Les Parisiennes des Mamansnet: "You gotta have style. It helps you get down the stairs." - Diana Vreeland

[botemp]

Lovers of Parisian style and fashion with a conscious mindset and lots of chatter in between.

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It's also the added weight of leather, it all adds up. It really depends on how long you carry it but if you're doing a commute a lightweight backpack is definitely the most sensible (messenger bags also tend to hit other passengers/commuters when moving through crowded areas). If you're just carrying it from car into office I wouldn't worry too much about it. Ah, I see I wasn't far off with the Mulberry aesthetic. I'll see if I can think of anything else but I do think that there'd be functional issues if they sized up that bag and it stil be able to hold a laptop, it's probably why it's the size it is.

I fell for the "being a grownup" thing for years and had a handbaggy bag either over one shoulder or crossbody and either way the weight isn't balanced. A lot of tension and backpain disappeared after I started just carrying a rucksack. Here I just give up on looks - it's a black Fjällräven, that's as stylish as it gets. I like the bag in the picture Shang but I never much cared for bags and I agree, the perfect one is just never out there so they are always a disappointment.

Forgot dresses completely. Can't be that keen on them but will get photos taken! mr bani has a new camera he might do it haha.

Is the picture showing an old Coach bag, ShangPie? A friend had one a million years ago that was similar, but glancing at the current range, you might have to look for vintage to come within your price point. I do like it though.

ShangPie, www.ebay.co.uk/b/bill-amberg/bn_7024899506

Years ago, I had a briefcase from this guy, that I bought in Liberty, but the very last bag on this link is rather lovely. The bags were awesome quality leather, but quite heavy.

Banivani I've just ordered that Arlket dress in navy

Thank you ShangPie. I made no attempt to learn to sew at school because it was a 'girls' subject - very stupid of me and one reason why I'm always a bit at the idea we should listen more to young people. Anyway the point is, I'm mostly self taught, from books / magazines, trial and (a lot of) error, and more recently, YouTube. I promise it can be done, although if you have good, cheap tailors there's less incentive!

I'm afraid bags aren't my thing so I can't really advise other than to agree that heavy cross body bags are not kind to backs or shoulders. Admittedly they're not as bad as tote bags but, if I had to carry a lap top around, I'd use a backpack.

Like that dress bani - I'm fond of pleats, especially when they swish. Hope it works out.

Sorry I know other people have sent for stuff but I'm too tired to remember any more.

Thanks all! Interesting to see a general underwhelm for bags here - I assumed that to be considered stylish one had to love a good bag. I guess that’s yet another cultural imposition a la SATC where one must froth with enthusiasm about shoes and bags

I have a decent-looking plain black rucksack that was a neutral changing bag for the LO, so I could use that... I just really wanted a ‘grown up bag’ as @banivani put it, but my spine should come first!

Having said that, I will keep quietly looking for vintage Coach - good call @XingMing. I have a small navy cross-body purse of theirs I got in Tokyo (my vintage shopping heaven in the before-times) but didn’t think to look at them for a larger bag. I’ll keep an eye out for Bill Amberg too.

Have you checked out the Vogue - MNV - threads Shang? I'm pretty sure there are some serious bag lovers there who know their stuff, although I don't know if they're all still posting.

Oh don't get me wrong, I love bags and shoes, possibly more than clothes and a great many of them fall under the not so practical banner. But you have to be realistic about them when it comes to work and carrying things like laptops, colleagues generally don't care if you're stylish for the two minutes they maybe see you coming and going with your bag (a coat will make much more of an impact) but women do get the side eye for prioritising vanity over practicality in the workplace, well in my industry anyhow. You can always get a smaller crossbody bag that you actually like to go with a practical backsaving one for phone, money, keys, etc.

See I’m a pockets fan myself but I know Bo prefers a bag.

Carrie how could you it’s going to look better on you

I never understand how you pocket fanatics deal with them, stuff falls out all the time, keys bring death to pocket bags and then you're left trying to fish something out of the lining through that little hole. Never mind the added bulk.

Bags all the way 🎒👛👜💼💰

Oh I use bags for stuff and pockets for my hands. I don't know whatever I would do with my hands if I didn't have pockets to put them in?!

Yes, pockets are for wayward hands and to make you feel bright eyed and bushy tailed when they're in a dress as it gives the dress added movement and the sensation is as exciting as when you first experienced it when you were a child. Stuff goes in bags (granted your username reveals your bias luggageandbags ).

I like pockets but only for sticking my hands in and strutting around. Except for inside pockets on coats and jackets that you get in all good menswear but not so much in women's clothing.
I do have a messenger style leather bag that I use a lot, but I've learned the hard way not to put too much stuff in it, and as soon as my back starts grumbling I switch to either a backpack or a nylon shoulder bag that weighs next to nothing. It cost about £5.99 and I've grown quite fond of its ugliness. But I'm lucky in that I very rarely need to carry a laptop around with me.

Well the trick is to not carry too much stuff. Then your hands fit too and you can check that you have your things (bonus). But I hate rooting in a bag, it's always inconvenient and everything ends up at the bottom unless you're insanely organised and Always Use One Place For Each Thing.

But pockets are for buscard, phone (which has my bank card), packet of tissues, lip balm, keys, headphones. Mind, I did lose my buscard, so ...

Flo I am very envious of your shirt. It looks great, the cut, the way it falls. Just perfect. Bravo.

Yes, I am another one that would not carry a laptop on a crossbody bag. 5 years ago I went into great lengths to get one, got a good quality leather in a lovely blue and it just destroyed my back. My commute involved 10 min walk to train station each end. After putting up with it for a month or so, I just bought a samsonite backpack, which I was never a huge fan of it aesthetically but it was great for my back. Something like this in the photo, but that looks somehow pink [is a backpack for a lady ... let’s make it pink ...] mine it is more a stone colour ... but I have not used it since last March ... when we were told to work from home for the next 2 months until the virus passed ... I suspect I will not need it this year either at this rate.

@botemp My username is a bit misleading, I'm far from obsessed with bags. I only have three handbags, two vintage Coach and one APC plus a canvas bag that I use in the summer, and yes super decent expensive luggage but again only three pieces in different sizes. I do love them all and look after them well (my destress activity is polishing my handbags), but I always worry about picking up a trendy model/colour/shape, for me a handbag is a commitment and I don't want it to feel out of date after a couple of years.

Oh yes I also have a Patagonia backpack for days out with kids or if I need to take my laptop anywhere.

I have been dropping in all day to read through this- far too much to catch up on and I now have a hundred tabs open, so it’s not been good for my recent attempt at phone hygiene.

It’s too far back to remember who but the comment on clingy jersey clothes looking like a tubular 3d contour map may never leave me, not good news for my future jersey wearing! Fabulous shirt Flo, hangs beautifully and looks very swish sewing. I have managed to try and do some sewing over summer, de rust the skillset but feel a while off a proper pattern, time being the most significant constraint. Plus i find it really takes concentrating!

clingy jersey clothes looking like a tubular 3d contour map

Oh and absolutely a backpack for regular laptop carrying. Unless you do daily hardcore yoga and Pilates you will regret anything else (except a wheely bag perhaps but that’s so audit)

That’s right bani. The shudder shall live on.

Sorry, long-time lurker here who finally registered. Sorry to butt in but like @ShangPie I've been looking for a bag which hits very specific requirements. Bags don't particularly thrill me so I've been looking to invest in one which lasts me years and works with everything (no need for a laptop, and I prefer a slouchy rather than structured look). I really like the Stella McCartney Falabella.

But for the last few months I've been using my plain black backpack (also used to be a changing bag) and it's just so easy. Better for my back, leaves my hands free on the tube and when I collect DC from nursery I can push the buggy much more easily.

So now considering a high-quality, understated backpack. I guess if I wanted to go all out, the Prada one is a classic. Expensive but if I use it for 10-15 years I'd be willing to pay it. I've also looked at Knomo bags which look good but I don't know how well they work. Very hard to commit to an expensive item without being able to touch it and look at it first.

Is everyone procrastinating this morning, or is it just me I also never would have guessed we're all such practical bores when a laptop is involved, but I agree, at least it's not a trolley...

Ah slouchy and a bigger budget I can much easier answer, The Row does a good backpack with just the right amount of slouch IMO. I personally wouldn't pay big money for anything that isn't leather like Stella McCartney bags or Prada backpacks. I think the whole fashion moment for backpacks is over now though so you're probably best looking at the online outlets, I won't call that The Row bag a bargain but it is going cheap for a The Row bag.

I also like the Loewe Anton bag which is sort of a hybrid backpack/sling (for men, but I don't care), it also comes slightly smaller and a good bit cheaper as just a sling. I have to say I really like a sling bag, mostly because it can be worn several ways, you can get to your things quite easily and I never like the idea of having valuables on my back.