Dear Bag, It Has Been A Long Journey

Looking back, perhaps 10-11 bags have carried me through my young adult to adulthood transitions. My college days were spent convincing myself that my Ross-find backpack was my “not-girly purse,” while my Velcro wallet rested snugly in my back jean pocket and my 2 inch long Pantech phone hiding in my other pocket was my pride and joy.  While those days had their charms, I have learned a lot when it comes to buying and using products that fit my lifestyle, fit me, without wanting to conform to an industry standard.  And not to forget, those tom-boy days are long gone.

Minimalism – or my approach to it, rather – has played a huge role in my current bag status.  A year and a half ago, I decided to forego all leather products due to animal rights reasons and begin my search of handbags that work with my current lifestyle.  Although I have beautiful, designer bags gifted from my equally elegant mother in law, they are something that I do not use often and reserve for special occasions only.  And in my purging phase of minimalism, I did not have the heart to detach myself from those bags due to the fact that they were gifts given with great care and concern. They still sit in my closet and even with my recent closet spring-cleaning that I documented in the InstaStories of my  instagram, I put them right back on the shelf. My search on finding quality vegan bags led me to pursue my love of Etsy.com  I love Etsy due to the fact that it promotes small business and everything that I have bought, I am sure, has been hand sewn and loved by the owner who I am directly supporting.  My fair-trade loving self is a fan of such a method.

I have finally streamlined my handbag with this second Etsy bag purchase since then and I thought what better way to celebrate than to share my gains with you.  Here is my purchasing and organization process of my latest handbag system.

Always the one to choose brown or black because “it fits everything I wear,” I decided to venture out of that comfort zone created in 10+ years and delve into another color.  I had been eyeing these Cocoono bags  because they were made with quality vegan leather and were devoid of any patterns.  My clothing normally involves patterns and colors, so I wanted to avoid any clashing of patterns with my outfits.  I imagined a red bag with every outfit I wore for about a week or so and realized, to my surprise, that it would actually work. My decades old thinking of “black and brown are the only versatile colors” have been thrown out the window – at least, as far as my wardrobe is concerned.  I chose the wine color from their Pacco bag line as it can turn into a cross body, a shoulder, and a handbag.  Versatility in use is my new best friend.

Organizational needs took me to two other shops.  The first one being Good Moon Moon and the other, the cutest and my current obsession, Pochette Gavotte.  All I carry in my bag are little bags (surprise, surprise) to help me keep everything organized.  This method makes it easy for me to switch bags should I need to, and to not fumble in one pocket or another to find what I am looking for.

First, this Good Moon clutch came with me through my previous setup into this one.  I specifically wanted a clutch that I could grab onto when the occasion did not call for me to carry my entire bag.  Sometimes, especially while we go out of town, it is not feasible for me to carry my big handbag through all of our adventures.  I reach inside my handbag, grab this clutch, throw my phone and wallet, leave the big bag in the car, and take this little clutch with me.  It can not only be held like a clutch, but it easily converts into a cross body one (the way I use it most) and has been with me through small hikes to casual dining experiences.  At all times, the clutch has a mirror and an eye-glass wipe as it rests inside my Cocoono.

These Pochette Gavotte bags are so incredibly cute and unbelievably versatile.  Of course, I had to have some of my cat lovin’ in there.  The top one is actually a vinyl material so it can be wiped down easily should it get dirty.  I chose vinyl since that bag is my most used one.  With things like chapstick and sanitizer, I reach for it often and what I love most about it is how easily it opens. The fumbling of reaching in the bag, pulling something out, zipping it open, and doing the entire process every time is over. I simply reach in, pry it open and it closes shut safely and securely.  So. Much. Love.

Its twin carries my – wait for it – two additional purses.  What can I say, I am a very compartmentalized individual! The colorful beaded one comes from the street vendors in Puerto Rico, a wonderful gift from my mother-in-law, and it carries all the cards I do not frequently use such as loyalty cards, insurance cards and the like.  My credit cards and drivers license are in my wallet (more on that later) and the others which I want to carry with me without making my wallet bulky are carefully concealed in this one.  The other purse was picked up from an art exhibit in Prescott, AZ, and I use it as my coin bag.  It is the reason I jingle when I walk. 

Lastly, this little beauty is a replacement of my previous one.  I loved having the ability to take my phone with me if that is all I needed – specially true when you want to take as little things with you as possible – and the handy strap is perfect for that. This one is so incredibly roomy that my pens and pencils have found a home as well.  I am interested in seeing how I use this bag specifically as it is a bit of a change from my previous method.  Previously, I had my phone and cards in one place in a similar purse but the novelty of that soon wore off quickly as I found myself struggling to fit in little bits of cash and phone in the same place.  Additionally, it is not considered the wisest choice to carry your and your wallet aka. your life in one place.

I think it was the blue stripes that won me over.

Now you might be wondering where is my wallet.  I am glad you asked, because I would like to know as well!  As I just mentioned that I have changed my method and no longer want to carry my phone and cards in the same place, I have placed an order of a beautiful vegan wallet which is somewhere – perhaps on a plane, in a van, or sitting in a box. It is supposed to arrive in the upcoming days – the delivery estimate was a month long! I am eagerly waiting for it for an excruciating month and as soon as it arrives, look for my instagram post announcing my excitement.

All of the pieces fit perfectly into my Cocoono with plenty of room to fit my journals, notebooks, and/or planners that I need to carry.  I love having everything I need in one go, without having to fumble through from one bag to another in my closet.  Whether going for a big event to shopping, everything I need is always with me, ready for whatever adventure is to come.  This method has worked well for me and I hope that you have found inspiration to streamline  and simplify your handbag as well.  Now my life is filled with more color than before!

– S