Hi! I just changed positions at work a couple weeks ago and I’m trying to figure this whole bag thing out. My previous position I just carried my handbag and occasionally carried a small lunch bag when traveling. This position requires me to carry a laptop. This week I tried a combination of carrying my coach Charlie carryall 28 and my longchamp tote and just carrying it all in the tote. I didn’t care for everything to be floating around in the tote. The longchamp is so floppy maybe I just need an insert to help me feel more organized. Ideas?
Do you carry two bags to work? Purse and tote, etc?
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I’ve also carry a laptop to and from work every day. I’ve tried all sorts of combinations but I’ve found that a utility backpack over my shoulder is the best for my laptop, cords, mouse, etc, and I just carry a normal purse in addition. I never liked combining personal and work stuff in the same bag.
Do you use the backpack for meetings too? Any particular backpack you really like?
I don’t bring the backpack with me within the building and to meetings, I just grab the laptop itself. I use the backpack to and from work and for travel. This is the one I have, and I love it.
Samsonite Xenon 2 Backpack PFT Case Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007B5POVC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Jdi4CbZ3N1CVA
I carry a work bag and my handbag. I have my laptop, lunch bag, and any papers/folders I need in my large work bag. It's from Coach's men's line from over 7 yrs ago, so they have nothing online identical to it, but it sort of resembles the Metropolitan Tote but more North/South in design, and the handles are webbedcanvas with leather trim where you hold them. I primarily use the long, adjustable webbed canvas strap to carry it. I tend to baby all my handbags, but the workbag is an exception. It has been banged around, sits on floors, travelled with, you name it. It still looks amazing after 7 yrs of heavy use. Here's the Metropolitan Tote currently:
https://www.coach.com/coach-metropo...bags&dwvar_color=JIBLK#cgid=men-bags&start=79
https://www.coach.com/coach-metropo...bags&dwvar_color=JIBLK#cgid=men-bags&start=79
I'm actually on my second one, though it's no fault of the bag. I carried the first one every single day for 7 years, until I accidentally left a tube of hair gel in it, in my trunk, and the top came off, spewing hair gel all over the inside of the large pocket. I couldn't get it out and I was devastated because the bag was just getting nice and broken in and I loved it. Ordered another, identical, and it's more than a year old now and just starting to break in and soften up. They are very high quality.
I carry a purse that has my essentials in it like wallet, cosmetic bags, phone etc and then I carry another tote for other things like food, water bottle, umbrella, document etc. There would not be a bag big enough to fit all these if i just carry one bag 
plus it spreads out the weight on my shoulder and it is easier if i'm going out after work and can just leave the tote in my car.
plus it spreads out the weight on my shoulder and it is easier if i'm going out after work and can just leave the tote in my car.I’m a nurse also but I don’t work in a hospital (I still do patient care), I have a desk and I don’t wear scrubs. I bring all of my lovely bags to work! I feel so lucky that I have a job where I can wear casual chic all day (I can don a gown if there’s an issue but I don’t deal with many messes) so you’d bet I need a bag to go with it. But I do bring a separate lunch and it usually goes straight to the fridge. I also have a drawer for snacks and one for compact, toothbrush, etc. So I switch bags frequently- large to small and everything in between. I have a flat plastic bin under my desk well away from my feet where the bag goes when I put it away, protected and out of sight.
I carry a purse that has my essentials in it like wallet, cosmetic bags, phone etc and then I carry another tote for other things like food, water bottle, umbrella, document etc. There would not be a bag big enough to fit all these if i just carry one bag
This is exactly what I do as well. I finally got my first nice tote and I'm never looking back! Here's yesterday's combo.
