November 5, 2023
My new Portland Leather Goods crossbody purse arrived today! Immediately, I found myself considering how best to pack it. This consideration led me to the writing of this blog. I researched how other people pack their smaller crossbody bags. In my case, I am sizing down from a traditionally heavy leather brand name purse: Brighton. During my transition, I have been using a very roomy Fanny pack. In order to successfully fill my new lightweight Festival Portland Leather Goods crossbody bag, I have decided to carefully consider each item. First, I took an inventory of the current items in my pouch. Second, I made a list of all of the items that I wish to include in my purse. Third, I modified how each of my items are packaged. I grouped items, and changed the packaging of others. I created "packing cubes," for my purse. Finally, I can pack my new purse while only including the items that are lighter.
Coldbrew Festival Bag by Portland Leather Goods!
Meet my new Coldbrew Festival Bag! I bought it with Disneyland in mind, and I think that it will be perfect for that purpose. I can also use it while running errands around town. It is quite versatile. It is lightweight, and uncomplicated when you need to keep it simple. It is perfect for your iPhone, keys, cards, and sunglasses. It has a comfy double layer strap, which is adjustable. It has the iconic fire-branded & stitched Portland Leather Goods (PLG) logo badge. It is made of durable leather goods that are unlined, featuring the natural suede side of the hide. There is a generous leather pocket on the inside of the bag. One of my favorite features is the increasingly soft leather, and rich leather smell.
What kind of bags do women love to carry?
Women love to carry all kinds of bags as long as they are stylish, trendy, and matching with their clothes. Yet, I believe that we ultimately wat our bag/purse to be functional. Some common types of bags carried by women these days are:
Handbags
Clutch Bags
Sling Bags
Hobo Bags
Shoulder Bags
Quilted Bags
Satchel
Wristlet
Crossbody bags--this is my current personal choice
Remember to check the purse itself. Some weigh a lot. I recently stopped carrying my big Brighton bag, because the thicker leather and bigger size makes it weigh twice as much as my new lighter crossbody leather bag. The metal hardware, like decorative rings and big buckles, can double the weight of a bag.
In conclusion, it is possible to limit the weight of your bag by: carefully choosing every accessory to minimize its weight, getting rid of your coins, and choosing a lighter bag. You can trim off a quite a bit of weight without having to give up any of your vital supplies!
What can you take out of your purse to make it lighter to carry?
After my shoulder surgery, I have become uniquely aware of the weight of my purse. Recently, I decided to buy a lighter purse to limit the weight on my shoulders. As I considered how to pack my brand new purse, I decided to check the weight of every item that I wanted to include. The following are some questions that you may wish to consider:
Is your keychain fob metal?
Are there keys on it you don't need?
Is your wallet a heavy piece?
Do you carry around a bunch of coins?
If you carry cosmetics, that's often a good part of the weight.
Take an inventory of the items that are in your current purse. Ask yourself what you really need to carry, and carry small portions of those in plastic cases (cloth bags/ziplock bags) instead of metal tubes and fancy cases. Is your powder in a glass jar? Transfer it to plastic. Glass is heavy, so keep your mirror small and one sided, in a light plastic case. A two sided mirror has double the glass. If you use makeup brushes, consider a sponge or a small kabuki brush. Hair brushes can add a lot of weight. You can get the smallest and lightest one you can find, or use a comb. Empty all the change out of your purse on a regular basis, for it can weigh a LOT. Now, I am constantly conscious of my purse's weight when I buy accessories. There is a constant choice between small, lightweight objects and heavier ones. The heavier ones are often more attractive, but if you should always make the lighter choice, for it will help limit the weight of your purse.
Items to pack in your purse:
After careful consideration and research, I have compiled a list of the items that I wish to include in my new purse. I am sure that this list is not at all totally inclusive, because each person's needs may vary. These are the items that I wish to include:
Wallets & ID cards
Moisturizer
Comb
Hair tie
Handkerchief or tissues
Small water bottle
Nuts / snacks to munch
UV Protection driving gloves
Sanitizer
Sanitary Napkin
Mirror
Mini First Aid Kit
Umbrella
Lip balm
Pen
Writing pad
iPhone
iPhone charger cable
iPhone power adapter
Charged battery pack
iPhone headphones or EarPods
Lipstick
Mini portable makeup kit
Perfume spray
Perfume roll on
Eye glasses
Sunglasses
Car keys
House keys
Travel toothbrush & toothpaste
Tissues or handkerchief
Breath mints
Medicine
Mask
Wallets--This might seem like an obviously necessary item, but you should still consider it carefully. I like the thinner Min Daisy Leather Wallet from Portland Leather Goods (see photo above: Added Items). I also bought another Mini Wallet in the color Deep Water. I also have a small black leather zip wallet. Yes, if you are keeping track, I now own a total of four wallets. I plan to use the new Mini wallets, but I am still deciding on the others.
Moisturizer--My favorite lotion is Lubriderm, yet I wish to try a small tube of the Japanese Cherry Blossom hand cream from Bath & Body Works.
Comb---I decided to include this thin plastic comb that I have had for years, because it is durable and thin. I think any thin compact comb will work.
Hair tie---I think most girls would agree that having a hair tie handy is a necessity. I have seen people keep them around their wrists, and even know someone that keeps several around the stick shift of her car. I have been wearing my hair short, this I do not need to include one in my purse.
Handkerchief--I am definitely team tissues. I believe that it is easier and more higenic, specifically considering the issue of Covid.