Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Look Whose Coming Round The Bend, It’s Santa And His Reindeer Friends

I’ve been keeping it casual and not that exciting. But since I know sometimes I used to really miss when my fashion bloggers skipped a day or two (and still do!) I took pictures today.

Very casual, very relaxed. Not much to do at the office today but file and listen to my iPod.

December 23

December 23

I have something else to talk about to make up for it. I have a lot of people ask me how I manage to switch bags every day or so. I’m pretty sure I wrote about this early in the blog, but it’s been a while and I still get asked, so I thought it couldn’t hurt to show you again.

How do I switch bags every day or two? I have a lot of bags in my bag. Really. That's it. Now I know they sell those bag organizer things that slip in and out of bags, but they are one size, and they can’t be adjusted. This system can be. This is a typical sized bag for me. I’d say it a larger medium.

PC230043

Now. When you open my bag, here is what you’ll see:

PC230046

A book, an iPod case, a wallet, and lots of little cosmetic bags.

PC230048

If you were to take out the bags and book, you’d see this:

PC230047

One of the reasons this is such a great system is that everyone (or most everyone) had tons of these little bags, and if you don’t, you can hit the dollar store or the dollar bin at Target and see what they have. They are very inexpensive (And yes, I know several of mine are Tokidoki and therefore very expensive, but I used to have much more money, lol)

I have my smaller bags, my camera bag, my iPod case and my wallet:

PC230052

And then my larger bags. I have bags that suit my needs, yours might be different. Maybe you need a whole bag just for all your pens, I don’t know. I need a large cosmetic bag…

PC230050

A bag for medications…

PC230051

And a bag for the rest.

PC230049

Gum, hand cream, my scrunchie* (that appears to have a fuzzy on it), pens, and things that do not fit into the other categories.

The system can be adjusted with smaller or fewer bags for smaller handbags, and I abandon it altogether for evening bags, by just selecting the few items I need from the bags (gum, CC, license, gloss, camera) and replacing them after I get in.

I love this system and have been using it for years. Changing bags takes 30 seconds tops. It also makes it super easy to find things in my bag. It works for me, it might work for you.

*I totally use this to put my hair up at bars and restaurants. I don’t even care how uncool that is. It doesn’t crease my hair and I can take it back out after I’ve eaten and still look polished.

Jacket, Alexander McQueen
Tee, Silence and Noise at Urban Outfitters.
Jeggings, Target
Boots, Steve Madden
Multi chain necklace, self made from recycled parts
Bat skull necklace, mrd74 at Etsy
Bag, SMAK
Bag charm, self made

17 comments:

Tina said...

1) I also use the bag system. LOVE IT!

2) Love the boots

3) super jealous of the jacket

4) wish I could see a close-up of the necklace

5) uh...I sleep in a scrunchie every night for those exact reasons. And I refuse to be judged. :)

Anonymous said...

I love bags with pockets and compartments, but I generally use this system, too. Makes life SO much easier!

Ana said...

you know, that system is GENIUS! I always just throw all my crap into my purse, and then never change purses because it's such a hassle. The bag system would make it so much easier!

I can't believe I never thought of it before, it seems so logical now! Thank you!

Jasie VanGesen said...

This is ingenious!! I have about a dozen large purses that I love and adore, but have been using the same mustard yellow hobo for the past 3 months simply because I'm too lazy to switch that often. I don't even wear makeup and the only cosmetics I'd need to pack would be a couple of tubes of chapstick. God, why am I not doing this?

That's it... I'm doing it.

Sheila said...

I use this system too, but I carry a lot less. All I carry is one bag plus my wallet (and I use a men's style wallet to force me to keep it small and regularly cleaned out).

I love that Hello Kitty(?) tattoo bag!

Nicole said...

Holy crap why did I never think of this. I only ever have one bag for months on end because I hate transferring stuff. Simple but genius, adopting this tonight!

Nicole said...

Oh my god I just realized. This is even MORE genius because I always have a ton of receipts and stuff floating around--bits of paper from taking notes, last-second brainwave idea sketches, etc.--and I just stuff them into my bag. If all my other stuff is neatly contained I can just dump out the bags and voila, there's my paper mess.

Genius!

The Small Fabric Of My Life said...

What a great system - I will try it out too in the New Year.
Happy Christmas,
Janex

Unknown said...

Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas!

hugs
Sherry

WendyB said...

I aspire to this level of organization but I know I will never achieve it. Alas.

Raquelita said...

This is so clever! I might just have to adopt this!

Ebony Arwen said...

First of all, your hair is fabulous! I love how long it is and the way you style it!
Secondly, that is a great idea. I might have to try out using little bags. Generally I just have duplicates of things in all my bags & my mobile, camera & purse simply rotate as the bags do.

I just found your blog through 'Struggles of a Creative Mind'.. I'm already lovin what I see :)

SHOEGAL said...

What a great idea! I went shopping today & picked up some more cosmetic bags and have implemented a system. Now I just have to remember what is in which bag!

Lorena said...

This is a super smart system !
If I could only teach myself to put the dollars / coins in my wallet maybe I could try this.

mette said...

Wow! I just bought some cotton zipper bags to organize my stuff in my drawer. Maybe I´ll have to buy 1-2 more for my bag. I love big bags ( great for shopping ), but panic every time when I search for something and don´t find it per moment. But do we women really have to carry all this stuff along every day? My supply contains a smallish make-up bag, pill box, wallet, hair brush, cellphone and keys.

Sabrina said...

Love your system, I am going to have to do this. I have a problem everytime I changes purses, I never clean them out fully. This would make it so easy to switch purses.

And, I am totally with you on scruchie's. All my friends tell me they are horrible and outdated, but I love them still.

BAM said...

NO shame in the scrunchie game - I use mine everyday for eating and sleeping!