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 was at a concert recently where you were only allowed bags smaller than A4 sized, so I dugbout an old leather bag which is small and compact. I've kept it ever since! I don't lose things in it. I'm not always trying to find things in it. It's not heavy. It's perfect. So I've gone from being a mid sized bag full of all sorts of shite to a very small bag which just carries the essentials (phone, money, keys, hairbrush, lippy, paracetamol,)

I don't know how you do it, I use everything in my bag!
Phone
Power bank
Earphones
Makeup
Deodorant
Perfume
Keys
Vaseline
Snacks
Water
Work badge
Hand cream
Tooth pick, nail clippers

I do work out of the house though

Yes I see most men with backpacks rather than nothing.

See I would just make this work.

Keys (small but has a gate fob) - front pocket or jacket pocket
Phone - back pocket
Mini packet tissues - only 1 tissue required other back pocket
Sunglasses - on head
Tiny pouch with lip balm, compact and spare contact lenses) lip balm in pocket if really needed, don't bother with compact. Why do you need spare lenses? (Sorry not a contact user so fair enough if everyone always carries spares, BUT aren't they tiny? )
Power bank (small) why is this needed? A phone battery lasts a day?

I love this!!

I'd love to be bag free but I just don't know how I could make it work. I've got very long hair, so I always feel insecure without a hairbrush. I also have loads of keys to carry around - car key, house key and a big bunch for work. Then there's my phone, bank cards, driving licence and business cards. How many pockets do other people have!

I don’t have a hairbrush when out, so keys are on a key smart, spare bank card in phone case, but mostly use Apple Pay, no business cards and driving licence lives in the car! Normally everything fits in the one trouser pocket!

and driving licence lives in the car!

Are you mad?

@ginasevern do you never tie your hair back, plait it or put it up?

Yes, I do but it's very fine hair which inevitably falls down. I also have a fringe which is the bain of my life. I know, I should do something to sort this out!

I have long, fine hair that regularly needs brushing to keep it looking nice/tangle free so always keep a brush on me.

I can (and sometimes do!) wear it up or in a plait, but I prefer it down and like to have a brush on me, I think this is relatively normal!

Since I first saw this thread a couple of days ago, I made a point of looking at people in the street, bus and tube, and the only people I've seen so far without a bag of some sort have been a few older men, probably mid 60s or older.

I'm late 50s, I have 1 bag that has only ever been used to go to my sons wedding. I hate the things, I tried in my late teens but left it behind in cafes, shops etc just couldn't get used to using one. I put phone, wallet in my pockets and if I'm out walking with the dog, use a backpack.

This is interesting, I couldn't go anywhere without a bag. I always have a handbag, these days its a cross body bag. I now carry a backpack for stuff that won't fit in my handbag. I used to carry a tote bag but I started feeling bogged down so I caved in and got a backpack and now I wouldn't go back. I've got a larger one for work and a smaller one for when I don't carry as much.

I put my phone, keys, cards etc in my cross body bag and my brolly, laptop, lunch for work etc in my back pack. It works for me. I don't like putting my more personal items in my back pack as I like easy access to them.

I take out just a handbag when I'm going out anywhere dressed up but the rest of the time I need to carry things with me.

I have a friend with a bizzare attitude who thinks that backpacks are for lesbians and butch women. She will tell me my outfit looks good but the backpack spoils the look! Having read this thread I can see a lot of women use backpacks.

I'm late 60s and never had a handbag until Christmas when my children bought me a cross body bag and a decent purse. Now I tend to grab that if I'm going out but not always, old habits die hard!
In the past I've always had a tote bag hanging on the coat rack that held all 'handbag' type stuff. Every time I went out I just took items out of the bag that I needed and put them in my pockets. Eg, a credit card, a couple of tissues, front door key. So liberating!

I remember my first 'proper' night out with my school mates when I was 14. I left the house and my Mum shouted out the window, 'don't you need a handbag.' I said, 'why'. It was a free night out and all I needed was in my pockets. I was told later by my Mum and second elder sister, who was quite a bit older than me that 'this is what ladies do.' My Mum was in contradiction a bit, as she too disliked handbags and carried either a shopping bag or an airline style bag. However, my elder sisters liked handbags to look ladylike. To me this makes no sense. I carry a rucksack and keep my hands free. This way I can carry all manner of things I need as well as putting shopping I'm it. The thought of carrying a silly, frilly, little bow peep bag with a great big bow makes me cringe. These bags are pointless and impractical. Maybe they are seen by some as attractive, but certainly not by me. If they have no practical use then lose them. I've always thought little girls with handbags look silly, but again each to their own. Thankfully, now men are using 'man bags' more now, we are going more towards practical rather than statement making. I guess it's the same thing as some people believe waring high heeled shoes makes you look more attractive or feminine, which isn't necessarily the case. Also, some people like to show off designer labels, which I'm afraid I cannot relate to at all. Just a matter of different preferences, but unless a bag serves a practical use, I can't see the point.

I'd be worried that phone or keys would fall out of pocket - constantly.

Most pockets and summer clothes are quite flimsy. You'd probably get holes in the pockets quite quickly. I can see how it works with a winter coat but otherwise no.

I always have a bottle of water so along with every other factor, even just a tiny Crossbody bag is essential.

Yup, most pockets you can't zip.....does t sound secure enough to me.
Plus bags are fun! I'm not a jewellery person, bags are a great accessory for your outfit.
I have bags in all sizes. Today was a little cross body phone bag, just phone, keys and purse, to pop to the shops.
Off to the cinema tomorrow so need a big tote bag for all the usual stuff plus cardie, drinks and many, many snacks! (Can't fit all that in your pockets!).

I’m a reluctant bag user on occasion. If I were PM instead of focussing on equal rights I’d campaign ‘Pockets for Women’!!!!

I almost never carry a bag. Always have a hoodie or jacket with pockets that can fit my phone and keys. I make an exception if I'm going for a day out somewhere as I'd need water, sunglasses etc and would carry a backpack usually. I'm not stylish 😆

I have a couple of small handbags that fits wallet, phone, keys. Useful when going out in the car, or going out for with friends. One is brown leather half moon shape. The other is green boxy shape and bit smarter. I have a lot of green dresses so handy for that.

I don't need much else - might pop some concealer or lip gloss in it.

I do have a gap for a medium bag I guess.

My handbag weighs a ton. I’d love to be able to go out without it but what could I do with keys, phone, reading glasses, pen, bus pass, cards, notebook, comb, radar key, purse, spare pants, small mirror, tweezers,eye pencil, painkillers, small spf, etc, etc?

@Allseeingallknowing i hardly take any of the things on your list out with me.
Keys and phone will either be held until they get put down on a table or whatever, glasses are either on my face or hooked on to my top. I don’t take a purse anywhere, all my bank stuff is on my phone, don’t need pen or notebook as I have my phone, Don’t bother with makeup and I do have spare pants in my work drawer and also in my glove box!

Back pack for me…. Since pandemic, on my back, everything I’m likely to need and I have hands free..

How come you don't leave the backpack in cafes, shops etc?