Question for "bag" ladies - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Question for "bag" ladies

Thistle

Veteran

If you work in an office environment, do you carry your bags with you most of the day?

There are some gorgeously fabulous posts where the bags seems to be the icing on the perfect cake.

I had started to consider bags as an accessory to be added to my wardrobe, but stopped as they are expensive and I basically drop them in a drawer in my desk until I leave for lunch. Then back in they go until I leave for dinner. You never even see the bag with my outfit as I have a puffer on the whole time.

Now, this could just be me being lazy

Dressing

31 replies

Latest reply was from

ramya

Veteran

Nope , I am the same as you. Bag is just for getting in and out of the office

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Maybe it's because I don't work in an office, but I feel like my bags get a lot of visual play. I switch them out a lot and do consider how my bag choice for the day and my coat choice for the day will play together.

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Haha, I know what you mean. Well, you have to have something to carry your stuff right? Might as well make it fun! I leave my purse on my desk so I can see it (and other people coming into my office are always making comments about it). I don't carry it around inside the office, but if I'm walking to the hospital for lunch I bring it with me, and when I'm on hospital duty I carry my purse around with me in the hospital. As long as you enjoy your bag, does it really matter who else sees it?

As for me, part of the outfit fun is selecting just the right bag to complete the outfit. And purses like my orange slice bag or typewriter bag just make me smile all day. That's worth it in my book!

Diana

Veteran

I think of them as outerwear. I don't wear my coat in the office either, yet it's an important part of my look. I have said here before that far more people see me during my commute than at work.

That said, I switch my bag only every couple of weeks. But my bags generally match all my outerwear. I don't photograph my bags with my outfit much, partly out of laziness and partly because, as I said above, they go with the coat more than the outfit.

Eta: but I'm that crazy person who is too vain to wear a puffer, so... Ymmv.

ramya

Veteran

Oh but that said Thistle, I love my bags :). And have 10 of them

Echo

Veteran

I agree that bags are outerwear for me; I rarely carry one around indoors almost anywhere except shopping. But it is still worthwhile for me to carry a nice one! When winter is cold and grey, sometimes only a nice coat, bag and a scarf (maybe nice boots) make the outfit!

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I consider my bags very much part of my style and outfit and change them out accordingly. I do work in an office and the bag goes into my desk when I get here - but when I go grab coffee or lunch - out it comes into full visual mode.

catgirl

Veteran

This is why I'm not a bag lady - otherwise I would be!

Nicole D

Veteran

My bag gets hung up until home time, but my wallet/clutch might go to Tim Horton's (coffee place). But there are always errands and such!

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

citygirldc

(website)

Veteran

I am so NOT a bag lady although I did buy a striped Kate Spade bag last summer which I did use. Most of the time I got straight to work and hide it in my desk. I'm more of a shoe lady.

Sara L.

Veteran

During the week, I'm like you, Thistle, and only my wear my bag from the car to the office, then back out to the car when I go home. It never gets seen. However, I do change out my bags on the weekends to cross-body bags that work with casual outfits. These get seen more since I go to soccer games, basketball games, shopping, etc. I've decided I need a slightly bigger cross-body bag than I currently own that could hold some baby stuff, like a couple diapers, wipes and a spare outfit. It's on my spring shopping list along with a shirtdress (so hard to find one long enough).

JAileen

Veteran

I used to work in an office. I would keep my bag in my desk except at lunchtime. On the way home I had to pick up the baby, stop at the post office, and maybe the grocery store. I needed a bag that worked for my life. It had to be cross body, sturdy, and spacious. It might as well be attractive, too!

I always made sure my bag went with my outfit. Ever since I discovered Coach, back in the early 80s, I've used them. Now, I buy vintage Coach at Goodwill, because the company's style has diverged from my style. I prefer the clean lines of their vintage bags. I buy other bags too, but mostly Coach. The low price is a bonus!

Now that I don't work, I really don't have many opportunities to dress up. But even now I like to change to a bag that works with whatever I'm wearing and whatever I'm doing. Usually it means a cross body, but not always.

rae

(website)

Veteran

when I was in the office, I was like Natalie and left my bag on the desk.

what about a bag that coordinates with your puffer coat?

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

Mine goes in a desk drawer when I'm in the office. But the people on the train see it!

Emily

Veteran

I dont carry mine except at lunch, but I set it on my desk so I can see it

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I only get to carry a bag when I leave the house and so I consider it part of my outerwear. I do like the effect a bag can add. In spring, fall, and summer, that is.

My goal is to make an outfit that works well on its own, without the bag, as well as with the bag. Unless I'm going to be with the bag all the time. Which does happen, for example when I'm on vacation in NYC walking around all day -- the bag is always with me. Or even just when I am walking around downtown here.

But for work - well, I don't even wear SHOES, let alone a bag!!

That aside, my current bag is not adding ANYTHING positive to my outfits with puffer coat. I can't figure out what kind of bags look good with puffers. Maybe that is a separate post? Hmmm. Thank you for getting me thinking.

MsMary

Veteran

Heh. Nobody sees my outfits, anyway, besides my three-person staff and anybody with whom I may have lunch, so bag or no bag doesn't really matter! If "being seen and appreciated by anybody other than the YLF crowd" were a criterion for any aspect of my outfits, my entire wardrobe would be completely different! LOL

But yes, I walk from the car to the office with my lovely bag, then the bag goes under the desk until lunch time, when it gets to go out if I go out (most days I do), then back under the desk it goes. But I still enjoy coordinating my bags with my outfits.

Susie

Veteran

I don't carry my bag around the office, but it does sit on top of the desk that's behind me. And I use it when I go out at lunch time for errands, shopping, or lunch.

Bags are like shoes for me. I think they add a lot to a basic outfit and I enjoy having and using a variety of styles.

Hil

(website)

Veteran

I guess I am a bit of a bag fan, and although it stays under my desk while I am at the office, I still wear it in and out the office at grab it for lunch. And errands, and outings on the weekend. Having a nice bag that I love makes me feel better, the same way that clothes do.

shiny

Veteran

I do carry my bag around the office, for trips to the bathroom (frequent if I'm drinking too much coffee!), down to the lunchroom, and constantly running between conference rooms and meetings. I am in and out of my bag a lot, since I keep my phone in it, kleenex, chapstick, gum, power bar, scarf, pens, computer adapters, etc. I guess you could say I futz a lot - need a slick of chapstick because my lips are getting dry; my nose is dripping because I get allergies dry office air; there's no pocket for my cell phone today; etc.

For business travel, I am using a nylon laptop/carryon bag with a clutch tucked in. I will pack the laptop bag with cardigan, scarf, flat shoes, etc and then park the laptop bag somewhere. Then grab the clutch in one hand and my MAC in the other as I go from meeting to meeting.

With my old job when I had to go into the office I'd put my heavy PC laptop in an ugly but highly serviceable bag that had rollers. This would greatly ease my back. And carry a nice handbag that I'd swap out depending on my outfit. Now that I have a MAC, I plan to just pop it into a nice sleeve and hand-carry, with everything else in nice handbag. I have two sleeves at the moment, one basic black and the other a fun red. I might be inclined to invest in something stylish!

So even if you aren't a "bag" girl, you can always get stylish with laptop bag or sleeve and have some fun there....

I did look into stylish bags big enough to tote a laptop, but they are HUGE and if not nylon very heavy. I'd rather save my back and carry laptop sleeve in one hand, smaller bag in the other (or across body).

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

Nope, I'm like you. Bag goes in the drawer. It comes out when it's time to get out of the office - for lunch and at the end of the work day.

MicheleLee

My bag sits at my desk, but I still like to invest in something that (1) is functional, (2) looks professional, and (3) makes me smile. I have a few bags that I rotate between so I don't get bored and can change up my look but, because I buy higher quality bags, it is often a long time in between purchasing bags to replace ones in my collection.

Lisa

Veteran

I use a bag everyday and it sits in my desk most of the day. But I will periodically change out my bag, because I'm the one who see's it the most and I get tired of them from time to time. I used to own a LOT of bags and would change them with every outfit, it was fun, but over the years I've slowly purged down to only a handful of bags now.

deb

Veteran

Mine hang at my desk but I have quite a walk in so many see it. I have never thought of this but I like the idea of considering it outer wear.

Kristin L

Veteran

Mine walks with me to the office and anytime I leave my building. Otherwise it hangs out at my desk. But I have a love affair with purses, so if I'm going to splurge on something, that's usually it.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I don't think you need a lot of bags but I do think they need to be good. IMO they are like shoes in that they either add or detract from a look they are rarely neutral

Deborah

Veteran

I love handbags! And I tend to change my daily. I also work in an office three days a week but my work is varied so some days I may not leave the office all day others Im out running to appointments off site. My bag is always considered part of my outfit and I always take it if I leave the office whether it be to pick up a coffee or head to an appointment.

Adelfa

Veteran

I am a recovering bag person. In my new job (which I drive to and from) I get there before any of my colleagues. I have to stash my bag because lots of different people use our hallways. To top it off we don't really do lunch, just on-site lunch meetings. So these days I just stuff a clutch into a Longchamp tote that holds my lunch, files, and water bottle. I have a couple of adored clutches that I wear on the weekends!

I am still so attracted to bags, but I think my money is better spent on shoes.

rute

Veteran

the bag completes the outfit!
I don't carry the bag around the office, but I may have exterior meetings. When I start working a former collegue of mine was shocked when I went to a meeting outside with her without my bag. The clients are expecting a lady to always to carry her bag, she told me and I never forgot!

12