What’s In My Bag: Late Summer Edition

Now that’s it’s Labor Day weekend here in the US, the unofficial end of summer, it has dawned on me that I never showed you pictures of my summer work bag, like Isaid I would (twice).  Come Tuesday, I will switch to my fall bags and will eventually do a post on those too.  So now is as good a time as any to show you my summer work bag.

This is another Coach bag.  Normally, a metal clasp this big would not be my speed, but I wanted something light and airy (as far as the pattern goes).  And once I started using the bag, the clasp grew on me.

This is what the inside looks like:

There are two small pockets (I use one for my cell phone and the other for my iPod Touch) and a larger zip pocket (where I keep earbuds and gum).  I’m not sure why I didn’t get a picture of it, but the back of the bag has an open pocket, large enough for me keep papers, envelopes, even a magazine (I have the current issue of Yoga Journal here).

The actual contents of my bag are pretty much the same as what they were the last time I wrote about them, though there was one change.  I switched out what I call my essentials bag (where I keep small toiletries and personal items).  I am now using my Coach cosmetics bag.

I love this bag because it has three small pockets on one side and one larger pocket on the other.  Plus, there’s enough room in the main part of the bag to fit items that don’t fit in the pockets.  And because there are so many pockets, I can always find what I need without having to rummage through everything else.

This bag is large enough for me to carry everything I need.  Sometimes, depending on the main bag I carry, it’s too big, but for now, it’s working well.

About a month ago, I was itching for something new.  I had a vision in mind—something black, large, floppy, and easy-going.  In my quest to downsizeand simplify, I wanted something casual but sophisticated, something un-fussy.  I found exactly what I wanted from L.L.Bean’s Signature collection.

This beauty is HUGE.

It’s also completely suede, which makes the bag very heavy.  Once I put all of my stuff in it, the bag was too heavy for me to carry on my shoulder.  

I don’t mind carrying a bag in my hand or in the crook of my arm.  But there are times that definitely call for an over-the-shoulder carry.  And this bag, being too heavy, is just so uncomfortable on my shoulder.  Plus, because the heaviness of the suede, the bag never stood up on its own—in order to put things in and take things out (which I do often), I have to hold the bag open, using one arm to do the taking out/putting in.  It’s not very convenient. 

I love this bag.  But for the price, I can’t justify keeping it just to own it.  So, back it goes.  I’m very sad about it, but at least I have pictures of it.  Plus, I have another bag already in mind, already ordered in fact.  The order won’t be processed until after the holiday weekend, however.  I loathe waiting for an item to be shipped.  Ah, well.  It will be worth the wait.

More on that after its arrival…