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gherkinfiend
05/11/09

In reply to No Brainers
Sometimes I feel like a snail when my handbag is full...it's like having my house on my back because I hate to be caught without something I need when I'm out.

Plus, I rarely buy a handbag that can't hold a bottle of gin or wine as I hate carrying clanking glass bottles on public transport.
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NewsBunny
05/11/09

In reply to No Brainers
Back in the day, before digital equipment, I had to carry:

A cassette recorder, which was about ten inches square, three inches deep, and about eight pounds.

Extra cassettes!

A couple mics/and mic stand

A landline phone, so I could plug in and report anywhere.

Multiple notebooks and pens

All the research I'd done on a story

And that's before personal things, like a wallet, and something to eat and drink if I was going to be standing in the same place all day, tampons, a trench coat, and a fedora with with a little cardboard tag that said 'press'.
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raineoffire
05/11/09

In reply to No Brainers
Am I the only one who carries nail clippers in my purse at all times? I always thought my mom taught me well, since I can get rid of hangnails at any time. But people (even girls) have told me it's a weird thing to carry. It's not like they're heavy!
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SarahMC
05/11/09

@raineoffire: I do too.
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DinaRonson : Elizabeth Cady Stanton
05/11/09

In reply to No Brainers
I like my big bag. There I said it.

Unless it's big enough to knock out another pedestrian as they pass by, it's fine. And causing problem to no one.

I joke that by carrying around a 10+ lb bag everywhere I am staying in shape.

Which, is actually bullshit.
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Breamworthy
05/11/09

In reply to No Brainers
This may sound like a "no brainer", but the last week on Jezebel has been a shitstorm of comments from women who complain about the endless pain caused by their six-inch heels; yet when someone suggests they might want to stop wearing them that person is attacked for not respecting their choices, not understanding the power that they get from wearing these shoes (wtf? kind of sad), etc. So I've learned that solutions that strike me as "no brainers" apparently don't seem that way to others.
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tscheese
05/11/09

In reply to No Brainers
I carry a decent-sized shoulder-friendly messenger bag these days, but I understand the big-bag phenomenon. I'm out of the house 12-13 hours a day. I don't have a car, and I spend at least a couple of hours on a bus every single weekday. At the very least, I need a water bottle, my keys, my wallet, my iPhone, a sweater or pashmina (mass transit can be chilly, as well as every air-conditioned building in NYC in summer), a subway map, a mini makeup bag, and a cardholder for bus passes and Metrocards.

These days I read a lot of books on my iPhone, but sometimes I bring along a little Moleskine sketchpad or a novel. Since I don't have a car, I do a lot of shopping for essentials and clothes in the city, so if I need something new like a book or a shirt, chances are it's being lugged home in my bag.

Yes, I get that it sucks to try to navigate around some poor aching pedestrian who is lugging ten cinderblocks and a narwhal in a tote bag the size of a fucking Passat, but some of us don't have much choice other than to schlep shit by hand.
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Merkin
05/11/09

@tscheese: What is it with you and narwhals, old cheese?
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tscheese
05/11/09

@Merkin: THEY ARE COOL! They are like the unicorns of the sea, but with less Lisa Frank and rainbow poo.
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Laulau
05/11/09

@tscheese: I need those freaking cinderblocks! How else shall I build my fortress of solitude?

Jeez.
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ElleL
05/11/09

In reply to No Brainers
Remember how small purses were 10 years ago? Man, I must admit I was so relieved when the Liz Claiborne postage stamp purses went out of style. I could barely fit my 10 different flavors of Bonne Bell lip gloss in that bish!
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Diziet_Sma
05/11/09

In reply to No Brainers
This sounds totally invented; just another way to have a go at women, and their silly fashion choices.
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morninggloria
05/11/09

In reply to No Brainers
The solution: giant coat full of reinforced pockets.

Am I taking crazy pills, or was that the subject of a children's book that my mother used to read to me?
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Laulau
05/11/09

In reply to No Brainers
I am shocked and saddened to see all of the big bag hate here on Jezebel. I always need a notebook, at least one book, a few offprints of journal articles, a sweater in case it gets chilly, an umbrella in case it rains, commuting shoes or professional shoes depending on which I'm currently wearing, cellphone and charger cuz the battery sucks...

If I had a car it would all go in the trunk, but I'm relying on feet, people!
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eirwen
05/11/09

@Laulau: I totally agree. As someone who doesn't have a car, I have no choice but carry everything around with me. Of course my wrist would be much happier if the Macbook isn't so damn heavy.
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linnyt is a walking cliché
05/11/09

@Laulau: I've done that, but I don't try to call it a purse/handbag. At that point it's more like a tote bag. A nice looking tote, but still a tote. We are out of purse territory.
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SarahMC
05/11/09

@eirwen: But you do have a choice as to how to carry that stuff.
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Laulau
05/11/09

@Sev: Congrats!

@linnyt is a walking cliché: Yeah, my ex and the guy at the local convenience store upgraded me to "luggage". I'm absolutely fine with that.
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Alys Brangwin has a huge talent
05/11/09

@Laulau: Don't you check the weather before you go out? I never carry an umbrella unless it's pretty obvious it's going to rain. If I had a sweater, I'd tie it around my waist. I usually wear a hat and that provides plenty of rain protection. Removing those two items from the bag certainly saves space too.
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rah29
05/11/09

@Alys Brangwin is one smartass pawn: You don't happen to live in Britain, do you? The rain can come any time, ususally when you least expect..... :) Actually always having a brolly is pretty good insurance against the rain. If I don't have one it will definitely pour!
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Liz11685
05/11/09

@Laulau: Totally understand this!! I lug all my books to class either walking or taking the bus. I'm probably doing a ton of bad things to my shoulders, but I need my two books, notebook and box of flashcards. (along with all my other crap...)
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SarahMC
05/11/09

In reply to No Brainers
If you "need" to carry a change of clothes and shoes everywhere you go, how about a backpack? Or is that too uncool?
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Fridge Hussy : Is finally heading back to uni!
05/11/09

@SarahMC: ball-cutting cybersuccubus:Exactly my thought. I think some people think that backpacks don't co-ordinate well with their outfits, or are too blokey.
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Etoiles
05/11/09

@SarahMC: ball-cutting cybersuccubus: You end up spending so much time taking the damn backpack off when you're in crowded subways and so on that a messenger-style bag that you can swing around your body is just easier.
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SarahMC
05/11/09

@Etoiles: :raises eyebrow:

Really? If that's your preference, OK. Then don't complain about the pain (if you have it).
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EdnasEdibles
05/11/09

@SarahMC: ball-cutting cybersuccubus: Backbacks on public transit are a nightmare. Constantly whacking people in the face.

Same goes for those horrible old women my mom's age who use rolling laptop cases. They constantly are running over people's feet and tripping them.

A messenger bag is the way to go. It distributes the weight more evenly and doesn't whap anyone in the head. I don't carry tons of stuff (book, lunch, ipod, wallet, phone) and I've switched to a shoulder bag a few times and regretted it. It hurts like hell. Messenger bag is ideal.
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SarahMC
05/11/09

@EdnasEdibles: OK, then a messenger bag. The point is that nobody HAS to use a huge purse that causes them pain, because there are alternatives.
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rah29
05/11/09

@SarahMC: ball-cutting cybersuccubus: I'm with Etoiles. I only use backpacks to carry my laptop and whatnot on very long train or plane journeys, not for walking around or public trainsport. I don't believe any of the commenters were complaining though!
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cate3710
05/11/09

@SarahMC: ball-cutting cybersuccubus: Backpacks can be a hassle on public transit, since they stick out more from your body and you can easily whack into someone accidentally. I think it may also be easier to have things stolen from a backpack, since it's behind you and therefore not as visible.
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Fridge Hussy : Is finally heading back to uni!
05/11/09

In reply to No Brainers
What's wrong with the good old fashioned backpack? I spent my first year at uni carting around a backpack. I quit using it partly because I felt some around me found it odd. And also because the straps broke and re-broke.

I now carry around a black "green" bag (the re-usable bags you get from supermarkets). I am proud to be a bag lady!
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t-yo3
05/11/09

@Fridge Hussy :STOP ACTING LIKE YOU HAVEN'T SEEN A TITTY BEF...: Backpacks kill my lower back. I've tried a few different kinds and always the same result. Also, I was constantly knocking into people with it, and getting the stink-eye. Backpacks and I just didn't work out.
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inabook
05/11/09

@Fridge Hussy :STOP ACTING LIKE YOU HAVEN'T SEEN A TITTY BEF...: I use a backpack too-- a laptop, a case book, a couple of hornbooks, laptop charger, food, sometimes shoes, always socks for the library... I jsut can't imagine carrying that on my shoulder. it would hurt!
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hortense
05/11/09

In reply to No Brainers
Look, Mary Poppins, I've already told you. Lose the lamp. And the birdcage. And the magic medicine bottles. You can fit your tape measure that tells your that you're practically perfect in every way in a smaller bag, I promise.
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morninggloria
05/11/09

@hortense: Can't she at least keep the potted plant? She is deeply concerned about interior air quality.
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tonightineed is actually Mrs. Ziegler-Spock
05/11/09

In reply to No Brainers
I use my oversized bag for class, at which point the answer to "pain" is "get over it", since there's nothing I can do short of investing in one of those rolling bags.
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jeepgirl
05/11/09

In reply to No Brainers
Jeepboy bought me one of those mini-clutches for christmas and I am proud to say I use it 80% of the time.

I still have my large handbag in the hallway (like a security blanket) ready for me in case of "emergency"!
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