Why I Refuse to Downsize My 200+ Designer Handbag Collection

There are problems, and then there are first-world problems. Owning more designer handbags than I can reasonably use is one of them. But it’s a very real dilemma nonetheless.

The Reality of an Overflowing Closet

I’ve been collecting designer handbags for over twelve years. I have been collecting designer handbags for more than a decade, and the collection has grown beyond what any single closet can comfortably hold. If you’re wondering exactly how many bags I own, I honestly don’t have a precise number. It’s probably over 200, but I’ve stopped counting. It is likely well over 200, but knowing the precise number would not change the reality: I have far more bags than I can rotate through regularly.

Before you start calculating, understand that this isn’t a collection of 200 Hermès or Chanel pieces. It’s a mix of bags I’ve purchased myself, acquired through my work, and received as gifts over more than a decade. It includes pieces I bought for myself, bags that came into my life through work, and gifts accumulated over the years. They sit in my closet gathering dust. And yet, I cannot bring myself to let them go.

Why Each Bag Matters

Some sit untouched for long stretches, yet I still find it difficult to imagine letting them go. When I started PurseBlog with Vlad from my dorm room, I never imagined it would grow into what it is today. Each bag represents a chapter of that journey.

I remember saving up for my first Louis Vuitton piece—a Wapity—and the excitement of that purchase. When I started PurseBlog with Vlad from my dorm room, I could not have predicted how much of my life would be reflected back to me through these purchases. My first Birkin came with a memorable story: I actually felt ill after buying it, but it remains an irreplaceable part of my collection. And my Chanel Reissue? I still remember saving for my first Louis Vuitton piece, the anticipation around my first Fendi Spy, and the complicated emotions attached to my first Birkin.

The Emotional Attachment

Now that I have my daughter Millie, I imagine passing these bags down to her someday. I want her to know the story behind each piece and understand that these bags represent more than just accessories. Now that I have a daughter, I sometimes imagine passing some of these bags down one day.

Of course, she might not care about handbags at all. She might prefer a simple black crossbody and consider the rest excessive. Even if she never becomes a handbag lover herself, the collection would still stand as a record of my work, my milestones, and the years that shaped me. The idea of passing them down is just that—an idea. But it’s one that makes parting with any bag feel impossible.

Collector or Hoarder?

She may prefer something simple and practical, or she may not want the collection at all. We use the same few items repeatedly, while the rest just add noise to our lives. I do the same with my bags. But the possibility of passing these pieces along makes them feel even harder to release, because each one seems tied to a memory I am not ready to separate from. Many of my bags are dated and not yet back in style.

This serves as a reminder that I should use each bag more often, rather than letting them sit as pretty objects in my closet. In theory, that sounds easy.

There’s a fine line between being a collector and being a hoarder, and I feel like I’m walking that line closely. If I were to sell my bags, I could donate the proceeds to charity, which would feel meaningful. I do rotate through my collection, but not nearly as often as I once did, and some styles now feel dated or less aligned with how I dress today.

Reader Perspectives on Letting Go

The PurseBlog community had plenty to say about this dilemma. Here are some of the most thoughtful responses:

If anything, it should encourage me to pull these bags back into regular use. If the time comes when you want to downsize, it will be for the right reasons and then letting go of them will be a joy. Just maybe wear them a little more often.

When this topic comes up, readers tend to land on two clear sides: keep what you love, or release what no longer serves you. Don’t get rid of them until you’re absolutely ready to or else you’ll just regret it. Pull them out, use them, start a new weekly article where you take photos of the bags in your collections and tell us your stories.

Others suggest a more practical approach, such as rotating bags more intentionally, documenting the collection, or letting go of anything that no longer brings joy. I own many bags and they are all special to me. I change handbags monthly to make sure I get use out of all the bags. I keep a spreadsheet to catalog what year and month a bag was carried.

If a bag truly matters, it will still matter later. You don’t need the actual bags to hang on to the memories.

“Please don’t get rid of any, whether you use them or not—you’ll regret every one you part with.”

Either way, the decision should feel deliberate rather than forced. Those bags don’t define you—YOU bring meaning to them.

“Having this much is definitely unhealthy. That does not automatically make it wrong, but it does mean I need to be honest about why I keep certain pieces. It felt so good, and I saved a little bit to add to my ‘birkin savings.

Finding Balance

I’ve accepted that my body has changed after having children, and those size-small blouses will never fit the same way again. Others may eventually leave the collection. It’s the same with my bags.

For now, I’m choosing to keep my collection intact. I would rather keep the collection intact, use the bags I can, and appreciate the stories attached to each one. When the time comes to downsize—if it ever does—it will be for the right reasons.

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