Tessany Becker, 22, originally from Greenbush, Minn., is not the average handbag shopper -- to date. She is the collector of more than 75 of the functional fashion accessories.
"I think the most handbags I ever had was 87 or 89 -- or maybe 90 -- it was up there," Becker said of her collection that started at a young age when she received a handbag from her sister as a Christmas gift.
Becker's selective, but yet excessively large collection that has taken over her closets, consists mainly of nontypical handbags, functional oversized bags and a few small clutches that are switched on a daily basis.
"Oversized bags are more versatile -- they can dress up your outfit, dress it down and add drama," said Becker, adding some can be worn as crossovers. "I love fashion and having or wearing something that stands out from the rest."
This "fashionista" can also remember where she has purchased each glamorous handbag.
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"I really like shopping at thrift shops, vintage places, T.J. Maxx and Burlington Coat Factory," Becker said. "I love finding the shops that not everyone goes to."
"If it's under $30, I love it, it's perfect."
But a few months ago when she was shopping at Macy's in Fargo, Becker fell in love with a $110 Guess handbag, but she couldn't imagine spending that much.
"It was the most gorgeous blue handbag I had ever seen," Becker said. "I sat and stewed over whether I should spend so much on a bag, but when I went to 'visit' it again, it was gone.
"Recently, I found the same exact purse at Burlington Coat Factory for almost a third of the price."
Being a senior at UND, Becker has done her fair share of moving. She said every time she rents a new place, she tries to downsize her handbag collection.
"I just feel that moving gives me a great opportunity to be a little more selective of which ones I want to keep," said Becker, who is majoring in elementary education, and double minoring in English and middle-level education.
And each new home brings challenges of how to store her oodles of handbags.
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A year ago, Becker lived in an apartment where her room had a large walk-in closet. Instead of using it to hang up and organize clothes, her collection of handbags took more than three-fourths of the closet, each individually hanging on its own hanger.
Becker likes to think of her collection this way: "I like my money where I can see it -- hanging in my closet."
She also used this closet to display her collection of shoes and jewelry.
This year, Becker has to be a little more creative because she lives in a smaller two-bedroom apartment with a roommate.
"I used cement blocks to lift my bed and bought Rubbermaid totes to slide underneath."
Becker said she hasn't been able to find handbags or even jewelry lately that seem to interest her. So, one of her new hobbies is making her own jewelry.
She said eventually one day, she would like to own her own boutique.
Read Alicia Wicklund's "I got it from my momma" blog at http://igotitfrommymomma.areavoices.com
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