A complete bag wardrobe (splurge and steal editions)

A text thread makes me re-evaluate how many handbags I really need. The five suggestions I gave to a friend with an onslaught of work travel and festive events.

My current bag wardrobe by category: A ladylike clutch, an evening bag, a trendy crescent bag, a laptop bag and an indestructible crossbody. The breakdown below.

Good morning readers! Coming at you first thing today to enjoy with the coffee of your choice. Here goes.

When a friend recently asked what I thought a complete handbag wardrobe would consist of, I found it an interesting exercise. I, like may of you I assume, have more handbags than I actually use. Some that I HAD TO HAVE are currently collecting dust and would probably fetch a pretty penny at resale. But the psychological toll of letting go is just too much…what if they come back around? Bag prices are going nowhere but up! Hello Chanel, looking at you. Which just reinforces I needed less to begin with. Bags are tricky to store and taking up way too much real estate in my NYC-sized coat closet. So using this week as a practice in pairing back: thinking about what I really use and what to buy that has longevity. I’ve found if I keep it to five or so, I don’t really even need to put them away, avoiding the storage issue all together. My list came down to the five pictured above. Ideas for each category they represent below.

The Work, Laptop, Schlepping Bag

There’s so much pressure on the work bag now that carrying around a laptop day in and day out is expected. It should be durable, hyper-functional (but god forbid look functional!), designer, but not a designer price point. Its embarrassing to admit how many hours I’ve spent looking for this style. Winners at the extremes below. *But note that I’ll do a full post on this later, since there is A LOT to dissect.

THE SPLURGE: This boxy tote is structured enough to stand on its own with your laptop, a pouch of cords, your water bottle and sunglasses. Plus, it looks BOSSLADY without all signage and hardware that muck up most designer “work bags.” I don’t love hardware in general, and this one is so elegant without it! Pebbled leather justifies the price, since it won’t scratch as easily as smooth leather and will be less stressful if and when you forget your umbrella.

THE STEAL: A better boat tote!?! I recently cheated on my ride or die LL Bean with a Land’s End tote (GASP!) The fabric is slightly softer meaning a bit easier to hold next to your body and it has so many organizational pockets. Chic chic chic in the all black. Don’t forget to get the “long straps” so you can swing it over your shoulder. I like the size large but medium is nice too if you have a Macbook Air.

The Indestructible Crossbody

The bag in heaviest rotation at the moment is my Uniqlo purple crossbody Mary Poppins pouch. Mostly because I’m a mom of a toddler. It weighs nothing. It is not branded. I wear it to the playground or to run out for some bananas and yet it looks pretty good with a tailored coat in the winter. I think the key to this bag, is that it should be minimal enough that it can go from the park to your adult life. It is shocking how many people ask me if this bag is The Row. Lesson here: avoid any branding so it can literally be an anywhere, anytime bag. This means no to the super sporty Lululemon version I see everywhere (sorry Lululemon, I love you!)

*Editor’s note: I’m not going to do a splurge for this category, because I think Uniqlo’s is perfect, no matter your budget.

THE STEAL: So sadly my Uniqlo bag is no longer available, but they do have this one! I’m thinking white, or maybe the burnt orange. It’s the style and price to have fun with color. $20!!!!!

A trendy swing over your shoulder Y2K bag (but for grownups)

This all stems from the Prada Cleo of course. Which I love, especially in the shiny red and yellow shades. But the 90s/Y2K-ish bag that stole my heart is this Alaia Demi-Lune. Alaia is on fire with their bag launches right now. Each is better than the next. The heart! The crossbody! I digress. The shoulder bag feels equal parts trendy and practical. Shoulder strap, check. Can be carried by Euphoria stars and my banker college roommate (hi Stephanie!), check.

THE SPLURGE: This super slim grommet half-moon initially brought to my attention by friend of 5 Things Nora Milch, who has it in LEOPARD, feels slightly edgy, but not like I’m trying to re-live high school. If grommets are too much for you, this is my other favorite in the designer category.

THE STEAL-ISH: Ok not so cheap, but also not designer price point. :) Love this little ByFar number in croc embossed. But also on sale in this strangely neutral, very pretty green!

A Little Lady Clutch

My favorite category! It’s intentionally inconvenient. You hold it in your hand. It fits almost nothing. But that’s kind of the point. For when you want to just grab your phone and wallet and pods and feel free from stuff. Also just looks great. It doesn’t steal attention from your outfit. And it gives you something to do with your hands other than scroll Instagram. I use them during the day (throw in your work bag and pull out for lunch, chic!) and at night when presumably you will be shlepping less stuff anyway.

My two personal favorites and heavy in the rotation. THE SPLURGE (left): This beauty that could have been your grandmothers, but is all yours, til you give to your granddaughter. And THE STEAL (right): My super secret favorite bag out there. I can’t even believe I’m spilling the beans on this one: The Max Mara Weekend Pasticcino (small size). It’s currently $147. Fits a wallet, sunglasses, pods and pashmina.

An Evening Bag

We all need a super special occasion bag, even if we don’t bring it out often. You don’t want to show up at a black tie affair with the wrong bag only to leave it on your chair because the look is off but then spend the entire cocktail hour wondering if someone took it. So commit to this style, even if you only bring it out once in a blue moon. And actually, not no to these sparkly ladies with your summer skirt and slides. And final note here, I don’t think an evening bag should be trendy, AT ALL. This literally should last in your closet for decades. I feel strongly about this! Notice below I am not including Paco Rabanne paillettes, which I love.

THE SPLURGE: A Judith Leiber!! The ultimate dream! Or is it just my ultimate dream? Painfully expensive, but I mean, ICONIC.

THE STEAL: Great shape, great sparkle. Nothing really else to say!

IN CONCLUSION! Obviously there will be the fun find on The Real Real that we just have to have from time to time, and you will probably want to keep your Chanel 2.55 forever, but keeping the count down can be a relief from the it-bag cycle. Also, I hope this helps you avoid buying the black designer bag just because its the “practical” designer bag. Have fun with your five and think about your personal style when doing this, not just practicality alone. They’re bags after all, practical by nature of holding stuff!

Final tip: When choosing, remember that it is very easy to get caught up in the bags brands are pushing, but the real gems are usually hidden a few scrolls or shelves down. You are very unlikely to love an it-bag forever. Here’s looking at you Chloe Paddington and Fendi Spy (and yes I know Bella Hadid has been wearing one ironically). So think about shapes that feel old already or strange enough that seasonality doesn’t matter as opposed to the shiny new sponsored post. Notice the Bottega laptop bag I’m suggesting is NOT the super puffy Bottega bag but only a semi-recognizable weave that has aging potential.

And if you are thinking, “Shut up, already! I’m just here for something fun for summer!”, I can’t stop smiling at this. I might need it. Face palm.

See you next week. Leave me any love, or themes you want me to cover, or your MUST HAVE bag in the comments below.

Yours TRULY,

Becky

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