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 also wear mens jeans , partly because they are made of thicker denim and are tougher wearing. They also have decent size pockets. All the womens jeans I've had in the past I could barely fit my fingers in certainly not my hand or phone/ wallet

No one is going to pickpocket it at work. If I'm in a restaurant it's on my chair - no different to having a bag?

Are you for real? People at work steal things.

Maybe where you work but not where I work.

Nor where I work.

I once worked in a shop where a member of staff was caught stealing stock, but that was a one off.

Unless you're wearing spray on skinny jeans I don't see why trouser pockets aren't ok to put stuff in. I carry everything in my trousers / jeans. Only keys and a phone normally.

Oh I forgot, I use a really good setting spray so my makeup lasts all day thereby not needing to bring compact or lipstick etc. 20 years ago I used to bring a full makeup bag and touch my face up during the day - a total faff and waste of energy!

I had to start using a backpack as I couldn't easily carry both handbag and shopping bags when I broke my hip/shoulder. That and wearing a heel went out the window!
But then someone pinched my wallet out of the pouch in the front of the backpack. So now I use a cross body bag, small one like a bumbag. And just use the rucksack if I'm shopping.

I think I must be quite low maintenence.
I only wear make up to work and on the rare occasion I go out, but never touch it up through the day. I have short hair that gets brushed before I leave the house then doesn't need any more attention until the next morning. I don't use a lot of lip balm. I'm not on regular medication.

If I am just going grocery shopping or for a walk I just have my phone on me. It's in a wallet with my debit card and driving licence. In winter I prefer to wear coats with zipped pockets/inside pockets and therefore don't need a bag.

In summer I have a bag like this https://www.johnlewis.com/roka-london-chelsea-recycled-nylon-crossbody-pocket-bag/airforce-blue/p112396564?s_ppc=2dx_mixed_fashion_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gad_source=1&gclsrc=ds if I am wearing something that doesn't have pockets.

If I am going out for the day I will take a bag as I can carry my eye drops, sunglasses, spare fold up shopping bags and an "emergency bag" (contains headache tablets, diarrhea tablets and gaviscon).

I never feel the need to carry water with me unless I am going on a long hike on a hot day. I just don't feel the need to sip water all day long.

I've never owned one. Not intentionally, anyway.
Someone once gave me one as a present. Think I gave it to the kids to play with!

OP does your commute involve travel in to a city?

because my morning commute to a city on public transport this morning…. every man had a bag of some sort. Every woman either had a bag but or much more commonly… a back pack

What is your point @nootcoffee? Why am I to worry about what other people are doing?

you started a thread asking about other people and handbags 😆

So i was pointing out the overwhelming majority i see on my commute do not have handbags

You seem a bit pissed off that i asked whether your commute involves public transport in to a city 🤷

For me it’s a mix

I have fibromyalgia and other medical conditions, even the lightest of bags feels like I have a heavy ball and chain around me.

i spent a long time not using a bag, still try to avoid it if I can. My keys ( when I find them) are smaller and lighter than DHs. Sometimes I have to carry his which are heavy. I don’t work anymore so don’t have to carry fobs for the office and logging in. I use a small coin purse and my phone will usually go in my jeans or coat pockets.

It’s when I’m not wearing jeans or clothes with pockets hand bags start coming in. I used small cross over ones for a while. But I also have bigger bags.

Other than the school run or a quick trip to the shops where I know I’m in and out quickly I would carry a bag or mostly have one in the car. If I was working I’d absolutely have no choice but to carry one.

i started using a new bag this week, or should say old bag, it was €20 2 winters ago, very lightweight but sturdy and I suppose fashionable without the branding, id never dream of buying a branded handbag I feel they are a waste of money.

Anyway my bag has my prescription sunglasses, my pill caddy ( I rely on various medications to function throughout the day), emergency bag, this is a tiny silk bag I keep plasters, paracetamol, small sudocrem, diarrhoea meds and a few other bits in, this isn’t just for me but my 3 DCs. Small makeup bag, I never use to wear makeup but with age and bad health I wear more these days to feel good. Hairbrush, I have long hair all my DDs have long hair, they refuse to tie their hair up so if we are out all day I need a hairbrush. Pen, I’m old fashioned and always carry a pen I’m my bags, hair ties and small hand cream.

I’d also add things to suit situations if need be.

As you say op I end up carrying things for others even if I don’t have a bag, my DCs always hand me things. If DH is about he will take a lot of this stuff and on days out will bring a back pack, he’s also not afraid to carry my hand bag for me.

If I’m struggling and everything is hurting, even the thought of a handbag or crossover bag, but know I need to go out I may just use a fabric tote bag to put my keys, glasses, purse and pills in that I can use for other things if need be.

I always use a bag, a handbag or on days when I go to a keep fit lesson I use a small backpack. I have too much stuff not to use a bag.

I'm in my 60s now but I spent my entire life without ever owning a handbag.

things have changed a bit recently because I now have a mobility scooter and I have a small bag that sits in front of my knees attached to the scooter and I keep all my bits and pieces in there.

I use rucksacks and if I absolutely must have a bag it’ll be a very small crossbody bag for the occasional night out.

I haven’t used a handbag in about 10 years. I don’t likt the way they look, I find them awkward and uncomfortable and they just seem…old fashioned somehow.

Claudia Winkleman apparently

I couldn't possibly be without handbags (to me this includes all types inc cross body)

IMO they look better than (most) backpacks, and I need to carry my wallet, keys, phone, charger / power bank, make-up for touch ups as a minimum so pockets won't do.

It's interesting that for me a handbag or any kind of bag is something I would use for practical purposes. I want it to look nice, but to me it isn't a fashion acessory. It is just something to carry stuff in if I don't have pockets.

To love handbags so much and spend upwards of four figures on one is so alien to me.

Now I need reading glasses so that is difficult without a bag. More so if I have to carry sunglasses too.

I am a fan of using as small a bag as possible though, the uniqlo half moon bag is normally plenty big enough.

Shoulder bags annoy me as they fall off my shoulder!!

@notabaglady , I read an article in the New York Times this morning which reminded me of this thread .... I'll just post the end bit.... thought that was quite interesting (though wouldn't class myself as particularly successful 🤣)

I always have a small medicine chest in my bag so couldn't do without my bag. Be prepared 😂

No way I could not use a bag unless it's just to do school pickup

I can't carry or pocket:
Keys (small but has a gate fob)
Phone
Mini packet tissues
Sunglasses
Tiny pouch with lip balm, compact and spare contact lenses)
Power bank (small)

That's about all I carry but I can't shove all that into my pockets. Especially the sunglasses and I often decant from the massive case to a slimmer one