Getting rid of “work” bags?

[Sparkletastic]

As the pandemic stretches maddeningly into year 3, it seems a lot of our short term changes are becoming permanent.

One of these changes is in how we work. With so many of us no longer traveling or going into the office, I’m wondering what’s happening to the bags we bought specifically for work usage?

Is it time to embrace our new lives, shed these bags and buy ones more appropriate for a post covid world? Is it still a time of uncertainty so no decisions can be made? Or is there something else to be considered?

 

[880]

I don’t know what to do with them, so I p8cked the second to last option.

but they’re in the back of my closet, and I’ve been buying other bags I will use

 

[Sparkletastic]

I don’t know what to do with them, so I p8cked the second to last option.

but they’re in the back of my closet, and I’ve been buying other bags I will use

I’m thinking I’m going to try to style mine for non work life but, I dunno how I can just yet. They’re “work me” which is almost a 180 degree difference from real me.

 

[Amazona]

I still have my Boss Taylor. It's been sitting on the shelf for 2 years. It does make me a bit mad. It's basically my only designated work bag; all of the others are bags I can/want to use for several occasions but Taylor is big and boxy and black and very politically correct with no bells and whistles - so different from my other bags.
I've been toying around with the idea of selling it but resale value for Boss is so lousy it makes me just want to keep it. I'd probably make around 10-15% of its original full price if I sold. And it wasn't cheap to buy even though I got it for half off at a sale - it was still expensive for what it is.
So on the shelf it stays. And I continue to be a bit mad about having that much money just sitting there, not doing anything.

 

[Cathindy]

I also don't know what to do. I bought a LV OnTheGo GM back in august because after 1,5 years we could finally go back to the office but in the end my bag never made it there and I'm still working from home the entire time. And now I feel a bit sorry for buying such an expensive bag which is in my closet ever since. Sometimes I think about selling but I truly love the look of the bag. Maybe next year will be better.

 

[leechiyong]

I went through something similar with my travel laptop bag (it's colossal and I could pack an extra outfit including shoes and bag in it as a carry on personal item) when I stopped traveling consistently. I ultimately wound up keeping it and storing it with my luggage.

To work, I used to carry a laptop bag and a mini bag. The mini bags still get used on a regular basis, but the briefcase hasn't seen the light of day in over a year. It's a Coach Rogue Brief, so incredibly sturdy but not too exorbitant. I don't mind keeping it. I doubt I'll find anything I like as much for the price if I were to need it again. I'm more alright never needing it again and it taking room in my closet than selling it at a loss, then having to buy out of necessity I like less or costs more or both.

 

[lill_canele]

The only reason why I chose "Yes, their time is over". is because I have sold my classic work totes but I still carry a work bag (classic longchamp)

I still have to go to work (pandemic didn't change anything since I work in healthcare), but I no longer really need to bring a laptop or iPad around. Meetings can be virtually done on the work phone if necessary. I can respond to e-mails through my work phone as well. And if I really want to, I can ask my workplace to provide me a laptop at work if I need it for meetings etc. and since the work laptop stays at work, I'll just bring it around when I go to conferences.

So I pretty much downsized and sold all my work totes. I have also found that I don't really like heavy bags, and so the bigger they were, the heavier they were (and even heavier when I put in more stuff ). My shoulder has been feeling much better this past year since I downsized haha.

If I enjoyed traveling with totes, I'd probably keep at least one. (When things get better, and we can travel more freely in the future) But I am not a tote person when I travel (more of a backpack person) and so I didn't see a point in keeping one in my closet for that either. (I will say, it looks very aesthetic to have a Dior book tote or a Fendi tote on top of a roller travel case haha)

 

[Sparkletastic]

I went through something similar with my travel laptop bag (it's colossal and I could pack an extra outfit including shoes and bag in it as a carry on personal item) when I stopped traveling consistently. I ultimately wound up keeping it and storing it with my luggage.

To work, I used to carry a laptop bag and a mini bag. The mini bags still get used on a regular basis, but the briefcase hasn't seen the light of day in over a year. It's a Coach Rogue Brief, so incredibly sturdy but not too exorbitant. I don't mind keeping it. I doubt I'll find anything I like as much for the price if I were to need it again. I'm more alright never needing it again and it taking room in my closet than selling it at a loss, then having to buy out of necessity I like less or costs more or both.

Yes. Travel bags and luggage are yet another consideration. It’s time for me to retire my current luggage (they’re gorgeous but heavy and don’t have valuable current features) but I feel no motivation to buy new because my travel - work and personal - is literally about 5% of pre Covid.

I did just get back from a rare trip and started to refill my travel toiletries as I always did before so they’re ready to go. But, I may not “go” anywhere any time soon. Made me pause bc all the bottles could just end up full of expired product. Sigh. This is a lousy time for all of us.

 

[Addy]

"I don’t know. I’m still considering what I should do."

I can see keeping a few work bags but for now they are just sitting there along with racks of office attire.

 

[Sparkletastic]

"I don’t know. I’m still considering what I should do."

I can see keeping a few work bags but for now they are just sitting there along with racks of office attire.

The clothes were an easier decision point for me. I don’t know that I’ll ever go back in office. But if I do, trends /styles will have changed and work clothes are becoming ever more informal. I’ll just buy some new pieces that I like better.

In contrast, my bags are long term classic and still “on trend” without being trendy. I just have no need to carry the volume of items I did while traveling/ commuting for work.

 

[coolmelondew]

I'm cleaning out my house now and also had the same question re work bags so am glad to see this question!

Most of my bags can be worn outside work so that's not too bad but I have a black laptop tote bag from YSL and it's quite annoying seeing it left unused on the shelf. Also where i'm from, Singapore, it is hot and humid here so any unused leather bag gets mouldy fast. This means that every week or so I have to check on the bag and air it or wipe away the occasional mould.

The policy on working from home vacillates frequently here so sometimes we are in office for a month or two, then back to home for several months

So to sum, not sure on whether to keep the work bag or not. Maybe i should wait and see how 2022 goes and whether work from home is here to stay...

 

[Sparkletastic]

I'm cleaning out my house now and also had the same question re work bags so am glad to see this question!

Most of my bags can be worn outside work so that's not too bad but I have a black laptop tote bag from YSL and it's quite annoying seeing it left unused on the shelf. Also where i'm from, Singapore, it is hot and humid here so any unused leather bag gets mouldy fast. This means that every week or so I have to check on the bag and air it or wipe away the occasional mould.

The policy on working from home vacillates frequently here so sometimes we are in office for a month or two, then back to home for several months

So to sum, not sure on whether to keep the work bag or not. Maybe i should wait and see how 2022 goes and whether work from home is here to stay...

I listed one of mine because my current WFH laptop (new job in 2021) does not fit. So, even if I decide to work isolated in a corner booth at a coffee shop, I can’t take my laptop with me. But, it’s killing me because it’s my favorite of the work bunch.

The others just look at me and I look at them. LOL! I feel like I need to make a decision though. They are on trend now and will get the most money now. But, I don’t want to struggle to find replacements if life changes in 12 months.

 

[Jereni]

I’m in the minority I suppose. I’m going back to the office full-time as soon as this nonsense is over and I cannot WAIT.

I only had one work bag before - a large Coach Borough, and just got a new work bag for Christmas (Coach Rogue brief). I anticipate traveling a lot again when this finally ends. Counting down the days!

 

[Sparkletastic]

I’m in the minority I suppose. I’m going back to the office full-time as soon as this nonsense is over and I cannot WAIT.

I only had one work bag before - a large Coach Borough, and just got a new work bag for Christmas (Coach Rogue brief). I anticipate traveling a lot again when this finally ends. Counting down the days!

I completely understand. I miss people. Not so much the office. But, I miss collaborating in person.

My thought about Covid though is this will likely never be “over”. I’m not hopeful for a covid cure and trends on WFH were increasing even before the pandemic. With this new normal, I may never go back to an office.

I’ve spent more time thinking about this and have decided on a hybrid solution: I’ve found a way to happily incorporate some work bags into current life, rehomed the one I was going to sell to DD who is required to be in office and am content to hold on to one “just in case”.

 

[Fashion412]

I sold my Louis Vuitton Neverfull in Damier Ebene largely because I won't be using it as much in the office and it felt like a tired bag for me (everyone has a canvas LV in damier or monogram, etc.). With that said, I will likely replace it with one of the "On the Go" bags that can be used for work and travel as I still will go into the office on occasion. Right now I'm using the Coach totes (I have one black and one white leather) for work and they are great.