Need reviews of handbag organizers (or "transfer bags") - YouLookFab Forum

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Need reviews of handbag organizers (or "transfer bags")

April

Veteran

Would anyone using one of the bag-within-a-bag handbag organizers (aka "transfer bags") be so kind as to comment on their convenience, durability, etc.?

I have been looking at a number of these online, in the hope that owning one would encourage me to be less lazy about changing bags. Which one do you use, and how do you like it?

General

16 replies

Latest reply was from April

Steph

Veteran

April, your question sounded familiar, and sure enough, it has come up in the past. Hopefully you will get some more feedback, but this might be a place to start: http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....frequently

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

I read the thread that Steph linked to and, like you, thought it would be great so did lots of googling and nearly spent £20 on one. BUT, I'm glad I hesitated. Before I bought I decided to try out the principle first and borrowed this from my 6yo DS for about a week:

(((DON'T LAUGH!!!!!! (Well, you will, but never mind))))

http://www.farmtoysonline.co.u....._Blue/534/

The bag bit is almost exactly the size of the organisers that they sell and very similar in design to some of them too.

What I found was that it was a pain putting everything back into it every time I took out eg my cell, keys etc and I wondered if actually I needed the opposite: a small bag that I would fill with everything that *shouldn't* actually live in my handbag that could be removed at the end of the day. Needless to say I never followed that up, but perhaps I will.

My point is that for me I had to try out if the idea would work for me first (it didn't) - then if it had worked I would have investigated more. It certainly saved my some money and I may try it again in the future.

PS I didn't put the trowels/forks etc into my handbag...

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

Polly - I'm sorry but that did make me laugh - but it was a genius idea!

I have been wondering about something like this for a while, but my handbags are all completely different shapes so I am not sure how it would work.

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

It was very funny!

I spent hours checking them all out (another afternoon of my life lost on the internet...) - you can find different sizes. I think it depends how disciplined and streamlined you are - I decided I wanted my wallet, keys, cell, lipstick and a couple of pens - but the keys and cell in particular it was a pain to return to their slot, and I think my version was probably as sturdy as the ones you can get.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I just use a make up bag to organize my purse. I have that, a large wallet that holds my checkbook as well as money and cards, and I keep my keys, cell phone, gum, and lip balm in pockets in my purses.

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

Part of my problem is probably the amount of stuff I keep in my bags. I tend to downsize in the weekend, but during the week I have:

- wallet
- business card holder
- phone
- ipod
- oyster card (my travel card)
- keys
- small note book / diary
- pens
- make up bag
- book
- in summer a bottle of water (you need this when travelling on non air conditioned public transport
- often a small camera

I would use all of this on amost a daily basis - I would love to lighten up, but I am not sure how.

April

Veteran

Polly, I LOVE creative ideas like your use of the gardening bag!

I know that I don't want something with a lot of features I won't use (e.g., credit card slots). I don't want the organizer to replace my wallet, I want to be able to put my wallet inside it.

My goal is not to have a separate compartment for every item. I just want to lift the central bag out of one handbag and put it into another without a lot of objects being left behind.

Kyle's Chameleon bag on the other thread looks pretty good. I also liked this one: http://apparel.drleonards.com/.....199200.cfm

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

Oh no! You're making me start thinking about getting one again...

Good luck with your search - let us know what you end up with!

Louise

Veteran

I have one of these http://www.quirkybags.co.uk/ha.....VIP-C.html in rose (pale pink). I have had it a few years, though I don't use it so much now I have downsized the contents of my handbag. I think I should reinstate it though as I'm having problems finding things at the bottom of my big yellow bag! It's made from nylon and can be washed in the machine at 30c which I have done a couple of times and it still looks like new x

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Polly, you win the creative award of the year :0)

Lynne

Veteran

April, stricly FWIW......on Fridays I try to give my purse a quick tidy and swap the contents of my bag over. I have two handbags that I alternate. Sometime on a Friday (and if I don't get round to it I don't bother, I just come back to the following Friday) I tip the contents of my bag onto the kitchen table, remove the flotsham and jetsum, and swap everything over. (btw if you check out the website, I suggest you resist the urge to subscribe....you will recieve no less than 15 or so emails per day......)

Lynne

Veteran

oops...forgot to mention that I got the idea from a website: http://www.flylady.com, helnce the nonsensical warning at the end of my blurb...apologies

lynne

Veteran

Lynne, that's a great idea. I used to clean my purse out at the end of every day. I've got to get back to that. I'd also forgotten about flylady. Thanks for the reminders. And I really like how you spell your name the right way.

MNsara

Veteran

I have one of these sort:

http://www.joeyjunior.com/

It is okay. It helps add structure to large bags that would get slouchy (even my MK satchel needs structure help). I have the original size (medium?) and it has all those pockets. They are fairly deep and I can't keep track of which one has my keys, my cell phone, etc. I was just wishing they would use different color pockets to help me remember - not dig around.

I still have a wallet, checkbook, and a few stray things that are loose in the center (this thing forms a 'ring' around the walls of the handbag).

It would help transfer to another bag that could hold it, but not every bag fits it and not every bag needs it. . .

Lynne

Veteran

lynne every day would be too often for me to clean out my bag!

April

Veteran

I have ordered this one in black (it comes with two: a larger and smaller version) and will post a review when it arrives: http://apparel.drleonards.com/.....199200.cfm

And another vote for the Flylady approach. If you have trouble staying on top of housework and organization, you don't need advice from someone for whom these things come naturally, and she really understands that.