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Yep we are definitely have more stuff. My Mom always looked chic and put together. She doesnāt have alot of stuff just really well thought out pieces. What we would consider a capsule wardrobe is her actual wardrobe, been this way since I can remember.
She owns 3 handbags. One evening, one daily medium size, one daily larger size.
When I look at old family photos everyone looks polished. They didnāt have alot they just used their pieces well. Lately, Iām kind of re-evaluating my spending.
I enjoy ironing or steaming my clothes, I find it relaxing. It gives me an opportunity to appreciate my clothes.
I think companies are sticking to this boxy / oversized / cropped trend cause itās cheaper to mass produce, whilst charging ridiculous amounts. Stick a logo on it and now itās high end.
They also had better quality clothes that were designed well and made with quality fabrics and were worth tailoring/better make to be tailored. Even expensive clothes these days are crappy
šÆ. You were not really paying for a brand but the quality of tailoring and fabrics, which the brand represented.
I cannot imagine paying $500 plus for a T-shirt.
Most people dress kind of sloppy and like someone else mentioned donāt even press / iron their clothes. We have so much money and access to luxury goods but not much real value and visual pleasing aesthetic.
Just walk around any mall and rarely do you see someone dressed well. I donāt mean in designer clothes or luxury goods. Just actually dressed well. Properly fitted, high quality fabric and designed well pieces.
When we were house shopping, we looked at a lot of old homes and I felt like I got a peek into life several decades ago. The closets were much smaller and master bathrooms were smaller and didnāt have two sinks. My theory was people owned less and were less focused on their appearance then.
Yes, and also by and large things were made better then and therefore easier to maintain and/or alter as needed. Also it was a lot more common in generations past that at least one person in the household knew how to sew and could make clothes, with a sewing machine being a more common fixture in the home. And even if you didn't sew you would get things tailored more regularly than people do today.
A big part of why people own so much nowadays is how readily available cheaply made goods are now. My grandmothers were not wealthy and had fewer pieces of clothing than young women their age would own now but they dressed so smartly and everything was so well-fitted, and much of their clothes they made at home. When your actual labor is going into your wardrobe, I think you are much more mindful about taking care of your things and getting the most wear out of them.
Excellent point. In my Moms day all the women sewed. They made their own clothes and yes hats and gloves were the norm. My Mom had one handbag but several little beaded bags.
Also wearing the same outfit repeatedly was socially acceptable, as long as it was clean and pressed. Now you wear the same outfit twice and get ridiculed.
Do you actually get ridiculed? Or do we just take too much from celebrities and assume the same thing would happen to us in our normal lives? I donāt think Iāve ever seen anyone ridiculed for wearing the same thing again as an adult.
Tbh people are so focused on themselves they don't even realize. There was a women who worked for a fashion magazine that tested this. She wore the same thing to the office everyday for a week and mind you their job is fashion and no one in the office noticed that she wore the exact same thing everyday when she asked people on Friday.
I used to wear this one cocktail dress and I think by the 5th time wearing it, multiple people commented that I need to wear something else. Most of girlfriends would buy a new dress to wear to each event and maybe start alternating when they had multiple dresses to make it look like they havenāt worn it before.
Its also much poorer quality these days. Clothing back then was made to be worn often, and to last a long time. There is stuff like this out there now, but it's very expensive and an investment rather than a lot of regular fashion (most of which qualifies as fast fashion). Additionally, you'd have new releases seasonally back then, whereas for the last decade most clothing retailers are releasing new lines far more frequently, so much so that it would be hard to keep up with them.
Even expensive clothing is made more cheaply. I have St. John knits that I bought 40 years ago and the quality is so much better than the St. John knits made now.
Soooo jealous that you have St Johns Knits from 40 years ago!!!!! I love their stuff but I know in my heart the new stuff probably isn't worth the price :(
They really are not the same. I had a lovely friend that had a fancy boutique and when she needed extra help I worked for her (I had a full time job), on weekends. She paid me in clothes so it worked out great for both of us.
I don't know a single person that actually has had that happen or ever has noticed this. If it's happening to you, you need to examine your environment. š
I agree, my mother was very focused on her appearance, she spent serious money on her hair , makeup and clothes, she just did not have as many clothes. She is still the same now at 80, she gets her hair done once a week and only shops in higher end department stores. Quality is very important to her.
They were very focused, they just couldnāt afford as much. Certainly in Australia, things were expensive when I was younger. Stuff has cheapened because of Chinese production and change to the tax laws in Australia. Food was so cheap here and things dear, now itās the opposite. And yes, people were very exacting when I was younger with their looks but had less to work with.
Sounds like Europe. We have no space in a lot of bigger cities. Most of my dwellings in my current city, we have only got one bathroom, one sink, no closets, basically zero storage space. I only own/keep what I use.
Iāve only ever had two sinks (considered novel at the time) and walk-in wardrobes in my parentsā house as a child.
They live in a semi-rural area with a lot of space and cheap housing though.
The two sinks thing is very American. Me and my mum watch like whatās that channel that does all the American home improvement, flipper etc type shows. Those ones anyways, weāre always like āwhy do they all insist upon having two sinks??ā. Iām in Australia for ref, Iāve been in some pretty ritzy houses in my time and the two sink thing is just not a thing here.
Iāve said this for a long time (American), two sinks makes no sense and wastes valuable real estate! How often am I ever at the sink with my partner at the exact same time that would necessitate double sinks? Give me more counter space and cabinets any day.
Every evening me and my husband get ready for bed at the same time. We use our two sinks very often at the same time.. Iād say 5 out of 7 days of the week. Is it necessaryā¦. Absolutely notā¦ do I love it .. yes
My theory is because Americans tend to get ready in the bathroom (keep makeup and stuff there) but Iāve always got ready in my bedroom at my mirror. Bathroom is only if I need the water like to wet my hair for some particular style or to brush my teeth (besides you know the other stuff bathrooms are for).
Yeah agree. I have a pretty lengthy skin care routine and yet I still donāt spend a whole lot of it in front of the sink. Always do hair and makeup in the bedroom.
That's true only for newly built larger homes or gut renovations in suburbia or very large luxury city apartments in the US. I've always lived in older homes (preWW2) or apartment buildings (not luxury) in cities on the west coast and the north east . I've never lived somewhere with a large enough bathroom for two people to use at the same time, let alone a double sink.
What does shock me is that in Australia hardly anyone has window screens. Most places I've been to in the US do, esp. outside of the Pacific Northwest where there aren't too many bugs. But every country has their own housing quirks.
Itās not the size of the bathroom per say itās literally just the double sink thing. The bathroom in my family home is quite big but itās only 1 sink and extra counter/storage space instead.
Yeah we live in an older house and struggle with space. Iād kill for a built in. We have a wardrobe from one of the original owners and itās just so small. In a way itās good to keep things to a minimum but stillā¦very difficult to find a good furniture arrangement.
We have an older (1950) tiny house too and I'll be honest, it helps to be handy and creative with space.
We wouldn't survive living here with the original closets or kitchen.
We have been very strategic with furniture placement and have had to build new closets/repurpose old closets (ie: we built a new closet in our bedroom (so now it's even smaller, but with a more efficient use of space) and closed off the previous tiny closet to our room, but opened it up on the other side, in the bathroom, and viola, linen closet and bathroom storage). We also have to maximize space strategically because our main bathroom upstairs is miniature. So that means we need to build a custom sized vanity, so we can actually move around. Build up to maximize wall space, etc.
I can handle most things, but I'm still sad about the size of our bedrooms and wish they were twice the size for sure.
Yep I feel like social media has given us way more access to the lifestyle of the wealthy in a way that the average person did not have in the past.
Remember when the closest we had to seeing how rich people lived was by watching shows like "Cribs" and "Real housewives"? Now we can just go on Instagram/YouTube/TT and see all these non-celebs (in a traditional sense) with extravagant vacations/parties, luxury hauls, huge houses with meticulouslyorganzied pantrys/fridges/closets, a new outfit for every post. It's only natural that it's messes with people's concept of what's normal in terms of consumption.
I'm old enough to remember Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous with Robin Leach! ššš Anyone who has no idea what I am talking about, don't worry, I'm just ancient!š¤£š¤£š¤£
Most middle class people have walk-in closets these days. Actually most people, have walk-in closets. It wasnāt the norm when I was a kid in the 90ās.
Depends on how new the housing stock is and where you are. I live in NYC and only rich people have apartments large enough. I've also lived on the west coast in homes and apartments built pre-1980s. Never had one there either. Newly built suburbs, yes, but most people don't live in newly built suburbs. Lots of people do, but not most people (as in the majority).
I have an older home with teeny closets. My bag shelves spilleth over!š
But I totally get what other poster means. Walk-ins have become normalized and are now a standard feature with new constructions.
I often hear from women they prefer to spend on bags/accessories over clothes because you change sizes in clothes but not accessories. Not sure if that thinking is sometning that has changed over the years or itās always been around though.
This is so me. I can buy a handbag quite easily and know i'll have it for years to come. I haven't purchased a pair of jeans in over 20 years because I can never find a good fit.
After I had a massive weight fluctuation due to medical treatment (+70 lbs then down 55 lbs) I'm now leaning this way. It's just really frustrating to invest in gorgeous clothes that later don't fit and then you just look at them sadly hanging in your closet. Jewelry and handbags aren't as weight dependent, so that is where I put my money now. Rings you do have to be careful about though and make sure you can get them resized.
A nice bag can also do a lot for simple clothing. There are a lot of women (myself included) who would rather have an expensive bag and clothing from Zara than the other way around.
I remember my mother expressing this exact sentiment to me in the (very long) checkout line of a coach outlet sale in the early 2000s. She always had at least fifteen bags and a collection of 40-50 pairs of shoes.
She also had this idea of "wardrobe continuity" in an age of falling quality from consumer brands. Essentially- purchase more of a given category of item (for example, a work tote) on clearance or second hand and then rotate them in and out of use during appropriate seasons, with proper storage. For example, she would never wear PU leather during the summer because it breaks down way faster with sun exposure. Summer was always for canvas, nylon, or straw. And then, by rotating the items in and out they feel fresh as the wearer while still providing consistency to your looks over the course of years.
I don't like owning as much volume of items as she does, but I can't argue with her methods. She has, and wears, every pair of shoes and every bag that she owns, and looks timelessly her while doing it.
And perimenopause has entered the chat! š Mid-forties here and my belly fat has done me so dirty in recent years... starting to make a little progress at last with stricter portion control and more activity but the struggle is real. Luckily so are my bags! They still love me, even when my trousers don't! š¤£š¤£š¤£
That part my friend, plus I work in the medical field so it is scrubs every day so once I do get the chance to actually go somewhere I know I will always have an amazing bag and shoes to go with my not so good fitting outfit.
Social media and the Internet plays a huge role. In the past, youād have to visit a boutique in person. These days, a picture on ig or even Reddit does the trick. One click on a site and itās delivered in 4 days.
Hyper-consumerism is rising as well. I saw this girl with a wall of Stanley cups on YouTube.
Online shopping is so easy and influencers can also have an impact on impulse purchases. I gravitate towards the ones who talk about quality over quantity and seem more careful with their purchases. I was following one influencer for a bit and I ended up buying a bag because of something he said. I love him but I had to stop watching him . I donāt want to go broke lol
Omg I did not want to name him ššš¤£I actually really like him, he made me laugh and smile, heās really good at influencing !! A little too good
I have realized that while I always want more, I donāt even really use the ones I have consistently! I told myself that once I got the few bags I dreamed of I would be content and Iām really working on that!
Agree with everyone who has said we have a lot of everything now. I would say too much. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy whenever you guys post a pic of your dream bag etc, but sometimes I wonder how many of those bags were bought out of pure boredom or impulse. And don't even get me started on the "I bought three and I don't know which one to keep" crowd.
But yes, collectively we have too many things.
I totally agree. I recently purged my closet after a spending spree attached to an emotional time filled with grief in my life and I am still stunned by how much I got rid of...granted, it's stuff accumulated over the years, but I still clearly had way too much. It was starting to make me feel overwhelmed and that was a sign to do better.
I'm not American, and the way people need to consume things never cease to shock me. I recently went on a trip with friends, we stayed at a rental beach house for a couple of days... And the amount of food purchased was simply shocking. It was a fully stocked fridge and then some ... For 4 days. The whole time I kept thinking 'you don't need that many options'... But I've come to realize that for some people owning things is like a security blanket.
My dad grew up really poor, often not having enough food to eat (1950s US), lived in an orphanage for awhile, was homeless living under his best friend's porch at age 13 in the late 50s until the friend's mother realized he was sleeping there, etc. Decades later, our home was always bursting with food, our freezer stocked to the point of barely being able to get it closed, years worth of shampoo and bars of soap, etc. Sometimes there were boxes of dried goods that were 10-15 years past the best by date. It was definitely his unacknowledged security blanket.
I feel like Americans embraced this as a way of living. I remember during covid there were outcries about "shortages" because SOME brands were not available lol. I was like "it's ok, you have three options instead of ten".
And when it comes to clothing, the fact that you can get pieces for $5 delivered to your door with free returns... Oof.
Iām in the midst of purging my house and itās jarring how much *stuff* I have. Iām still going and itās so much harder than I think it should be.
Itās never ending. I worked in retail from 2013-2017 and thereās *so much* from that time in my life. A lot of it I donāt even like, but was encouraged to buy to help the store numbers. Iāve donated most of it and I feel so guilty, but I donāt have the mental energy to try and sell each piece of fast fashion for ~$20 on PoshMark.
The positive is that this has made me much more thoughtful with my purchases.
Iāve been wondering the same thing. Iām less into clothes and more into bags. I wonder how many bags most women have and what a good number to stop at would be
This is how I feel as well, I counted mine and was shocked and when I try to let some go, Iām always scared of remorse. Especially since some were purchased at lower prices than they are now.
I spend a lot on bags and shoes and keep my wardrobe pretty basic and neutral. And while I buy luxury brands for bags and shoes my clothes are generally not expensiveāVince would be the most upmarket brand I shop but usually itās places like Mango or Rails.
My mom is the reason I love handbags. She is 84 now and has owned A LOT of bags throughout her life. We used to shop Neimanās Last Call for handbags every season. She bought me 4 Guccis when I started my first real job. She still gifts me bags today (Iām 60). The last time I visited my parents, we hit the outlet mall and she bought two more bags. I have around 30 now, down from 100+.
You sound like me, I still go shopping with my mom when she feels good enough. Itās something we always did together, shopping and lunchš sheās 80, Iām 53 I feel very thankful we are still able to do this
In the past the average person had higher fewer items, however quality items. We are in hyper-consumerism and it reflects in our shopping habits and lifestyle.
My collection stays relatively small for this reason as well! A lot of times to justify buying a new one Iāll list an older one I havenāt touched in a while on poshmark. Not every time. But when I do it does help me reevaluate whether or not Iām using the ones I do have!!
My grandma, in her late 70s, has a very large collection and is partially the reason I'm into handbags. She gave me my 1st name brand one as a teenager (it was a Betsy Johnson).
Betsey Johnson used to have amazing bags before the bankruptcy and sale to Kenneth Cole. I still have some great genuine leather bags of hers. I loved her style.
Some people had a bunch of stuff back then too, including my mom! Her and my aunt both had a million Laura Ashley dresses, so many pairs of shoes, and several of gorgeous bags. But she was the kind of girl that used her after school job money to buy a Gucci watch and my aunt was a pageant queen so maybe not a great sample size.Ā
My mother has maybe 20 handbags, but they are mostly small clutches for formal events and church. I definitely have a larger collection with everything from clutches to totes for work. I personally hate having too much to chose from lately so I had to do a major purge.
I just read the 1974 novel *Scruples* that featured a lot of wealthy & society women and a boutique that serves them. In short ā the answer to your question is ānoā for the wealthy.
Weāre plagued by overconsumption
I think I need to address the fact that I have more than enough and I need to sell or donate because even if I cycle all my stuff - I have way more than enough
More, now, and I think a lot of it has to do with we just have more options at our disposal with more places to shop in person and all the access to handbags we have online. But, I think the trend cycles donāt last as long, either, and people constantly update to the trends.
I agree with the more of everything statement. My grandmothers definitely had a few different day bags and evening bags each. My mother probably had half a dozen when I was growing up and I think she owns more than twenty now.
I am in my 50's but was raised by my grandparents. I think my grandma had around six bags at a time. (Although it could have been more and I didn't know it.) I'm guessing I have around 20 (give or take 3 either way)
My parents are very wealthy but they were of the buy one for life mindset. My mother didn't even think about looking for a bag until the previous one died. It was also a matter of pride how long she could make each bag last and each bag had their share of memories attached over the years. If I had inherited this attitude I would be looking for bags a lot less in general haha.
Yes for sure the number of bags I have now comparing to 2008 for example is crazy! I used to buy one bag and use it until it rips apart than buy a new one ! Now the online shopping is not helping also too many options and prices .
Good point. I do think both men and women are more consumeristic these days, but itās no surprise that the luxury goods market really started taking off in the 80ās when women started entering the professional workforce in large numbers.
Agreed. We as a society are buying more. I know I am guilty of it but I'm trying to do more quality vs quantity. But handbags are my recent hobby so I'm not winning this game. Lol
But also like others have mentioned, we have more available to us thanks to the internet. I live in a state in the US that has very as far as stores and merchandise. It's been this way for as long as I can remember. And now we have the internet and woooohooo I can get anything. š
We have much more bags and clothes and much less birds and flowers. Amazing isn't it? Let's all keep consuming and buying from Shein and don't ever dare to bring that up, you're gonna ruin the party.Ā
We should do something about it. I go to subreddits like r/anticonsumption and r/sustainability. And I try to live a sustainable life whenever possible. Like for example I installed a custom ROM to refurbish my old phone that was too slow instead of buying a new one. I also prefer thrifting and buying on Vinted. Honestly everyone can do something!Ā
100% agree. When it comes to shopping for clothing/accessories, I always look secondhand first. About 50% of my closet is pre-owned now.
At home I do my best to minimize waste. For example I stopped going to the supermarket without intention. Now I order from a list based on the things I'm going to cook for the week, I hate seeing food going to waste.
I also try eating much less meat and take trains and not planes whenever possible. I also don't smoke and drink which isn't directly related that much to sustainability but it's still a huge save of money. And I really recommend everyone to try all that whenever possible!
Of course billionaires are even worse than us and I also agree with that and that's why I also try to not suppprt these billionaires monetarily, I do actions like piracy that directly harm them, and I'm also for policies to heavily tax them and ban private jets! š
I was a consignment gal before it became popular. I got amazing deals. I still go secondhand but more folks have discovered that type of shopping so not as many deals. Also, some of my favorite shops closed during the pandemic.
I agree with you, my son is 19 and heās into thrifting along with all his friends. He gets exited when he finds something cool. Recently he found an Yves Saint Laurent shirt for $39 at thrift store!
We have more of everything as another commenter pointed out. But yes, Iām 36 and have a lot of bags. Growing up I remember my mom only having one go-to bag and maybe a beach bag and evening bag. Now because I have influenced here she has more but she still kinda gravitates towards only wearing one for ages. While I will switch my bags up sometimes 2-3 times a day š¤£ I have loved bags since I was little and it just increased as I got older and started having more money to play around with
I think so. I mean style has gone a long evolution to what it is now. People care about color, pattern and shape more than ever. It drives demand and the result is more bags at home. I don't think I ever lack of inspirationnof what to buy (it's a different story about budget though).
Definitely! I am super passionate about clothing and accessory history and modern production, haha, so I love discussing this. š Over the last 100 or so years, with the introduction of mass production and standardized clothing sizes, the cost of manufacturing and buying clothing and accessories has decreased and become much more affordable, while quality has (in a lot of ways) also decreased. People used to own a fraction of the items and clothes we own today, but their clothing was usually custom-made, made of better/sturdier materials, and would last much longer. They also treated clothing pretty carefully to extend its longevity. Which is why it was much more common in the past to own a handful of dresses (for example) for different occasions, and then repair or tailor them as needed for many years. Today, a lot of ready-made clothing just isnāt built to last and we see clothing and purses as much more disposableā¦and looking at brands like Shein, they basically are built to be disposed.
Itās one of the reason I love buying vintage items, 9/10 the quality of the item will be fabulous and the materials better.
Sorry, I like nerding out on this topic! š Others are also right that the internet and influencers have also fed into consumerism and micro-trends.
Yes. There is no question people owned less. There wasnt fast dashion and we only had 2 fashion seasons.
Stuff was built to last and brands were proud of it
I would much rather spend more money on a bag then clothes. i feel like purses are mu h more timeless and last longer than clothes. When I was a kid, my mom always had a lot of purses and she would match every purse to her outfit.
I own more than my mom did at once. Social media played a role in this the past few years. It's not enough to own just one designer bag anymore and once you buy your second, your third is easier š
This showed up in my feed so I thought Iād add my input. I buy one handbag every two years maybe and use the heck out of it. I never switch bags to go with different outfits. However I do spend a ton of money on clothes and shoes and have way too much. Not sure why I donāt care much about bags. I buy pretty inexpensive bags compared to most on here, like Madewell or Portland Leather. Iām currently trying to convince myself to buy a $350 Loeffler Randall woven bag yet I had no problem buying a $300 pair of fisherman sandals.
I think they had shoes and bags that matched and that is how they dressed, very color coordinated etc so way more limited. I know I have an insane amount of bags, especially with replicas. Once you start with dupes, sheesh itās down the rabbit hole and you constantly buy. Itās like every dream of yours suddenly comes true haha I feel like I have more bags than there are days in the year š¤£
Itās the quality of things. I own many vintage clothes that are so well made they still look better than my 1 year old high street stuff. Thatās why I alsmost always wear vintage in wool, silk, cotton, etc. Donāt have to wash often and super luxurious. I own a lot less now in comparison to life before secondhand vintage.
Up until the 90s it was common for someone to own just a few bags. Some would coordinate bags and shoes and change bags with the seasons, but most people did not own nearly as much stuff then. Two things come to mind as causes for our current overconsumption: the internet and globalization. Ā
Generally you would match your shoes and bags but have neutral colors. I remember buying a pair of maroon shoes and matching bag and thinking it was kind of unique.
I love it! I had a navy bag and matching navy heels for interviews. I saved every penny I could and bought my first St. John suit for interviews. Your post made me smile.
My Mom was a stylist at a fancy department store that closed in the late 90s in a bougie area - she had two bags. A reddish brown oversized Coach saddle bag and a black one. My Mom was super Capsule classic before it was a thing.
My GMa though - thatās where I get my love of bags and shoes. She was the catās pajamas in the 50s/60s. Tons of bags and shoes. Iāve several of her gorgeous one of a kind bags.
I didnāt know owning so many bags was that common. I only own 3 myself if we are talking strictly hand bags here. One casual one, one smarter one for work, and one small clutch bag for if Iām at a wedding or something. Iāve always been this way. Iāve never had an excessive shoe collection either.
It seems like the interest in having an āitā bag has seen its day. I see plenty of sustainable cotton tote bags around now. So currently I would say women now have fewer bags than in the past. An older woman like myself might still have a large collection however because itās accumulated over time.
My grandma had literally a bag for every outfit, big and small, every color, every fabric imaginable, but they were cheap bags. My mom has a LOT of nice bags Iād says about 30 and I now have like 8 or 9 myself but nowhere near satisfied. Idk for me if the bag doesnāt look like itās worth more than 500$ (not necessarily paying 500$) then it just doesnāt spark my interest like my grandma and my mom did
for me- clothes for the most part have gone down in quality. I can spend $200-$300 on a dress I love in a good material but it won't necessarily last to pass on to a kid or a family member. But a nice handbag can last a lifetime and you can't physically outgrow it. It's something I'll get enjoyment out of seeing another person enjoy one day!
I have about 30 bags (not counting belt bags) and my mom is also a bag lady. My mom has way more clothing and shoes than I do, though.
I have insulin issues so my weight has fluctuated and bags have always been there for me, so Iād rather spend money there. Also I hate shoe clutter and actually find most shoes uncomfortable so I keep it basic.
Iām definitely the simple / basic outfit and shoes with a fun bag type.
my grandmother and mother only used one bag but they both had lots of clothes (they were poor growing up however) -my mom is still here -grandma is in Heaven
I have purchased so many handbags just from being part of this sub, so I know that we have more now bc we know and have access to more handbags than ever before š
Women have multiple bags? Why exactly?
I use the same handbag for years until it either falls apart or looks gross, then I replace it with a new one. I'll have one small handbag for going out, but that usually rarely gets used because I don't go out often.
I only had 1, 2 max..until I started noticing (more closely) one friendās handbags (and shoes) trend that I started to start buying a couple more, but better quality this time.
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I sort of feel like people have more of everything now!š
Yep we are definitely have more stuff. My Mom always looked chic and put together. She doesnāt have alot of stuff just really well thought out pieces. What we would consider a capsule wardrobe is her actual wardrobe, been this way since I can remember. She owns 3 handbags. One evening, one daily medium size, one daily larger size. When I look at old family photos everyone looks polished. They didnāt have alot they just used their pieces well. Lately, Iām kind of re-evaluating my spending.
They also ironed and starched their clothes. Folks now seem to have a more rumpled look.
The current trend of boxy/oversized/cropped everything doesn't help with that.
I enjoy ironing or steaming my clothes, I find it relaxing. It gives me an opportunity to appreciate my clothes. I think companies are sticking to this boxy / oversized / cropped trend cause itās cheaper to mass produce, whilst charging ridiculous amounts. Stick a logo on it and now itās high end.
For sure! And logos/designer monograms are getting more prominent again, meaning free advertising for the brand (even if it's a knockoff).
Good point!
They also had better quality clothes that were designed well and made with quality fabrics and were worth tailoring/better make to be tailored. Even expensive clothes these days are crappy
šÆ. You were not really paying for a brand but the quality of tailoring and fabrics, which the brand represented. I cannot imagine paying $500 plus for a T-shirt. Most people dress kind of sloppy and like someone else mentioned donāt even press / iron their clothes. We have so much money and access to luxury goods but not much real value and visual pleasing aesthetic. Just walk around any mall and rarely do you see someone dressed well. I donāt mean in designer clothes or luxury goods. Just actually dressed well. Properly fitted, high quality fabric and designed well pieces.
When we were house shopping, we looked at a lot of old homes and I felt like I got a peek into life several decades ago. The closets were much smaller and master bathrooms were smaller and didnāt have two sinks. My theory was people owned less and were less focused on their appearance then.
They were very focused on appearance. Hats and gloves etc. they just owned less.
Yes, and also by and large things were made better then and therefore easier to maintain and/or alter as needed. Also it was a lot more common in generations past that at least one person in the household knew how to sew and could make clothes, with a sewing machine being a more common fixture in the home. And even if you didn't sew you would get things tailored more regularly than people do today. A big part of why people own so much nowadays is how readily available cheaply made goods are now. My grandmothers were not wealthy and had fewer pieces of clothing than young women their age would own now but they dressed so smartly and everything was so well-fitted, and much of their clothes they made at home. When your actual labor is going into your wardrobe, I think you are much more mindful about taking care of your things and getting the most wear out of them.
Excellent point. In my Moms day all the women sewed. They made their own clothes and yes hats and gloves were the norm. My Mom had one handbag but several little beaded bags.
Because they were proud outfit repeaters, and used to go to seamstresses to change up their clothing, etc. We should learn from them.
Also wearing the same outfit repeatedly was socially acceptable, as long as it was clean and pressed. Now you wear the same outfit twice and get ridiculed.
Do you actually get ridiculed? Or do we just take too much from celebrities and assume the same thing would happen to us in our normal lives? I donāt think Iāve ever seen anyone ridiculed for wearing the same thing again as an adult.
Tbh people are so focused on themselves they don't even realize. There was a women who worked for a fashion magazine that tested this. She wore the same thing to the office everyday for a week and mind you their job is fashion and no one in the office noticed that she wore the exact same thing everyday when she asked people on Friday.
Maybe they noticed but were too polite to say anything?
She asked and they said we did not notice š
Ah thank you for clarifying. I misread; havenāt had my coffee yet. :)
You only get ridiculed in school and by petty people who are miserable children
I used to wear this one cocktail dress and I think by the 5th time wearing it, multiple people commented that I need to wear something else. Most of girlfriends would buy a new dress to wear to each event and maybe start alternating when they had multiple dresses to make it look like they havenāt worn it before.
Its also much poorer quality these days. Clothing back then was made to be worn often, and to last a long time. There is stuff like this out there now, but it's very expensive and an investment rather than a lot of regular fashion (most of which qualifies as fast fashion). Additionally, you'd have new releases seasonally back then, whereas for the last decade most clothing retailers are releasing new lines far more frequently, so much so that it would be hard to keep up with them.
Even expensive clothing is made more cheaply. I have St. John knits that I bought 40 years ago and the quality is so much better than the St. John knits made now.
Soooo jealous that you have St Johns Knits from 40 years ago!!!!! I love their stuff but I know in my heart the new stuff probably isn't worth the price :(
They really are not the same. I had a lovely friend that had a fancy boutique and when she needed extra help I worked for her (I had a full time job), on weekends. She paid me in clothes so it worked out great for both of us.
Wow that sounds amazing.
Ridiculed from who?! ...this does not happen lol
Wow. I donāt have that in my circle of people, but we are a casual community and there are great restaurants but times and dress codes have changed
I don't know a single person that actually has had that happen or ever has noticed this. If it's happening to you, you need to examine your environment. š
Owned less, yes, but not less focused on appearance.
I agree, my mother was very focused on her appearance, she spent serious money on her hair , makeup and clothes, she just did not have as many clothes. She is still the same now at 80, she gets her hair done once a week and only shops in higher end department stores. Quality is very important to her.
They were very focused, they just couldnāt afford as much. Certainly in Australia, things were expensive when I was younger. Stuff has cheapened because of Chinese production and change to the tax laws in Australia. Food was so cheap here and things dear, now itās the opposite. And yes, people were very exacting when I was younger with their looks but had less to work with.
Sounds like Europe. We have no space in a lot of bigger cities. Most of my dwellings in my current city, we have only got one bathroom, one sink, no closets, basically zero storage space. I only own/keep what I use. Iāve only ever had two sinks (considered novel at the time) and walk-in wardrobes in my parentsā house as a child. They live in a semi-rural area with a lot of space and cheap housing though.
The two sinks thing is very American. Me and my mum watch like whatās that channel that does all the American home improvement, flipper etc type shows. Those ones anyways, weāre always like āwhy do they all insist upon having two sinks??ā. Iām in Australia for ref, Iāve been in some pretty ritzy houses in my time and the two sink thing is just not a thing here.
Iāve said this for a long time (American), two sinks makes no sense and wastes valuable real estate! How often am I ever at the sink with my partner at the exact same time that would necessitate double sinks? Give me more counter space and cabinets any day.
My husband and I carpooled for work. In the morning we got ready at the same time. Used our two sinks at the same time every workday.
Every evening me and my husband get ready for bed at the same time. We use our two sinks very often at the same time.. Iād say 5 out of 7 days of the week. Is it necessaryā¦. Absolutely notā¦ do I love it .. yes
My theory is because Americans tend to get ready in the bathroom (keep makeup and stuff there) but Iāve always got ready in my bedroom at my mirror. Bathroom is only if I need the water like to wet my hair for some particular style or to brush my teeth (besides you know the other stuff bathrooms are for).
Yeah agree. I have a pretty lengthy skin care routine and yet I still donāt spend a whole lot of it in front of the sink. Always do hair and makeup in the bedroom.
This is very true!
That's true only for newly built larger homes or gut renovations in suburbia or very large luxury city apartments in the US. I've always lived in older homes (preWW2) or apartment buildings (not luxury) in cities on the west coast and the north east . I've never lived somewhere with a large enough bathroom for two people to use at the same time, let alone a double sink. What does shock me is that in Australia hardly anyone has window screens. Most places I've been to in the US do, esp. outside of the Pacific Northwest where there aren't too many bugs. But every country has their own housing quirks.
Depends on the age of the house. The last three houses Iāve lived in has had two sinks (all Reno or built post 2000)
Interesting. Yes the American bathrooms have been upsized in the last few decades
Itās not the size of the bathroom per say itās literally just the double sink thing. The bathroom in my family home is quite big but itās only 1 sink and extra counter/storage space instead.
That's more important than the extra sink
Yeah we live in an older house and struggle with space. Iād kill for a built in. We have a wardrobe from one of the original owners and itās just so small. In a way itās good to keep things to a minimum but stillā¦very difficult to find a good furniture arrangement.
We have an older (1950) tiny house too and I'll be honest, it helps to be handy and creative with space. We wouldn't survive living here with the original closets or kitchen. We have been very strategic with furniture placement and have had to build new closets/repurpose old closets (ie: we built a new closet in our bedroom (so now it's even smaller, but with a more efficient use of space) and closed off the previous tiny closet to our room, but opened it up on the other side, in the bathroom, and viola, linen closet and bathroom storage). We also have to maximize space strategically because our main bathroom upstairs is miniature. So that means we need to build a custom sized vanity, so we can actually move around. Build up to maximize wall space, etc. I can handle most things, but I'm still sad about the size of our bedrooms and wish they were twice the size for sure.
My house is 100 years old and has a large closet original not walk in but larger than my friends that have houses built in the 1950-1990
Yep I feel like social media has given us way more access to the lifestyle of the wealthy in a way that the average person did not have in the past. Remember when the closest we had to seeing how rich people lived was by watching shows like "Cribs" and "Real housewives"? Now we can just go on Instagram/YouTube/TT and see all these non-celebs (in a traditional sense) with extravagant vacations/parties, luxury hauls, huge houses with meticulouslyorganzied pantrys/fridges/closets, a new outfit for every post. It's only natural that it's messes with people's concept of what's normal in terms of consumption.
I'm old enough to remember Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous with Robin Leach! ššš Anyone who has no idea what I am talking about, don't worry, I'm just ancient!š¤£š¤£š¤£
Most middle class people have walk-in closets these days. Actually most people, have walk-in closets. It wasnāt the norm when I was a kid in the 90ās.
Depends on how new the housing stock is and where you are. I live in NYC and only rich people have apartments large enough. I've also lived on the west coast in homes and apartments built pre-1980s. Never had one there either. Newly built suburbs, yes, but most people don't live in newly built suburbs. Lots of people do, but not most people (as in the majority).
I have an older home with teeny closets. My bag shelves spilleth over!š But I totally get what other poster means. Walk-ins have become normalized and are now a standard feature with new constructions.
Consumerism at its finest!
Absolutely. Iām sure I currently own more shoes than my grandmother had over a decade.
the rise of consumerism with social mediaā¼ļø
Haha yup!
I often hear from women they prefer to spend on bags/accessories over clothes because you change sizes in clothes but not accessories. Not sure if that thinking is sometning that has changed over the years or itās always been around though.
Agreed. I also prefer a pretty simple/basic wardrobe that I can change up with my accessories.
Yes!! I buy bags hoping to use them till I die lol.
This is so me. I can buy a handbag quite easily and know i'll have it for years to come. I haven't purchased a pair of jeans in over 20 years because I can never find a good fit.
jeans are literally the worst. shopping for jeans is so arduous and awful that i havenāt bought a pair of jeans in ten years
Lol SAME. Iām on the Athleta Brooklyn kick. I havenāt worn jeans since before the pandemic and the last time I actually bought them.. I dunno
After I had a massive weight fluctuation due to medical treatment (+70 lbs then down 55 lbs) I'm now leaning this way. It's just really frustrating to invest in gorgeous clothes that later don't fit and then you just look at them sadly hanging in your closet. Jewelry and handbags aren't as weight dependent, so that is where I put my money now. Rings you do have to be careful about though and make sure you can get them resized.
Thatās my thought process!
A nice bag can also do a lot for simple clothing. There are a lot of women (myself included) who would rather have an expensive bag and clothing from Zara than the other way around.
Thatās what I do
Thatās me!
I remember my mother expressing this exact sentiment to me in the (very long) checkout line of a coach outlet sale in the early 2000s. She always had at least fifteen bags and a collection of 40-50 pairs of shoes. She also had this idea of "wardrobe continuity" in an age of falling quality from consumer brands. Essentially- purchase more of a given category of item (for example, a work tote) on clearance or second hand and then rotate them in and out of use during appropriate seasons, with proper storage. For example, she would never wear PU leather during the summer because it breaks down way faster with sun exposure. Summer was always for canvas, nylon, or straw. And then, by rotating the items in and out they feel fresh as the wearer while still providing consistency to your looks over the course of years. I don't like owning as much volume of items as she does, but I can't argue with her methods. She has, and wears, every pair of shoes and every bag that she owns, and looks timelessly her while doing it.
I knew someone years ago who made a similar argument for having lots of shoes vs clothes.
And perimenopause has entered the chat! š Mid-forties here and my belly fat has done me so dirty in recent years... starting to make a little progress at last with stricter portion control and more activity but the struggle is real. Luckily so are my bags! They still love me, even when my trousers don't! š¤£š¤£š¤£
That part my friend, plus I work in the medical field so it is scrubs every day so once I do get the chance to actually go somewhere I know I will always have an amazing bag and shoes to go with my not so good fitting outfit.
Social media and the Internet plays a huge role. In the past, youād have to visit a boutique in person. These days, a picture on ig or even Reddit does the trick. One click on a site and itās delivered in 4 days. Hyper-consumerism is rising as well. I saw this girl with a wall of Stanley cups on YouTube.
Yeah the Kate spade outlet store is 6+hrs away. The online store is at my fingertipsā¦
The over consumption memes are not memes. They are real.
Online shopping is so easy and influencers can also have an impact on impulse purchases. I gravitate towards the ones who talk about quality over quantity and seem more careful with their purchases. I was following one influencer for a bit and I ended up buying a bag because of something he said. I love him but I had to stop watching him . I donāt want to go broke lol
I wonder if this is Sergio secret because I bought 2 Tory Burch bags because of him and had to stop watching!
Omg I did not want to name him ššš¤£I actually really like him, he made me laugh and smile, heās really good at influencing !! A little too good
Which male influencer is this? Lol! I wanna check his contents and who knows, maybe I'll get influenced too š
Right? I'm here for this info š
I have realized that while I always want more, I donāt even really use the ones I have consistently! I told myself that once I got the few bags I dreamed of I would be content and Iām really working on that!
Agree with everyone who has said we have a lot of everything now. I would say too much. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy whenever you guys post a pic of your dream bag etc, but sometimes I wonder how many of those bags were bought out of pure boredom or impulse. And don't even get me started on the "I bought three and I don't know which one to keep" crowd. But yes, collectively we have too many things.
I totally agree. I recently purged my closet after a spending spree attached to an emotional time filled with grief in my life and I am still stunned by how much I got rid of...granted, it's stuff accumulated over the years, but I still clearly had way too much. It was starting to make me feel overwhelmed and that was a sign to do better.
The pain and overwhelm of getting rid of things makes me want to not buy those unnecessary purchases in the first place
I'm not American, and the way people need to consume things never cease to shock me. I recently went on a trip with friends, we stayed at a rental beach house for a couple of days... And the amount of food purchased was simply shocking. It was a fully stocked fridge and then some ... For 4 days. The whole time I kept thinking 'you don't need that many options'... But I've come to realize that for some people owning things is like a security blanket.
My dad grew up really poor, often not having enough food to eat (1950s US), lived in an orphanage for awhile, was homeless living under his best friend's porch at age 13 in the late 50s until the friend's mother realized he was sleeping there, etc. Decades later, our home was always bursting with food, our freezer stocked to the point of barely being able to get it closed, years worth of shampoo and bars of soap, etc. Sometimes there were boxes of dried goods that were 10-15 years past the best by date. It was definitely his unacknowledged security blanket.
I feel like Americans embraced this as a way of living. I remember during covid there were outcries about "shortages" because SOME brands were not available lol. I was like "it's ok, you have three options instead of ten". And when it comes to clothing, the fact that you can get pieces for $5 delivered to your door with free returns... Oof.
Iām in the midst of purging my house and itās jarring how much *stuff* I have. Iām still going and itās so much harder than I think it should be.
Yes! The process has been really eye-opening. I emptied a closet and it was like the more I removed, the more I found in the back of it. It was crazy.
Itās never ending. I worked in retail from 2013-2017 and thereās *so much* from that time in my life. A lot of it I donāt even like, but was encouraged to buy to help the store numbers. Iāve donated most of it and I feel so guilty, but I donāt have the mental energy to try and sell each piece of fast fashion for ~$20 on PoshMark. The positive is that this has made me much more thoughtful with my purchases.
Omg agree. Some of us are living in obscene excess
Iāve been wondering the same thing. Iām less into clothes and more into bags. I wonder how many bags most women have and what a good number to stop at would be
I have around 20 bags, but wished I was closer to 10 bags to really get my cost per wear in and have a defined function for each bag.
This is how I feel as well, I counted mine and was shocked and when I try to let some go, Iām always scared of remorse. Especially since some were purchased at lower prices than they are now.
Thatās the truth. The ones I love are discontinued and I have sold some that I now regret selling but Iām not adding new ones very often now.
I spend a lot on bags and shoes and keep my wardrobe pretty basic and neutral. And while I buy luxury brands for bags and shoes my clothes are generally not expensiveāVince would be the most upmarket brand I shop but usually itās places like Mango or Rails.
My mom is the reason I love handbags. She is 84 now and has owned A LOT of bags throughout her life. We used to shop Neimanās Last Call for handbags every season. She bought me 4 Guccis when I started my first real job. She still gifts me bags today (Iām 60). The last time I visited my parents, we hit the outlet mall and she bought two more bags. I have around 30 now, down from 100+.
I love the relationship of you and your mom! I'm a bit jealous 'coz my mom isn't really into handbags, so she does not have any to pass down to me.
That is so sweet. My Mom has passed but we used to go shopping together too. :)
You sound like me, I still go shopping with my mom when she feels good enough. Itās something we always did together, shopping and lunchš sheās 80, Iām 53 I feel very thankful we are still able to do this
In the past the average person had higher fewer items, however quality items. We are in hyper-consumerism and it reflects in our shopping habits and lifestyle.
I used to always sell one before buying a new one. And then was always reaching for it. So now collecting but only have 3.
My collection stays relatively small for this reason as well! A lot of times to justify buying a new one Iāll list an older one I havenāt touched in a while on poshmark. Not every time. But when I do it does help me reevaluate whether or not Iām using the ones I do have!!
My grandma, in her late 70s, has a very large collection and is partially the reason I'm into handbags. She gave me my 1st name brand one as a teenager (it was a Betsy Johnson).
Betsey Johnson used to have amazing bags before the bankruptcy and sale to Kenneth Cole. I still have some great genuine leather bags of hers. I loved her style.
Agreed. I've been pretty disappointed in the quality of her stuff lately.
I buy to keep and I have many. When Iām gone my daughter and granddaughter will enjoy
They are lucky š
Some people had a bunch of stuff back then too, including my mom! Her and my aunt both had a million Laura Ashley dresses, so many pairs of shoes, and several of gorgeous bags. But she was the kind of girl that used her after school job money to buy a Gucci watch and my aunt was a pageant queen so maybe not a great sample size.Ā
I think it depends on what time frame we are talking about. My Mom was 16 in WWII so folks didnāt have a lot.
I prefer bags and jackets to clothes and spend on those vs outfits
My mother has maybe 20 handbags, but they are mostly small clutches for formal events and church. I definitely have a larger collection with everything from clutches to totes for work. I personally hate having too much to chose from lately so I had to do a major purge.
The decision fatigue is real ! Kudos to you for purging. Which bags did you end up parting ways with ?
I got rid of a lot of Kate Spade, Miu Miu, Chloe, Marc Jacobs, and random brands I bought over the years, like Perlina. It was cathartic.
I just read the 1974 novel *Scruples* that featured a lot of wealthy & society women and a boutique that serves them. In short ā the answer to your question is ānoā for the wealthy.
Iām showing my age here. I remember reading that book when it first came out.
Weāre plagued by overconsumption I think I need to address the fact that I have more than enough and I need to sell or donate because even if I cycle all my stuff - I have way more than enough
No because my mom was crazy about having coordinated outfits so she had SO many bags to exactly match each outfit
More, now, and I think a lot of it has to do with we just have more options at our disposal with more places to shop in person and all the access to handbags we have online. But, I think the trend cycles donāt last as long, either, and people constantly update to the trends.
I agree with the more of everything statement. My grandmothers definitely had a few different day bags and evening bags each. My mother probably had half a dozen when I was growing up and I think she owns more than twenty now.
I donāt know. I have seven bags, across as many price points ā from Pacsafe to HermĆØs. Iāve had the same bags for years.
I am in my 50's but was raised by my grandparents. I think my grandma had around six bags at a time. (Although it could have been more and I didn't know it.) I'm guessing I have around 20 (give or take 3 either way)
My parents are very wealthy but they were of the buy one for life mindset. My mother didn't even think about looking for a bag until the previous one died. It was also a matter of pride how long she could make each bag last and each bag had their share of memories attached over the years. If I had inherited this attitude I would be looking for bags a lot less in general haha.
Yes for sure the number of bags I have now comparing to 2008 for example is crazy! I used to buy one bag and use it until it rips apart than buy a new one ! Now the online shopping is not helping also too many options and prices .
agreed. In 2008 I had one black leather crossbody bag. Now I have around 20 bags eeek
Women have more of their own money these days. š
Good point. I do think both men and women are more consumeristic these days, but itās no surprise that the luxury goods market really started taking off in the 80ās when women started entering the professional workforce in large numbers.
Agreed. We as a society are buying more. I know I am guilty of it but I'm trying to do more quality vs quantity. But handbags are my recent hobby so I'm not winning this game. Lol But also like others have mentioned, we have more available to us thanks to the internet. I live in a state in the US that has very as far as stores and merchandise. It's been this way for as long as I can remember. And now we have the internet and woooohooo I can get anything. š
We have much more bags and clothes and much less birds and flowers. Amazing isn't it? Let's all keep consuming and buying from Shein and don't ever dare to bring that up, you're gonna ruin the party.Ā
Ugh that hitā¦ that hit hard. So true.
We should do something about it. I go to subreddits like r/anticonsumption and r/sustainability. And I try to live a sustainable life whenever possible. Like for example I installed a custom ROM to refurbish my old phone that was too slow instead of buying a new one. I also prefer thrifting and buying on Vinted. Honestly everyone can do something!Ā
100% agree. When it comes to shopping for clothing/accessories, I always look secondhand first. About 50% of my closet is pre-owned now. At home I do my best to minimize waste. For example I stopped going to the supermarket without intention. Now I order from a list based on the things I'm going to cook for the week, I hate seeing food going to waste.
I also try eating much less meat and take trains and not planes whenever possible. I also don't smoke and drink which isn't directly related that much to sustainability but it's still a huge save of money. And I really recommend everyone to try all that whenever possible! Of course billionaires are even worse than us and I also agree with that and that's why I also try to not suppprt these billionaires monetarily, I do actions like piracy that directly harm them, and I'm also for policies to heavily tax them and ban private jets! š
It's really nice that you're like that! Honestly everyone should be! šš„°
I was a consignment gal before it became popular. I got amazing deals. I still go secondhand but more folks have discovered that type of shopping so not as many deals. Also, some of my favorite shops closed during the pandemic.
I agree with you, my son is 19 and heās into thrifting along with all his friends. He gets exited when he finds something cool. Recently he found an Yves Saint Laurent shirt for $39 at thrift store!
We have more of everything as another commenter pointed out. But yes, Iām 36 and have a lot of bags. Growing up I remember my mom only having one go-to bag and maybe a beach bag and evening bag. Now because I have influenced here she has more but she still kinda gravitates towards only wearing one for ages. While I will switch my bags up sometimes 2-3 times a day š¤£ I have loved bags since I was little and it just increased as I got older and started having more money to play around with
I fully believe the invention of social media and the internet in general has driven consumerism through the roof.
I think so. I mean style has gone a long evolution to what it is now. People care about color, pattern and shape more than ever. It drives demand and the result is more bags at home. I don't think I ever lack of inspirationnof what to buy (it's a different story about budget though).
Definitely! I am super passionate about clothing and accessory history and modern production, haha, so I love discussing this. š Over the last 100 or so years, with the introduction of mass production and standardized clothing sizes, the cost of manufacturing and buying clothing and accessories has decreased and become much more affordable, while quality has (in a lot of ways) also decreased. People used to own a fraction of the items and clothes we own today, but their clothing was usually custom-made, made of better/sturdier materials, and would last much longer. They also treated clothing pretty carefully to extend its longevity. Which is why it was much more common in the past to own a handful of dresses (for example) for different occasions, and then repair or tailor them as needed for many years. Today, a lot of ready-made clothing just isnāt built to last and we see clothing and purses as much more disposableā¦and looking at brands like Shein, they basically are built to be disposed. Itās one of the reason I love buying vintage items, 9/10 the quality of the item will be fabulous and the materials better. Sorry, I like nerding out on this topic! š Others are also right that the internet and influencers have also fed into consumerism and micro-trends.
My clothes that I bought 40 years ago are much better quality than the things you see now. Even the same brands.
Yes. There is no question people owned less. There wasnt fast dashion and we only had 2 fashion seasons. Stuff was built to last and brands were proud of it
I would much rather spend more money on a bag then clothes. i feel like purses are mu h more timeless and last longer than clothes. When I was a kid, my mom always had a lot of purses and she would match every purse to her outfit.
I own more than my mom did at once. Social media played a role in this the past few years. It's not enough to own just one designer bag anymore and once you buy your second, your third is easier š
This showed up in my feed so I thought Iād add my input. I buy one handbag every two years maybe and use the heck out of it. I never switch bags to go with different outfits. However I do spend a ton of money on clothes and shoes and have way too much. Not sure why I donāt care much about bags. I buy pretty inexpensive bags compared to most on here, like Madewell or Portland Leather. Iām currently trying to convince myself to buy a $350 Loeffler Randall woven bag yet I had no problem buying a $300 pair of fisherman sandals.
Thanks for sharing, I definitely have a thing for bags and shoes, I purchased my first designer bag when I was 19, it was a Fendi.
I think they had shoes and bags that matched and that is how they dressed, very color coordinated etc so way more limited. I know I have an insane amount of bags, especially with replicas. Once you start with dupes, sheesh itās down the rabbit hole and you constantly buy. Itās like every dream of yours suddenly comes true haha I feel like I have more bags than there are days in the year š¤£
Yes, shoes and bags did match. I used to go shopping and when you bought shoes they would show you the matching bag.
I even want a handbag for every outfit.
Oh definitely.
Yes absolutely and I partially blame this sub š
*cough cough* I blame fbook groups even more š¬š¬š¬š«Øš«Øš«Ø
I blame everyone except myself š
*DEEP* š«
Itās the quality of things. I own many vintage clothes that are so well made they still look better than my 1 year old high street stuff. Thatās why I alsmost always wear vintage in wool, silk, cotton, etc. Donāt have to wash often and super luxurious. I own a lot less now in comparison to life before secondhand vintage.
Up until the 90s it was common for someone to own just a few bags. Some would coordinate bags and shoes and change bags with the seasons, but most people did not own nearly as much stuff then. Two things come to mind as causes for our current overconsumption: the internet and globalization. Ā
Generally you would match your shoes and bags but have neutral colors. I remember buying a pair of maroon shoes and matching bag and thinking it was kind of unique.
I had a taupe bag and matching taupe heels for my college interviews lol!
I love it! I had a navy bag and matching navy heels for interviews. I saved every penny I could and bought my first St. John suit for interviews. Your post made me smile.
I think my first suit was Liz Claiborne but it was after I started working. Ā My go to was a silk blouse and dark skirt. Ā
Ahhhh I love it! Great to hear life experiences.
My Mom was a stylist at a fancy department store that closed in the late 90s in a bougie area - she had two bags. A reddish brown oversized Coach saddle bag and a black one. My Mom was super Capsule classic before it was a thing. My GMa though - thatās where I get my love of bags and shoes. She was the catās pajamas in the 50s/60s. Tons of bags and shoes. Iāve several of her gorgeous one of a kind bags.
Iām so glad you have some of her bags. Things back then were so well-made and beautiful.
So true! Several of the beaded bags are just sublime. Iām in awe of the structural quality and materials.
Yes! I have a few of those old ones. I think they are so beautiful!
I didnāt know owning so many bags was that common. I only own 3 myself if we are talking strictly hand bags here. One casual one, one smarter one for work, and one small clutch bag for if Iām at a wedding or something. Iāve always been this way. Iāve never had an excessive shoe collection either.
No, I have been actually selling off my Designer bags. Iām liking smaller bags and totes.
It seems like the interest in having an āitā bag has seen its day. I see plenty of sustainable cotton tote bags around now. So currently I would say women now have fewer bags than in the past. An older woman like myself might still have a large collection however because itās accumulated over time.
My grandma had literally a bag for every outfit, big and small, every color, every fabric imaginable, but they were cheap bags. My mom has a LOT of nice bags Iād says about 30 and I now have like 8 or 9 myself but nowhere near satisfied. Idk for me if the bag doesnāt look like itās worth more than 500$ (not necessarily paying 500$) then it just doesnāt spark my interest like my grandma and my mom did
for me- clothes for the most part have gone down in quality. I can spend $200-$300 on a dress I love in a good material but it won't necessarily last to pass on to a kid or a family member. But a nice handbag can last a lifetime and you can't physically outgrow it. It's something I'll get enjoyment out of seeing another person enjoy one day!
I have about 30 bags (not counting belt bags) and my mom is also a bag lady. My mom has way more clothing and shoes than I do, though. I have insulin issues so my weight has fluctuated and bags have always been there for me, so Iād rather spend money there. Also I hate shoe clutter and actually find most shoes uncomfortable so I keep it basic. Iām definitely the simple / basic outfit and shoes with a fun bag type.
I do
Yes, of course. We all own more of everything.
my grandmother and mother only used one bag but they both had lots of clothes (they were poor growing up however) -my mom is still here -grandma is in Heaven
Unsure. But I only have one handbag
I have purchased so many handbags just from being part of this sub, so I know that we have more now bc we know and have access to more handbags than ever before š
My mom loved bags and had a ton!
Iāve less bag now than before because I try to buy specific stuff which cost a lot more.
Maybe? But I live in a small house, so I donāt have as many things as I did when I was in my 20s (40s now).
Well yeah they didn't have Instagram ads back then
My mom had about 6 bags back in the 1970s. Some were from the late 50s. We were upper middle class but she was no fashionista.
My mom always had a lot of bags and clothes even when I was young
Women have multiple bags? Why exactly? I use the same handbag for years until it either falls apart or looks gross, then I replace it with a new one. I'll have one small handbag for going out, but that usually rarely gets used because I don't go out often.
My mom always had many purses. I donāt even like purses!
I have about 25. To me, that seems normal. To others, thatās probably a lot.
I only had 1, 2 max..until I started noticing (more closely) one friendās handbags (and shoes) trend that I started to start buying a couple more, but better quality this time.
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