If you do better than jeans and a nice top for a night out

[Peakedtoosoon]

What do you do about keys, phone, lip balm?

I had a great night in a pub seeing a band last night. I'd originally put a dress on but changed back to jeans at the last minute because I needed pockets.

I don't want a bag in that kind of environment. I can't dance with it and I don't want to put it down.

Whenever I go out out which is once in a blue moon as I am a mum who doesn’t get out much I’m usually in some kind of tea dress shenanigan. My keys/phone/lipstick storage of choice is a tote bag - light, sits on one side of the body, and suitably deep that I’m unlikely to get pickpocketed. Looks suitably casual (I spend my life putting on a dress and then ‘dressing it down’) and cheap so have have about 30 different designs I can pick from.

@ImInStealthMode

Yikes. I'm not a mum and I get out quite a lot.

I have a number of nice small cross body bags, and none of them spoils an outfit to the same degree as not actually wearing it and putting jeans on instead!

I 100% agree with you.

Wrist purse. Card, front door key, lippy, small £20 burner phone rather than chunky smart phone.

Thin gold chain or silver chain cross body bags are nice too though.

Girlfriend who has a bag.

I have a tiny bag i put on my wrist. It holds card, keys, lipstick. My phone i either hold or leave at home

One of those stretchy running waistbands with pockets?

Or running leggings with pockets under the dress though might be too hot.

I remember a tiny backpack I had, perfect for clubbing nights out.

Sighs wistfully.

I have a phone purse combo and a coat. And if there's no base I can leave it safely when dancing (there usually is a base camp table with non dancers who will watch it tbh) I guess I'd have to dance with it in.my hand.

I tried one of those belts with purses attached on. It was a bit cell block H. I too detest a cross body. Great for every day but cut through my boobs and ruin a lovely outfit.

I like a wristlet or a cute rucksack or a well hidden pocket.

I have lots of very pretty cross body bags with delicate chain straps. You also don’t have to wear them across your bust, they can go over a shoulder.

A pretty cross body bag or wristlet is much more chic than shoving things in the pocket of your jeans…

You can get wristlets or very small bags that are cross body.

I’ve also found a couple of small vintage ones in vintage shops, one is a beaded bag with a hanging sort of strap - can wear cross body and another is a small vintage snake shoulder/cross body bag. Both fit small hairbrush mirror combos, sample or tiny perfume, phone, tiny purse etc. I’ve got tiny purses from Primark before too, perfect for nights out with one debit card, notes and the odd pound coin.

@RiverSkater

One of those stretchy running waistbands with pockets?

Or running leggings with pockets under the dress though might be too hot.

I remember a tiny backpack I had, perfect for clubbing nights out.

Sighs wistfully.

@RiverSkater - I’ve got a small silver Whistles backpack that I saw someone with on a train and hunted it down. Perfect for these nights. eBay or online you can still find them.

@CampagVelocet

A nice cross body bag is miles better than shoving everything into your pockets OP.

This.

I'm puzzled how if you are a jeans and nice top person who puts phone etc in pockets, how you could be so particular re a cross body bag ruining the look of any other outfit?

There are many amazing beautiful small decorative cross body bags out there that don't ruin the look of an outfit but definitely enhance it. I have many and I co-ordinate the bag with the outfit so it goes together. I am careful with strap lengths and shape and size of the bag so it doesn't interrupt the outfit, either by cutting across between the bust or sitting at an awkward height on the hip. Not all cross body bags are the same! For example I know that duffle cross body bags don't suit me. They swing about and get in the way, but a small rectangular one with a thin chain strap is fine and stays out of the way for a night out. However chain straps are not good for daytime when I have more weight in the bag with other items, as they rub on the shoulder, so I'd use on with a thicker strap for carrying more items.

One of those bags with a wrist strap if you don;t want to wear a cross body bag

Primark had chain wristlet purse things and chained small bags. I have small evening bags with chains but for nights out like bands the chains irritate me.



This is my issue with cross body bags.

Sorry 😢 pic didn't post.

Wallet on a chain. It can go cross body if you are worried about it falling off your shoulder, but I dont normal putting it cross body.

Or a wristlet.

Oh but OP - when I was out a few weeks ago in a very fashionable area full of young people in full "out out" clothes - most of the younger woman had tiny cross body bags, its really not the mumsy option, although most didn't put them cross body once they'd take coats off, wearing them on one shoulder. (First time in ages id had a chance to people watch properly out, not just in the pub. )

Camera bag
Clutch bag / pouch with strap

I have a small, soft black leather bumbag which is worn over shoulder/across my (G cup) chest and looks fine with most dresses I'd be wearing to go out in, but I can add to the recommendations above for the running waistbands too provided you're wearing separates rather than a dress since you do need to be able to get at it, unless you just want a place to stash keys etc for later on.

Caveat: I'm not a mum and I go out a lot (I also have no idea what a 'nice top' is and I'm pretty sure I never want to find out).

Jeans and a nice top is very 1990s early 2000s. Think of Girls Aloud when they started out! 😂 I loved jeans and a nice top. Oasis and River Island were my favourite places for such fabulous pieces.

@SocksAndTheCity

I have a small, soft black leather bumbag which is worn over shoulder/across my (G cup) chest and looks fine with most dresses I'd be wearing to go out in, but I can add to the recommendations above for the running waistbands too provided you're wearing separates rather than a dress since you do need to be able to get at it, unless you just want a place to stash keys etc for later on.

Caveat: I'm not a mum and I go out a lot (I also have no idea what a 'nice top' is and I'm pretty sure I never want to find out).

Oh do tell where your bag is from 🤣 I have a rains one for casual use ( and also a G chest haha )

Need one of these !

@BusterGonad

Jeans and a nice top is very 1990s early 2000s. Think of Girls Aloud when they started out! 😂 I loved jeans and a nice top. Oasis and River Island were my favourite places for such fabulous pieces.

Yes this!

Low waist dark wash bootcut jeans (when I was skinny enough to wear them) super high heels poking out underneath and a 'nice' top. No coat. Never a coat. Perhaps a 'shrug' if it was really chilly.

I have a gazillion god awful photos of me in this outfit, around 2003-2006 taken of course on a trusty disposable camera later developed at bonusprint!

I do a cross body bag too OP, and I AM a mum who doesn't get out much I also wear a coat these days too.

I had denim Miss Sixy kitten heeled shoes under my boot cuts. 😂 I adored those shoes. I remember buying them. It was a great day.

2005 called and they want their outfit back.

I always wore a cross body bag. Even when I was a student who went out 5 nights a week. Either that or some kind of baguette bag inspired thing that tucked right up under your armpit. I had a gorgeous heavily beaded one from Accessorize I wore until it fell apart.

Either that or a slouchy velvet blazer with pockets slung over a dress.