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!