big bag energy

not to be confused with BDE or BBLs

You know what converted me from a small (or medium) bag girl to a big bag girl? Motherhood. I was horrified by the diaper bag selection when I was pregnant and still am. I have found it easier to throw a diaper, wipes and whatever else I need into a bigger purse than buy an oddly shaped bag that serves no function when I’m out without my daughter. My push present to myself (my husband got me presents too, don’t worry) was this hobo bag, this one is similar (and a fraction of the price) plus it has a zipper! Recently, I’ve taken my earnings from several big closet purges and used them towards what might be considered investment pieces, but really they’re just bags I love and hope to wear a lot over time. A favorite big bag of mine is my mom’s black nylon Prada bowler from the late 90s, and another is the Bottega Andiamo.

Big bags hold a certain power that micro and shoulder bags just don’t. I call it Big Bag Energy, we can call it BBE but I don’t want it to be confused with a BBL 9and no, I don’t think Kate Middleton had one, but those rumors made me laugh). To me, BBE is much more powerful than Big you-know-what energy (sorry, but my parents read this). I take comfort in knowing I have a stocked bag, even if I’m just trying to sneak candy into a movie theater. A perfectly slouched hobo bag or a speedy with well worn leather handles is infinitely cooler than an evening bag I’ll wear sparingly. There’s nothing worse than prioritizing which products to bring because your bag can’t fit everything. Time is precious, so why play handbag Tetris every time you leave the house?

a recent fave, the Loewe squeeze

• Finding a bag that holds a laptop can be really tricky- if you’re looking for one make sure to check dimensions before you checkout. I was recently asked on TikTok if my Acne musubi bag holds a laptop and was shocked that it fits my 13 inch MacBook Pro quite nicely.

• Have definitely shared this one before, but the Bottega point bag (easy to find secondhand at a fraction of the cost), holds a lot and, like the musubi, has two handle options.

• The early 2000s was a great time for big bags- specifically hobos and the Louis Vuitton speedy. I love anything the early 2000s Louis Vuitton era, partly because I think Marc Jacobs was the best creative director of all time (though Pharrell is certainly giving him a run for his money right now), but also because these bags hold up. This one, for example, has front pockets that could hold AirPods and lipstick and has a big zipper to keep your things secure (my biggest gripe with the neverfull).

• Budget friendly- this Madewell tote (double handled with zipper) is a good one. I hear great things about Dragon Diffusion and have been eyeing this one.

• The only thing about big bags is that it’s easy to let them become an absolute mess if you don’t take care of them (kind of like me when I don’t drink water, exercise or go to therapy). On my best days, I make a concerted effort to keep my bags organized by keeping essentials in nylon pouches (you can be fancy and buy them at Prada, but I find these Amazon ones do the trick). More about what I keep in my bags here. and hey, if your bag does look like a total mess just say you were inspired by the Miu Miu runway.

  

  ps- don’t forget to add some charms for a little personality.

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BTW……

• I’m really sad about Matches! Read more about their closing here (& if you don’t already subscribe to

  Sarah Shapiro
  ’s Retail Diaries I highly recommend!) Hopefully Matches finds a way to stay in existence- their prices are great and so is the selection, but things don’t look promising right now.

• Speaking of luxury e-tailers, Net-A-Porter is doing their spend to save event, making it a good time to cull through your cart and checkout. Use code SPENDTOSAVE. (20% off $500, 25% off $750)

• Bought this bikini - now I just need to book a trip.

• This week’s first post was sent out midday Monday which I am now realizing was possibly a mistake and probably got lost in a few inboxes. If you love receiving newsletters on a certain day of the week and have an opinion on this please DM me or comment below.

• If you, like me, missed out on the cheetah Wales Bonner x Adidas sambas and refuse to pay the crazy resale prices, then may I present to you these? Arguably the perfect summer sandal.

• In case you did miss Monday’s letter, I just want to reiterate the platform vans really are that girl. Nice under $100 shoe to put a little spring in your step (or in this case, 1.5 inches).

  

  That’s all for me today. Please subscribe if you haven’t already, tap the heart icon and share with a fellow fashion lover (maybe someone who has big bag energy).

  XO, Liz