2 - The Fulltime Student
The Basics
Age - 21
Gender Identity - Female
Location - United Kingdom
Occupation & Industry - Full-time student who does part-time work in marketing.
Individual Income - £8,000 - £9,000 per year
Household Income - £200,000+
Inside The Rep Closet
The Reps
Are you a LR newsletter subscriber?
Yes
How did you find LR?
I was looking for Luxury Reps without knowing what it was! I had started to become fascinated with reps and really wanted to engage and talk with people who also had the same fascination. I have a bag Tiktok but Tiktok is not necessarily a discursive platform (plus I get lazy with it sometimes). Therefore, one day I randomly started typing into Safari things such as: “Replica’s”, “What do people think about Replica’s” and stumbled across an article listing all the reasons why you shouldn’t buy reps and voila, they mentioned communities on reddit and I hopped on over to Reddit, searched “Reps” and found LR.
Were you familiar with reps before LR?
Yes, In the beginning I was only familiar with bad reps. I’m talking reps that say GD instead of CD and Nada instead of Prada. Then my gorgeous bestie watched a Tiktok of the viral AliExpress MPA rep and we made a deal, I buy one and she buys one too. I bought the Khaki strap and she bought the Pink strap and we have been matching ever since🤪. That situation led to my discovery of Ali-Express and DHGate. I honestly think that MPA rep was a fluke! It’s really good for £40! However, I still didn’t realise high tier reps existed. Then I discovered websites and how to communicate with sellers on more informal platforms such as WhatsApp, then I went to chill with the big boys over here! 😎
How many bags do you own?
22 bags in total (with two on the way and tons on my wish-list) I originally thought my collection was small. However, after taking a family photo and actually counting my bags I don’t think it can be categorised as ‘small’. I am shocked.
How many are auth, how many are rep?
15 are reps. Currently only one is auth (my Marc Jacobs Tote bag! I sold two of my auth to my fathers dismay), the rest are all unbranded/lower branded (i.e. Steve Madden) pretty bags.
What is your most expensive bag?
I have to say, despite living in London, the land of the Neverfulls, they have a special place in my heart. I have 3 and truly believe they would survive a nuclear fall out. They’re just so practical. Basic, but sorry not sorry.
How much have you spent on reps?
£2,000+ in total.
What is your most expensive bag?
My Dior Saddle Bag (oblique print).
What are the most important brands or pieces in your collection?
Currently it is my Marc Jacobs tote bag and a little Roxy bag I used to own (I think my mum has given it to charity, it has disappeared). Charles Goss once said that bags tell a journey, they tell you where you’ve been, where you’re at and follow you to where you are going. I have taken (and in the case of my Roxy (may her soul rest in peace😔) I used to take) these bags everywhere! I get easily attached to things and people, it is not good.
What bag did you first fall in love with, and when? Did you end up buying it?
I first fell in love with my Lady Dior medium d-lite bag. It was my first big/expensive purchase and I love it. However, I don’t use it as much as I would like!
Any particular bag that holds a special sentimental value?
Other than the two bags described above, I think probably my LV MPA only because of my friend and I like using it to create chaos!😏
Is there a specific bag you are looking to purchase next? Or have you reached purse peace?
I don’t think I will ever reach purse peace.
A problem I have is setting hard boundaries. I often have to force myself to settle or stop, with everything. I think my religion helps me with that because we believe life is about establishing a balance rather than living on extremes, so it helps reign me in. However, deep down, I am someone who wants and enjoys having options, I think I get this from my early experiences. I am thankful and grateful that I now have the ability to have options and choices because that has not always been the case.
I just always recall the early times when we did not have options and had very little choices. We couldn’t choose what to eat, what to do, where to live at the times we had a place to live lol. I will never forget my mum having no choice but to throw everything we owned into the street because she just couldn’t carry them on her own, and I often think what would we have kept if she had the option. I think all these experiences is where my desire to have options, to have choices stems from. I like not having to settle (doesn’t everyone🤣) and enjoy having choices, but also quality choices/options.
However, I think in navigating this feeling of wanting more but also not wanting to be excessive I have become very creative. For example, when I was younger I was obsessed with dolls. I would make little movies with them on iMovie, edit and “produce” them into little episodes. I wanted ALL the dolls, ALL the clothes, EVERYTHING. Of course we couldn’t afford that and my parents were like “you have enough”, so I learnt how to sew and how to make little pencils out of toothpicks. I gained a massive obsession with MyFroggyStuff on youtube. Plus I found ways to get around that parent-imposed doll limit. For example for my birthday my parents said I could buy a toy car, I made sure I bought the car that came with a free doll😌 and acted like I knew nothing😈.
I am also learning to let go of things I don’t use or have barely used. I have started giving a lot of my things to friends or charity.
Apologies for the long paragraphs.
Do you feel like your bags change people’s perceptions of you or how you’re treated?
100% yes.
When I was in high school I stuck out in every way possible and I felt so awkward within myself. This became worse when I moved. The new school I went to was rich I am talking majority old-money, new money, then some of us who were comfortable. Girls there carried and swapped out designer bags like they were socks (and we had a uniform) it got so bad the school banned designer items. When I was at school I didn’t carry designer apart from the occasional Kate Spade and Cath Kidstone if you class them as designer. When I left school, the minute I started flexing (posting outfit pics etc) with my bags suddenly, some people developed an interest in me, wanted to chat to me and acknowledged my existence.
The Shopping
How often do you buy new bags?
This varies but right now I would say every 4-6 months.
If you have purchased auth in the past, do you still plan to continue?
I may change my mind in the future but currently no. I just don’t see a lot of authentic items as worth it when you can use that amount of money to get 2-4 bags and have change for something else!
Do you ever feel societal pressure to purchase more bags?
Not really, but I think if I had discovered reps any younger, the younger me would have and I would probably have a problem.
Who influences your buying decisions?
Me, myself and my mum. I was always ask for her opinion or take on board what she says!
Why do you enjoy shopping, beyond just acquiring something new?
In terms of shopping for reps I find it exciting. Honestly, I really enjoy the sneaky aspect of it, “sourcing” something for much less and tricking people. I find it so satisfying heheheh. My dad says that if I was born into a criminal family I would be the kingpin. Also (except for bags) I tend to shop when something in my life is changing or something momentous happening!
The Money
Who pays for your bags?
Me 😊. This is very feasible because I don’t currently pay for my own maintenance and living so the little change I earn goes to savings and shopping. My dad HATES reps with passion, he doesn’t understand why I would buy something that looks exactly like the real thing, and not the real thing so no help on his end 🥲but the girls that get it, get it😌.
Do you set aside a budget for your bag (or fashion) purchases?
Yes, I often research/hold off before I purchase something to decide if its worth it or not and to convince myself I don’t need it.
Do you think your shopping is ever a problem? Have you ever felt like you were struggling with a shopping addiction?
No, but I think (after my last two bags arrive) I am going to go on a break. I did want to buy myself a graduation present but I think I have bought enough. Plus I am about to experience some big changes and transitions that I need to start preparing for.
The Rest Of It
Any other hobbies or passions?
I love cooking, (eating😙) and exercise. I love challenging myself and testing my limits (sometimes to my detriment). I also love anything beauty related I have been told many times by my friends that I should stop chasing the solicitor route and work in beauty.
Anything else you would like to include?
To just breathe. I am realising that as you get older things naturally become busy. Anything can become obsessive and over-consuming so we need to remember to pause and breathe😮💨.
