I’ve been collecting bags for well over a decade, and in that time, my tastes have developed and changed much more times than I can even remember. Collecting handbags has actually taught me a lot about myself, and I’ve also learned a lot of lessons along the way.
Of course, we all have different tastes and choose to spend our money differently, and one person’s holy grail might be another person’s forgotten purse sitting in the back of their closet collecting dust. Yet, as handbag lovers, we are all bonded by the shared passion for collecting, and even though our tastes and preferences may vary greatly, it’s easy to find commonalities in how we collect and shop.
The evolution of Collecting
When I first started collecting bags, I was certainly a brand loyalist. After receiving a Louis Vuitton fast 25 for my high school graduation, my lust for much more began. My next 4 bag purchases were Louis Vuitton bags, and I loved the idea of having a little Louis Vuitton collection. The brand’s storied history and big selection were a big element in that dream. I wanted to own it all!
However, as I got older, I started gravitating toward other brands. I soon went to the other side of the spectrum; I wanted to own a bag from every major designer, and the quantity I owned became essential to me. Finally, I hit a point in my collecting journey where it became much more about what bag gave me butterflies and made me pleased than anything else.
I began selling off bags I didn’t use for the first time ever, and I leaned into not thinking so much about what bag and from which designer it was I was buying. Rather, I now purchase what I like and what talks to me at the moment. Oddly enough, after years of shying away from Louis Vuitton bags when I was in my “diversify” stage, my collection is now heavier on LV than any other brand. funny how things always come full circle!
How do you shop for bags?
Are you a brand loyalist? Do you try to diversify your collection? Or, like me, do you simply purchase what talks to your heart?