I’ve always been a big bag kind of girl; even before I had kids, I hauled around a gigantic handbag full of I don’t know what. It was all super important, though, and I needed all of it with me all of the time.
I’m over that.
A few weeks back, I went to Chicago for a couple of days; I took my messenger bag, because I had my laptop with me, but I also threw in a smaller clutch, because I didn’t want to drag the big bag to dinner. I put my wallet and my phone and a lipgloss and some tissue in the little bag and tucked in into the big bag. Perfect.
But then I came home and a funny thing happened: I didn’t go back to my big bag, I just kept carrying the clutch. Everywhere. And I haven’t missed any of the stuff that was in my big bag one bit.
I realize that some of my ability to carry a clutch as my day bag rests on the fact that my boys are old enough that they no longer need diapers or sippy cups or five superhero action figures on hand at all times. But for the past couple of years, most of the stuff in the big bag has been mine, not theirs; for me, this was a paring down of what I need to get through the day, not an adjustment of what my kids need.
Could you carry a clutch for day? Do you keep things in your bag just in case? Or are you a handbag minimalist?
Ellington Star Clutch, currently $90.30. Also available in red.
I love the Star Clutch, but I’m just not there. I don’t know if it’s because my girls are still just 5 and 7, but I carry a lot of stuff that seems pretty important! Beyond the wallet and planner and phone and sunglasses (where do you keep your sunglasses?!?), there’s also the pack of Wet Ones, the pencils and notepads for impromptu drawing/writing if we’re stuck at the doctor’s office or I want an extra ten minutes of sitting at the coffee shop with my kindergartner, the mini hand sanitizer, the hairbrush, the emergency band-aids, the medicine, the chapsticks, the spare granola bars, and sometimes the water bottles and discarded kid cardigans and mittens. But largely I suppose my stuff is my own. You know how much I love my big Ellington hobo bag!
I know I say it all the time, but that Nicole hobo is the Best Bag Ever.
I switched to the wristlet about 3 years ago and have never looked back. The nurse at the pediatrician’s office always marvels at it. Sunglasses go either on top of my head or stay in the car, if I am walking around they are on! I clip my keys to the wristlet, toss in a chapstick, a pack of tissues, my phone, cash and a credit/debit card/license and off I go. Of course my husband remarked the other day that this means all the stuff that used to like in the purse (the first aid kit, the notebook, the wet ones) now lives on the passenger seat of the car…
I carry actual purses, but I’ve pared things down since I’ve gotten older and more able to prioritize (hello, middle school when you can carry a purse to class for the first time). But I don’t know if I could ever go to a clutch for day because I am fairly adamant about carrying a book with me everywhere I go. If it weren’t for that, I could do it.
Lori, this summer I fell in love with the Kindle app on my iPhone — it’s the perfect way to have a book on the go (although reading on the iPhone screen for more than maybe 20 minutes makes me crazy).
I haven’t quite given up my beautiful hot pink leather Fossil tote, but I have switched over to one of those keychain wallets. So what usually happens is my purse comes to work with me, but if I go out to lunch or shopping on the weekends or out to dinner, I just take my phone and my keychain wallet. The phone doesn’t fit in the wallet, but I can usually find a pocket to carry them in so I’m hands free.
I actually switched to a clutch when we went to London a couple months back, didn’t want to haul my usual big bag sightseeing and walking around all day. I’ve never switched back either! I mean, if I can travel around the UK for a week with a clutch I can certainly survive going downtown with one, right? It’s been the best thing ever.
(I do recommend a clutch with a little wrist strap if you are using it while traveling or if you ride the subway, nice to loop your hand through for security sometimes, or to let it dangle when you need two free hands)
I do kind of a mix. I always have a large bag on hand, but I keep all my must haves — money, ID, lip gloss, a pen — in a wristlet thing that I keep within whatever bag I’m carrying, so when I ONLY need the necessities, I can just pull that out and go.
Most places, though, I like having my big bag, not so much for the things I need to keep in it (although it’s handy when the weather is weird and I can stash a scarf or sweater in there), but for the things I can toss in there as I pick them up.
Also, a large bag is harder to leave places, so if I’m shopping or going to dinner, I kind of like having a larger purse so I don’t forget it.
Wow, I’m impressed, Susan, that you are able to carry around only a small thin clutch! It takes a lot of responsibility to carry a purse that does not in any way attach to your body, much less contain everything but the kitchen sink.
I also agree that a diaper bag is not necessary — just slip a few diapers, some wipes and a changing cloth in your purse. No need to complicate life!
I would like to be a handbag minimalist, but with three children under four, it just ain’t happenin’. For myself, I carry my wallet and EpiPen kit (complete with Benadryl and steriods in case of a severe attack). Oh, and listerine strips, a pen and cell phone.
For my kids, I carry two size 5 diapers for the 18 month old, 2-3 size 1s for the 3 month old, sometimes a spare underwear for the potty trained 3.5 year old, wipes, nursing cover, breast shield, burp cloth (for the spitters in the family), 2 Bumkins bibs for the older boys, sometimes a sippy cup or two, depending on where we are going. Oh, and hand sanitzer. That’s as low as I can go without risking disaster while out and about. Although I have been known to walk out the door with two kids in carriers, my wallet and epipen and that’s it. Living on the edge, I think!
I’m looking forward to getting back to small bag days, but I think those are a long way off.
Also, I would surely set a clutch down somewhere and walk away without it.
I go back and forth. If my kids are with me, I usually have a tote because one of them has some emergency supplies we have to keep with us. If it’s just me, I LOVE my wee bag.
I’m a big bag girl… I need a book, my dayplanner, etc etc. But a while ago, I bought the cutest iPhone case that has a little pocket in front and a key ring with a lobster clasp attached. More and more I find myself grabbing that (phone in, credit card and license in the little pocket, keys attached to the lobster clasp… slip my finger through the key ring, and off I go!) for trips out on the weekends, or anytime I run out while at work. Its so liberating! LOL.
Great clutch! I love my big bag but if I’m on a weekend outing alone it’s my slim Coach clutch……….hmmm, maybe I need to give a Christmas gift hint!