The pragmatic privilege of the understuffed bag
A few seasons ago, we romanticised the existential poetry of the overstuffed handbag. In 2024, it was kooky, chaotic, main character-coded but also… highly impractical. While I’m a chronic overstuffer (umbrella, multiple lip products, all of the pens – classic Virgo!) I’m also so over being encumbered (physically and psychologically) with all this stuff! Even men are at it with their ‘mine-is-bigger-than-yours’ ginormous commuter backpacks bursting with God knows what. (No really, what are they carrying in them?)
These days, I aspire to be like the street style ladies of Fashion Week, with their courtesy cars quarter-filled suede bucket bags, supple leather totes and soft baskets, telegraphing unburdened freedom and subsequent unbothered joy. And, no doubt, also free from coccyx twinges and ‘laptop shoulder’.
Apparently, ‘the Gen Zs’ have fallen for the ubiquitous Longchamp Le Pliage tote* – a study in pragmatic product design if ever there was one. Me, I’m thinking Toteme’s floopy leather tote* (now on sale), Liffner’s soft bucket bag*, the underrated L’Uniform ‘cake bag’ (in cherry red canvas) or The Whitechapel Gallery’s Klein blue mini tote for local errands and coffee shop trips to accommodate just a newspaper, phone, sunglasses, keys and cash/cardholder. (Controversial: maybe I’ll even leave the phone at home!)
NOW CLICK BELOW TO SHOP THE POST (I MAY EARN A COMMISSION ON THE BASKET VALUE OF ITEMS BOUGHT*)…
WORDS: Disneyrollergirl / Navaz Batliwalla
IMAGES: 6 x Despi Naka; Marta Oldrini; 1 x Despi Naka
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