(By the way, do you say handbag, bag, purse, pocketbook, or something else?)
It’s big for me, but probably not for most of you fashionistas out there. The current trend appears to be humongous, and many women are totin’ those babies.
I, on the other hand, have stuck with my 12”x 8” purse (if you’re measuring the surface of one side of it) with a 2 1/2" base, for two reasons:
1) Anything heavy on my shoulder too long, eventually becomes uncomfortable. I don’t think it’s bursitis. That’s what my mom complains about. Hmmm... Also, I hang it on my right shoulder; never the left. Am I going to end up lopsided, if not already?
2) The more space I have in my purse, the more everyone expects me to carry their stuff in it. Why is that? Why do my daughters have their own purses, but leave them home most of the time, then ask me to put their wallets, hair accessories, cameras, and small purchases in “my” purse? (Not the cell phones, of course.) Darling Husband has been known to ask, too. And by the way, why don’t men carry purses?
I digress.
Anyway, when I opened the present and saw the size of it, I hoped that it wouldn’t be heavy because I really need a new black bag. I was reminded of an infant car seat, with an ergonomically correct handle, that we bought for our first baby in 1995. “It’s not too heavy,” I’d said, forgetting that the seven pound baby would be added.
I picked up my new purse. It was heavy – empty and heavy. Then, I noticed the brand name – expensive. Darling Husband is very sweet and generous to a fault. Frugal Wife decided not to spoil the moment by asking the price and going into sticker shock.
After a few days, reality told me that my 2.6 pound (empty) Dooney & Bourke handbag will be going back to Macy’s, where it will be purchased and filled by someone else who will end up with shoulder bursitis.
I’ll still get my new black purse, though. Maybe, I’ll graduate to one that is 13” x 9" with a 3" base.
Thank you Darling Husband.
My third “by the way” – If I've mislead you... My spaghetti arms are deceiving to some; but the old girl can still flip a king size mattress.
What is the size of your purse and what do you carry in it?
34 comments:
bigger is always better when it comes to purses! I might as well be caring luggage around!
I say pocketbook. I love BIG pocketbooks, like in the first picture of the "purse" on your shoulder.
This is kind of weird because I've been thinking lately about getting a new "purse". Mine is pretty medium sized I guess. Nothing wrong with it, I just want something new - in a mood.
My purses have gotten bigger as I've gotten older. What's that about??
I actually kind of like the big one from your husband. Makes me shudder to think what my husband would come up with!
I call mine a 'diaper bag'. And I'm guessing it'll be awhile before I get to carry a purse again. :)
And I must say that I'm envious of those toned "spaghetti" arms. :)
Love your blog, Anita!
Indeed you may find it big but it is trendy and in fashion.
I do like your white(ish) purse, but I have to say, you have a good hubby for getting you expensive handbag/purse/suitcase! My hubs is the frugal one so I get frying pans and stuff for special occasions, and not the good stainless steel ones. And yes, I do like the black bag!
I like big bags, but I notice i tend to put a lot of stuff in my big bags, so I stopped carrying them. I now only use my smaller bags.
Wow! Nice present! I agree, I don't like to carry large purses. In fact, I buy so many, my husband knows the exact style I'll go for! Sometimes I'll say pocketbook, but mostly purse! :)!
I thought I'd return the courtesy and stop by and visit you, too! :-) Am I the only woman in America who doesn't carry a purse? I became paranoid after having a wallet stolen back in the 80s and I have never carried a purse since. I have a perfect flat little leather wallet that I can slip in my front jeans pocket. I carry my license, my debit card, my car insurance card, and my medical card. No photos so I can't whip out any of my grandkids to brag, haha! Suits me just fine, and I have never missed having a purse at all.
I think that I need to scale down. My purse is too big and failed with too much junk. Cute purse. Dear Husband is so thoughtful.
That IS a big bag! In Saipan I carried a huge one...mostly because I had everything in it from personal items to grand-kids toys to teaching materials! Here is Japan my regular purse is much smaller but lately I've been into back-packs just because I'm on foot a lot and a backpack is much more efficient for my purposes. Although-the backpack has to be North Face ...or some other "cool" brand...lol
Hmmmm what don't I carry in my bag! Everything from Arnica cream to spare socks.I am sickenly organised sometimes.... I love that bag but 2.6 pounds is heavy for a purse! I'd keep it but make hubby carry it for me ;)
I am guilty...I carry a humungo purse :)
My wife went through purses from extra large with five kids to extra small. Actually she only carries driver's license in shirt pocket most of the time.
I always go big as I have so much stuff! Then I am sorry when my shoulder hurts and I can't find what I need but....still go big!
I say 'purse'. I'm not one of those women who changes 'bags' to match my shoes or outfit. I have several 'pocketbooks' and I will carry one for 6-12 months, at which time something in my brain will tell me to grab a different 'handbag' (same color) from the closet and carry that 'mobile mini closet' for 6 - 12 months. I carry a 10x14.
I sometimes say handbag, sometimes say purse. I go for the big ones, with plenty of compartments, preferably --for all that I carry with me. I'm more of the 'come-prepared' kind than the bare essentials kind. :)
I say purse and pocketbook, but I change it up without really thinking about it. It's whatever comes out. I recently downsized from my "summer" bag to my "fall" bag. The summer bag was like a satchel, light in color only. The fall bag is more like a tote and it's black. I did pitch quite a few things making the change from one to the other and that's for the better. The satchel had all my basics plus a magazine, fruit snacks for the kids, a comb, six barrettes and an empty gum packet. All your bags are very stylish!
I saw a young woman with an enormous purse the other day. I thought at first, it was her luggage before I clued in!
I never used to carry a purse at all...just a wallet on a long strap I could sling over my shoulder. I still use those for when I want to carry my wallet and not my whole purse (my boys bought me a lovely green leather one for Christmas last year). I have two purses, a straw one for spring summer, and a black weather proof one for fall/winter. Neither of them are very big at all...and I don't see myself carrying anything larger in the future. Half the time I carry a backpack anyway.
Your new purse is/was really nice, but since it is something you are going to use all the time...bursitis isn't worth it! btw, I'm often carrying my son's ipod in my purse for him!
I csll it a purse. I will say that is a bit large for me as well. The second purse looks perfect.
Have a pretty day!
Kristin
Oh gosh, I do have a few purses..And in Oz many many actual carry a bag, and I love the look. I, like most women pack far too much in my bag.
Tablets, stamps, hanky, another purse, money, cards, phone and bandaides..
If I carried a purse it would probably be big. In fact I'd probably carry a backpack instead. Thankfully I don't carry a purse so I don't take much with me when I'm out.
Lee
Tossing It Out
This purse post, handbag headache, pocketbook blog book, has given me a fit of giggles! You are so right about having to carry for everyone in your gang the bigger the purse you carry. Yes, I say purse. Mine is about 13x13x5. The good news is that it has a shoulder strap long enough to cross me like a bandolier!
Cheers!
Julie
Julie Magers Soulen Photography
Mine is medium sized, with enough room for my handy-dandy p&s camera. I'm always on the look-out for blog photos!
I prefer bigger. But, whenever I look for something in it, I get mad at myself.
My purse is massive. I could fit my dog in it.
I say purse. I think a pocketbook is a wallet. Maybe that's a northeast thing. :o)
I have a big purse right now as I got it for traveling and I haven't switched back to my regular one yet and it's been almost three weeks since we got home~~~~~~Yikes!
I'm with you on the bursitis thing but mine is in my elbow. If I don't carry my purse on my shoulder it kills my elbow in no time flat!
I totally dislike/hate carrying other peoples stuff!!!!! ha!
Hi again, Anita! I have tagged you in a challenge over at my blog. I hope you are having a great weekend!
Hi Anita, Mine has to be big enough to hold my Kindle but light enough so I don't end up with my back out of whack. It's an ongoing search for the "right" pocketbook (and I'm old, so I've been searching a long time...). Your Hubby is a keeper.
what a thoughtful husband! i'm with you,
though, if a purse is heavy empty, i'm
not putting my stuff in it!
I say "purse", it's short, sweet, and to the point. Also, I prefer one that crosses from shoulder to opposite hip. And I must admit, with all due respect, I have no real preferance about what design it is, only that it is sturdy and can handle the ruggedness of my moving lifestyle...I guess that might be because the wealth transfer is still enroute. My design preference...hmm, well it might change when it arrives,...uhmm, probably not...And that wealth transfer...it WILL arrive, so says the Lord!! OK, back to the point...being a mother of one 4 year old that's got the mind of Christ and is strong willed enough for 2-1/2 children, I need all the free hands I can get. LOL. What an adventure! Anyway, that's my two cents! Blessing!
Haha. I carry a big, BIG purse :) I love that black one and it looks like the perfect size for me--gonna go check that one out now!! Haha.
Okay, pay attention, this could get complicated. My sister-in-law's mother-in-law carried the worlds heaviest and most expensive bad in the world, but it was literally breaking her back. So, she gave it to her daughter-in-law, my sister-in-law. Well, my sister-in-law, up to this point had spend the equivalent of her law school tuition on various Coach bags. Since she was 17. Anyway, not that my sister-in-law had the pricey behemoth bag, my mother-in-law has inherited much of the Coach stuff. Did you get that.
I am not a fancy person at this point in my life. But, I bought Coach bag on clearance with a coupon and carried it every day for two and a half years. It was still as good as new. So I bought another one. I have one brown, on black. Different styles, both medium sized. I shall carry them until my three year old in hip enough to be embarrassed to be seem with me. Then I will carry her hand me downs.
I once purchased a handbag, not a shoulder bag, through my friend who managed Coach. I asked her to buy me the large one. She asked if I was sure and I said yes. It was the biggest dang purse EVER! However, it didn't hurt my shoulder and I figured I'd fill it after carrying it around a while. Wrong! It was the first thing people saw when they looked at me. Eventually I stuffed it in the closet and never used it again. I know the shoulder ones can really hurt...my right shoulder usually hurt because of wearing my purse.
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