Help: I need handbags back in my life! - YouLookFab Forum

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Help: I need handbags back in my life!

Roxanna

Veteran

Ok. So I LOVE handbags. The problem is, I never use mine. I travel to work every morning (either by car or bus) and I usually have so much stuff with me, that I take a gigantic tote (Laptop, planner, book, swallet, makeup bag, sometimes a shawl and/or shoes.) And now I am SICK of my totes.

I really MISS my bags. And I want to start cultivating a more thoughful collection of handbags, that i will use. But how do I do this if i am lugging around so much stuff all the time, and commuting to and from work?

What do you all do?

Dressing

16 replies

Latest reply was from Roxanna

Aida

Veteran

I have a separate slim canvas tote for laptop/work stuff which allows me to use my much preferred clutches, and also makes it easier if I step out during the day or run errands before/after work (no giant tote to lug around!). In your case I'd pop the computer, planner and book in a slim tote and use a handbag for the rest.

Anonymous

ii\I have the same issues . I love a gorgeous bag as much as the next person, but can't get past the mental barrier of fussing and switching every day . What is out of sight it also out of mind - so how and where do you store them so you know what you have and what would work on any given day? I didn't buy anything new this summer, although wish I had bought some kind of casual fun straw market tote (a la Keep it Chic). I am interested in something new for fall, but I'll only know it when I see it. What have you got in mind for yourself?

I do what Aida says, and put my handbag inside my tote. I don't use massive purses for this reason - find it more efficient to keep the work stuff apart from my personal things which fit in to a mid size purse.

Anonymous

Could you get it down to a two-bag system with a laptop/lunch/clothes bag taking all the bulky stuff?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ugh, the dreaded two bag system.

Well, I guess it works for many so I shouldn't say that. The truth is, even carrying a massive tote, I sometimes need to carry ANOTHER massive tote if I am going to the gym and then onto my day. I don't have a locker or anywhere to store things. I am moving from classroom to classroom on the same day sometimes...

I think we need to take bag lessons from Angie or something. But she makes do with a satchel or a clutch, which is what I would do if I didn't need my laptop, but I do need my laptop I have tried going laptop-less and it is not a happy thing.

A related spinoff might be the beautiful satchel, clutch, crossbody (whatever style you prefer) along with a fashion backpack large enough for computer etc. I have considered this option.

Roxanna

Veteran

Thank you ladies - these are some great ideas to try out!

@Aida - I like the idea of a slim tote. I think my problem was that all of mine are huge and boxy. Slim makes much more sense when carrying an handbag as well.

And @lisap makes a good point of putting the handbag inside of said tote to minimize number of bags.

@smittie - i like this option too. Might try this with one of the totes I already have.

@suz - so you feel my pain! I have to do the same sometimes (don't even et me started on my complicated lunches, which need a bag of their own.) Sometimes i feel like I should have my own sherpa...

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

I'm going to be the downer and say this isn't a battle that can be won. As a public transportation commuter who regularly needs to lug gym gear, work gear (laptop, glasses, sunglasses, wallet/cards, cosmetics), and food, I believe that it's impossible to get away with one bag, sometimes even two. I didn't like the added weight of fitting my small clutch into the bigger bag, and if you wear sunglasses and glasses, a clutch isn't always the smallest bag for you. If everything manages to fit in one bag, it'll be huge. For awhile, I did use a chain-strap clutch with a knapsack--it's a much better option for winter (because of summer sweating), though, and won't work if you have silks or shirts with prominent buttons (the chain will cause the buttons to come off).

crazyone

Veteran

This is a contrarian take but do you need to be carrying so much stuff around? This is assuming that you're going to a single office every day and are not an itinerant student. I commute as well, either taking the subway or walking 2 miles and I usually only have a small handbag with wallet, cell phone, lipbalm, keys, sunglasses (though they're actually superfluous), and feminine products. I do sometimes take lunch in but I carry that in a separate lunch bag anyway--I don't want food spilling on my other stuff.

Funny story is that I ground some roasted cumin to take to a friend's place and took it in a ziploc baggie in my handbag. A week later my handbag and wallet still smell strongly of cumin even though none of it spilled...

I've often kept a pair of work appropriate shoes tucked away underneath my desk, I keep a sweater there, I read Kindle on my phone rather than carry a book, etc. Can you use dropbox and save carrying your laptop? Or if it's a work laptop, leave your laptop at work some nights? Obviously this won't work for every day of your week, but this might help get a few days a week in where you don't carry as much stuff and let you use your handbags.

Diana

Veteran

So, for me, the two bag system doesn't work at all. I'm always paranoid I'll leave one on the bus or something, plus it somehow throws me off balance physically as well as mentally. If I have a second bag it's a small wristlet that I drop inside the big tote, but honestly most days I forego that due to weight - my stuff is heavy enough, I don't want to add any more weight than necessary to strain my back and neck.

I carry my laptop maybe 2-3 work days a week, and on those days I use a big tote. On non laptop days (can you get away without a laptop some days?) I use either the totes or medium sized hobo-type bags that can still hold my lunch and other items.

On weekends when I'm not carrying laptop or lunch, I use smaller bags. Cross bodies for casual errands and small handbags or wristlets for fancier things.

So I guess what I'm saying is that I have handbag capsules for different activities. I probably have too many in the weekend capsule but I do enjoy them and use them so I don't feel guilty about it for the most part. (I also have several fancy clutches for formal events -again prob more than I need but they make me happy. )

JAileen

Veteran

When I worked I used a crossbody bag and a briefcase. I first had a nice leather Coach briefcase with little handles. It was beautiful but not very practical. Then I got a canvas Lands End one with a shoulder strap. I could put all kinds of stuff in it, and it was washable. And if I went out at lunchtime, I had my purse at the ready. When you have to carry a lot of junk there's probably no perfect solution.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

C1, I think the issue for me is that I am itinerant. "Work from home" doesn't really describe it correctly; the truth is I'm a contract employee/ grad student/ self-employed writer, who travels by plane and train a LOT (and also walks a lot) and I pretty much need my own computer wherever I go because I don't go into an office, per se. I have nowhere to store stuff when I'm out and about except my bag and I need my computer not just for my work life but for everything else.

Not sure what Roxanna's situation is, but she may be facing some similar challenges.

Roxanna

Veteran

Thanks everyone - I find this conversation so interesting and helpful and it just sheds light on how complicated style can be when you add in real life constraints and activities.

@C1 you are probably right; I could carry less stuff. I am by nature a maximalist and like to have *everything* handy. But as you and @Diana suggested, i may not need my laptop every day, and maybe I could find my kindle instead of lugging around a big book, and maybe I could leave my shawl at work. I will see if I can pare down.

@Diana, @Jaileen, @Suz - you are right, there probably is no perfect solution. Because I take the car some days, take the bus some days, pick up the kids some days, what I need is different day by day, and frankly it's easier to lug a gigantic tote than decide day by day. But there are some good solutions here. Maybe we can convince Angie to do a post on it?

crazyone

Veteran

Suz: I totally understand, that's why I was trying to distinguish a situation like yours (perhaps shouldn't have just used the word "student", though you are a part-time graduate student, right?) to someone who works in an office. My impression was that Roxanna worked in an office, which is why I suggested what I did.

Roxanna: Understood--this won't be a solution for every day and I'm sure there will be days when you need the gigantic tote! But if the goal is to use some of your purses more then some strategic planning could be useful in figuring out which days would be more conducive to traveling light.

Re: Kindle, when I commute I never take the Kindle along, but I read from the Kindle app on my phone. Then it syncs with my physical Kindle so I can pick up where I left off. It's a great way to get snatches of 5-10 minutes of reading in and make real progress with a book! For a few years now I've been reading Robert Caro's The Years of Lyndon Johnson, the 4-volume series. Volume 3 alone is 1200 pages so I don't think I would have gotten *anywhere* with it had I bought it in hard copy. The ability to read some of it on e-reader and some of it on my phone made the going a lot faster. Funny thing is that I bought volume 2 (I have read volumes 1, 3, and 4 already) in paperback and have made little progress in it because I don't have it around with me, even though it's the shortest book in the series. (Also after 2000+ pages, I might have been hitting LBJ fatigue).

Louise

Veteran

I'd probably go with cute backpack for gym stuff, I recently picked up an amazing flamingo one, I actually went 'squee' in the shop I was so excited! Cross body bag as a handbag and a tote to carry my work stuff (both backpack and tote would work for either work or gym)
Failing that could you have a selection of totes and rather than looking at it as a functional piece it becomes a fashion piece in its own right? H&M have some lovely ones. Last year I got a white perforated one and I've got a lovely Pauls Boutique one which I've had years and still adore x

Roxanna

Veteran

@C1 Hooo! That is a LOT of LBJ! I admire your tenacity. I barely made it through the Nelson Mandela bio, and I thought that was a door stop (though I absolutely adored it.) I've lost my kindle and have gone back to paper books, which i love, but as you said, SO much weight (I'm reading a book by Kate Merton now that is something like 700 pages.) I've always been averse to reading on the phone (I hate the glare) but I may have to give it a try just to lighten my load.

crazyone

Veteran

Roxanna: I love paper books as well, but 700 pages is a lot of book to lug around It might lighten things up to have a kindle/kindle app on the phone. I agree that it's not a great thing to be doing too much, but some light reading on the commute hopefully won't be so bad.

Have you thought of getting one of those stylish backpacks?

Roxanna

Veteran

@Crazyone - you are so right. I'm definitely going to try the kindle app...especially if I can get through as much reading as you!

I do have a beautiful backpack...it's just a bit big. I have my eye on another one (just waiting to see if it goes on sale!)