Not owning / using a handbag

[notabaglady]

I'm mid 40's and haven't carried / owned or used a handbag for about 15 years now. I just wondered if there are any other bagless ladies around on this board? I saw a few threads about bag trends / whether to match bags with shoes etc, and I thought I'm so glad I don't use a handbag!

The way I see it is, if men can do it why can't we? Without a bag my hands are always free, my posture is better, I have one less thing to worry about. It means that any dress I buy must have pockets, so I make sure of that, but I'm generally a trousers person anyway.

When I used to carry a handbag I found it gradually got more and more full with bits I "just might need" but never really did, and I would periodically need to clean it out. I was forever losing things like my office pass for work, my keys. phone, tickets etc but they were always just at the bottom of my bag. I also invariably ended up using the same bag every day because having to switch all my things over to a different style / colour bag in the morning would have been a faff. Also my boyfriends were always asking me to carry stuff of theirs, since I was carrying a bag already. I actually got a bad posture as a result of always carrying my handbag on one side.

One other positive is that bags can be really expensive items if you care about fashion so I've probably saved a fortune!

I would never go back to using a handbag. Anyone else? Or any bag ladies interested in joining the dark side?

I don’t really carry a bag either. Occasionally I might but it is very occasional.

I have a smart watch so don’t really need to carry anything else. If I need my phone it will go in my pocket.

Do you never take a haircomb with you?

If I'm walking to the shop or something, phone and bank card go in my pocket and I carry keys and a shopping back. Nearly everything else I have a backpack or bag. I have to take laptop and stuff to work, if I'm out for a whole day I have a water bottle, painkillers incase of migraine, lipbalm, tissues, anything we buy. I love a practical backpack.

I have a little hack for that. One of those claw hair grips works beautifully as a comb! 😂

So where do you keep that?

What for ? Run my fingers through my hair if needed ( or more likely find a tap and wet it down !)

I would imagine her hair clip
Lives in her hair

In my hair!

What for?......to comb your hair...
Running my fingers through wouldn't give a neat effect for me.

I don't wear hair accessories. I don't like the look.
If it works for you, fine.

I don't wear hair clips. However, that's obviously what she does.

I put everything in my pockets. Phone, cards, keys, tissues. I would be laughed at if I carried a handbag because I am very unfeminine. Being laughed at is my reason for not carrying a handbag. That and I don't see the point.

No! Never 😂

My mum now doesn’t carry one so has neither a purse (we pay so that doesn’t matter) and has now stopped putting her reading glasses in her pocket so asks to use mine when we go out for a meal. I think that’s slightly different as there is travelling light and then just bringing nothing as you assume others will sort you out.

I never take a comb or brush with me either.

Me too. Never use them unless I'm travelling and I take one as hand luggage. All I carry around with me is my phone and house key (or car key if I'm driving, then I leave the house key in the car).

Rucksack if I'm going shopping or into the office, otherwise pockets. I wear men's jeans specifically for the deep front pockets as they fit my phone, baccy and keys.

I hate handbags and avoid using them if possible. If I must carry things I tend towards a rucksack (I have one designed for laptops for when I need to go to the office). If I'm wearing a coat, it has pockets big enough for my phone, keys, tissues if needed. I don't tend to carry anything else! If it's not coat weather, I will stick keys and phone in my trouser/shorts pocket (I don't wear dresses really).
The only time I ever really take any sort of bag outside of travelling is if I'm out for the night and my outfit doesn't have pockets, or I need to bring things like lipstick/hairbrush with me (these occasions are very rare 😂).

The way I see it is, if men can do it why can't we?

I just find I generally need more stuff than my boyfriend! He can fit his keys and phone in his pocket.

Most of my clothes don’t have pockets, for a start. That’s the main thing for me. But then I need phone, keys, lip balm, lip stick, powder, paracetamol, sanitary products.

One thing I have ditched in the last couple of years though is a purse. Used to be filled with cards and coins, whereas now I just use Apple Pay and have Tesco club card/boots advantage etc all stored on my phone.

In my current job I was really surprised to see everyone has a rucksack. I feel quite old fashioned with my handbag sometimes but I don’t want to change as I like the elegance of a bag and I like swapping them about each season and with different outfits. If I have a lot to bring in I bring a tote as well. Really want an all saints tote but can’t justify the cost at the mo.

I hate bags! I generally use a bumbag though as many of my clothes don't have proper pockets which is annoying.

I suppose I'm 'bagless' from your description (handbag-less). I use a rucksack or a messenger bag for office days. These have space for anything I need during the day, e.g. phone / keys / tissues. My car has space for stuff so one days when driving to the office it can meet my stuff transportation requirements.

If it's not an office day then between jeans, coats, etc. with pockets which are pretty good for carrying things in, and a non-handbag bag if I really need one, my stuff transportation needs are met.

My hair copes for the best part of a day without requiring comb/brush interventions.

I have a couple of bags for black/white tie and other dressy events, but since I decided to prioritise spending time with people I really like, and getting a healthy amount of sleep, over feeling obliged to attend networking events, they rarely see the light of day.

@KatyaKabanova

Dh carries a comb in his pocket
It's a habit from childhood

I have a small rucksack. I like loungefly ones. I like having a powerbank with me, a drink and a few little bits a pieces. I don't drive so can't keep stuff like that in the car and if going out for a long day we take a big rucksack and take turns in carrying it.

I’m not a “carry light” person. I need a purse, house keys, sometimes car keys, my phone, tissues, hand gel, sometimes a bottle of water, tissues, emergency tampons/pads (hi perimenopause), lipstick, powder compact…

Even if I was just carrying keys and a phone, no way would I feel comfortable or secure keeping them in my pockets. I’m much happier carrying a bag, personally.