Thursday, October 07, 2010

baggage analysis

ah, lovely lovely carefree bags.. from delightlyfully purpose-friendly Baggu's to Elisabeth's Margaret Howell number.

To me bag shopping is a task that will never cease to be difficult. It's just as relentless as it was in that frantic last week of August when I was at school and faced with finding that oxymoronic 'cool school bag' in time for the new term. 

I always lump bag shopping in the same category as jeans shopping (though thankfully am yet to find myself crying in a fitting room over something to carry my crap in..) but I can never quite understand why. Why is it that I am so sure of how I wish to look when it comes to clothes and yet so indesivive and clueless when it comes to something in which to carry my everyday loot. There is the issue of flashiness; I find it hard to find a bag on the High Street that doesn't come with completely unnecessary embellishment. Then there is practicality-I would quite happily carry a fabric tote around on my shoulder until the end of time if it wasn't for the rain factor. I spent last winter inflicting misery onto myself by carrying one out of complete laziness and fear of embarking on a bag quest. I would not wish such a lot of fuss onto anybody else as there are only so many times you can wear your bag inside your coat to protect your treasures being soaked through a non-waterproof fabric before you go insane. After a good couple of years of using fabric tote bags (and shoving everything into their one and only sections) you also start to completely appreciate the notion of pockets. They become a luxury. 'Three pockets!? Think of the opportunity for organisation! Pens here, a small tin of vaseline there! And oh look, I can zip my keys into here!'

I've also got to the stage of accepting that I find it difficult to minimise on baggage. I fall into that Mary Poppins category and a peek into my bag reveals I'm one of those 'what if..?' people who would rather haul a heavy camera, moleskin, countless pens, waterbottles and books than risk going without for a day. It's for this reason that a big bag suitable for shoving has become my go-to, I can think about the state of my shoulders when I'm through to the other side of life that prioritise revolves chiropractor fees over student loans. In reaction to all of this bag-alysis I'm having a bit of a moment of leaning towards simple bags that are well, personality free. The more simple and industrial looking, the better. A Chinese laundry bag, a similar plastic model that my Granny picked up in a Dutch department store, my Topshop Unique tote (hey, I'm not quite ready to let go of totes yet..) and an old black LeSportsac bag (the holy grail in sporty, simple, fuss free bags) are all on delicious rotation while I hold out for that perfect pocketed number.. 

13 comments:

Unknown said...

I am addicted to bags.. Love them .

Ringo, have a banana! said...

Oh man I completely agree! Bag shopping is the worst. I'm so indecisive, and actually I have a whole shelf full of various bags I've thrifted or picked up in the last several years, but I can never commit to one because they all seem lacking one way or another--and, being very much a pack rat myself it is SUCH A BITCH switching from bag to bag. I always forget or overlook something I end up needing like chapstick (how many fucking tubes of chapstick have I bought only to discover a couple weeks later that it was just in some forgotten pocket of some OTHER bag??) or pens or checkbook or sunglasses or...

I also like to simplicity of a tote, but the whole on pocket thing is such an annoyance, not to mention the potential for getting everything soaked, and they're just so damn ubiquitous that I feel like an ass sometimes. I decided a little while ago that the ultimate solution in my case is to find a LEATHER TOTE. Right?? So I've been hunting ever since, so far to no avail. All the vintage ones online I see I always loose out on or are weird and too glossy or 90's in a shitty way, and brand new ones are always out of my price range. So the hunt continues...

Sure wouldn't mind one of these though:

http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2010/05/best_bet_marlow_sons_leather_b.html

Going there for dinner tonight and totally gonna scope 'em so I can start dreaming.

Rosa Abbott said...

I feel your pain.

I constantly carry around my laptop, which makes the rain + fabric tote problem even more, well, problematic. I still do tend to use them though, and just try and keep my bag under huddled under my umbrella if the heavens do open - often sacrificing my own dryness for the sake of my bag.

I'm currently on the hunt for a vintage satchel, with lots of pockets, and in soft buttery leather.... Not as cheap as a tote, but I think it would be worth it.

Kellie said...

I'm the same way, I just bring EVERYTHIGN with me in my bag, no matter how unnecessary. And I always SAY I'm going to sort things into pockets and be organized, but usually my purse contents just turn into a big, jumbled mess! Ha!

Jenna M. said...

I feel your pain. It takes me FOREVER to commit to a new bag because there are so many that I want.

IƱaki said...

I really like the plastic checked one. I have a mahussive one and it's great. And LV did a version years ago, so it's fashion too.

xx

Victoria said...

ahhh i love those el cheapo red check bags, they sell them in the chinese mans shop along the road and it was only £2.. bargain!!

Is This Real Life? said...

Ah i totally agree it is so hard to find the perfect bag and then when i do find one i like i end up using it untill the strap/handles are nearly falling off!
Good luck with finding your perfect one!

Anonymous said...

I know what you mean about most high street handbags being horrible, either too much metal or cheap looking leather! for uni, I just went to zara men and got a kind of utility satchel - big enough to fit my books and waterproof inside. otherwise its a plain black urban outfitters satchel, fits sunglasses case, volvic water bottle...perfect!

Rose said...

completely understand, i have been searching for a purse without excessive stuff for ages to no avail

Just Another Londoner said...

'Oxymoronic cool school bag'...it's so true. Most of my school goes to Primark for theirs, there must be about 15 girls in the sixth form alone walking around with identical brown pleather ones at the moment.

Vindolanda said...

I'm inspired and make bag shop today - although I am someone who needs to take note of chiropractic considerations.

lison said...

i have that asos bag! (the cream/brown one) but i wouldn't recommend it for school! the bag is huge! it's very long and deep and everything just pokes you as you carry it!

i invested in a black crumpler backpack during my second year of uni and as geeky as it looks, it's good for my back and i'm sure our clothes would offset the geekiness!

i think a black canvas back pack with brown leather trimmings would look amazing but i just haven't found one and i'm nearly finished with uni!