February comings and goings

Wow, I actually had quite a few items come in this month, but fear not, every single item was a 'love it' piece and I have been wearing them non-stop. 

Comings - 6

• Red Banana Republic sweater with side zip - I actually bought this for Chinese New Year since it's traditional to wear something red to celebrate and start the year off
• Navy Banana Republic sleeveless top - I love navy and find the color is a great base for me to build outfits around and this was super comfortable, a great length to act as a layering piece or on it's own, and also just really basic looking which I like
• Raspberry Banana Republic cardigan - love the color of this, and against navy, it just looks so good. A great pop of color to add to my wardrobe and a very easy cardigan to wear. 
• Pair of casual pants with zip detailing from Banana Republic - these are just super cool and I'm obsessed with zippers lately so these were great, and they were petite so the length was perfect to wear with flats and heels. Just fantastic and sooo comfortable to the point where I don't even feel like I'm wearing pants haha. 
• Gray sweatpants, also with zipper details, and yup, you guessed it, from Banana Republic - I was thrilled to find these and they up my lounge wear by 200%
• Orange satchel from Lauren by Ralph Lauren - I finally broke my bag ban and succumbed to this beauty. It was love at first sight and I've used it every day for work. I even go the extra mile to carry a separate tote to fit my laptop and other things in, just to carry her. 

Current budget left over for this year - approximately $700

February goings - 1

• I sold my Coach Poppy Madras bag to start my 'let go of 10 items' goal from my bag and wallet collection =)

My first bag after a 1 year, 1 month, 18 day hiatus - the Lauren by Ralph Lauren Whitby satchel

As most of you know, I spent many years resisting the urge to buy bags and after many failed attempts, 2015 was MY YEAR. I didn't buy a single bag, and managed to rotate through more than 90% of my collection. SUCCESS. 

I went into 2016 attempting this same thing and the urge to buy wasn't strong, until I came upon this beauty - the Lauren Ralph Lauren Whitby satchel, in mandarin

The color just attracted me to it, like nothing had in a long time. The gold hardware was perfect since I'm currently hooked to gold details, something about the zipper against a higher backing was intriguing to me, and the tab closure lock at the end of it, was just icing on the cake. It just screamed 'take me home, you will love me'. It also has a detachable strap - and I love that the attachment is on the back of the bag like that, and not the alternate-opposite ends like most designers are doing now (I don't like that),and different from just the regular end-to-end. Truly, LOVE. 

Now, taking a year off from resisting bags has definitely helped me to reassess my previous buying habits - I used to buy bags on a whim, and at any price range as long as I could pay cash for it. In 2015, if I wanted a bag, I had to think about what I already owned and how what I already had could be a good substitute for current bag target, and I had to walk away. It was good practice and helped me reach my goal.

With that in mind, I should have never purchased this bag. I already have an orange bag, of similar size and purpose, and other similar bags with detachable straps. Really, this bag is in a similar category of purpose, style, and color, with several other bags.  

So why did I pull the trigger despite all logic telling me that I didn't need this bag? Because I truly love it, and sometimes you just have to treat yourself to the things you really love. Also, now that I'm more mindful about my purchases than I used to be, I already know that this is an item that I will be using a lot and have a good idea on how to work it into my wardrobe already. 

#sorrynotsorry

My Bleeker's first official plane ride! Vegas, here we come!



I'm headed to Las Vegas today for 4 days and have decided to do only carry-on, and not just that, but try to minimize the amount of stuff I'm bringing so that I can carry the beauty that is the Coach Bleeker; I have been waiting about 3 years to take her on a plane.

 



I've used her for other weekend trips but I would say that this is her first major test. Just to give you a better idea of what she will be carrying and how I packed her, here's a brief run-down of my trip: I arrive on Tuesday afternoon and leave Friday afternoon; we plan to have one day of randomness until the rest of our team arrives the next day, plan to go to the shooting range, have a nice team dinner, a gambling competition, spend some time at lounges, and a full working day. I have packed a heavy cardigan, pair of black jeans, toiletries, PJs, clutch for going out, under garments, belt, a top, and left room to comfortably fit a puffer jacket that can be bunched into a pouch. I could fit another pair of shoes and a few more tops, but I gaged our activities there and with what I packed, and my outfit to the airport, have enough to mix and match. If it were summer and I didn't have to pack for cooler weather, I'd have even more space!

 

From my previous trips, I can tell you some of the pros and cons of the Bleeker:

Pros <3 - 

• Spacious - I am always able to pack at least 3 days worth of outfits and that usually includes at least 2 pairs of shoes, 5 outfit changes, PJs, toiletries, curling iron, and my laptop and ipad. My previous trips, the bag would be stuffed to the brim but since I'm flying, don't want to over-do it. 
• Organization - it has 2 large inner, slip pockets, 1 large zipped compartment, and one outer slip pocket. The inner pockets are very useful for electronic cords and chargers, and I keep important documents in the inner zip pocket; I don't use the outer slip pocket except as an emergency place holder for papers, before I move them to another spot. I like the openness of the bag because it lets me pack that much more stuff in it.
• Large opening - the zipper extends well beyond the opening of the bag so I have easy access to my stuff and it also has a little more give if it gets over packed. 
• Color and profile - what can I say? I love the color, and I love its very minimal look.
• Leather - its leather is super sturdy and I really like that it holds itself up so I can easily organize my things.
• Feet - I like that it prevents the bag from touching the ground, and with a bag that size, gives it a bit of detailing.  

Cons </3 - 

• Heavy - it's VERY heavy. I don't recommend this if you have to move around a lot from place to place. Ideally, you should be carrying her from: car -> airport -> car -> hotel; also, don't carry more things than you need to, outside of this bag, or else it will be very difficult for you juggle. For this Vegas trip, I'm designated all my electronics, and travel documents to my handbag, and leaving my liquids on the top of the Bleeker for easy access at security.
• Handles - most of my complaints are with the handles. They are very stiff and short. If they were slightly longer, and able to fit over my shoulders, I think I would have an easier time dealing with its weight, but as it stands, the short handles mean that I have to use this as a hand-held, and it does get cumbersome. Also, if I am carrying a lot of things, the stiff handles do not make it easy to juggle a few things at one time as they give no amount of flexibility and sometimes you just need things to twist and turn a bit to manage - don't try with this, it will hurt your hand. 

Changes I would make - 

• Nylon with leather trimming to lighten it up, while keeping its sleek look and maintaining some of its structure; I think there's a heavy canvas version which would probably fare well, but have not had a chance to see it in person.
• Lengthen the straps, or give it a detachable shoulder strap (although given the weight, the shoulder strap would probably hurt, but it's still nice to have the option so it can free up your hands from time to time in the event you need to have your hands free for a moment)

Whew, that was a close call

Last Friday on my way home from work, I stopped by a new luxury re-seller and stumbled upon a Louis Vuitton Monogram Speedy 40. Although it was pre-loved and had seen better days, it's an item that I have been looking for, for a long time. Why do I want a pre-loved one, let alone one in less than stellar condition? Let me fill you in - since realizing that I baby the bags that I spend a lot of money on, I've been looking for certain bags that have been pre-loved so I can fully use them. 'Fully' as in, wear them in poor weather, put them on the ground, stuff them full, and bring them on trips. 

I have been wanting a Speedy 30 for the longest time and have been debating this for years - why have I put it off? Because my mom has one and it seems redundant to have 2 in the family even though we never share bags. Also, I have a number of Gucci Bostons that are of similar size and don't use them enough to justify a brand new Speedy (not to mention, the price increases have helped to deter me). 

The solution? A pre-loved Speedy in a larger size. This avoids having the same bag in the family, lets me use it as a 'beater' bag (and lets me use it as a carry-on, or smaller weekend bag) so I don't have to be the one to feel bad about breaking it in, and is much less expensive. 

Now that you're up to speed, let's resume. It was actually in a condition that I would love to have it in - no interior stains (this is very important to me), no cracks, pretty even darkening on the piping and handles, and the sales associate was even willing to throw in the lock and key from another bag, for free. It was everything I wanted, and the price was very reasonable. My hesitation? I wasn't prepared to be buying anything this month (remember, I'm trying to have 3 no-purchase months this year, and December is the only month left for me to keep my resolution), and since I wasn't expected to find it (I sort of gave up recently since I have other financial obligations) I hadn't planned to make this significant purchase. The bag was also on hold for another person but the SA told me that it didn't seem like they were interested since they had been unreachable over the 24-hour hold policy. I told the SA that I would go home and think about it and if it was still there on Saturday, I would likely pick it up. 

I spent 2 hours thinking about it and decided to phone the SA the same night to put it on hold for me until Sunday if the original customer had not taken it. When I called, the SA told me that 'Monique' had come and picked it up. It wasn't meant to be =(

Part of me was super relieved that it was gone because I think I would have purchased it and I would have broken my record year of 'no bag and wallet' purchases, and also spent a significant amount of money on an unplanned purchase. If I had bought it, I don't think I would have as much fun and satisfaction of using it, knowing that I was so doing so well. At the same time, it has shown me that even though I haven't been thinking about the bag for a while, it is something that I really do want so I'm taking steps to save up for it outside of my wardrobe budget. Since it's very much a 'want it' item, I plan to fund it by selling items I currently have so that I have the money to purchase it if another 'perfect' one comes along - it'll be even sweeter to buy it then. 

2014 - a catalyst to stopping my frequent bag buying habit

For many, many years I tried to get my bag and wallet purchases under control - I made yearly resolutions and tried to limit the number of bags I purchase per year, but nothing worked.

In 2014, I was thisclose to having a no-purchase year of bags and wallets but caved mid-year and purchased 11 bags!

I was really disappointed with myself but turns out, these 11 bags filled important gaps in my bag collection. 

When I used to purchase bags, I went on simply what I liked and bought it. I didn't think about the function they played in my life, or their practicality. I love all my bags, but the 11 I bought last year, without knowing it, were useful to my daily life. 

Just a reminder, my bag purchases are not included in my budget for my wardrobe.

Why were these bags so important/special? 

Banana Republic clutch and crossbody, used 5 and 2 times respetively

Cole Haan large tote in pebbled leather, used 34 times

Cole Haan satchel in pebbled leather, used 44 times

Cole Haan tote, used 26 times 

Dooney & Bourke satchel and crossbody (another crossbody in 
violet not shown), used 15, 5, 7 times respectively

Dooney & Bourke satchel (nylon version not shown), 
used 25 times, and 43 times respectively

Dooney & Bourke satchel, used 16 times

When I tracked my bag usage, despite only owning them for 1.5 years, these bags were the ones I used the most since I got them. I use them on a regular basis because they are easy to use and their quality is fantastic. I don't have to worry about ruining them, or getting any scratches on them as they are super durable. The calf-hair bags have been my go-to for special events since they go with everything and with the price I paid for them, even if I were to use them recklessly wouldn't be too sad. 

The reason why I didn't use my other bags so much is because they were too expensive and I just cared too much about them. I care about these bags too but the price I paid, wouldn't cause me to cry. In total, I spent approximately $1,059, averaging less than $100 per bag! Since these 11 purchases, I have been able to spend 2015 purchase-free of bags! 

I found my perfect backpack!!!

For the entire year to-date I have not purchased a single bag or wallet - that has been a major goal of mine for years. This may hold my things, but it's not a bag! ;)

I was on the look out for a backpack this year, but had very specific criteria for it. I wanted it to be light weight, reasonably priced, good quality, water-resistant/repellent, stylish, and a good size for my height. And bonus, I love the dark hardware. 

I finally found it yesterday at Nordstrom. Not only was it on sale, but there was also an additional 25% off (I think it was due to Black Friday?). It was originally priced at $198, and I got it for approximately $85 including tax. 

I'm so excited to use it on the weekends and on my upcoming trips to Las Vegas and Korea. 

Marc by Marc Jacobs Printed Crosby Quilt Backpack

Measurements
Height: 16.5in / 42cm
Length: 15.25in / 39cm
Depth: 5in / 13cm

A want doesn't always have to mean a purchase

My love for fashion began with my love of bags. I've spent years trying to reel back my purchases and I have managed to go without buying a single bag in 2015, to-date. I am, however, currently debating a bag in my head - the Celine trapeze bag.

(picture not my own)

I'm NOT going to splurge on this bag because I have other financial obligations this year, but I can't get this bag out of my head. (Nope, I will never put my financial well-being in jeopardy for the love of fashion - no matter how tempting something might be).

That said though, even if I had a money tree, I would still be in this great debate, and here's why: I KNOW this bag is NOT for me. Having only a single TOP strap AND a flap closure is just asking me to get frustrated and never use the bag again. From a practical side, I know I will never spend that amount of money on it. For pure enjoyment reasons though, I still want it, thus, my thoughts on alternative options - (1) purchase it used, (2) find a less expensive version (and I don't, nor ever, mean a fake version) so that I don't have to worry if I don't use it, or (3) don't buy it, or any similar looking one at all, knowing I wouldn't use it that often. 

Buying it used is still expensive, and my objection to the purchase of a less expensive alternative is the compromise in quality. I found similar options at Zara, (and I really, really like them) but even at a very reasonable price point of $59.99, for what I consider a 'trend' bag in my wardrobe, I still couldn't overlook the quality - I've highlighted areas to show where there are already creases and scuffs. (Just because something is less expensive, doesn't mean I want to sacrifice any points on quality). 

 

That leaves me with the third option of not buying it, or any version of it, at all. It's the best decision I can currently make. I might come across one in the future where I can live with its price and quality, Celine, or not, but for now, I'll just have to try to forget about it.

Never say never - Dooney & Bourke

Last year I discovered that I love bags by Dooney & Bourke - this surprised me because it was one of the brands that I really did not like and couldn't understand its appeal. I thought them to be too plain or too ugly, especially the much loved fold-over satchel. 

Being part of a fantastic online community of people who love and celebrate bags, I was exposed to a lot more styles and colors by D&B and became more curious. Coincidentally, the Hudson's Bay began to carry their bags and I was able to test them out in real life and I found that the leather on the popular florentine satchel was amazing; the stitching and detailing for a bag at that price-point was more than worth it - the braided zipper pulls, the green suede lining, heavy stitching, and the interior organization - amazing.

While I finally understood the hype over the bags, I wasn't sure if the style was going to be suitable for me because, while I love the satchel style, I wasn't sure if I could do the fold-over part as it requires a little bit more maneuvering to get to my things. Also, since the zip doesn't break apart, I was worried that it would add more of a hurdle for me. 

Despite these hesitations, when I went to the outlets, and finally saw alllll the colors, sizes, and styles that they offer - I fell in love. The bag-loving part of me wanted to get every single florentine satchel there was, but I was refraining from going overboard. 

I oddly, decided to go with a small orange florentine. Orange wasn't on my radar but something about it really caught my eye and I figured, go big, or go home. She's one of my favourite bags in my collection and while she's too small to bring to work, I try to take her out as much as possible =)

First quarter re-cap!

I like to re-visit my goals on a regular basis to see my progress, and reflect on how I've been tackling them. As we start the second quarter of the year, below is a re-cap of my wardrobe goals that I posted earlier this year to see how I've been doing.  

My goals for 2015 are to:

• continue to downsize the number of shoes I have - I purged a lot this year but there are still some that I can let go of. Also, I won't be replacing a number of them when they wear through. I purchased 4 pairs of shoes and my mom gave me 3 pairs of near-new shoes that she can no longer wear due to spurs. I removed a pair of sneakers and runners from my wardrobe. I'm struggling to minimize or maintain the size of my shoe collection - this year, shoes seem to be my weakness  and I'm working on reeling my self-control back in, and continuing to pare down.
  
• continue to work on using the things I love and not worry about them getting ruined. This is going well! 
• build a capsule wardrobe for each month - unlike some capsule wardrobe challenges, I'm not limiting the number of items I will use but I will make sure the amount is reasonable. Decided that with the number of items I currently have in my wardrobe, this isn't practical - I found myself missing certain items. I will need to pare down more before I can attempt capsules again so that I can get more wear out of all my clothes.
• continue to shop out of my bag and wallet collection and implement a one-in, one-out rule.  Haven't bought a single bag or wallet so far - in fact, I let 2 SLGs go, didn't bring in anything new, and re-purposed a tech case into a mini-wallet.
• rotate through all my wallets throughout the year. So far, I have used 2 different wallets, and 10 different bags.
• use jewelry more to accessorize my daily outfits. I got a bit lazy, but working on this more and also let a few costume jewelry rings go.
• continue to purge, re-fine, and down-size my wardrobe. Continuing!
• budget $1,000 for wardrobe purchases (not including investment pieces that may replace current wardrobe staples). Aside from my Burberry coat (investment piece), I am $26 over my quarterly limit. 
• downsize the number of jackets and coats. Donated one jacket, bought one investment coat, and was given 2 coats. At this point in time, I don't know what I will be doing since I now have a pretty good variety of jackets and coats. I think this category will need some major re-evaluation at the end of the year.
• use the bags I weren't able to use in 2014 - if I don't use them again in 2015, consider letting them go. So far I've used 3 and they turned out to be keepers.
• have some purchase-free months. March was purchase-free!

Review of January's bags

In January I took to testing out a bag that I didn't use in 2014. It was my black Kate Spade Wellesley Elena tote - After a month of using her for work I have decided to keep her (at least for now). She was originally purchased for work and she has lived up to her standards. After using her for so long on a regular basis, she is much easier to carry than I remembered and the only thing that keeps me from loving her 100% is that she is very structured and I'm used to having some saggy-ness in my bags. All in all though, I love looking at her and since I find her much easier to carry now, I will be keeping her.

Weekends are when I switched out my bags for smaller bags and the first weekend, I switched into my white gold Cole Haan "Village II" zip satchel - I love this bag. It's size, versatile color and convertible wear (hand-held, or shoulder/crossbody) makes this one of my favourite bags in my closet. Not to mention, I got it at a steal last year and its cost per wear is well into the single digits.  

For my second weekend, I was spending it at my parents and didn't need much so I decided to go for my Coach small hobo (I think from the Soho collection) in brown leather - this was a bag that I was trying to sell in 2014, but with no success, I tried to use her again and found her to be quite comfortable. I mostly use larger bags (the usual size of my bags are at least the size of the Cole Haan mentioned above) so this is quite a stretch for me. I have learned how to use it and it now works great - in fact, I ended up using her for most of the remaining weekends in January. While I won't be buying any more bags in this size or style, I am glad I did not part with this beauty because her leather is phenomenal and I love watching her leather change. 

Happy New Year! and 2015's debut bag and SLG combination

Happy New Year to everyone! 

Thanks for all the support you have shown me in 2014 when I started my journey. I'm really hoping to continue on my path towards minimalism and staying focused on my goals. Blogging about it has really made me accountable and more aware of my wardrobe and lifestyle choices, and I look forward to sharing my ups and downs with you. In fact, I have enjoyed blogging so much that I'm getting a bit distracted from work, so I will be posting only on Tuesdays and Fridays (with the exception of this post =)). 

As the new year begins, it's time for a fresh start so I'm starting with an overhaul of my bag and its contents. 

One of my resolutions is to continue to use and assess the bags I currently have and decide what to do with some of the bags I didn't use in 2014. 

I'm going to start the year off with a saffiano leather Kate Spade Wellesly Elena tote that I purchased at the outlets for the purpose of a polished, professional look. I have used it in previous years but did not take it out in 2014. 

I very much like its structured shape and how well it holds itself up on its own, as well as its organized interior - all great for meetings when I have to bring pitch books and need to reach into my bag to easily grab things I need. However, her pluses are also her minuses - because she is so structured, there is no give and it means that I cannot pack her too full and for someone who takes transit to work on a regular basis, this is a slight problem; added, I have to leave enough room for pitch books so this really leaves me with one side of the bag for 'personal' items. This is a bag that I have been debating whether to keep or let go - her structured, professional look and indestructible material make her a keeper but her lack of space keeps me thinking... 

For my wallet, I have chosen this coated canvas Coach Poppy zippered wallet - this was a 'because I love you' gift from my then-bf, now husband, and she has seen much use. 

I have semi-retired her as she is beginning to show signs of wear (although not bad for a 5 year old wallet) but since my husband will be away for 2 months, I have decided to bring her out while he is gone so I something from him to carry with me every day =) This wallet actually made me realize how much I like zippered wallets and with this bag I'm carrying, knowing that everything in my wallet will be secured and compact, is much appreciated! 

For those of you who do not use a key holder, I highly recommend it. My keys used to be loose until my brand new LV Epi Sarah fell victim to a cluster of key marks - ever since then, I have been using a key holder. I have 2 key holders and for 2015, I will be switching into a brown leather Fossil keyholder, given to me by a friend and fellow co-worker during my university days in Toronto. 

I can actually fit a substantial amount of keys, plus lipbalm, eyedrops, and perfume; also great for bobby pins, hair ties, and loose change. 

For make-up and random first-aid bits and pieces, I'm going simple and just using a Bodyshop pouch - simple, light and spacious. For those extra VIP cards and coupons of the sorts, I'm using my Coach made for factory keyholder that I was using last year for my keys. 

These will all fit nicely into one side of the bag, with enough room for an umbrella, leaving me with the other half free for my pitch books, pencil case, and calculator. I have learned to leave the middle zippered section empty, or for small amounts of paper as it bulges and makes it hard for me to access my stuff on the sides. 

Recent bags in rotation - tons of rain, but I'm worry free!

The last month we have been experiencing non-stop downpour, and these are the 3 bags I chose to tackle the horrible weather.

Coach Madison "Julianne" Op-art tote - despite being hot pink, I reach for this bag a lot when I can't think of what bag to use. Its canvas material gives me peace of mind since I don't need to panic and baby it in the rain, and the detachable shoulder strap makes it really easy for me to go hands-free to hold my umbrella.

Banana Republic "Scalia" tote - I bought this bag as my 'public transportation' bag and it has not failed me. This bag is HUGE and with all its compartments, works really well for work. Taking public transportation means I have to be quite prepared for our temperamental weather and at a moment's notice, I can pull out the scarf and gloves I have stashed away, or put away my jacket if it warms up. The compartments keep my documents neat and separate. Even though it is leather, I don't have problems using this in poor weather because it is so tough and I swear, any marks that are made on it gradually disappear over time. The only down-side is that it gets a bit heavy, but the wider straps and generous drop counter that a bit.

Valentina mustard convertible hobo and crossbody - I found this at my local Winners 5+ years ago and it has been one of my best bag purchases. Not to mention I got it on clearance - I think I paid around $50 for it, and it's made in Italy. The leather is pebbled so it can withstand a lot of abuse and since it is convertible, when I have to unexpectedly hold an umbrella, it is so easy. Even though it looks like it puddles and it would be difficult to find anything in it, it actually has some interior compartments that alleviate that a bit. A zippered pocket, one cell phone pocket, and then a larger slip-pocket. Its color makes me one of my faves to pull out for fall.   

Re-purposing - turning my necklace into a bag fob

I frequent a popular forum called thePurseforum, and one of the threads that I have the pleasure of being a part of, we discuss a number of topics ranging from "shopping from my own closet" to what to pack for traveling, to significant life events - recently there were some DIYs shown from one of the members (bakeacookie) and also a few posts about fobs. 

Taking a queue from these latest topics, I decided to re-purpose an old necklace of mine into a bag fob. I think I bought this necklace on my last trip to Malaysia (~13 years ago) - I wore it a few times but stopped because it had quite a short chain making it more of a choker and gave me a rash each time. I loved the coloring so I kept it and the other night had a great idea to remove it from its chain and hang it off one of my black bags that has silver hardware. 

Less is more - Sold another bag

I love all bags, but have been rather reckless in my purchases in terms of just buying a bag a like without any thought to whether it works for me. I have been trying to make better decisions with my bag purchases and also review what I already own. In my assessment, I have found bags that I know will just never work for me, and unfortunately have to let go.

At first it took a lot of effort to detach myself from the bags but after debating back and forth for a year, I finally decided to just snap out of it, "ripped off the Band-Aid fast", and posted my first "for sale" item on Craigslist. It got easier but from time to time I would hit a wall and revert back to my attachment to my bags.

I had a good first month of the year and ruthlessly sold a number of items and hit a wall for months, until recently when I was motivated again. This is my second successful bag sale in the last 3 weeks and may call it quits for the rest of the year.

I sold my Kate Spade Highlander tote. When I first bought this, I loved its instant Fall feel and thought it would be perfect for walking around the city with a coffee in hand and bundled in a cute scarf. It was perfect, but just not for my city where it pours almost 5 months out of the year. Sadly, I spent more time worrying about it absorbing rain and the possibility of it smelling (and not be able to get rid of the smell), that it stayed in my closet until warmer months, which didn't really fit the look of the bag or my intended purpose. I'm happy that someone else will be able to enjoy her, but I definitely will miss her.

My love for bags and my goals for my collection

I am a lover of handbags and wallets and have been buying since as far back as I can remember. 10 years ago I made the switch to designer bags and have never looked back, to the point where I now own 60+ bags and clutches, 10 wallets, and a number of various small leather goods (SLG) such as pouches and cardholders. 

Every year I tell myself to buy less (clearly unsuccessful) and it wasn’t until the last two years that I have been able to make some real progress.

In 2013 I made a new year’s resolution to shop from my own closet and let go of items that weren’t really working for me. I had a plan to use a different bag and wallet combination each month - this worked for a while but for practical reasons I had to at times switch to a different bag. No big deal, I was still doing a lot better than previous years and I was able to get a better idea of why I wasn’t using certain ones, and what styles were actually working for my lifestyle. That same year, I was able to sell a majority of my wallets and SLGs and actually get down to a reasonable amount. I did make a couple of bag sales but nothing to make a dent.   

This year my goals were a little bit more specific and I had hoped to get my collection down to approximately 25 bags and 10 wallets, and exercise the “one-in, one-out rule”. In the beginning of the year I was able to sell a couple more wallets and unknowingly achieved my goal of 10 wallets, not counting one I use specifically for travel, and another I am retiring soon (but will never get rid of since it was the first gift my now-husband gave me).  

This year I also tracked the number of times I used a bag and after each season, I assess my list and then mark off which ones I might consider selling due to lack of wear, boredom, or it no longer suits my lifestyle. I still own a lot of bags but I now have a much better idea of what I will use versus “it looks awesome, I have to have it, just so I can stare at it but never use it.”