Reality television star and fashion mogul Kimora Lee Simmons has given the public an astonishing glimpse into her vast collection of designer handbags, confessing to a 'luxury hoarding' habit. The revelation came in a teaser for the finale of her rebooted E! series, 'Kimora: Back in the Fab Lane,' filmed at her luxurious Los Angeles home.
A Closet of Hundreds
When producers pressed the 50-year-old executive producer on the exact number of high-end purses she owns, Simmons initially estimated 'a hundred.' She quickly revised this to 'probably hundreds,' only to be visibly shocked to learn the true count was a staggering 698 individual bags. "So yes, I have a problem," Simmons admitted. "My name is Kimora and I am a hoarder, but a luxury hoarder."
The collection features some of the world's most coveted and expensive accessories. Among them are numerous Hermès Birkin bags, which typically range in price from $5,000 to an eye-watering $500,000. One standout piece is a colourful 'Sunrise Rainbow' Birkin, valued at approximately $38,500. Simmons also showcased other treasures, including a 2019 Chanel 'Gold & Black Calfskin' purse worth $7,500 and a Louis Vuitton 'Monogram World Cup Memorial' bag priced at $9,000.
Family Dynamics and Borrowed Style
The footage also highlighted the fashion-forward dynamic within her family. Her 25-year-old daughter, Ming Lee Simmons, entered the lavish closet to ask to borrow a bag. "Ming loves to shop in my closet. She takes my bags. She takes things like earrings, rings," Kimora remarked with a scoff. Ming, a graduate of NYU and founder of Boulangerie, ultimately selected a blue clutch that perfectly matched a bikini she had previously 'taken' from her famous mother.
Reflecting on her impressive archive, the divorced mother-of-five noted, "My girls will inherit a lot, but not yet." Simmons is parent to five children aged 10 to 25 from previous relationships with ex-husband Russell Simmons, estranged second husband Tim Leissner, and ex-fiancé Djimon Hounsou.
Life Beyond the Closet
The bag revelation comes amid a period of public discussion about her personal life. Earlier this month, Simmons told People magazine that she 'doesn't have a relationship, really' with any of her exes and is the primary, full-time parent to her children. "It's difficult, but I don't know sometimes what other people are thinking. Guys are weird," she stated.
This comment prompted a public response from ex-husband Russell Simmons on Threads, where he made claims about child access and financial support. Kimora Lee Simmons swiftly clapped back on Instagram, calling his statements "lies" and referencing his residence in Bali, a country with no extradition treaty with the US, amid numerous sexual assault allegations against him. A recent Rolling Stone report noted he still owes $11 million to three of his accusers.
The finale of 'Kimora: Back in the Fab Lane,' promising more insights into her opulent lifestyle and family affairs, airs this Tuesday on E!.
