lots of of us grow up with an innate love for designer bags, as well as today’s confessor is no different. growing up, he attended a catholic prep institution as well as was envious as well as intrigued by the bags his classmates were carrying around school. However, it was a step to nyc for college that allowed our confessor to experiment with his personal style for the very first time. After working difficult as a waiter through the early college days, a instructor bag ended up being his very first bag acquisition. Eventually, he saved up to snag his very first premium designer bag: a Dolce & Gabbana tote, which still holds sentimental value to this day. though he admits to lusting after bags on social media, he stays true to his personal style as well as credits purchases to his influence alone. like lots of of us, this confessor grows a lot more accountable with his finances as he gets older. checked out the full confessional below as well as be sure to submit your own!

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The Basics

Age: 31
Gender Identity: Male
Location: new York
Occupation: business event Management
Industry: Hospitality
Salary: $70,000
Household Income: $200,000

The Bags

Are you a PurseForum member? No

How lots of bags do you own? 14

What bags are in your collection?

Chanel kid bag: Large, black, smooth calfskin, silver HW
Loewe puzzle bag: Large, black
Balenciaga Agneau traditional part Time: Medium, red, gunmetal HW
Givenchy Pepe Pandora: Large, beige, gold HW
Louis Vuitton speedy 35: Damier Ebene
Louis Vuitton Neverfull GM: traditional monogram
Louis Vuitton Keepall 50: traditional monogram
D&G Dolce as well as Gabbana Multi Pocket Tote: Grey nylon with black leather trim
Plus 6 or 7 instructor bags, mainly the Bleecker model

How much is your collection worth? $20,000

What is your most costly bag? big Chanel kid Bag

What are the most crucial brands or pieces in your collection? D&G tote, it was the very first “premium designer” bag I purchased new, as well as my Chanel Boy, as it was a 30th birthday gift

What age did you get your very first designer bag, as well as what was it?

I attended a Catholic prep institution for my high institution years, as well as most of the girls there carried instructor as well as Dooney as well as Bourke bags. I was always fascinated by the bags, however as a male was terrified to dive into the handbag world. I didn’t want to be made fun of, as well as I was sure that carrying a designer bag would indicate no turning back from being called “the gay kid”-something I was struggling with in my teen years. I attended NYU, so a step to new York City at 18 allowed me to be a lot more expressive of who I truly was. I was waiting tables, so I started buying into the instructor brand. My very first bag purchase ever was a yellow canvas instructor tote from the recently opened Men’s store on Bleecker street. It was around $350, which seemed like an absurd amount of money to 19 year old me. I keep in mind the rush of leaving the store with the buying bag in my hand, excited to get house as well as put my new bag to use. In the years to come I was an avid instructor shopper, as well as acquired around 20 instructor bags total. Some were purchased in the boutiques, while other purchases were made online through the instructor outlet. At age 21 I was able to save sufficient money to go to Bloomingdale’s in Soho to purchase my D&G Dolce as well as Gabbana tote. It was just below $900. That bag became the king that reigned over my instructor collection. I have considering that parted with most of my instructor bags, save a few favorites, however I still have my D&G bag.

Is there a certain bag you are looking to purchase next? LV Pochette Metis in empreiente leather, color scarlet. I have debated purchasing a Pochette Metis for about 5 years now, however I couldn’t choose on monogram, reverse monogram, or a leather option. I have been solid on my option of the bright red color offered in the logo leather for about a year now, so I believe my mind is made up. I understand this bag may be old news, however I love the functionality as well as look of it. I understand that it might seamlessly transition into my wardrobe, as well as that I might style it to keep it looking fresh as well as relevant.

Any specific bag that holds a special sentimental value? My Chanel kid Bag. As my 30th birthday approached, my hubby kept asking me what I wanted as a gift. I kept telling him that I wanted a Crosby record player as well as a great dinner, since that’s truly what I wanted him to provide me. I had decided around my 28th birthday that I would introduce a Chanel to my collection for the huge 3-0, however it was crucial to me that it was something I bought myself. The day that I turned 30, I had a wonderful new record player in my living space as well as a new kid on my closet shelf.

Do you feel like your bags modification people’s perceptions of you or exactly how you’re treated?

Over the years, I have ended up being familiar with the “pause” that occurs as people take in the sight of a male carrying a very costly bag. often that pause is punctuated by a smile as well as an appreciation for my general style, as well as sometimes, sadly, that pause ends on the total opposite end of the spectrum. There have, of course, been those few interactions where people are totally disgusted with me. Some people cannot get over a guy with a bag, particularly when I’m carrying something that isn’t classified as a “man bag”. There have been times in the designer boutiques where I have asked to see a bag, as well as the client advisor has asked about the woman I’m buying for, as well as I always am pleased to tell them that I am buying for myself. I spent my younger years NOT dressing for myself, so now I am unashamed to wear precisely what I want. When somebody I encounter takes my outfit into a lot more consideration than I did, whether its great or bad, I only have one believed – objective ACCOMPLISHED.

The Shopping

How frequently do you get new bags? I get when the funds are in place, the bag is lusted after, as well as the moment feels right. I understand this is most likely the worst response to this question, however right here we are.

Which stores do you regular the most? LV, YSL, as well as Jeffrey in nyc are my most visited stores. I seem to always have very odd (and often off-putting) experiences in Chanel boutiques, so I tend to only go in if I understand precisely what I am looking for. I am guilty of being a midnight scroller, where I discover myself in bed browsing SSENSE as well as Fashionphile on an very routine basis.

Do you ever get second-hand bags? Where do you get used? I have made a number of purchases from Fashionphile, as well as have been a lot more than delighted with my experience every single time. I impulse purchased my Loewe bag from them about a year ago, as well as it has been one of the best purchases I ever made.

Do you offer old bags to pay for new purchases? I have never sold a bag since it seems like too much work. I understand I must get over this mentality, however I just can’t.

Do you ever feel societal pressure to purchase a lot more bags? Whenever I stumble across an Instagram account of a person dressed in a truly awesome outfit with an amazing bag, I always stop to admire. I have trained myself to ask the concern “Would this bag fit in with my lifestyle?”. I have ended up being accustomed to admiring 95% of bags I see as well as like on social media, however seldom check out them further.

Do you think about your bag purchases investments? No, since I have never sold a bag. perhaps they are investments into the progression of my aesthetic? Geez – that last statement…ugh.

Who influences your buying decisions? only me.

Are sales associate relationships instrumental to your shopping? I don’t truly focus on SA relationships. I am an extreme researcher, so whenever I am prepared to make a purchase I’m in as well as out of that boutique rather quickly. There is an LV SA who has helped me a number of times. funny story-I’ve never met him in person. I was after a monogram desk Agenda, as well as it was “call for availability” on the website. I called, as well as they connected me to a store in Atlanta. I have texted him 2 or 3 times to ask about some of his inventory, as well as he has always been very helpful. beyond that interaction, I’m not loyal.

Why do you take pleasure in shopping, beyond just acquiring something new? I have my days. often all I want to do is shop, as well as other times I go months without going into a store.

Have you ever felt like you received inferior service at a store or boutique due to your appearance, ethnicity or gender? As much as I hate to perpetuate the stigma, I believe that there are some brands that have provided me with much better experiences than others. For the most part, when we get over the hurdle that I’m buying the handbag section for myself, it’s usually smooth sailing. like I mentioned earlier, there is a specific Chanel boutique near me that seems to autumn short on the client service side. a number of times I have walked the multi-level boutique without ever being greeted. Although this is frustrating, I can’t credit score it to my appearance or gender.

The Money

Who pays for your bags? Me.

Do you set aside a budget plan for your bag purchases? Not consistently, however if there is a piece I am truly lusting after I will make momentary adjustments to my earnings distribution to accommodate the bag purchase.

The Taboo Topics

Have you ever purchased a counterfeit since you couldn’t pay for a designer item? My very first week living in nyc I purchased a knock off Gucci messenger bag with the intent of wearing it for school. I thought of myself wandering school with this “stunner” of a piece. truth be told, the bag wasn’t based off of an actual bag that was ever produced, so I was over it by the time I got it back to my dorm. I did use it when to bring groceries home, as well as it ended up breaking on the walk from the market to where I was living. I vowed never to get a counterfeit bag again.

Do you ever hide purchases from your considerable other? I don’t hide them, however he doesn’t notice them either. I fund them myself, so I don’t have to ask permission. He is rather a tech-savvy guy, so he spends huge on gadgets as well as gizmos. Those, I guess, are his luxury purchases?

What’s the craziest thing you’ve done to pay for a bag? nothing that I can recall…

Do you believe your buying is ever a problem? have you ever felt like you were struggling with a buying addiction? I don’t believe its an addiction. There was a time where I wasn’t truly putting any type of of my earnings into savings as well as I was costs too much in general, however I have been building much better habits the older I get.

The rest Of It

Any other costly hobbies or passions? travel is something that my household has always enjoyed. I have a sibling who lives in Europe, so I try to take 1 or 2 trips a year to satisfy up with her. I have gotten quite savvy on exactly how to cut travel costs (not checking luggage, buying deals through Groupon, researching inexpensive eats, etc). I likewise am very interested in interior design, however am educating myself on exactly how to make informed as well as wise purchases for my home.

Anything else you would like to include? confidence is not something that wearing a specific bag or shoes or outfit will provide you. confidence builds when you wear what you want, somebody hates it, as well as you keep on wearing it anyway. There are times where somebody will state something about the way that I look, as well as I feel poor since of it. This means that I am human. however so are they, so doesn’t that indicate we are on an even playing field where I can continue to reveal myself? fashion is what we all get into, however the piece of ourselves that acts as an accessory to the outfit is called style. Not everybody will appreciate or like what I present to the world, however in terms of me knowing my aesthetic as well as exactly how far I’ve come to develop it, yeah, its in the bag.