I've spent the last week visiting my sister in Frederick, Maryland. We had a lot of fun. One day we took the subway into Washington, D.C. where we spent the day at the fabulous Newseum. If you're going to be in the Washington, D.C., area I highly recommend that you plan a day at the Newseum, it's incredible.
Traveling on the subway in the early evening allowed me to covertly observe a lot of people making their way home from work. Ever larger handbags have been on trend for women for quite some time. Based on my very small sample of Washington, D.C. commuters, it looks like a new trend is two bags. A large purse and an accompanying tote seemed to be de rigueur for the majority of female workers. The purses are so large I can't imagine what they're carrying in that other bag. Are they all stopping at the gym on their way home? These second bags don't seem to be the right size or shape for a laptop. Are they the female equivalent of the briefcase? The bags didn't seem to be the right shape for that either. Is everyone really taking a lot of work home with them? Are they doing their shopping on their lunch hour and want a cute way to tote their purchases home? Along with the rise of the big purse trend many studies came out about how we were hurting our backs, our shoulders and our posture by hauling giant purses everywhere we went. Is this new trend a positive one in that it balances us out?
My current "purse" consists of a small camera case, sans camera, which dangles from my wrist and into which I tuck all my necessities. One of my close friend tells me it, "looks like crap". I have a couple of dressier wristlets for when I care about that! Putting just about everything I need into a 2" x 3" case makes me uniquely incapable of imagining what might be in these big bags. How could anyone possibly need to drag so much stuff around with them?
Although traditional briefcases were scarce on the subway, the men were all carrying some sort of bag too. Messenger bags, backpacks, satchels and a few man purses were in evidence but I didn't see any two-bag men. Why do women have more to carry than men? Does this trend mean that young mothers, with the addition of a diaper bag, are now carrying three bags around?
If you're one of these two bag women, I'd really like to know...what's in there?!
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9 comments:
i've noticed lots of women wear heels at work and flats on the way to and from, so they have to have somewhere to stash the extra pair. also, gotta have somewhere to put your lunch. and gym attire! plus the sweater because your office is chilly. lol! i've pondered this too, can you tell?
My mom carries to bags sometimes. One is her purse and one is a tote that she carries files in, if she needs too, and any mail she wants to put in the shred box at work. And if she carries it she puts her lunch in there too. So its kinda like a womans breifcase.
I carry a purse and lunch box to work.
I can see carrying shoes in there too if you wear big heels.
I am a two bag woman only when carrying my laptop which is, of course, 90% of the time. But that means one small purse with my basics, and a shoulder bag/tote with my laptop and a few pens & paper.
Yes, there's room in there for heels if I'm in sneaks and walking, and will need a quick change.
Before long, we'll be adding backpacks because we're so "overloaded" by our busy lives... It's a little crazy, really, don't you think?
Not to mention - dreadful for our backs.
I've tried and tried to carry a tiny bag and save my shoulders. but it never works. the tiny purse is eventually stuffed to the gills, bulging, heavy as a rock. with what? i'm not sure. just ... stuff.
"Looks like crap?" Isn't that kindly.
And how is it that toting two designer bags around like a donkey with saddlebags doesn't look like crap? LOL!
One reason I prefer to wear jeans is whenever possible is that they have pockets. I haul as little junk around as possible...got sick and tired of it. Now I put a credit-card wallet in a small over-the-body purse and try whenever possible to wear something that will let me drop my car keys in a pocket (less likely to get lost or stolen there).
IMHO, the dictate that women have to carry everything and the kitchen sink around is just another way to ridicule and oppress women. {grump!}
Great post, I admire the writing style :) A little off topic here but what theme are you using? Looks pretty cool.
My mom carries to bags sometimes. One is her purse and one is a tote that she carries files in, if she needs too, and any mail she wants to put in the shred box at work. And if she carries it she puts her lunch in there too. So its kinda like a womans breifcase.
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I found this article very insightful. Its unfortunate that some felt it was unfortunate that the article couldn't have been more shallow, and of a different topic altogether.
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LOL, I've seen this too. In the past I used a bag for personal items and a bag for lunch and gym items. Neither were purses, though.
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