Purse peace. As collectors, we’ve heard the term. We’ve discussed the term. Some of us have even claimed to have reached the elusiveness of purse peace. But is purse peace actually possible?
Let’s talk.
The ideology behind purse peace is a feeling of contentment and being “at peace” with your collection. This can be further characterized by the idea that no new releases or bags that are currently on the market tempt you enough to want to make a purchase in the near (or far) future. And while I do think it’s possible to come to a place of purse peace, I believe the idea is fleeting and unrealistic in the long term.
Here’s why.
The multi-billion dollar luxury fashion industry is designed for you to do anything and everything but reach purse peace. Luxury brands release hundreds of new bags each year with million-dollar advertising and marketing budgets that are designed to tug at a consumer’s core; it’s hard to ignore all the ‘noise,’ even when you do find yourself sitting pretty with your holy grail and satisfied with your current collection.
I personally believe it’s next to impossible to come to a place of true forever purse peace. I believe it’s possible to “retire” from collecting and/or vow not to make any new purchases. Still, I believe the notion of finding forever purse peace to be largely an unrealistic ideology. I think that how content you are with your collection is more of a spectrum—it will ebb and flow, but I think the elusive idea of purse peace is just that, difficult to track down.
What do you think?
Not only is ‘purse peace’ possible, it is also relatively easy to achieve—as long as you aren’t addicted to shopping and/or social validation.
Short term – yes. Long term – no, because even if you don’t care about trends, our lifestyles, needs, personal style, and individual tastes change over time.
I completely agree with this. Also, no matter how high-end the bag, they will wear out with enough use over time. In a lot of ways bags are like cars – we can fix them up for a long, long time – but eventually they will need to be retired and replaced. It’s part of the reason I’m not sure I believe in a holy grail bag except as a collector’s item.
In my experience, it’s entirely possible to find purse peace. Once you have a collection that’s really well curated and when you stop falling victim to the pervasive marketing strategies of the fashion industry, you can enjoy your bags without constantly looking at what’s new and what’s “in.” Of course, it must be particularly challenging when you contribute to Purseblog—a site complicit in the overhyping of trends and new products. But a paycheck is a paycheck, so no judgement!
I think purse peace means finally being happy with what you have and not chasing every new trend or latest bag. It shouldn’t mean never buying another bag or being expected to hold onto every bag you have for your whole life. That’s just unrealistic. If a bag falls apart or has had its life, of course, replace it and enjoy your new purchase.
I think it’s easier once you have different priorities/ responsibilities in life as you’re not too consumed by what’s on trend (or either can’t keep up with it lol) and therefore found yourself just using what you already have and mostly be content with it
Purse Peace is achieved when you don’t play the game. I don’t need every new bag or influencer choice. My goal was to have a bag from all the big houses that I loved. That dream changed when Hermes and Chanel started increasing their prices. I know my budget and dreams change.
I agree. While most of us here know what we’ve spent on our own acquisitions, there comes a point where quality, aesthetic, and practicality have to find balance. I’ve acquired my small collection over years (plural). Are they the latest trending bag? No, but all have stood the test of time. I am happy and content for now, but I will always have a strong affinity for purses. I cannot justify buying a new Chanel for $10K when the same amount can better serve my needs in other matters. Do I regret my past purchases? No way. They reflect my journey through life, and I am satisfied with any purse I have sporting on my arm that day.
Of course this is a biased opinion of someone whose job depends on people buying purses. You’re never going to say, be at peace, don’t buy anymore purses. That said, my last purchase was 4 years ago. I’m good. I don’t need to fill my closet with more bags that rarely get used. My money is going towards experiences now. Time is short.
AGREE!! It’s really hard to have Purse Peace.
Style and Taste do change throughout our life.
This. And circumstances. 5 years ago, I had a baby in diapers and a subway commute. Not so anymore. Very few of the bags I bought back then, nor the ones I admired 10 years ago and couldn’t afford, make sense for my life right now. If you never move and never change careers, I guess it’s possible the same bags will always meet your needs?
and “needs”. I’m currently in the mom-phase where every purse must be large enough to hold a child’s water bottle and a pack of wipes . . . and sometimes a change of small clothes 🙁
I’ve just finished a long period of purse peace, only buying 2 or 3 bags in 6 or 7 years. But now my purse frenzy is back in full force! I’ve recently rediscovered my love for mid-noughties it-bags and am buying them like there’s no tomorrow. I’m absolutely insatiable! I think it has to do with me getting older (I’m in my late thirties now) and not giving a sh*t anymore about being fashionable. I buy what I love and seem to gravitate back to my dress style when I was in my early 20s. I feel great and true to myself carrying my Chloe Paddington or Silverado and am eying an YSL Muse next. Luckily, most of them can be had for a steal on resale websites and I can now more easily afford them than back in the day. As a plus, it’s sustainable too 🙂
This! And I feel I can buy beautiful colours in my older bags too. Never been happier than with my “new” (to me) bright red Givenchy Nightingale, emerald green Balenciaga Velo and as for the Fendi Spy bag – beautiful!!
It might be hard for some at first but purse peace is definitely possible!
Agree.
I am/was a bag (and shoe) person – not for collecting, but for wearing.
The past three years, my priorities changed so that there hasn’t been any time to think about what I wore, or carried.
Life was narrowed down to being primarily task-driven, so I didn’t change my bag for almost every day of the last three years. There was just an occasional rotation with two other bags: none of my (considerably many) other bags got a look-in.
And, in that time, the criteria for my bag became very simple: fit all that I need to carry on a daily basis; be hard wearing in rain and strong sun; withstand long hours in walking commutes, go from day to night, from weekend to work day; be versatile for casual and more dressed-up.
Just three bags over the last three years have become my go-to bags. So much so that, I no longer get that little rush when I see a bag I used to hanker after online. And I don’t get much of an adrenaline pump at the thought of perusing handbag purchasing websites, as I used to three years ago.
Perhaps the three years of being thrown into task-driven mode has dampened – hopefully broken- the dopamine rush previously provided by perusing and purchasing another bag.
Also, although my style changes a tiny little bit here and there, I don’t update my wardrobe anywhere near as much. What I now wear feels good to me. And how it looks to others is now of little consequence to me – less finding my own consistent style than being both content with what I wear and not caring about how others view my dress sense.
Purse peace, indeed, any kind of peace, is achievable when you’re in a place of contentment about yourself. I do believe this, because we are about to go on our first overseas trip since the pandemic hit. And, for the first time in decades, where I used to plan a list of places to shop at
overseas, this time, I don’t even feel like spending any time in a shop filled with bags and shoes. I just want to walk, eat and watch.
Having said that, I do agree with the comment above that says we are purse-content, until our purse falls apart and we have to replace it!
What are your three bags?
I’d love to know too!!
Yes, it’s possible. I’m now perfectly happy with the bags that I have. New bags no longer hold any interest because of the continuously rising costs, the denigration of quality which is to the point of ridiculousness. What is “luxury” anymore? It’s been so bastardized and commercialized that it’s an insult to call many bags “luxury”. I finally stopped purchasing.
I know this is a purse blog but is using the term peace right now in terms of purses really necessary? It’s beyond tone-deaf.
I don’t think it was started by purseblog. Its a common term in the community.
I thought I’d never hit purse peace… and the. I was offered my Kelly to go and haven’t made any purchases since last year… I also went ahead and sold 5 bags and gave my mom another one because I parted with pieces that no longer served my life.
I’m trying, I’m trying
For me at least, purse peace would be very unrealistic. I enjoy very much adding fresh bags to my collection, not based on trends and definitely not influencers but beautiful design and new fun colors (I mainly purchase preowned and love the the thrill of the hunt). Lifestyles change and I’m finding myself selling my larger bags in favor of buying smaller bags that fit my minimal lifestyle. My husband recently purchased ‘my holy grail’ for a big anniversary, never expecting to ever own it because sometimes the best things are better left for wanting and it’s so impractical (white) and expensive so it sits in a beautiful plexiglass case where I enjoy it as art.