I like your approach on picking handbags to use. Where do you plan on selling your coach dreamer? I love coach bags, at the moment I am having an obsession with them.
How do you rotate your bags?
- Thread starter nitneet
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Poshmark. I'll DM you a link when I list it.
Generally it’s based on my mood and outfit but also my back. Due to an accident long ago, I’ve got some vicious osteoarthritis and when it’s hurtin’ it’s hurtin’ . So I’ll carry a lighter and smaller crossbody. However I’ll swap those out to align with whatever I’m feeling and wearing just because.
Most of the time, I prioritize in order of: practicality (how useful will the bag be for my intended destination/usage), ease of use (how easy is the bag to get into / get things out of and/or carry), and then aesthetic (matching my outfit or just for looking cute).
Honestly, since I am going in to work 5 days a week, a comfortable bag that fits all of my stuff and can carry me through even an uncertain situation is the most important thing. I carry my essentials plus some extras 'just in case', even though these days I don't really find myself going to many places before/after work due to the pandemic and such. Since I drive to work I don't need my bag to be a crossbody. It's useful to have some extra space in case I need to bring things to/from the office.
I use a modular storage system so even if I move into a smaller bag, I typically will just remove the storage modules into the smaller bag but keep my larger bag "in the rotation" so to speak, rather than putting it away. Smaller bags fit only essentials and maybe a little extra, but I tend to like them because they are easier to carry since they are lighter.
On the rare occasions these days when we are going out, I'll carry something a lot smaller (usually a crossbody) if we're, for example, going for a walk in downtown or to the pet store, etc. I'll just toss in my card holder and keys to get me through the trip before swapping back to my day-to-day bag.
So at any given time I'm actually actively 'using' two or three bags, but outside of those I will try to rotate through my other bags to enjoy them or have a different look.
Honestly, since I am going in to work 5 days a week, a comfortable bag that fits all of my stuff and can carry me through even an uncertain situation is the most important thing. I carry my essentials plus some extras 'just in case', even though these days I don't really find myself going to many places before/after work due to the pandemic and such. Since I drive to work I don't need my bag to be a crossbody. It's useful to have some extra space in case I need to bring things to/from the office.
I use a modular storage system so even if I move into a smaller bag, I typically will just remove the storage modules into the smaller bag but keep my larger bag "in the rotation" so to speak, rather than putting it away. Smaller bags fit only essentials and maybe a little extra, but I tend to like them because they are easier to carry since they are lighter.
On the rare occasions these days when we are going out, I'll carry something a lot smaller (usually a crossbody) if we're, for example, going for a walk in downtown or to the pet store, etc. I'll just toss in my card holder and keys to get me through the trip before swapping back to my day-to-day bag.
So at any given time I'm actually actively 'using' two or three bags, but outside of those I will try to rotate through my other bags to enjoy them or have a different look.
I do this! All my things are in organized in pouches according to category, and the pouches are stored together in a large tote. I can easily grab what I need for any given occasion and pop it into the Bag of the Day. This ensures that I rotate my bags often, excepting really dressy clutches and the like.
I also do pouches for easy storage and I can switch bags SO fast! Less than half a minute is usually enough. Switching to pouches from bag organizers was the biggest revelation ever.
I already worked from home pre-covid. If I went to the office there is a hefty commute. Then practicality comes first. I put everything in a messenger or a backpack. Something that I can easilly put on the floor of a dirty train, or leave unattended at work, without having to worry about it. This was like once every three months. If I'm not on the road, then the outfit comes before anything else.
If I only went out for a bite, catching up with friends or the like, I only need the bare minimum. I use my bags as a finishing touch of my outfit. Everything I want to carry with me is in a small bowl. It's easy to asses what I actually need or to skip on some things because I want to carry a smaller bag.
If I only went out for a bite, catching up with friends or the like, I only need the bare minimum. I use my bags as a finishing touch of my outfit. Everything I want to carry with me is in a small bowl. It's easy to asses what I actually need or to skip on some things because I want to carry a smaller bag.
Pouches is definitely the way to go!! I learned that here a few years ago.
I pick one crossbody (small or medium sized) and one tote per week. I basically stick to carrying those two bags for the entire week. I will pick my outfits based on the bags. If I’m picking up my kids, I’ll grab the crossbody. If I’m going to lunch with my hubby, then I’ll grab the tote. I use pouches and compact wallets to make switching between bags easier.
I switch bags all the time. Even on the same day. There are many considerations: Where I am going, what I am doing, what I am wearing, the weather, color, my particular mood...
I think rotating bags is good for wear and tear and for cost-per-wear ratio and obviously more fun. But in my case also, I am someone who likes tidiness but is naturally untidy. So if I‘d carry the same bag all the time it’d quickly become a mess.
I think rotating bags is good for wear and tear and for cost-per-wear ratio and obviously more fun. But in my case also, I am someone who likes tidiness but is naturally untidy. So if I‘d carry the same bag all the time it’d quickly become a mess.
Well, for starters, I don’t match my clothes often with my bags because I have to wear a uniform anyway at work. (Usually in joggers and shirt), so I use the 3 day rule with my bags so that I don’t get tired of changing them all the time and as well as getting bored with them.
For work I use one bag. Right now it's an ithinkso (Korean brand) crossbody tote that's big enough to fit books, folders, my lunch, wallet, a water bottle, phone, and a pouch of random necessities. I like to carry this because I walk/bike/take the subway to work and since the bag is nylon I don't care that it gets wet or roughed up a bit. It carries all I need.
On the weekends I carry my nicer bags and put essentials like lip balm, hand sanitizer, hand cream, tissues in a pouch.
On the weekends I carry my nicer bags and put essentials like lip balm, hand sanitizer, hand cream, tissues in a pouch.
Great thread with a lot of good advice and perspectives. Now during the pandemic, I rarely go out and when I do, I will pick whatever bag I fancy just for that quick outing. Pre-pandemic, I had a rotation system I used. I have a list on my phone of all my bags (categorized by designers, styles, if multiples of the same style, in the order of purchase). Then as I use each bag, I put a checkmark next to that bag on the list and I don’t use that bag again until I have used all my bags. I may use a bag for just a weekend or for a week or longer (I tend to use my shoulder bags/hobos longer than other styles since I am more of a hobo girl). I started this system a few years back because some of my bags weren’t being used often enough (like a green bag would mostly be used only on St Patrick’s Day, black bags would not be used during the summer, etc). This system is affectionately referred to “speed-dating my bags” since I will continuously “date” all my bags to assess compatibility 
. This also helps me assess and evaluate my bags to see if they need to leave my collection. I realize this system may be considered too rigid or inconvenient for many but it works for me.
. This also helps me assess and evaluate my bags to see if they need to leave my collection. I realize this system may be considered too rigid or inconvenient for many but it works for me.
As a member of the OCD community I applaud you.Great thread with a lot of good advice and perspectives. Now during the pandemic, I rarely go out and when I do, I will pick whatever bag I fancy just for that quick outing. Pre-pandemic, I had a rotation system I used. I have a list on my phone of all my bags (categorized by designers, styles, if multiples of the same style, in the order of purchase). Then as I use each bag, I put a checkmark next to that bag on the list and I don’t use that bag again until I have used all my bags. I may use a bag for just a weekend or for a week or longer (I tend to use my shoulder bags/hobos longer than other styles since I am more of a hobo girl). I started this system a few years back because some of my bags weren’t being used often enough (like a green bag would mostly be used only on St Patrick’s Day, black bags would not be used during the summer, etc). This system is affectionately referred to “speed-dating my bags” since I will continuously “date” all my bags to assess compatibility