Is there really such a thing as the perfect number of bags? The number that you are happy with? I have read a few posts lately, and watched a few youtube videos that talk about the perfect number, or a range to be between, or a number past which is too many. Can you have too many bags? Is there a number that once you reach it, you cannot go beyond it, or if you do, the bag will bring some sort of guilt as you now have ‘too many’? Surely the purpose of having these luxury bags is to be bring joy and happiness, not to evoke a feeling of unease or of excess? Is the one in, one out rule, something to live by, meaning every time you add a new beauty, that one has to go, off to the closet beyond your own?
On the other hand, these luxury bags are very expensive bags, they can cost thousands and thousands of pounds, and really how many can we use? There are only 7 days in any one week, how many can we really need, or use enough to justify the expense, or lower the cost per wear to an acceptable standard? There is also a responsibility argument, as consumerism certainly impacts our planet and generates production related pollution. In a ‘what’s next’ society, simply buying to move on to the next can be wasteful, and also dilute the joy that the purchase should bring.
Each side of the argument is valid, or course it is, and ultimately it has to come down to what you are comfortable with, what suits your lifestyle and your financial resources. If the bags you have, make you happy, make your heart sing and spark joy, then why should you feel pressure to get rid of one, to add another. Why should there be strict rules that you have to follow? There shouldn’t be, that is why it has to be a question for you. If you do not feel that your collection is excessive or vulgar in number, why should you feel pressure to limit it. Likewise, if you do feel like your number is too high, or there is a number that you are not comfortable going beyond, or you feel some of your bags have little purpose in your collection, are repetitive, or you just don’t love anymore, then do not keep them just because you feel you should have a certain bag in your collection, or your collection should be a certain size. These have to be personal choices that you make, to suit you, and with your own life and finances in mind.
In the world we live in, with influencers, Instagram, youtube and luxury hauls galore, there can be pressure to keep up, to buy the next big thing, to have a particular bag in your collection. These are only human reactions, but try to remember, that everyone’s situation is different, everyone’s finances are different and we are all at different stages in our lives. Some of the bigger influencers and channels seem to add to their collections all of the time, and it can make the best person envious, but try to think, some of those items may be gifted, they may have sold other items, or general earning power may be very high. Even a smaller collection like my own, I have worked for many years and work very, very hard, what you see posted does not come easy, and is the result of not only hard work, but also financial planning and investment. Try to take these shots or videos for what they are, inspiration, motivation and entertainment, and adapt it to your own lifestyle and limits. I would love to shop like Jerusha or Mel in Melbourne! But that is outside the scope of where I am comfortable financially. No bag or slg is worth debt, or scrimping on more essential needs or items. Debt is a downward spiral that no luxury item is worth. Without doubt, the anxiety and worry over the debt, will far outweigh the joy of the purchase.
Just like you should not feel pressure to keep up, or to buy, buy, buy, you should also not feel pressure to downsize or to let things go that you love. I like to watch videos on why someone sold a particular item, I recently watched Isabelle Styles video on this, where she explained why she has downsized her collection and is trying to curate her look, and avoid duplicating bags that serve the same purpose. All of this makes perfect sense and is a decision she has come to for herself. I found it informative to listen to why certain pieces went, and completely understand curating your collection to what you actually use and enjoy. On the other hand, I have had conversations that to be honest, made me doubt how many bags I own and feel guilty for the number I have, I almost felt a pressure and judgement coming from the comments made, because I own a certain number of bags. If you decide for yourself that a certain number is your limit, that is wonderful that you have found a peace at where you are, but please do not use this decision you have reached for yourself, to judge or to criticize a person for having more. I personally want to have a curated collection, where every bag has a use, but I don’t have an actaul number to define this. I love watching and considering collections that are far bigger than my own, and also that are smaller. Opinions inform discussion and are always valid, but do not need to be used as an attack on someone who has decided otherwise for themselves. I may decide to let some bags go in the future, and that is completely fine, but if I do, it will be because I have decided that is what is right for me, and not because someone else feels that it is vulgar for me to have gone over their number, or to buy luxury in the first place. I also do not feel that my collection is complete, there are others that I would like to add, and I enjoy considering the new collections as they become available.
At a time when the world is upside down, and life as we know it is very different, let’s try to be kind as well as being safe. Thank you for reading, and hope to see you here again soon,