Ok, I’ve got to admit it. I love knowing what other women carry around in their handbags, and so I thought that some of you may be in the same boat!
Firstly I change up my handbags pretty frequently to match my outfits and also depending what I’m doing and how much I need to carry.
I like a crossbody option for when I’m out shopping with clients and doing the supermarket run, so I don’t have to worry about it getting in the way.   This beautiful leather  Sequoia Leather Crossbody from The Sak and it fits plenty of stuff but isn’t too big so it doesn’t weigh me down.
I love the zipper key pocket on the outside, plus on the other side, there is a great phone pocket too, so you’re not scrabbling round inside your bag to find your phone when you’re out and about.
What Colour Handbag to Choose?
If you go for a handbag in your hair colour (or similar) you can wear it with anything as you’re always wearing your hair! Â If you only want to have the one handbag (and I know many are not like me who is happy to swap handbags around frequently), then this is the way to go and the reason I chose this colour.
What’s in My Handbag?
From Top Left, Clockwise
Clear zipper pouch that contains:
- Toothpick
- Emery Board
- Hair Tie
- Tweezers
- Hand cream
- Safety pin
- Emergency sleep mask (what? you have no idea how many times having that in my handbag has come in handy!)
Keeping on going:
- Sunglasses
- Prescription reading glasses with glasses cleaning cloth
- Store loyalty cards on a key ring
- Carry bag in own pouch
- Business card holder with Values Cards (this is something I use in my consultations with clients to understand their clothing values)
Zip pouch containing:
- Phone charger
- Headphone earbuds
- USB stick
- Micro usb cable
And the rest:
- Pain killers
- Cow retractable measuring tape (useful with clients when looking for something that needs to fit a specific measurement, so no taking things into the changeroom that don’t meet our criteria, or for finding knee high boots that need a specific circumference before we bother to ask for a shoe size).
- Wallet containing cash, credit cards and business cards
- Phone
- Pen
- Tissues
- Lipstick
- Lipgloss
- Mineral Powder foundation
- Hot chocolate – I don’t drink tea or coffee, so sometimes it’s nice when I’m out somewhere and all there is to drink is tea or coffee, that I bring my own hot chocolate!
I think I’ve always been one of those people who has a tendency to carry everything except the kitchen sink in their bag. Â I do clear it out frequently of bits of paper and receipts as I move everything from one bag to another.
So tell me, what’s in your handbag?
More Handbag Tips
3 Easy Steps to Choosing the Right Handbag – Casual or Formal
You can get that all in that cute white bag. I’m astounded.
Yes – it’s remarkably big on the inside – a bit Mary Poppins!
I used to feel I only missed a sleeping bag in my handbag ☺ I always carry a bottle of water and often a notebook, so it adds bulk…
Funny!
Hmmm, that looks interesting. I only carry my mobile phone with a few cards with me. I should make a greater effort and start carrying a handbag again, it looks so elegant… 😉 I like your idea to keep all those loyalty cards together – excellent! How did you make the hole in them? Years ago when I carried a handbag I always carried a sharp knife, since I detest it to try and eat with blunt restaurant knives. 😉
Just a regular hole punch is all that is required!
Thanks for sharing! I also carry a metal straw, spork (spoon one end, fork the other end) as I am avoiding disposable plastic, hydrating spray mist and battery fan to combat hot flushes.
My bag is much smaller. I carry a small soft wallet, keys, phone, small soft case for hearing aids and batteries, pen, file. Usually that is all that fits in my purses. In some I can carry sunglasses.
Wow! No wonder so many women have shoulder and neck issues, LOL! For the work week, traveling by subway, I carry a tote bag that has my lunch box, my phone, and my wallet in it. That’s it. On the weekend, I carry my phone and wallet in a wristlet — and even then, I feel weighed down. I’ve never understood why women have to carry stuff for all manner of emergencies, but men simply carry a wallet. I must be a man at heart. 😉
Because it has come in handy so many times!
I stand everything so I can see them similar to how AtHomeWithNikki organizes her bags. In the back of my bag I have old cosmetic case which contains a mini composition book I use as a dream journal, a notepad for my son, a calculator, a card wallet, and change purse. Next are two large notebooks. One is useful information for the video games I play and the other is for quotes I want to remember. The rest is my Kindle e-reader, Kindle Fire, a paper money wallet, a Nintendo 3DS case (system broke but it’s still useful for carrying cleaning cloth, extra stylus, and 3 games), a Nintendo 2DS case which holds the system and 3 games, a notebook with recipes. Off to the side I have a Sanrio Pochacco pencil case I keep pens, pencils, refills, an eraser, lip balm, tweezers, scissors, and when my bag doesn’t have a ring on the outside to clip them to my keys. Then I have two hard glasses cases (one for my regular glasses and one for my sunglasses; have lost screws in soft cases). I’m currently carrying the Love 41 Simple Tote which is a very large bag. I’m saving for the Saddleback Leather Large Tote which is similar but more structured and either their Big Leather Wallet or Long Trifold Wallet as all of theirs are RFID shielded and it would eliminate the need for a separate card, coin, and paper money wallets. I often use every item I carry. Occasionally I carry some toys for my son as well or things for my spouse so large bags are essential. Plus they coordinate with my large bust. Anything else is in the camping backpack I use as a travel backpack/diaper bag. I fell in love with it’s coloring which is navy blue (dark blue is my favorite color) and light green accents (reminds me of my deceased younger son’s eye color). It carries larger things like my son’s chalkboard, his pull ups, wipes, and if we spend the night elsewhere clothing are in the main compartment. Change of clothing for my son on regular days are in the second large compartment. Any medicines are in the top smallest compartment. Chargers are in the second smallest compartment. Miscellaneous things are in the side pockets and drinks in the side mesh pockets. It’s kept separate in case Daniel is left with another relative and isn’t needed at places I can’t charge my devices.
I’m like you I carry anything and everything. I also have a travel toothbrush and toothpaste in case I have a garlic laden meal and need to meet people afterwards. However, one thing I rarely carry is my store loyalty/VIP cards. With most places , once you sign up for a loyalty card, you’re on that store’s data base and they can look you up in all manner of ways apart from name. Given that most stores have a loyalty programme these days that makes for a lot of cards that I don’t need to carry around with me!
Hi Imogen.
I got sick of all the store cards they were overflowing in my purse and I ran out of room in my business card holder. I’d often lighten the load for a holiday or night out, take the cards out and forget to put them back in.
So i found the “Stocard” app. It’s free, you scan all your cards in and they’re in your phone. Recognises 99% of the cards I have and they come up on your screen with their logos. Very easy, if you have your phone, you have all your cards. Just don’t run out of battery 🙂 Most stores can scan from the screen, but if not, you still have your number and they can type it in.