The bag lady (and not in a good way) - extra long - YouLookFab Forum

Category

What I Wore

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

The bag lady (and not in a good way) - extra long

amiable

Veteran

Due to a familial bout with the stomach flu, I have more free time this evening than I anticipated. So I put that time to use photoing bags.

So here's the inventory - good, bad and ugly...

#1 a gray, shiny, very structured bag. Too formal for every day use.
#2 a white hobo type bag. Probably to boho for me.
#3 a black nylon travel bag. Very light weight, and pretty boring.
#4 another black nylon bag. Also light weight, with a crinkly flap.
#5 a snake-skin bag. Cheap feeling and a bit small for me to use well.
#6 Black/white striped.
#7 Handknit bag with fibonacci stripes
#8 a Brown boring bag
#9 Fabric bag from Africa. I love this one when I'm wearing no other patterns, and want to add brightness. It's very casual, of course.
#10 a Brown slouchy bag
#11 a Green slouchy bag. The handle is adjustable length (too short in pic), and the bag is big.
#12 a huge gray vinyl bag.
#13 A small red bag
#14 a white bag with a shape that I like
#15 a black bag with gold zipper details that I like. I'd forgotten I had this, and think I'll make this my bag for fall.
#16 red structured Kate Spade bag.
#17 white small bag. I like that it's cross-body.
#18 silver foil bag. Love the bag, but feel silly with it.
#19 gorgeous ostrich aqua wallet. Too small to sub for a clutch.
#20 The black/brown striped bag I've been carrying the past few weeks.

Now, for the questions. Clearly I don't need or use this many bags. I'm really more of a 1-3 bags per season girl. Which, if any, are worth keeping?

(I had my 5 year old take bag shots of me, for scale. He loved it. And he picks the black and white striped bag as his favorite)

This post has 20 photos. 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.

21 replies

Latest reply was from viva

Mellllls

Veteran

#4 looks pretty dated to me. that would be my first suggestion for the chopping block.

Sal

Veteran

Ooh I love these posts!!

I like on appearances 5 6 8 9 10 11 13 14 15 19
I think 10 14 15 11 are really good everyday bags.
9 is super fun.
I also like 13 a lot.
I think 1-4 could be sent on their way - and 5 too as you don't like it.
I like 16 and 18 but more for a corporate dresser.

The rest I am neutral on.

Thanks for photographing them all!

Elly

Veteran

I like 2, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, and 20--- these look the most current, versatile, and you to my eye.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

1 has a vintage feel - don't know if you are into this or not.
From the appearance I like 13 or 17 for crossbody style, 15 and 16 for a work bag if they are big enough for you.
Which of them do you like? I find that relationship with bags is very personal. They have to speak to you - atleast this is how it is for me. Maybe this is why I have hard time adding to my bag collection...:-)

Echo

Veteran

IMO, 5, 13 and 14 are too short in the strap to be worn cross-body; they would look much better as longer shoulder bags. I very much like the idea of #10, but this bag looks like it has seen better days. A nice leather hobo, however, isn't a bad idea if you are looking to update at some point.

I like the IDEA of a lot of these bags, but the versions shown just aren't working. A structured bag like #1 or #8 is a nice idea, but I'd make it a little larger and more definitely structured. A plain black bag is a great thing, but #3, #4 and #20 are lacking the timeless qualities I like in a black bag. Hobos are a great bag for many people, but #11, #12 and #15 seem overwhelming on you. I LOVE teh shape and size of the clutch in #18, but am not fond of the bright silver. A more muted pewter might be more versatile.

I'd keep #9, as it is a memento from a trip, it sounds like, and that is important. Otherwise 14 (not worn cross-body), 15 and 16 would be my picks to keep. I'd update with a new bag in the style of #10, and consider a medium to large day clutch in a more versatile colour or finish.

bj1111

Veteran

As Sveta says, i know what i would purge, which one do you like?

Anonymous

I like 15 and 17 the best. But then I only have one bag at the moment! Keep what you like to use, and what feels like "you".

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What Sveta said.

And, which ones actually work for you? Which ones annoy heck out of you? I find bags that annoy me REALLY annoy me, appearances quite aside. I have a Tiganello tote that is actually a really nice bag and a great neutral for me, but for some reason the inner pockets don't suit my tastes and it drives me bananas.

amiable

Veteran

Thanks for your gentle prodding!

I like 15 best.
And 9 for casual, carefree summer days. (It's also sentimental)

I like the idea of a white bag, but they always get marked up.

I may like some of the others... but I'm not sure on that yet.
I've already resolved to purge 4, 5 and 12. It's a start, right?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I like 15 best, too, and I also like the B&W stripe.

It sounds as if you are making progress!!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

How you feel about them is important, but just on looks I really like your "boring brown bag" #8, #15 that you like too, and the Kate Spade #16. A lot of this is pure projection - although I often carry a slouchy hobo, I think a more structured bag looks better with my default RATE appearance. I also love the bag in #1 and #18 for special occasions.

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

I like 15 and 6 best.

I think 10 has potential, but I'd like to see it filled up a bit.

16 is pretty too.

Perhaps 2 for summer.

Most cross bodies look too short and too small for what I, as MOTG, need.

Joy

Veteran

Bags are very personal, so this is just what I would do. keep: 1,3,6,8,9,15,16,17,18,19,20.

Donate: 2, 4, 5, 7, 10,11,12,13,14. Some of these just don't hang right like they had shape once but lost it.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I like 15 best for you.
I also like 10 for your style, though it looks kind of worn; if so, keep it in mind as an example, perhaps.
I could also see you carrying 11, 13, 14, and 19. While 19 doesn't look like the size of clutches that are most current, I could actually see you carrying it to run to the store or on a walk for coffee--sometime when you didn't want to carry the whole purse. It would fit in with your tomboy style--I don't want to carry a purse, so I've got this fabulous, classy wallet that I carry instead; it holds all I need.

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

Bags are really personal so my opinion on your specific bags may not be worth much to you. I would approach it this way: if you could only choose three of your bags, which ones would they be? (Pretend you're going into witness protection program and can only take three, or your house caught on fire and you can only grab three). Then, of the other 17, are there any you'd miss so much you'd spend time and money to replace them with exact duplicates?
Those would be the ones I'd keep and let the rest go.

tulle

Veteran

Hmm, this may seem drastic, but I would jettison all but 10, 12, 14, 15, and 19 (which I do not think is too small to carry as an evening clutch.) In general, a larger soft or semi-structured bag seems to be great on you, and I think these five would cover most situations.

--But I think Alexandra's approach is excellent. Try it!

Astrid

Veteran

Agree with Alexandra! I wouldn't purge the ones you like the least but keep the ones you like best and toss the rest. I really like #15 for your everyday bag and say keep #9 for sentimental reasons. I'd also keep #19 for evening wear. But then I'm rather radical and would be perfectly fine having only one bag for each category (everyday small/big and dressy).

Deb

Veteran

Personally, I like a bag with more substance, some structure and quality. I'd pick 1, 8, 16 and 20 which offer a good range of colours and seem more 'grown up'. 4, 6 , 10, 13 and 15 are okay for casual if they are in good condition, and I'd update the evening bag.

jenanded

Veteran

What Sveta and Alexandra said... with keep 15, and then have just one and in the best condition in each of other categories I.e. one evening, ladylike/ dressy, sentimental, cognac/tan, coloured etc. That way you can have your fave black for fall, then IF you wanted or needed a change you have a small selection to pick from.

Jules

Veteran

I am also a 2-3 bags per season person., and that's for two seasons a year (F/W and S/S). Thus, 20 is pretty overwhelming. I could give you a gut reaction list, but I feel like if you went ahead and temporarily pulled say 5-10 bags that you either really don't like or never wear due to lack of functionality or occasion, the remaining ones would come into sharper focus as to why you like them, how much you like them, how you use them etc. Then I suspect you would have some further culling to do but it would be more focussed. And future shopping would also be more directed as to what you really want and need.

viva

Veteran

I would definitely keep 15 (my fave overall), 6 (love the stripes), and 9 (fun and sentimental - must keep). Maybe keep 1 because it is cool and different and might be fun for a night out if vintage feels at all you.

PS You are looking GORGEOUS with that hair.