Another one here like Angie: too many and not enough. I am often rethinking bags. I tend to climb to about 22 bags (regular, clutch, evening, tote) and keep up a continual purge, sometimes getting down to about half a dozen. But then it climbs upwards again.
At one point I decided that I didn't want any more heavy bags encumbering me. I like to picture myself as traveling light, always arriving. Trudging under a bag that was heavy even when empty didn't suit that image. So I passed along some beautiful leather bags.
I often have a conflict between wanting the bag to provide counterpoint or emphasis to an outfit and the idea that a bag is Luggage and I only need one. Even as a young girl, I never had just one. Though my mother did. It's funny that the idea of bags as pieces of luggage appeals to me since I never carry anything much in them. Occasionally, in winter, I will use a tote to stuff my winter accessories into when I take them off.
When I was young, I mostly had clutch bags, usually printed. I remember when visiting at someone's house, the woman spotted my bag and showed me that it resembled her Klee painting. Obviously, though, I didn't carry much then, either. My father would chide me about going out without a wallet. Who does that?
In junior high, in the early 60's, I had a friend who wanted to go into the army. Her very sedate mother was appalled. My friend also wanted a shoulder bag and it was strictly forbidden as her mother deemed it "rough-looking." I also did not understand why she wanted her hands free. Yes, there was a small bag in my hand but remember it held little and I was carefree in that respect. There's something that still appeals about having so few responsibilities, though today I am more likely to want crossbody bags to have my hands free for ... whatever. So, another conflict, all played out in terms of bags wardrobe.
I change the shapes and sizes of my collected bags as well. Currently I am liking slimmer, snappier looking bags.
