Stop me buying bloody bags

[TheDogIsInCharge]

I LOVE A BAG.

I really do. I don't have expensive tastes, I just like having bags that "work" for when I need them.

BUT I have had a run of very unsatisfying bags. I generally like a cross body bag for everyday and a backpack for work. But with hybrid working I don't use the backpack as much. Just as well really, as my old backpack smelled of feet and the zip was wrecked so I a few months ago I bought a new, swishy nylon one in navy from TK Maxx. The straps are horrible thin nylon, uncomfortable and dig into my shoulders. My old one was perfect but is no longer available and I don't like the ones that everyone else seems to adore and that can be found on many a commuter. Anyway, for the few days I use it, I will cope with the shitty backpack.

It is the cross body bag that I'm... cross about. I don't like camera bags, I don't like those wide patterned nylon straps, I don't like the Uniqlo bum bag style, I don't like bags that are just a black hole of misery with no side pockets or just the one measly miserable tiny non zipped pocket that barely holds a card holder. I don't like very rigid bags - I have one of these and it's disappointing in its rigidity. I like a bag to have multiple, secure pockets, preferably on the outside AND inside. I like them to be London safe - so a secure fastening, preferably a zip over the main part and if there IS an outside compartment, to be on the inside of the bag, so not easy for someone to open and dip into. I also want them to be large enough to hold a large iphone, kindle, keys, various lip balms and tints, airpods, a rolled up bag for shopping, a lucky stone and possibly a small umbrella.

I have a bag that I got from a Leclerc in France that is pretty much perfect in that it is a soft, squishy, satchel type bag with a small rear zipped pocket , a fold over flap with a contact fastening, a zipped main section which has a capacious zipped inner pocket for cardholder, keys, lip balm etc AND - my holy grail, two inner pockets opposite the zipped one, one larger than the other, where I can put airpods and my phone. However this bag is white and just feels very wrong in the winter. I don't wear anything that works with it in the winter.

I recently bought a blue bag from Sainsbury's (online, so didn't get to feel it) that's quite nice but too bright blue for winter as, again, I don't wear that colour as soon as it gets chilly. I wear, greens, black, dark red. It also does't have many pockets.

So.. I need to find a lovely green bag that will be my bag of the winter... I think a nice bottle or sage or dirty green would work. Basically something that isn't a bright or apple green. Leather, pleather, suede... is preferable. Probably not fabric or very plastic. I have not found one anywhere that isn't ££££ as I'm not currently minted. Around £50 would be a dream. And this bag would then stop me buying all the various bags that have, frankly, let me down.

Please feel free to drop this meme in the replies, if I get any!

It looks stiff, but is actually very comfortable in use. Keeps shape well too. I can fit tons in it, including two chargers (never knowingly undercharged 😂)

It does look stiff but I did have an Osprey cross body many years ago and it WAS pleasantly soft. I like that it keeps shape.

I got put off Osprey bags by the headteacher at my daughter's primary school who had loads of different ones. She was a passive-aggressive, dictatorial nightmare and did really bad things to what was once a lovely, friendly, welcoming school. . But that was years ago... I need to let that one go.

Also a bagsholic here. Quite tempted by the one posted by @anon2022anon

MUST STEP AWAY

I like your style of writing. I’m not sure if you are actually looking for a bag, but it’s a fun thread.

Thank you for describing your personal experience of Wanderers bags.

The Santorini or Santorini Grande is so far winning in the bag olympics. Just the right amount of slouch, nice to look at, can be dressed up or down, great colour options. Also very taken with the Casamicciola - although it may be a bit small - and the Stella which is so far above my original price point that it makes me go all warm and feel scarily reckless.

I also love the Madrid crossbody and the Little Marley but they're no good for fannying around London as the top doesn't look secure enough. I once had a drawstring top bag from Fiorelli - I bloody loved it until I got my purse taken from it down Portobello road.

Lots of nice bags on that website.

I like Roka bags. The canvas are nicer than the nylon imo.

Wait for the John Lewis clearance. When they go down to a third of the price. I got a £350 coach bag for £85 a few years ago, it's worn well and has lots of nice pockets inside and out.

I think I know what the problem is, you are looking for a bag to be ‘all things’ no bag can do it all.

you need a few bags for your different requirements. I don’t go in nights out and that’s why I love the (actual) camera bag bag.

Just buy 3 that you love and use them as required. All the best.

Come, come now, this is just not true!

I'm afraid you didn't read what I was looking for. I'm NOT looking for a bag to be all things. It doesn't have to be my work bag because I have a yellow bag with pockets and the shitty backpack for that, both mentioned earlier. I don't need it for swishy nights out because I have tiny, beautiful beaded or metallic bags for that. I admit I didn't mention those because I was quite specific that I'm looking for the following:

• a cross body bag for everyday use
• that can fit the following inside: a kindle, large iphone, keys, a fair few random lipglosses and lip balm, lucky stone, airpods, card holder.
• leather, pleather or suede
• that has more than just one inside pocket
• that is London friendly. Apologies to London but that's where I have had stuff nicked from a bag that didn't have a decent level of zippage for security.
• that's quite presentable "the holy grail of bags needs to have an understated charm, a slouchy glamour, a thinly veiled "je ne sais quoi" of cool too."
• not too rigid
• not a camera bag
• not one with a wide nylon strap
• in a nice dull, bottle or dirty green. Bluey green would work.
• this would be my winter bag because I have a lovely white multi pocket bag and a quite decent bright blue bag for summer.

The one you recommended and linked to was an actual camera bag in a material I really didn't want. But I thank you anyway, because someone may be reading this thread with a massive hankering after an actual bag for their camera, complete with side tripod holder and made from a hard wearing, water repellant fabric.

I love the Fossil, Etsy and Wanderer bags people have recommended - they really do fit the brief. And some of the others will be perfect for those who want the same kind of thing, they're just not for me at the moment.

have you seen the Wanderers Travel Co website?

I could buy probably around six of theirs (at least) if I had the money. Bloody gorgeous.

I'm aware that I'm supposed to be buying the "one" bag though.

Good call. I don't know why I have never thought of buying a bag in the sale from John Lewis.

Actually I do know, because TK Maxx. That's why. There's always a nice bag in there. Probably (likely) not "the one," but there will be one, flashing a nice discount, winking, coaxing me with the promise of a bargain "ooh look at me! If you'd bought me in a shop you've never heard of in America, I'd have been $245 but you can have me for just £29.99." That place is bag crack in my house.

Can't help. My name is Vitriol I'm addicted to Pom Pom bags currently.

I have a fish-smelling bag. Was in Lidl on Monday night, didn’t buy any fish but someone had clearly had an incident with fish juices earlier as the till area honked and one of the assistants was standing beside a large blue roll looking incredibly pissed off. Unfortunately for me the application of said-blue roll must have been a bit inefficient and my poor bag is now of great interest to the dog.

Honestly, cross my heart, I'm looking for "the bag."

I think we're all looking for "the bag." Ask yourself Dobbs, have you found "the bag?"

two people have that bag in their basket.

You should probably get it...

Don't know how I missed this earlier. I do love their bags. I was initially bowled over by their sling bag that someone had bought on another thread ages ago and it haunted my dreams for a few weeks before I had a stern word with myself over the practicality of it. I'll investigate other designs of theirs.

MUJI!

Gosh I have not thought about that brand since the nineties. I used to get tons of stuff from in there, back when I was a size 8, wore low slung combats in interesting materials and chonky ART boots. When I'd walk from 'just on the cusp of being cool Hackney" into the west end to drink 500ml bottles of Staropramen/Budvar in a cool soho pub with my best friend Richard who always wanted to end the night in Trade or Heaven.

Ah, those were the days.

Sounds like you need a bag...

You may have come to the right place.

It was the Uniqlo bag which I found out about on MN. It is indeed my go-to for all bag related matters.

Ok finders. I want, no, it is essential to my winter wardrobe a pull on, a line, pleather mini.I've seen many with zips, but alas the waistline isn't what it used to be.

My happiness depends on you.

Bloody hell, meant to start my own thread. A thousand apologies OP

this is BAG thread Vitriol. For BAGS.

Take your A'line pleather mini elsewhere.

I have a bag collection, including a few vintage, but revert to a canvas handbag from a now defunct label and a troop messenger, which has weathered very well and is easy to carry. https://www.trooplondon.com/ Might be worth a look.

I repent OP.

But as I said, I'm the wrong person for bag giving up advice due to active Pom Pom addition.

If I could get the sold out plum or mocha suede it'd go wonderfully with the planned pleather skirt ensemble.