Lifestyle and handbags.

[otterlybonkers]

Ive needed to purchase a new bag for some time now, been using a fjallraven rucksack for 5 years due to living somewhere fairly rainy and rural.
Well, im not quite so rural now, but still walk a lot and am subject to northern UK weather, not too cold but still fairly changeable.

I used to go for typical, good quality leather bags, over shoulder or cross body, mid range prices (not a fan of designer or luxury) and liked a slouchy tote.

But recently I cant seem to see myself with a typical, leather handbag. I wfh, creative self employed, so no need to dress conservatively, and most of my time outdoors is either shopping or walking for pleasure. I don't do fancy evenings out very much and am more of a pub lunch kind of person. The traditional handbag suddenly feels like overkill.

Do you choose a bag on lifestyle or simple desire? I wear long skirts and dresses (sort of minimalist boho), long wool coat, occasional raincoat with leggings on rough days, so feel a bit off with a hiking sack - but also not quite right with a typical ladies handbag.

Is a cotton tote a bit crap? I have a sturdy Margaret Howell tote that never gets used but might be more appropriate than spending a couple of hundred on a slouchy leather cross-body. It seems such a waste of money unless there's a dire need.

I also use pockets more these days as more clothing incorporates them now thankfully.

Anyone else gone off regular handbags? Compared to my rucksack they are heavy, slip off the shoulder and cost a fortune for a decent one.

I have a black suede leather backpack from Topshop that I use all the time, I just don't think I could go back to a shoulder/cross body bag now, they're so uncomfortable and inconvenient by comparison. Have you thought of looking for a smarter backpack in leather instead of the Fjallraven one?

I have lots of different bags, depending on what I’m doing/wearing. None are very expensive. The ones that you’d call a handbag are very small cross-body, and I have a couple of large leather totes. Lots of cheap small backpacks from Decathlon in different colours. I’ve got a longchamps backpack which I use quite a lot. I keep my essential kit in a clear plastic pencil case and transfer it into the bag of the day. One style of bag wouldn’t suit my lifestyle.

Thank you, a suede backpack sounds great but would worry about rain.

I used to have a mini crossover leather bag but it would only fit a phone, keys, small purse inside. I can use pockets for those really. At most I would like room to put a small scarf of hat in my bag but nothing more sizeable. I keep wondering whether to just use my pockets tbh.

I really like this bag (which comes with a cross body strap) but even though I wouldn't usually worry about the price, it still seems expensive compared to my needs...

www.sagebrown.co.uk/burgundy-melissa-slouchy-leather-woven-bag

I have a few bags - Fjall Raven for days out and about with kids, so I might be carrying a jumper and a couple of water bottles, a leather tote for smartish shopping/days in town, a Coach cross body camera bag for pretty much everything else (fits camera and keys and not much else). I have a work rucksack that I use for laptop and work clobber. There is no one bag to rule them all!

@otterlybonkers I just wear mine in the rain, it doesn't seem to let the rain in and I think because it's black it doesn't show water marks like another colour maybe would. It wasn't expensive (I think £50 originally but I paid £10 in the sale a few years ago). It depends on your lifestyle and how you are with bags really, I never want to change stuff over so always end up using the same one really so knew I wanted something practical but smart and not school baggish enough for most things. I do have a small studded, chain strap, black leather cross body as well (also Topshop sale) but I almost never use it as it's too small for every day (won't hold a water bottle plus the essentials so it's "for best" I suppose! Think about where you actually go and what you will use it for first and foremost, make sure you're thinking about your real life and not a fantasy fashion life. Do you need both hands/arms free most of the time? If it slips off your shoulder will that annoy you a lot?

Looking at your lifestyle again in your OP I would go simple leather backpack in a dark colour that complements most of your wardrobe and especially your coats like black, navy, burgundy or khaki/green. Don't get popper fastening as that's what I've got and one is too loose and worn out to fasten now which is a pain cos the suede has held up really well.

I’ve been using this type of thing lately. Inexpensive, light and easy to carry, with the bonus of being able to fit shopping in if needed. They also dry very fast after being rained on 😂