What bag with a big winter parka?

[Fuzzypeggy]

Normally for the school run etc I use a leather slouchy cross
Body bag which easily goes over me when wearing a light jacket. But my problem is the winter, I have a big parka with a huge fur hood so it's impossible to slip a cross body bag over my shoulder with the hood getting in the way. I do need to carry purse, keys, phone and some other stuff though so I need a bag of some sort as the pockets aren't big enough to fit everything in . Does anyone have any ideas or have this problem too? What bags do you wear when wearing a big winter parka? Tia

I'm thinking of getting a navy parka today actually and hadn't really thought about a bag. Watching this thread with interest!
Its this one www.ahume.co.uk/product.asp?product=Schoffel-Mayfair-Down-Coat-&Colour=Navy&Size=Size+12&image=1&CAT_ID=248&P_ID=4250&utm_source=google&utm_medium=base&utm_campaign=products&gclid=Cj0KEQjwyJi_BRDLusby7_S7z-IBEiQAwCVvn-mwY3A5bFCwfSAsr2w-K-_Gym8jZbjtjMxhnoqdh5kaArfK8P8HAQ

This is a very very good question! I got a Parka London at the end of Winter last year and noticed the same problem....haven't thought about it again until seeing your thread. Looking forward to the collective wisdom of the S&B style mavens!
I have the same school-run items-to-carry needs and also need to be hands-free to grab feral toddler.
I did acquire a very cheap but actually quite stylish small plain black rucksack (tiny, showerproof material) which is v light weight and holds all the items you mention, plus no cross-body/parka hood issues...also hands free...but sure there might be other shopping opportunities better options out there...?

Glad I'm
Not the only one! Good point re rucksack but I think my coat is too bulky in the sleeve for that. If anyone else has found the solution please let us know!

Mine has big pockets! I don't use a bag! :) but then I'm not the most stylish person on Mumsnet!

I think pockets is the best solution but I need to carry more than that sadly

I love a winter parka and agree it's hard to find a bag that fits in with the style of it.
I think it's got to be casual and fairly androgenous.
There's a website called Urban Tool that have some great bags for parkas.
Urban Tool

Sorry, that link seems to take you to a power tool website .
Google Urban Tool and you get there!

I use a kanken with my big parka in the winter. Shove on back when walking fair distance or you can carry at top like tote. I'm thinking of getting this one next... www.fjallraven.us/products/totepack-no-2?variant=1209553408

Thanks for ideas. I've been googling parkas with bags and there are loads of pics of women with huge parkas and small leather handbags hanging neatly. I wonder what I'm doing wrong but I remember being annoyed last winter getting out of the car trying to put bag over shoulder and head and getting all tangled up with the hood! I reckon nothing over a shoulder will be right for me as the sleeves are quite bulky. Which leaves me with a bag in the crook of my arm which is not a look I'm fond of. Hmm, maybe parkas aren't so practical if you have to carry things.

I've got one very similar to the one LiquidCosh linked to, but from Monsoon a couple of years ago.
I use a yellowy tan coloured satchel with it.
Never had any trouble getting it over the hood.

Mines more like this, ain't no cross body bag for that hood!

I don't get it? Can't you just put your hood up when putting your bag over your shoulder, then put it straight down again?

Honestly, it was a pain last year. I appreciate its far from life and death, I just wondered if others had the same problem and it a solution and someone up thread agreed with me. The coat is just very bulky, and hood up or down, it's not easy, there's certainly no slipping a bag on and off. I may resort to carrying a bag in my hand or in crook of arm.

I do exactly as the poster above says - hood up, bag on (cross body, currently a big slouchy Jigsaw one), hood down. My parka is a Whistles one which is very similar to that photo.

i mostly use a rucksack when wearing my massive parka - I just got into a routine how best to pull my hood out from under it... but how about wearing a small cross-body bag under your coat instead?

Small Bag under the coat, genius!! Unless it's freezing, I tend to wear the coat open so this would work, thanks!

I use a bag that has a shoulder strap that can be worn across the body. A little like this, but squashy. The size keeps it easy to see and the weight makes it hang right. Still do the hood up trick, but you don't have to take it off so much to get stuff out. m.newlook.com/shop/womens/bags-and-purses/black-colour-block-tote-bag-_383610809

Should point out, not that style bag, but for proportions as an example