible to own too many bags. When it comes to my handbag rotation, there is a sweet spot that hovers somewhere around 15 (with a little bit of wiggle room).
When my collection reaches into the twenties, well, yes, I feel like I own too many bags. It’s at that point when not only does my closet become cluttered, but I genuinely forget what I own, and things go untouched (and unused) for months on end.
As I work towards curating my collection very intentionally, I’m selective about what I add (and sell), so I wonder if there comes a point where this changes. Right now, I’m very much following the one-in-one-out rule, but if there comes a time that I’m not comfortable getting rid of anything I currently own, maybe my sweet spot number will creep up a bit. Or maybe that will mean finding the elusive purse peace.
Do you believe it’s possible to own too many bags? What’s your sweet spot?
I think there is different number for everyone, depending on your age (more years to collect the older you are), lifestyle and space in your home! I’m living in a much larger home than I ever have and I’m now in my late 40s and I’ve been a handbag lover since I was 13. I do believe that in the past 5 years for me since my kids are older (don’t have to carry their stuff around) I buy much smaller, more unique and more colorful bags than I ever have and I have unfortunately become a bit of a ‘label whore’ (less Kate Spade, more Saint Laurent) but 99% of my purchases are are preowned designer so I find myself buying things I lusted over 5-10 years ago for much less which causes me to justify buying more… I know that psychologically they are also a reward for how hard I work as well. I don’t even want to say how many bags I have because it’s embarrassing to a degree but I see them more as an art collection, they make me very happy and I love choosing different ones to wear with different outfits and I rotate them usually every 2-3 weeks so I can enjoy them! I like to keep track of them on a pinterest board so I can see them all at a glance and it reminds me of what I have (so I don’t buy anything similar or reminding me what I should let go). I say have as many as you want, can afford, and have space for as long as they bring you joy. I don’t follow trends, just buy what you love but also have a few practical ones but also fun ones to show off for evening! Otherwise let them go and make room for new loves!
I so agree with you on all fronts! Enjoy your beautiful collection xx
There’s this app called Stylebook I just became privy to. You can keep a catalog of all of your clothes, bags etc. there’s even an outfit roulette option where the app will spit out 10 different looks with filter inputs.
Thanks to you I discovered this app. Did some further research and landed on a free app called Whering which seems to do a similar thing. Thank you for the inspiration!
Can confirm that Stylebook is amazing. I’ve used it for three or four years now and it’s completely changed how I shop (curbed impulsive purchases) and helped me figure out my actual sense of style. Being able to come up with outfits after loading pics of your clothes, though time consuming, is well worth the effort. I’ve gotten more compliments in the past year on my style than I’ve ever gotten in my life.
Such a good idea to have a Pinterest board to keep track of your collection. I was thinking about doing a DIY digital collage/catalogue, but your idea is better. Thanks! I feel like I am similar to you – Kate Spade felt like my gateway brand towards the higher end stuff 😉 Happy bag collecting!!
Love your method of keeping track of your bags- clever 😀
Exactly this!!! I love your Pinterest idea!
I’m a senior citizen who has loved luxury since my early 20s, particularly handbags and shoes. I’ve spent decades chasing the next best thing – it really was never enough. Trust me when I say this: there will come a point in your life where it’s just not that important anymore. Other things such as health, relationships, mental wellbeing, giving back, etc… become the focus, not “things”. That being said, I still like to follow what’s going on and I still like my WAY whittled-down collection, but it would be okay too if I just had three bags and a few pairs of comfortable shoes.
I totally agree with you! I own tons of bags and started like you collecting in my 20’s! I now cherish my daughter and granddaughter and have started giving my bags to my granddaughter. I want good health and happiness at my age! BTW: collection is Chanel, LV, Gucci, Valentino, Fendi!
I’m not sure I could ever get down to only a few shoes but I agree with you 1000% about the bags. At 56, they are becoming less and less appealing to me. I love my high end designer bags, but only need one in each color/style and they must be simple and classy. No more screaming labels!!
I say how many days in a year ..that’s how many bags you should have..same goes for shoes
What? 365 days in regular years or 366 for leap year? 😂
I do not think you can have too many bags, I have over 100 bags and am looking for for more.
I agree with you. Life is short. Enjoy as much of what it is you like. When I pass over, the world won’t owe me a thing.
Let me call Dr. Zasio and Dorothy Beringer to help you .
Same. 👑
I think it’s subjective. As long as I’m the one enjoying and paying for them, I’ll decide how many is too many.
Exactly 100%
I totally agree. I love handbags
Wow just look at them is a job! Ha ha ha
I’d love to see your collection! 😍
For myself, there is definitely a “too many” mark — and it’s probably anything more than about 15. With that said, I think it’s a very individual thing. One person’s “too many” might be someone else’s “too few” or “just right.” It’s what feels right for the individual, and their wants/needs/circumstances.
I have slowed down purchasing bags dramatically. I have also sold a lot of bags. I still enjoy those I have but I don’t feel the pressure to buy, buy, buy like I used to when I was younger. One bag a year has become my new rhythm and usually when a new one comes in, another one goes. I find that a well-curated smaller collection (8-10 bags) has been the sweet spot for me.
At one time, in my late thirties, I owned over 100 LV pieces, over 50 bags and another 50 SLGs. This was on top of Chanel, Fendi, Dior and God knows what else. Right there should tell you that I had too many as I forgot what I actually owned and realized that I would never have the mental capacity to figure out how to wear them all without having a nervous breakdown. Fast forward 20 years and I am still selling off bags that I never even used. I held on to so many because of the guilt I had at spending thousands and never looking at some of the bags again until I sold them. Now I have a collection of about 50 bags and another 40 or so SLGs. This includes all brands across the board. I still feels that this is way too many and have been selling them off little by little. I have replaced many bags with simple, quiet luxury that will stay relevant for years to come. Long gone are the days of wearing branded bags that scream “look at what I have”. I have even moved into some contemporary designer bags that I love so much more than their outrageously priced counterparts. I am a work in progress, and I am determined to reach purse peace sooner rather than later 😉
No, just wait until the pendulum swings back the other way 😉
I think 14 is my magic number, with an even split between spring/summer and fall/winter bags. I have tried to decrease to fewer bags but they creep in again.
I tend to get anxious when I have too much of anything and I am always soothed by decluttering and selling or donating excess belongings.
I once heard, “Buy classics, not moments.” I’ve loved collecting over the years and some may think I have way too many. My purchases have definitely slowed down, but I’m open to more.
Do you. If you love them, buy them. If minimizing is for you, I get that too.
For me, that number is much lower. I think it’s at around 5. Chosen carefully, that’s all I need to cover a wide range of functional and stylistic needs. Beyond that, “redundant” bags just get neglected as I use the one I like more. I’ve always opted for owning a small number of bags and not compromising *too much* on cost (though, my price range does top out below a Birkin, unfortunately).
I had an epiphany when I (finally) realized that I haven’t used a lot of bags in many many years and they’re just sitting there in the closet and a number of them are the same size but different iterations. So now I’m down to 30 and slowly parting with the rest. My sweet spot should be around 15-20…?
Great question! I just counted mine and was surprised I have 20 total (11 handbags/crossbodies and 9 clutches). In my 40s I started choosing quality over quantity. I sold my contemporary bags and started collecting Gucci, Prada, LV, YSL, and made my way up to my holy grail bag (Chanel Jumbo Classic Flap) and then my second holy grail bag (Chanel Chevron Large Boy). I’ve reached purse peace where I don’t want to buy or sell anything at the moment so I guess 20 is my sweet spot!
Soooo many bags. Some bags I save for parts, they don’t count.
Sometimes I do get overwhelmed, so I take a bunch that I haven’t worn and pack them away. Six months later it’s like I got new bags!
My sweet spot is around 8-10!
To answer that question, we should take a look at the state of the world and the growing pile of rubbish that’s collecting in the sea.
I don’t see your point. If someone keeps vs trashes their bags, the size of their collection is irrelevant.
But, if someone is constantly throwing items away then they’re the issue. If they always just have one bag but treat it as disposable, they might throw out a bag each quarter.
I do agree with you on the pile of rubbish, but there is the good point about designers bags, their life span is much longer then some so so bag that are in style for a short time and end up in the trash can. Years older Chanel bag is consider vintage and still have some live left in it. Then some Etsy craft people can reuse good parts like old LV bags to make smart watch straps or other small leather goods. That article really made me count my purses lol. Something over 40…
There are so many different types of bags!
Totes, handheld, crossbody, top handle, bucket, hobo, satchel, clutch, metallic, logo, no logo, mini, evening – for everyday, work, travel, formal. Basic black, brown, navy, or fun red, orange, green.
I am 50+ so lots of bags. As long as you rotate them, store them properly (I stuff and put in dust bag), and sell if you don’t use, I don’t think there needs to be a limit
Jumped from about ten luxury bags at any time since I was in my twenties, to thirty five for a few years. Then, I suddenly felt stifled. I’ve kept it down to 8 bags which is my magic number and I have a strict one in, one out rule. It’s so strange, when I get a new one it suddenly feels too much and overwhelms me. Weird psychological thing I’ve yet to decipher.
When you talk about number of purses owned, do you mean only designer/luxury ones? or just purses in general? I am planning on parting with 16 from my collection and would still be nowhere near your number. But in my collection I count all of them from the big names, to the likes of Uniqlo and similar.
I also find that having a daughter makes it hard to part with some of them since I think they could potentially serve her in some years…
When I started collecting in my early 20s, I told myself I would collect 2 of each brands I like. I don’t have a sweet spot number but I think I currently own at least 15 now (2 Chanel, 2 Celine, 2 LV, 2 YSL, 2 Fendi, 2 Burberry, 1 Dior, 1 Prada, 1 Gucci). I’m 35 now and planning to complete my collection by 40, so it means I still need 1 Dior, 1 Prada and 1 Gucci and then I should be done (hopefully! Lol!)
I have 200, every one of them in an Excel sheet by brand, style, and color. Granted, not all are high-end designer. Many are handmade from travels to far flung places or vintage gems found at thrift stores.
I have always owed at least w0 to 30 bags at a time. Then I just give them away. My son says I’m just throwing money away.
Why is it any of his business?
I ask myself this about all my stuff: bags shoes clothes
I have the good fortune to wear same size as for decades – and I know unequivocally it’s a psychological need/want (same difference) I am appeasing.
I will only speak for myself but challenge everyone to look inside if for no other reason than to find a most sustainable plateau.
Little by little, I am reducing my “stuff,” sorting, consigning, selling, and it feels great.
The more I curate the more I use and appreciate what is being kept.
Bags? Chanel, LV, Gucci, Burberry, Valentino, Prada; just no Hermes.
I have no desire to do five-digit bag purchases, even though this one line is really the only one with investment potential.
I’ve gone through different cycles. I collect and then purge and then rebuild. I’m at the “I have too many” stage again, even after giving some to my DD, family and friends. A friend of mine has a 10-15 rule. I’m in triple digits, even after my purges, so that would be hard for me. 🙂
I think there is a limit. I personally have over 100 bags. Of that 65 of them are luxury. I have several KS, MK, Coach, Tory Burch, Vince Camuto, Louise et Cie and others that I have given away. I tried to sell some on Poshmark and FB marketplace but I was tired of people low balling me. My bags all look rand new. Some have been used once or two times at the most. I am co constantly rotating my luxury bags but it’s a bit difficult since I no longer go into the office. I now work 100% remote,y.
I believe the amount of bags one owns is up to each person. I know personally I have too many. BTW none of my bags are fro resellers. All brand new
Is there even such a thing as too much?
Too much is when a person is going into debt, using money that should be allocated more important needs (health, education, retirement, etc.), fixating over their collection, hoarding large quantities of bags in too small spaces, cycling through them to chase trends or a shopping high, etc.
So, yes. Someone can certainly own too many bags. But, that’s called irresponsibility or addiction and can be applied to any category.
I am with you on this.
A couple of years ago “the sky was the limit”.
Currently i´m using 9 bags (plus 2 cocktail clunches that i never use but cannot let go because i bougth than during my Uni trip to Domenican Repúblic).
I´m trying to sell 5 bags in order to buy a new (or prevoled) one (a H).
Absolutely no such thing as too many handbags!
I have over 30 I probably should do an updated count as it has been a while. I sold off a bunch of items I bought in my most active time on PurseForum back in the day and narrowed things down to mainly classics from Chanel and Hermes. I have other bags from a vintage Celine evening bag, Ralph Lauren croc, Gucci Tom Ford era bags, Vuitton, Goyard, Moynat, Faure Le Page, Jimmy Choo snakeskin, YSL, Devi Kroell, and other random and lessor known brands. I barely carry a purse anymore really I just have a phone case that has a wallet built in and can attach a pouch for a lipstick and keys when needed. My daily big bag lately when I do carry one or when I travel is an Okinawa Goyard or Chanel XXL. If going out somewhere nice I tend to grab a Chanel Jumbo. I maybe grab a Birkin or Kelly once or twice a year to use.
I love bags and I think you can never have to many!
I have a much smaller but much more cohesive, very cool, and better quality handbag collection from Free People and I couldn’t be more happier!! Free People has the best bags. Very rock n’ roll.
I got there this past year. Like you, thought no limit on how many bags I needed. 2024 Pricing, style, and actual use of the bags has caused me to pause. I have started selling some of my older bags.
I’m just getting into bags. Bad timing with these prices! I currently have 12, but I’d like about 8 more. I’m dividing my collection into uses: dress, smart-casual, and casual, and by colors: black, white taupe, tans for now. Moving on to burgundy and red options in the future. Of course, sometimes you need two per category to account for the hardware color, so…. I think 25 would be my limit????
I don’t have bags but I have suits. I’m never at a loss to find an appropriate suit in my closet when I’m dressing, and I consider each suit; so I know I have just enough; I prefer what I have now to what I have plus another suit which might upset the equilibrium, so I have just enough!
Are we counting clutch bags? I have over 20 clutch bags alone. I love to carry them in the evenings and during the summer months because they are lite and easy. It forces me to be a bit more aware of what I am putting in my bag and whether I need it. I have definitely cut back on handbags and have decided to keep it to a manageable number with Hermes and Chanel being my favorite go- tos.
I have about 20…thinking to downsize to 15 since there are a few that haven’t seen the light of day for 2-5 years. Less is more because it allows me to use what I truly love more frequently.
I have about 200 bags and most of them I haven’t touched in years. Last year I sold 25 of them to Fashionphile and used the money I got towards a birkin 25. I have zero regrets! I’m planning on selling at least 100 more bags. While they look nice in my walk in closet it is just ridiculous to keep bags I don’t use.
Wow! Thank you for sharing – love the bit about the Birkin. I would do the same if I were in your shoes. Did you go pre-loved on the Birkin or through H?