I’m in the middle of spring cleaning, organizing my closet at home. I decided to take a break and surf the net and write here instead of getting things organized right away.
It takes me a while to get stuff together. I wish I could just throw everything into a pile, but I end up analyzing which things to keep or throw away. And I end up remembering the times associated with certain things.
Foremost on my organizing are my hand bags. I didn’t know I had so many, mostly from my stint in the U.S., where I became addicted to them. Before that, I was a shoe girl, but I have to say now it’s almost 50-50. And sometimes, if made to choose between a bag and a pair of shoes, I’d most probably go for the bag. My shoe options have become limited as I need to wear a comfortable pair so I won’t experience pain in my heel so I guess that has cramped my style big time.
Before you get the impression that I collect designer hand bags or spend serious money on them, I don’t. Most of the branded bags I have I bought off eBay, mostly previously owned Coach bags and Kate Spades. The Coach bags have proven to be a not so good investment as the leather does not store well and now have cracks. Or the ones I bought were not really that new to begin with so it looks worse for wear. I’m keeping them anyway. Someday, if I have more time or money and if I know that I’m staying in one place for an extended period, I’ll have them repaired.
The Kate Spades, though, I still use regularly now. Some I’ve even brought with me during my new travels. They’re quite sturdy and require low maintenance, just a quick wipe with a wet or dry cloth depending on the material. It doesn’t matter if they get wet.
They are also quite classic, goes well with almost everything. The only Kate Spade I have, store-bought, which I don’t use often, is the Checkers Tic Tac Toe shopper/picnic bag. The material is canvass and quite prone to stains that’s why I’ve decided to store it until I have the luxury of leading a less active lifestyle.
Of all my bags, my favorite designer bag, store bought, is a Betsey Johnson overlarge gold bag. I use it wherever I travel and it can fit in pretty much anything and everything. The design is also quite unusual for me. I always prefer the understated, classic styles, especially in bags I buy from the store, but I fell in love with this one even if it was flashy, for some weird reason.
Other bags I collect are the souvenir bags you can get whichever country you go and wherever you visit, the museum bags, eco bags, supermarket bags, bookstore bags. Most of these I got when I was in New York. They have the most interesting and coolest bag designs for this kind. I have totes from MOMA, the Met, Steward Leonards the grocery store, Target, Trader Joes and The Strand, among others. Even if I’m not from Harvard and most probably will not go there, I bought myself a tote. Will use it to channel my dream school when I need the encouragement some day.
The bag purchases were back then. I rarely buy any bags now. The last one was a black, plain Peddered bag, which took me one month and numerous store trips before I decided I had to have it. And just as well, as it was 30 percent off.
And here concludes my bag entry. Have to muster enough strength to finish all this rearranging.
2 Comments
July 1, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Have the same problem with spring cleaning. Hence garage, cupboards and drawers often end up with Lots of Stuff that are useless and old but that I can’t bear to part with.
Also understand the bag lady thing. Always the bags for me, being nearly always impossible to get shoes my size unless kiddie ones with pink ribbons and bratz doll stitching (gak!). Regrettably the sort of bag I require these days is a roomy one for all of Jack’s stuff! :p
Happy sorting. Shoulda taken before and after pics. lol
July 1, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Great idea, the before after photos. Except the before was everything crammed into my closet. And the after is bags wrapped and stored in two plastic bins, the maximum I am allowing myself to store. The rest will go to my sister if she wants it or to our house help. I’d have to do a part two on my next trip, maybe on my documents next time. I have a whole closet full of paper!