After years of downsizing, TueNighter Leigh Ann is finally ready to ditch her purse and find new ways to carry her essentials: cell phone, credit card, wallet, keys, and maybe some lipstick.
Hi, CJ. I finally gave in and got transitional lenses so I would only need to carry one pair of glasses (mostly on my face or top of head, maybe hooked in my collar). It was hard on my ego at first, but life-changing in that reduction of bulk. And finding jackets with interior pockets is absolutely key (most will fit that damned iPhone).
It totally is, CJ. Trick is to find frames that look good as both regular and sunglasses. I went to Warby Parker and love my Daisy frames (black). Miss my (gifted) Chanels, though. Save those for poolside/beach reading. Hope it works for you! Let me know. xo
Do they go totally clear inside or are they that tinted look? I see there is supposed to be a version of transitional lenses that go clear inside but then are they sufficiently shaded outside? I've been told I need to find my religion about sunglasses to slow the growth of my early onset (first time I've been early to anything) cataracts. I am debating transitional lenses vs. larger bag.
Hi, Becca. They are totally clear inside but they don't get super duper dark when they are sunglasses. Dark enough. They do the job. If you go to Warby Parker and aren't satisfied, you can return them (2 weeks? 30 days?). I think transitions could be a solution so you have protection if you're just out and about, but might want to get proper sunglasses if you are intentionally going out in the sun, if that makes sense? I'm nearsighted, so if I plan to read at the beach or poolside, I bring my vintage (meaning they were gifted to me decades ago) Chanels (don't we all bring a big bag to the pool/beach?). I haven't gone to the bifocal/trifocal level yet. It's coming, but I'm holding off. xo
Why not really downsizing? I just have a lipstick and a cell phone on me (even the one credit card in the phone case only as plan B). No house keys (ten-key pad on the door to our house), no wallet (paying with phone), rarely car keys. And since shopping carefully / mindful all my skirts have pockets for these few things.
Can not say enough good things about this Uniqlo bag. It comfortably fits my sunglasses, phone, wallet, keys, earbuds, hand santizer, concealer, lipstick and a resuable bag.
Oh, the ideal bag for carrying my stuff, my eternal grail quest, my white whale. My current situation is an imperfect compromise:
My "big" carry is Alex Mill's "Perfect Weekend Tote" (which I get a lot of compliments on) with a carabiner on one strap that I use to hook my keys and a strap for my main wallet; inside, I have several wallets for different purposes (with straps of different colours, which can all be attached to the carabiner for quick finding), and various small bags that hold grouped items (health/first-aid; tools; beauty/self-care; external battery/charger cables; etc.). It's big enough to hold a water bottle, a book, my laptop, and most things I might need to toss in there while out and about. With the carabiner and my system of smaller bags, I can find everything easily enough. It's not as secure as I'd like since the whole top doesn't close, and because it's a tote it's not the most ergonomic for carrying for hours (especially when loaded with, e.g. full water bottle, laptop, etc.).
My "small" carry is an Everlane "Renew Transit Fanny Pack." I also resisted fanny packs for years and years, but succumbed to this one because it's pretty minimalist. It'll hold my phone, a small wallet, passport (when travelling), lip balm, small thing of hand lotion or hand sanitizer, pocket pack of tissues, reusable bag (Baggu standard) for any purchases, and a smaller pair of sunglasses. For when I only need a small number of items, it's about as close to ideal as I can imagine: reasonably ergonomic, secure, looks great, can be worn cross-body or around the waist or slung over a shoulder. But I can't carry, e.g., a book or water bottle, and if I suddenly need a bandaid or to charge my phone, I don't have my whole kit like with the big tote.
I have a whole bookmarks folder of bags I might get some day when I get sick of one or both of my current carries. When I finally find the ideal bag, I will have achieved some kind of nirvana, but today is not that day.
I cannot with fanny packs worn as a sling, mostly because I'm short and large chested, and I don't need more weight there. I sell handbags for a living, and the insistence of every woman that she needs to have a fanny pack (but not call it a fanny pack) is mind boggling to me. As one woman said to me: "when the pre teens are wearing the Lululemon fanny pack, I need to upgrade".
Just get a small crossbody! In nylon, look at MZ Wallace (metro crossbody, mini metro deluxe tote, Ruby quilted crossbody). Madewell has some great small leather bags that aren't too expensive (mini leather carabiner crossbody, Piazza crossbody, puff woven crossbody). Tory Burch has a lot but a higher price point (Mercer pebbled crossbody, mini Miller crossbody, mini nylon crossbody, McGraw camera bag, Kira chevron wallet on a chain).
I have SO MANY BAGS. I typically use any one of the following (depending on how much bag I need with me): (1) the Patagonia Black Hole pack (for commuting to work with my computer); (2) the Domke F-8, which is a camera bag but also functions as a cool Gen-X purse/bag; and (3) the WANDRD 3-liter sling (as an over-the back bag NOT a fanny pack) when I have less stuff to carry and don't want to deal with the Domke F-8.
Check out the nifty Bandolier, an iPhone cross body case. I've used it for years. When I met with an editor for an online community of women 40+ she asked me to write about it on her site. I illustrated the story using myself as the model since the company only uses models under 30.
I bought a $10 canvas crossbody tote with a zipper top for walking my dog, and I find myself reaching for it more than anything else. It is weightless and lies flat. Not ideal for carrying water bottles, but otherwise great. Love the idea of the phone case/wallet crossbody/wristlets, but find them annoying in practice. If I live long enough to move into a retirement home, I might consider a fanny pack, but even then only ironically.
If i live long enough to be in a nursing home, I'm crocheting a bag to hand on the side of the wheelchair handles. In which case, there may not be much to put in it, except a spare pair of diapers.
Hi, Leigh Ann. Finding the perfect (for you) bag is basically the search for the holy grail. I typically carry a "big bag of crazy". I love my Madewell tote, that's very well organized and in it is a little clutch I can put phone and credit cards in for afterwork activities. When it rains, I use a backpack. On weekends, I have a large (canvas) and small (leather) crossbody. For my urban hikes, I have a Vans fanny pack (why can't we pre-order Starbucks from our Apple Watches? I'd like to hike without my phone sometimes and still have an iced latte kindly ready for me when needed). Since most folks are trying to be fashionable by wearing a fanny pack as a crossbody, just get a crossbody. Quince has a few good options on crossbodies and fanny packs that they call "belt bags". Good luck on your quest. Let me know where you land! xo https://www.quince.com/women/bags-&-leather-goods
Hi, CJ. I finally gave in and got transitional lenses so I would only need to carry one pair of glasses (mostly on my face or top of head, maybe hooked in my collar). It was hard on my ego at first, but life-changing in that reduction of bulk. And finding jackets with interior pockets is absolutely key (most will fit that damned iPhone).
It totally is, CJ. Trick is to find frames that look good as both regular and sunglasses. I went to Warby Parker and love my Daisy frames (black). Miss my (gifted) Chanels, though. Save those for poolside/beach reading. Hope it works for you! Let me know. xo
Do they go totally clear inside or are they that tinted look? I see there is supposed to be a version of transitional lenses that go clear inside but then are they sufficiently shaded outside? I've been told I need to find my religion about sunglasses to slow the growth of my early onset (first time I've been early to anything) cataracts. I am debating transitional lenses vs. larger bag.
Hi, Becca. They are totally clear inside but they don't get super duper dark when they are sunglasses. Dark enough. They do the job. If you go to Warby Parker and aren't satisfied, you can return them (2 weeks? 30 days?). I think transitions could be a solution so you have protection if you're just out and about, but might want to get proper sunglasses if you are intentionally going out in the sun, if that makes sense? I'm nearsighted, so if I plan to read at the beach or poolside, I bring my vintage (meaning they were gifted to me decades ago) Chanels (don't we all bring a big bag to the pool/beach?). I haven't gone to the bifocal/trifocal level yet. It's coming, but I'm holding off. xo
I'm interested to know as well! Following for some good tips. 😊
As am I! I’ve carried everything from a tote to a handbag to a cell wallet to a fanny pack and somehow I find a reason to hate them all.
this cracks me up! agreed.
This made me snort laugh. :-)
the cell wallet looks sooooooo nerdy! I tried it too. The only one I ever half-way liked had a small window on the front for notifications.
Why not really downsizing? I just have a lipstick and a cell phone on me (even the one credit card in the phone case only as plan B). No house keys (ten-key pad on the door to our house), no wallet (paying with phone), rarely car keys. And since shopping carefully / mindful all my skirts have pockets for these few things.
what kind of sorcery is this?!?
More about the skirts, pls.
I really love this small Uniqlo bag I use as a crossbody. It’s cheap, washable and comes in good colors. https://www.uniqlo.com/us/en/products/E461053-000/00?colorDisplayCode=09
I only really carry a wallet, phone, and keys.
Extra points for "washable" because stuff always ends up looking like I've dragged them thru the mud and back.
Can not say enough good things about this Uniqlo bag. It comfortably fits my sunglasses, phone, wallet, keys, earbuds, hand santizer, concealer, lipstick and a resuable bag.
Oh, the ideal bag for carrying my stuff, my eternal grail quest, my white whale. My current situation is an imperfect compromise:
My "big" carry is Alex Mill's "Perfect Weekend Tote" (which I get a lot of compliments on) with a carabiner on one strap that I use to hook my keys and a strap for my main wallet; inside, I have several wallets for different purposes (with straps of different colours, which can all be attached to the carabiner for quick finding), and various small bags that hold grouped items (health/first-aid; tools; beauty/self-care; external battery/charger cables; etc.). It's big enough to hold a water bottle, a book, my laptop, and most things I might need to toss in there while out and about. With the carabiner and my system of smaller bags, I can find everything easily enough. It's not as secure as I'd like since the whole top doesn't close, and because it's a tote it's not the most ergonomic for carrying for hours (especially when loaded with, e.g. full water bottle, laptop, etc.).
My "small" carry is an Everlane "Renew Transit Fanny Pack." I also resisted fanny packs for years and years, but succumbed to this one because it's pretty minimalist. It'll hold my phone, a small wallet, passport (when travelling), lip balm, small thing of hand lotion or hand sanitizer, pocket pack of tissues, reusable bag (Baggu standard) for any purchases, and a smaller pair of sunglasses. For when I only need a small number of items, it's about as close to ideal as I can imagine: reasonably ergonomic, secure, looks great, can be worn cross-body or around the waist or slung over a shoulder. But I can't carry, e.g., a book or water bottle, and if I suddenly need a bandaid or to charge my phone, I don't have my whole kit like with the big tote.
I have a whole bookmarks folder of bags I might get some day when I get sick of one or both of my current carries. When I finally find the ideal bag, I will have achieved some kind of nirvana, but today is not that day.
I cannot with fanny packs worn as a sling, mostly because I'm short and large chested, and I don't need more weight there. I sell handbags for a living, and the insistence of every woman that she needs to have a fanny pack (but not call it a fanny pack) is mind boggling to me. As one woman said to me: "when the pre teens are wearing the Lululemon fanny pack, I need to upgrade".
Just get a small crossbody! In nylon, look at MZ Wallace (metro crossbody, mini metro deluxe tote, Ruby quilted crossbody). Madewell has some great small leather bags that aren't too expensive (mini leather carabiner crossbody, Piazza crossbody, puff woven crossbody). Tory Burch has a lot but a higher price point (Mercer pebbled crossbody, mini Miller crossbody, mini nylon crossbody, McGraw camera bag, Kira chevron wallet on a chain).
I have SO MANY BAGS. I typically use any one of the following (depending on how much bag I need with me): (1) the Patagonia Black Hole pack (for commuting to work with my computer); (2) the Domke F-8, which is a camera bag but also functions as a cool Gen-X purse/bag; and (3) the WANDRD 3-liter sling (as an over-the back bag NOT a fanny pack) when I have less stuff to carry and don't want to deal with the Domke F-8.
Love this thread, lots of good ideas!
Check out the nifty Bandolier, an iPhone cross body case. I've used it for years. When I met with an editor for an online community of women 40+ she asked me to write about it on her site. I illustrated the story using myself as the model since the company only uses models under 30.
US Army combat shorts with big pockets.
this
I bought a $10 canvas crossbody tote with a zipper top for walking my dog, and I find myself reaching for it more than anything else. It is weightless and lies flat. Not ideal for carrying water bottles, but otherwise great. Love the idea of the phone case/wallet crossbody/wristlets, but find them annoying in practice. If I live long enough to move into a retirement home, I might consider a fanny pack, but even then only ironically.
If i live long enough to be in a nursing home, I'm crocheting a bag to hand on the side of the wheelchair handles. In which case, there may not be much to put in it, except a spare pair of diapers.
Crossbody Baggalini. Large variety of colors, sizes and some with built in wallets. Amazon
I have a few bags from Lindquist, a Providence-based leather company. Great colors, minimal space for stuff, easy to tuck in a tote if needed.
Oh I like these! Thanks for the ref!
It's a great small company. Woman-owned, they do all of the construction in Providence with employees who are happy to work there. It's a great place.
Hi, Leigh Ann. Finding the perfect (for you) bag is basically the search for the holy grail. I typically carry a "big bag of crazy". I love my Madewell tote, that's very well organized and in it is a little clutch I can put phone and credit cards in for afterwork activities. When it rains, I use a backpack. On weekends, I have a large (canvas) and small (leather) crossbody. For my urban hikes, I have a Vans fanny pack (why can't we pre-order Starbucks from our Apple Watches? I'd like to hike without my phone sometimes and still have an iced latte kindly ready for me when needed). Since most folks are trying to be fashionable by wearing a fanny pack as a crossbody, just get a crossbody. Quince has a few good options on crossbodies and fanny packs that they call "belt bags". Good luck on your quest. Let me know where you land! xo https://www.quince.com/women/bags-&-leather-goods
I put my phone in one pocket and a thin wallet in another pocket and go. Maybe a key fob in another pocket. Life simplified!
Sounds like a life goal I will never attain!!! impressed :)