How to get back to bigger bag?

[floodette]

So I’ve been jumping to small-mini bag bandwagon lately, and liking it. My biggest bag that I wear now is Balenciaga small city or Ferragamo Sofia 22 cm. I can even go to much much smaller (Balenciaga mini envelope, which is really small), for my daily bag.

However, I have lots of beautiful bags in bigger size (balenciaga city or veneta large) that I surely miss. But it feels so difficult wearing them now, as I dont need all that extra space! zThe largeness even made jt difficult for me to find stuffs inside my bag, they all feel like big cavernous hole now.

Serious question, what should I do? I dont wanna sell them because I have curated my bags to those that I really love, and if I sell them, I might not find that exact type or color again. But how to get myself to start using them again?

 

[Amazona]

I was having the same kind of problem a while back. I carried mostly my LC LP Néo Small, M Reg Alexa and other bags of the same size. What changed my mind and got me back into using big bags is that I think I just got tired of carrying a bag that is packed full, since there are certain things I have to have with me which I can't leave out; umbrella, scarf, medication, mini tablet etc.
It also happened to me a few times that I bought something on the way to work/home and I had to carry the said item(s) in my hand or stoop to getting a plastic bag because I didn't have any extra room in my bag. So I decided it's easier to carry a larger bag that has some empty space in it (and, as a bonus, avoid carrying my lunch cooler in my hand like I had to do with smaller bags) rather than having my bag overflow.

I also thought I'd never get back into using full sized wallets but nowadays I only carry mini wallets when I don't need all of my cards with me - I grew tired of the mild panic I experienced whenever I needed to access a certain card in a hurry. So it's large bags and medium wallets for me at the moment.

I suggest you try and think of what situations you could use the extra space in. F.e. do you go for single-use shopping bags because your handbag can't accommodate your shopping? Save the environment and carry a bigger bag - or at least something that can take in a reusable shopping bag. Do you need an umbrella, scarf or other gear for surviving the weather? A big bag will take them in, no problem.

 

[2cello]

consider an organizer. That way the organizer takes up space so you don’t need to fill the bag. Also makes things easier to find.

 

[remainsilly]

I believe we go through phases in life--carrying more vs. carrying less.
Turns, as a wheel. Someday, your "carrying more" phase will return.

I am in a "carrying less" phase, too. But do not own mini bags.
Just haul less inside those I have.
And gravitate more to the mid-sizes. Or just carrying wallet/phone.

Ability to carry snacks keeps me excited about bigger bags.
Also found dead beetle in my sunglasses case recently--tremendously interesting.
Mini bags lose spirit of, "Wtf will I find in here today?!" adventures.

 

[catsinthebag]

I’m a little envious of your predicament! It’s funny because there have been multiple threads about How to Downsize, but I think this is the first one I’ve seen on how to go to a larger bag!

I love the look of a smaller bag (not the micro bag trend, just smaller), but IRL, it is so often not practical for me. My city passed an ordinance where you have to pay 10 cents if you need a bag from a store. Not that 10 cents is a big deal, but it makes you think about how many plastic or paper bags you can accumulate just running a few errands. So I try to always have a reusable bag with me. Ditto with water. The “need” for a water bottle almost always makes me upsize. When I carry a small bag, too often I end up carrying two bags — one purse, and one extra bag with water bottle, notebook, umbrella, reusable shopping tote, etc. Sometimes it’s easier — and more aesthically pleasing — to carry one larger bag.

My medium and large bags all have organizers to help me find stuff. Sometimes I use a lanyard for my keys so I’m not digging around the bottom of my bag for them. And a dedicated pocket for my cell phone is a must. With an organizer, I often feel more organized in my larger bags than my smaller ones! Also, my personal preference is for a bit more structure. I can’t do hobo bags because of that black hole feeling. A lightweight organizer might really help with your Bal City bags. (Also, FWIW, I don’t think of a regular Bal City as “large,” LOL! To me, that’s definitely a medium sized bag!)

If you don’t want to sell the bags you have, then don’t. As @remainsilly said, life goes in cycles. So do trends, and there are whispers that larger bags are coming back in (not that that should matter — wear what you like!). Maybe re-incorporate them back in slowly — pick a larger bag on a day when you need to carry more, then go back to the smaller bags on other days. HTH!

 

[julia.pa]

i agree with remainsilly!
i had a phase of carrying mini bags like my alma bb from LV, then bought a givenchy antigona mini and just recently after i got the toy lou lou from YSL and loved being hands free all the time.

i ended up falling in love with the celine micro luggage and was unsure of buying because i was used to mini crossbody bags. but i ended up purchasing one and i LOVE it.

i think it‘s just phases you go through. you like mini bags for some time and then you end up wanting to carry a big bag again. doesn‘t mean you don‘t love your bags or have to sell them just because you don‘t use one or the other for several months. you‘ll go back to them eventually. only if you find yourself not reaching for them again for a year or more, it might be time to think about maybe selling them

 

[jade]

I used to be a huge bag gal. Especially when I always needed to bring reading material.

Now the reading material is a lot smaller.

I tend to use pouches and things to help me organize my bags. I am also a notorious bag switcher. So the pouches keep me from forgetting key items.

Lately I have downsized to small and medium bags. I have some small ones and I end up getting annoyed to use them for longer than a few days. I hate holding things and having 2 bags.

Now I think what is the smallest I can go for practicality. And will I use this enough to justify it.

Medium bags are feeling like my sweet spot. Big enough for a good amount of essentials but not so big you look like you came from work at an evening event.

I think if you are feeling a larger bag, try it out.

 

[Zzyzx]

I want to down size for daily casual use and use larger bags for work and travel. But I prefer larger bags to be lightweight.

Larger bags are useful if you want to stuff a sweater/jacket inside. I also rarely accept shopping bags from retailers now, no matter where I shop (unless absolutely necessary), so larger bags are also handy if I'm going shopping.

 

[remainsilly]

My city passed an ordinance where you have to pay 10 cents if you need a bag from a store. Not that 10 cents is a big deal...

Omg, IS big deal to me!
Once bought giant ice chest, to avoid paying for bags during 2 week road trip in WA. Then donated chest at end.
10 cents per bag?! F*** no!

 

[jellyv]

A larger bag is really great in summertime when I want a shawl on hand for air-conditioned places. And some bags are simply better looking in the larger size because of allowing for their drape (I'm thinking of hobos).

A mix is always helpful in a wardrobe, for me.

 

[catsinthebag]

Omg, IS big deal to me!
Once bought giant ice chest, to avoid paying for bags during 2 week road trip in WA. Then donated chest at end.
10 cents per bag?! F*** no!

Guess I should have clarified: if it’s just ONE bag, the 10 cents isn’t a big deal. But it adds up. Also, the environmental cost is a bigger deal to me than the 10 cents (which was the reason behind the ordinance in the first place)!

 

[raven_portland]

I believe we go through phases in life--carrying more vs. carrying less.
Turns, as a wheel. Someday, your "carrying more" phase will return.

I am in a "carrying less" phase, too. But do not own mini bags.
Just haul less inside those I have.
And gravitate more to the mid-sizes. Or just carrying wallet/phone.

Ability to carry snacks keeps me excited about bigger bags.
Also found dead beetle in my sunglasses case recently--tremendously interesting.
Mini bags lose spirit of, "Wtf will I find in here today?!" adventures.

do you know what kind of beetle? wonder how it got in there?
It is good to keep room for interesting things found along the way. feathers, rocks...a spare church key, that book you finally found, etc.

 

[remainsilly]

do you know what kind of beetle? wonder how it got in there?

Resembled Strategus aloeus, female ox beetle--but smaller. Possibly something else.
Imagine crawled into handbag either:
a) on dare from delinquent beetle buddies.
b) because wanted my tasty snacks.
Then found sunglasses case even more snuggly/dark. And went big sleepy.

I spend time at baseball games, cycling & outdoors in general. Insects happen. Only fleas & mosquitoes cause me alarm.

 

[Shelby33]

I agree with using an organizer. I put my things in pouches so they are easy to find, I never have to dig around for anything. I only use mid to large sized bags.

 

[lenarmc]

I went to using small/mini bags about 6-7 years ago and never looked back. I gave my medium to large bags away to relatives that I know would use the larger ones. I kept one large bag. Although some may call it a medium. It’s for when I know that I’m going to need to either haul a lot of things or will just need the space. For work, I carry a handbag and a backpack with all of my essentials in it.

Now that my kids are a certain age, I am more than happy that I don’t have to schlep around a large bag. My back thanks me as well!