Don’t Shoot the Messenger
Photo: http://www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk/Learning/britonsatwar/
According to my physical therapist, I’m suffering from that common 21st Century women’s ailment, baggus too heavius. It’s been recommended that when I’m toting my usual load, that I use a cross-body bag to help distribute the weight and keep my posture straight.
Of all my stylish bags, I only have one that can be worn cross-body, a Balenciaga flat messenger I purchased last year in Paris.
While it’s a great bag for more casual days, I feel the need for something a notch or two up the dressiness scale that will look appropriate with business casual attire when I return to work in a few weeks.
So a’ hunting I went, searching for a chic, feminine and functional cross-body bag. I tried to keep my expectations realistic, as messenger-style bags tend to be inherently more casual (and masculine) than satchels or shoulder bags.
First stop, Hayden-Harnett. I’ve purchased H-H bags in the past, and love their downtown styling with uptown functionality. Two bags there caught my eye, the Barnard Crossbody,
and the Sao Paulo Crossbody.
Both have nice styling and are a good medium size, but are still a bit on the too casual side.
Though I generally am adverse to spending premium dollars for nylon bags, Tod’s has a reputation for excellent workmanship and durability. This Nylon Messenger might also be lighter than leather bags as well as good option for a travel bag. It’s a simple design without a lot of trendy detailing to look dated in five or ten years so could potentially be a good investment, but in the final tally it’s just to blah and utilitarian to win me over.
Various searches for “women’s messenger bags,” “messenger bags,” “cross-body bags” yielded up a lot of sites featuring more briefcase/luggage-esque or college-student-appropriate cloth messenger bags. Oh, and tokidoki and Hello Kitty bags. o_O
Balenciaga still seems to be the crème de la crème when it comes to messenger style bags. This Women’s Besace Messenger is tempting (the strap can be adjusted longer to wear cross-body) but it’s a bit on the spendy side.
Anyone have any chic-yet-functional-and-won’t-eat-too-deeply-into-the-Paris-travel-fund suggestions?
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My favorite thing about living in a driving culture — plunking that handbag on the passenger seat next to me. I have one birdlike London friend in her 30’s who has already completely destroyed her shoulder with a heavy handbag (a bottomless Bottega — she carried her whole life in that thing and now she can’t carry it at all). It seems to me the last time I was in a Prada boutique there was a lot of gorgeousness. Also check out Tusk & Monsac bags for very good quality, reasonably-priced, un-logo-drenched bags.
Yes, Prada is a definite possibility, but I haven’t found any cross-body styles online that appeal to me. A trip to NM may be in order. 😉 I’m a big fan of Monsac bags (have a few), but alas they don’t seem to currently have any messenger styles available right now.
Oh to receive a diagnosis which requires shopping for a new handbag!
blackbird, yes, it just the rationalization I needed! 😉
LBR, yes by the time you factor in wallets and cell phones and Blackberries and keys and cosmetics and “just the necessities,” the weight adds up pretty quickly. Plus, I’m still using a cane, so not having to occupy my one free hand is nice.
Coincidentally, Miss J just bought a cross body bag… more casual thatn hte ones shown here. Some of these are seriously gorgeous.
Matt & Nat have some interesting messenger bags that just happen to be “vegan” (i.e. leather free). Nonetheless, many of them are very chic and very affordable. If they don’t sell them in stores where you are (I’m in Canada where they’re readily available as they’re a Montreal brand…) I believe you can view / buy them online at http://www.mattandnat.com/commun/flashdetect/noflash.html.
So many nice bags; how will you choose?
It is so hard to lighten our bag load. There are soooo mnay essentials of modern life that add up the weight of the handbag.
I don’t have one single bad that can be worn cross body. Hmmm, I many need another bag.
Happy shopping!!
Why don´t you just lighten your burden? All I have in my bag is my purse,cellphone,keys,a separate small purse containing a small agenda,compact powder and lipstick and a foldable Longchamps bag.That´s about it and the bag isn´t heavy!
This is a toughie. What with the twins being 15 months and needing diapers and sippy cups, I was using a large bag that I could toss those things in when I had to run. Problem was, everything else ended up in there, too, and my shoulders were killing me. Just not what I needed in addition to lifting two squirmy 25 lb. weights around the house all the time.
So I re-downsized, and am loving it. I am using a small nylon cross body, and it feels like not carrying anything. On those umbrella/work folder/diaper days, I’m stuffing it into a slightly larger nylon tote. The two I’m using now are the Clive brand. Fortunately for me, the job allows a great deal of casualness. And I’ve quit makeup, so again the look is pretty dramatically suburban mom, which I don’t recommend for anyone unless they’re driven there by necessity.
Might the bag within a bag thing work for you? Could you have a small chic leather bag, then a nylon tote to stow it in with extras as needed? A spare makeup bag in the office, then only haul a lipstick?
And why don’t men need all this extra stuff/shoulder therapy? I feel myself starting to channel Twisty, so I’ll stop now.
Which reminds me. Rolling bags. Horribly un-chic, I know. I have a friend who loves her zuca.com. But stylish it ain’t.
Why, why, do we have to choose function OR form?!
My problem is that no matter how small a bag I use, I manage to cram more and more stuff into it. So far, the only thing I can say is that I’m NOT carrying a hair dryer.
Microfibre! You might enjoy browsing eBags (www.ebags.co.uk)- I like the Metro Geneva Backpack/Sling- it’s origami-like shape saves it form being too utilitatian. Also Groom (based in Paris) has divine heavy microfibre bags, which come in gorgeous colours and are washable! I’ve pretty much given up leather except for evening/dress.
Thanks for all the suggestions!
I actually don’t carry that much compared to some women I know. Here’s a list of my “everyday” purse contents:
-Wallet
-Keys
-Cell phone
-Blackberry (have to carry for work)
-Cosmetic pouch with compact & two lippies
-Travel size hand lotion
-Purse hook
-Microfiber cloth to clean glasses
That’s it. Of all of those the wallet is the heaviest, maybe about 1 lb.
Well,seems that you carry about as much as I plus your Blackberry. Please don´t buy any of the bags you showed,cause they are all ugly. Something nice might just turn up.
Hmmm… you aren’t carrying a lot (far less than I thought when you said they told you to lighten up!) Very likely this means that the bags you’re buying are heavy.
I think you should consider the nylon bag for work type situations and then look about for a lighter dressy handbag – maybe going even smaller and only taking essentials from your wallet rather than your entire wallet when doing dress up.
Yes, I think the heaviness of the bags themselves is most of the problem.
Oh, and on those few occasions during the year when I do “dress up”, I do just carry a few items (license, cash, lipstick, keys) in a smaller evening bag.
Leather is the culprit; if you must have leather, try trim only. Microfibre, nylon or even LV coated canvas (which I personally find ugly) will take a load off.
Try Longchamp. I live in Paris and my everyday bag is a black microfiber cross body bag. It also has a side pocket for my phone and Navigo card (metro/bus pass). I walk a lot (and carry a good amount) and this keeps my 45-year-old back and shoulders from aching. I bought it after my wallet was stolen on the metro last fall. With the zipped end in front of me, that’s less likely to happen again (I hope).
chicamericaine,
I love Longchamp bags and have two different sizes of the Le Pliage, but I’ve never been able to find a cross-body style here in the states. I’ll definitely look for one when we get to Paris, though.