Need purse advice? Turn to the Internet! March 13, 2006
I’m going on a business trip on Wednesday (let’s call it Excursion Around Northern Ontario, Part the Third: The Northwest Redux - I’m looking forward to it, as long as it doesn’t snow), and need serious help. About other things besides the obvious!
I don’t know which purse to take.
Here are the candidates, with a brief description and pros and cons of each.
Purse #1: The Everyday Purse
This is the purse I use on a daily basis. It’s big enough to hold my wallet, camera, cellphone, iPod, in addition to at least one paperback or a small knitting project (like, say, a sock). I got it a few years ago in a funky little shop in Port Dalhousie.
Pros: It screams “I’m unique! I’m an individual! I have funky, eclectic tastes in shoulderbags!” Plus, it holds lots of stuff.
Cons: What it doesn’t exactly scream is “I’m a professional!” And it’s fraying and a little worn in spots.
Purse #2: The Boring Purse
This one is more professional. The strap comes off and I can carry it around like a handbag. It’s brown leather and it looks nice. It doesn’t hold much, but it has pockets for what it does.
Pros: Screams “I’m a professional!” Is a good purse for polite society and going out. Like I mentioned, converts from a shoulderbag to a handbag.
Cons: There isn’t a lot of room in it, and tends to get heavy fast. Also, it’s bulky and sticks out and gets caught on things. I don’t usually take the strap off because I’m afraid I’m going to put it down and forget it somewhere, which is bad, moreso on this upcoming trip because of the distances I’ll be traveling.
Purse #3: The Smaller Shoulderbag
It’s small and neat, and I use it all the time in the summer. As well, I know at least four other people with this exact same model (Hi Julie! Hi Thistle! Hi third person who I’ve forgotten who you are but I apologize for doing so! Hi Robin!).
Pros: Small and portable, which is good if I’m already going to be lugging around a briefcase and a suitcase. Will hold the absolute essentials, which is good if I’m going out for dinner or something.
Cons: Somewhere, my sisters are looking at it and having the same reaction - “It’s a summer purse! You can’t use it in the winter!” Which probably means I need a smaller winter purse. And have you noticed that word I keep using to describe it - small? Yeah. Its size is a liability (what with the putting down and forgetting of things.)
Purse #4: The Big Bertha
This is the one I used on previous trips because it was big and doubled as a briefcase. Hell, it’s big enough to fit my laptop in. I can fit everything from purse #1, plus a hardcover book, maps, and snacks in it.
Pros: Like I said, big. Roomy, even. I can’t lose it or forget it somewhere. If I go souvenir shopping, I can pop everything in here until I can get to my suitcase. Or I can put important stuff in here and save room in the briefcase. Did I mention the size?
Cons: I’m already bringing a big briefcase for my laptop (it has wheels!) - why do I need a second laptop-carrying option? Plus, the size means small stuff tends to get lost in the bottom, if I put my wallet in the pouch on the inside, it keeps collapsing, the iPod fits in the cellphone pocket, which means the cellphone usually ends up lost at the bottom, and the more room I’m allowed, the more I find stuff to put in it.
Which one do you think I should use? I think I know which one I’ll end up using, but I won’t say anything until you’ve had a chance for input. It’s too late to buy a new one, but is there anything I should look for in my next purchase?
I am suggesting the ‘Boring Purse’. It is only boring because it doesn’t sparkle or jingle but it does say ‘professional’. I doubt that your trip through the frozen north will provide you with many shopping opportunities!
Mom
I am a big fan of big purses. That being said, I bought a small purse a few weeks ago that is just big enough to hold my wallet (quite large), palm pilot, prescription and a few compact stray items. It’s big enough to get me from point A to point B on its own, but also small enough to fit inside another bigger bag if I need to carry a few things.
Which leads me to my question — will the red one fit inside Big Bertha? That will save you from fishing around for essential items at the bottom (keep them in your regular purse), and will leave you room for your optional items when you need them. Also, I think I’d be more comfortable with Big Bertha than the other two options.
Just my two cents. And I hear you re: worries about leaving small bags behind.
This is definitely a familiar problem and explains why I have something like 20 bags I now have to choose from. Since you can’t take my normal path and just buy something I think I’d go with something like Canknitian’s advice - use the big bag and put the smaller one inside.
I need more info though - what will you be doing while you’re there? If very little of your time will be spent away from work? If little, then just the big bag would work. But if you will have more relaxed time, having a smaller bag you can work with will help. I tend to use a bigger bag for travel and then have something I can put on my shoulder tucked under my arm for going out.
Wow!….things I will never have to worry about….kinda makes me glad i have the outy genitals..
I’d stick with mom on this one and go with the boring…..
I cannot think of a guy equivilant worry….
hey good to see you on saturday hope the sporting event went well and no broken bones…
I feel obliged to throw my two cents in - like Marylynn I have 20 different purses (including the matcher to your summer purse); however, I have the added problem that I only ever use maybe 3 of those. It just makes me feel better knowing I have the others there JUST IN CASE.
I’m gonna sit on the fence on this one. Depending on what you are doing there, this is my advice: If you aren’t going to be having much “Rebecca Time”, then the professional purse is probably your best option. If you will be having some, as canknitian said, maybe the little red one will fit in Big Bertha? Then you can be professional and funky, as the moment calls for.
And jeez, come down to Ottawa already and we’ll go purse shopping!
Thematic Choices are key… RED LAKE RED PURSE!
Plus it’ll be handy if the plane goes down… double as a life preserver… or flare… j/k….
*nudge*
being a certified purse a holic, and a bag lady to boot.And also realizing that you are already done your trip.My personal advice is this: Shop now that you are back. Your bags are all lovely for their purposes. What you are lacking is a mid size bag with funk, and business savvy. I know that I am stating the obvious on that one.
I love the every day purse but you are right, not so professional. how about a shoulder tote, mid size in a hand painted fabric. If you get one in a subtle colourway, it could go from business to funk.
my 2cents