Is There Ever a Good Time to Let Go?

Perhaps it’s simply human of me, but I’ve always been enamored by the things I can’t have, or tend to fall out of love with the things I do. Sometimes, it’s that one Mr. Big that’s emotionally unavailable, in a sea of the countless Aidan Shaws who are; or the one bag that got away, over the several (and sometimes many) that didn’t.

Our purse-collecting journey, therefore, really is a culmination of our life’s pursuits: the highs of the landmark buys, the lows and the stress-splurges that follow, and the regrets – sometimes for things you did acquire, or sometimes for things you didn’t.

And it is this rather confusing category of remorseful acquisitions that baffle us. 

Perhaps we love it in theory, not so much in practice. Perhaps we simply own too many purses for us to love them all equally. Yet, neither do we always feel ready enough to part ways with them, out of the fond memories they hold, if nothing else.So, when do you know if it’s time to let go? Or would you rather simply keep holding on to them until the universe decides to send more signs your way?

Out of Love, Out of Sight, Out of Mind?

As much as we’d love to KonMari our way out of closet chaos, like Eden Pritikin, avid connoisseur of Nicolas Ghesquiére-era Balenciaga, can attest, “There’s never going to be a good time to let go,” you simply gotta do it nevertheless.

Now, that’s easiest to do when you’ve simply fallen out of love with said purse, or in Marie Condo lingo, they don’t spark joy for you anymore.

And high up in this list would be the bracket of once-trending it-bags that have now gone passé. To varying degrees, in fact, we’re all prone to being influenced (as much as we hate to admit). So, it’s not entirely unusual for a hyper-trendy micro-mini (or two) with quiet luxury undertones in celeb-approved burgundy to sneak its way into our closets (you know *exactly* which bag I’m talking about).

The danger with trends, however, is that they cycle far too fast, and sometimes, return far too late (perhaps, not well until the next generation gets to pick it up).

So, as tough as it might be to realize that the style may now look dated on you, or you simply don’t like it enough to wear it anymore, it can make the tough call of letting go somewhat easier. And the thought that something you once loved may eventually be equally loved by someone else – it’s comforting, to say the least.

Is It Really a Keeper?

In theory, we may be ascribing to minimalist TikTok en masse. But it’s only reality that we all own too much stuff these days. In her seminal “A Guide to Getting Rid of Almost Everything” for the New Yorker, therefore, Patricia Marx writes:

“In my apartment, it’s got so cluttered that sometimes, when I leave — usually to acquire more stuff — it crosses my mind that I should leave a ‘Dear Burglar’ note, urging the intruder to help herself.”

So, the motivation to deaccession an item – “by whatever means feasible: selling, donating, recycling, giving them away, losing them on the subway, or reserving a spot for them on the next Mars Explorer” as Marx notes with a pang of guilty humor – may simply be to free up premium closet real estate, perhaps for yet more stuff.

But it is also in such cases that the feels of ownership can manifest itself in ways stronger than it otherwise would, especially since you might still actively be in love with said bag, even one that’s merely cluttering up your space at the moment.

Or it could be one you’ve rarely worn, maybe out of fear of ruining a delicate buy, because at the end of the day, the sticker shock of a luxury purchase is undeniably high for most people. And it can creep up on you at the worst possible times. 

Hence, when undecided, ask yourself this: when did you last use this purse? Is it worth holding onto, even if you don’t remember the last time using it?

And there, dear reader, you’ll have your answer.

Factor in the Other Factors

Excruciatingly enough, however, all this back and forth in finally making up your mind is merely the very first step of letting go – the actual process of saying goodbye, and rehoming your relegated receptacles, being an entirely different ballgame.

In fact, it might be a dream to have a closet full of luxuries, but those are also dollars collecting dust that you could put towards something you might actually use. Some you may not have worn in so long, you’ve forgotten they exist!

And yet, other considerations jump to mind too.

How much has a similar item sold for previously? Are you likely to recoup a greater amount of your buying price (if not strictly turn up a profit) by holding onto it for longer? Were you collecting to actually use them, or is it simply the ownership and the sentimentalities tied to the item that gives you satisfaction?

Setting realistic expectations of the sale normally helps, as selling fast and selling for dollars can, at times, be mutually exclusive. Other times, taking the effort of actually listing the sale might have you falling in love yet again. And as complicated as that is (it was, after all, your would-be ex), you’ll at least know you still love it.

But again, yet others have found solace in simply keeping a picture of past purchases.

So really, the key is to enjoy yourself, to use what you have to the fullest extent, and indulge in the heartbreak of letting the rest go. Both are equally beautiful feelings; they make your collection all the more special.