What kind of woman.....

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#16
I do have different types of bags as well. For me, I carry a type of bag depending on my mood/needs/reason for going out.


So for me:


Handheld: I usually carry one of my handheld bags when I'm going out to dinner, or to a more formal event wherein I know I won't be needing my hands too much.
Shoulder: I use these for days/afternoons out shopping, going around the city, etc.
Cross-body: I usually use them for running errands, going to the supermarket, and other activities I feel I will need my hands for and given that, would make me not want to keep adjusting bag straps on my shoulder


Given most of my bags are handheld bags with straps (so there is the option to use them as shoulder bags) and "pure" shoulder bags - what does this say about me? I do think that at some level, it shows an aspect of me or where I am right now. I suppose this says I am generally more relaxed, but I do like the option of dressing up my bags too for occasions wherein I'd need a more formal look. So maybe that I am a casual person who attends not-so-casual events once in awhile? :p
 
#18
gunsandbanjos said:
Do they do the mighty fist too? The arm bent at 90 degrees and fist at shoulder height:roflmfao: most teenagers seem to do that here, it's very odd!
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The mighty fist :roflmfao: Some girls do it with their arm on the side of their body so it's like they're threatening to punch the person walking next to them... Looks hilarious! :lawl:
 
#19
isabellam said:
What kind of woman carries a handheld bag? vs. What kind of woman carries a shoulder bag? vs. What kind of woman carries a cross-body?

Now, I know y'all have all kinds of bags and you don't want to be pigeonholed. (I carry both kinds too.) But think out loud with me here. If individual fashion choices make up the "words" of the style vocabulary that we choose to speak with, what does
'handheld' bag say, as opposed to what does 'shoulder' or "crossbody" bag say.

here's my take:

HANDHELD
pampered (can afford to have one hand out of commission - others will serve me)
ladylike (handhelds harken back to 40's, 50's bags)
prim
elegant

SHOULDER
I don't know what to say about this one except "Regular". This seems to be the most commonly carried bag type. In comparison to HANDHELD, shoulder seems more relaxed and approachable.

CROSSBODY
athletic
busy
trendy
functionality is important
a doer, not a spectator or taker
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tiggycat said:
Me too - I was always a shoulder bag girl until I got shoulder tendonitis which was aggravated by the weight of the bag (or hunching up my shoulder to keep it on). Cross body makes me feel fat (I am fat, but it draws more attention to my weight).I usually carry my handhelds on the crook of my arm to keep my hands free.
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Fun! I would add casual to the shoulder bag description.

I get it. You are not trying to pigeonhole anyone. It's more of a general associations kind of thing.

I have issues, too, tiggycat, when I carry heavy shoulder bags...but I LOVE shoulder bags, especially big ones. :push:

I keep trying to lighten the load in my bigger shoulder bags by carrying less in them, but I am failing 75% of the time. I start out light, then add more. Then my shoulder hurts, so I take things out, rinse and repeat.

I got a couple of smaller shoulder bags that are cute and are really probably a better size for me ( I am very petite) but then I overstuff them. :blushing:

I did get a couple of handheld bags that I really like, but I am still getting used to them.

Lastly I recently got a couple of cross-body bags and...I only carry them if I HAVE to have both hands free. Having a purse banging against my hip just bothers me, plus I can't carry much at all in them!

Anyway, I am totally a shoulder bag girl. Casual, approachable, somewhat practical and I like to carry a fair amount of "stuff" in my bag, even though I am going to have to carry less because it bothers my shoulder and neck area.

I am willing to consider the handheld bags. They are something different for me and yes, more ladylike. Kind of a nice change. :smile1:
 
#21
Amazona said:
The mighty fist :roflmfao: Some girls do it with their arm on the side of their body so it's like they're threatening to punch the person walking next to them... Looks hilarious! :lawl:
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this brings up a good point. is there a proper way to carry a handheld bag? I would put forward that my grandmother's way is the proper way, lol...

But maybe doing the fist carry is a young woman's way of saying "I'll play the lady, but watch out, I'll punch ya if ya mess with me!!" Or maybe it's simple ignorance or lack of grace. Kind of like young teens wearing high heels for the first time...
 
#23
I guess I have a range of bags:

handheld (used to have a lot but they are not practical for me and I hate carrying bags in the crook of my arm so just a couple left and they have shoulder straps for when I need it)
shoulder (don't find them regular per se, it depends on the bag, my coolest bags are shoulder bags, plus they are practical)
backpack (for travelling, chasing three kids, I need to be handsfree and to be able to load up - but I bought a fancy one that can also convert as a shoulder bag, which I will take to work)
cross body (a couple of my shoulder bags have double up straps which I can wear cross body but I am not a real fan, not sure why, they would be ever so practical for me but I just don't enjoy them)
clutches (highly impractical but LOVE clutches :) - I use them at work when I want to take stuff with me but not take my huge bag all around.


I am not the lady like type, neither am I super sporty, love jeans with great shoe and jacket (most of the time what I would wear)
 
#24
I definitely agree that bags have the power to suggest various things about their wearer. But of course, one bag isn't entirely representative of a woman's personality - rather, different handbags represent different facets of our personalities and lifestyles. A smart business bag for work, something casual and perhaps a little less luxurious for going to the beach or running errands, a ladylike clutch for special evenings out, etc.
 
#25
I love this thread.
I am one who is at heart a shoulder bag person, but I so love the look of hand-held bags so I've been slowly training myself to carry them sometimes, but my hand-held bags always have a shoulder strap option because I need to know I can have both hands if I need them or if I just get tired of holding it. The arm crook holding is very elegant for some but sometimes looks and feels awkward for me.
Clutches I love but rarely carry.
Backpacks remind me of college so I never carry them.
Cross-body are sometimes awkward on me because of my boobs, but I love them for days when I really need to be hands free. Like volunteering for my sons field trips, things like that.
My favorite are bags that have both shoulder and hand held options and look equally good both ways like Balenciaga City bags.
 
#26
I don't "do" clutch bags simply because I'm careless and I'd put it down then walk off without it! I used to be a shoulder bag person but that was when I owned dozens and dozens of cheap river island/m&s/next bags. I bought all those bags yet what I wanted was a mulberry bayswater-the size, the shape, the look was "me". Eventually I stopped buying the junk and saved for what I really wanted and I don't regret it! The crook of the arm is perfect PLUS I bought my first one after I'd lost my first stone in weight. I've since lost (and kept off) two more stone so now I also have the shoulder bag option! Perfect!!
 
#27
I carry functional crossbodys 90% of the time, even when I know it doesn't look good because I am chesty. I like to look pretty but practicality wins over aesthetics. I have tried but just can't do that "third arm sling" where you only put the crossbody bag over one shoulder - the centre of gravity is all off and I don't understand how other people do it. Have to admit it looks way better though.

Very occasionally I carry a tote by the crook of my arm, and as I walk down the street with my sunglasses on I can't help an internal monologue of "look at that smug b**** prancing down the street brandishing her bag like a designer shield.", which is what I think what other people are thinking. Whether they actually think it, I have no idea. :D Sometimes it's intentional because I need to navigate London foot traffic in a hurry and it helps to have my b**** face on.
 
#28
I tend to favor messenger bags--smaller ones--and shoulder bags over satchels. Love how satchels look but carrying them is cumbersome for me. I like to move freely and don't like to be bogged down schlepping a large bag. Maybe it's because I spent so many years lugging lots of stuff with my kids when they were younger, but I am now over it!

Also, I think so many cross body styles look great and I love being hands free (RM MAC, for example). That's just me--I don't have the patience for anything too fussy.
 
#29
Silversun said:
I carry functional crossbodys 90% of the time, even when I know it doesn't look good because I am chesty. I like to look pretty but practicality wins over aesthetics. I have tried but just can't do that "third arm sling" where you only put the crossbody bag over one shoulder - the centre of gravity is all off and I don't understand how other people do it. Have to admit it looks way better though.

Very occasionally I carry a tote by the crook of my arm, and as I walk down the street with my sunglasses on I can't help an internal monologue of "look at that smug b**** prancing down the street brandishing her bag like a designer shield.", which is what I think what other people are thinking. Whether they actually think it, I have no idea. :D Sometimes it's intentional because I need to navigate London foot traffic in a hurry and it helps to have my b**** face on.
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Lol! I often feel like I must look like that (smug b***h) with the hand-held bags in the crook of my arm which is why it feels awkward for me. I wonder where we got that impression?
 
#30
Trudysmom said:
I only carry satchels on the crook of my elbow. I love how they look. I don't like to use a huge bag and I don't use shoulder or cross body bags.

Everyone just carries the bags that appeal to them.
reddooneysatchelsm_zps398a15dd.jpg
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LOVE your red Dooney!
 
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