I don’t like to carry a purse at all, but sometimes I just have to carry more stuff than I can fit in pockets. Or sometimes I don’t have pockets. And a briefcase is too big and heavy, though I really like the way a briefcase opens. When I can get away with it, I just carry my wallet in my hand, and when I can’t get away with it, I carry my wallet and some pencils and blistex in a plastic pencil case. When I really have to carry more than that (like an apple and a paperback book) I have to resort to a purse.
Lately I just can’t find one I like. I want one that opens like a doctor’s bag. Here’s a really nice one that’s way out of my price range. One thing I really like about this is the light-colored lining so you can find things in there.
Here’s one I think is okay-looking, and I really like the contrast lining that is light in color. The green purse has a bright orange lining, the blue purse has a yellow lining, the black purse has a pink lining, etc. But again, way out of my price range.
I’d like a backpack but I figure a pickpocket will just ease it off my back or help himself to the contents without my knowing.
I like fanny packs, but they look awful and everyone makes fun of them. (Not like my plastic pencil case, which will soon be all the rage, I’m sure).
I like when there’s a little ring you can clip your keys to.
Anybody have reasonably priced recommendations? I’ll also entertain ideas for cargo pants and utilikilts as an alternative to purses. Thanks.
I love this one
Check out Timbuk2. You can customize the bags and they’re pretty affordable. I love mine to pieces.
I have quite a few bags from Espe. It’s a Canadian company that designs bags, wallets and accessories. It launches several lines a year. Their bags are never boring, and range from a little funky to quite sophisticated. They also do not use leather, which is important to me. The synthetic that they use, however, does resemble leather so strongly that people are surprised to find out that it is not.
cute messenger bags!!! MUst have one! 
Kitty wallets/bags are too cute! Had to bookmark it!
I’m a big fan of backpack purses, because they keep my hands free and distribute the weight to both shoulders. I walk a lot, it makes a difference after a few hours. I like Coach’s in particular, they’re stylish enough that you could wear them with “business casual” clothes. And ebay has Coach for much less than retail. I have this guy and this guy (not those sellers).
I’ve heard people say this, and it’s probably a good point. But a backpack actually makes me feel safer, because if I’m shopping I don’t have to worry that I’ll absent-mindedly put my purse down to pick something else up. And I would imagine its easier for someone to grab my purse than take off my backpack. FWIW, I used to live in NYC and wore my Coaches on the subway all the time, without problems.
Another vote for Timbuk2. I just bought a small messenger bag for my bike commute/school/travel/city trips/whatever a couple of months ago. I really do love it.
Easy to get in and out of, holds a lot, built well. Mine has several small pockets, a clip for keys, a cell phone pocket, etc. I’m thinking of getting a larger one now.
Check out Overstock.com. They have large leather handbags at affordable prices. Here are just a few:
Bed Bath & Beyond | The Best Deals Online: Furniture, Bedding, Rugs, Kitchen Essentials & Moree page=proframe&prod_id=655279&AK=1
http://www.overstock.com/?page=proframe&prod_id=2182221
http://www.overstock.com/?page=proframe&prod_id=512067#moreinfo
http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?page=proframe&prod_id=31612&AK=1
There are lots more on the website. I buy from Overstock.com and I find them reliable. Their product descriptions, at least in my experience, are accurate and free of puffery. The $2.95 deliver fee can’t be beat.
I don’t have any links to the purses I like, I like purses from Target, K-Mart, Old Navy…I can’t afford the “Big Name” purses out there. My current purse is a Tinkerbell tote bag that is big enough for all my c*ap! I have a lot of stuff I carry. Our youngest has ashtma and also a peanut/tree nut allergy so I need a big purse to carry stuff in. Yes I am a “Tinkerbell” fan and will be for the rest of my life. I’m still a little kid at heart. I use all kinds of sizes but the bigger the better! 
I like solid bags that stand up by themselves and hold all my stuff. I adore the Hermes Birkin but can’t afford $30k+ for a bag so I carry a very good copy.
I’ve got a Timbuk2 messanger bag for my gym gear/flying bag. It’s very well designed with lots of clever pockets for things like a clip on a ribbon for my keys. I have the medium which is a little small for all my gear if I’m also carrying my running shoes. A little one would make an excellent casual bag. The coolest thing about the Timbuk2 bags is that, for about the same price as an off-the-shelf model, you can custom design one with your own color scheme. The turn around time is super fast; I got mine in a week.
Speaking of good casual bags, my weekend bag is a a Seatbelt bag. It’s a really neat bag and I’ve had it for years and it still looks great. I think the seatbelts will last forever…
Oh, add Payless to that list too! I’ve bought purses from there that have received numerous complements (from people who didn’t know it was from Payless). Kohls too, but prices are a little higher.
I definitely like timbuk2 a lot. Very sturdy, relatively stylish.
I also like LeSportsac. I’m not from 'round here but I gather they were popular with teens a while back? Anyway, they have really cute prints. I just picked up a tote in the citta rosa print. It’s all kinds of adorable. But way overpriced for my taste, if I hadn’t been spending Christmas money. I’ve had one in another print for a couple of years and it’s held up very nicely.
I love Vera Bradley bags. I have several in different fabrics. I don’t do leather handbags, so I love that they are fabric and they are pretty and feminine and classic. And there are so many different styles, and you can get them in any fabric (there are 12 choices, plus many more “retired” ones.) So you can have the bag, a matching wallet, makeup case, eyeglass case, etc. They have very big, very small, and everything in between.
The Molly is my favorite, I have it in three fabrics. It is the perfect size - small but not too small, and the perfect strap length.
The Little Betsy is a favorte too - bigger than the Molly and nice pockets inside.
You may also like the Hipster, and the Backpack is really nice too. I also have the Hobo too. Take some time to browse through the styles and colors, and you’re bound to find one you like.
:eek: 42k for a bag?! That would make a nice downpayment on a house. I’d be afraid to carry something that expensive around. Wow!
I have this little bitty handbag by Wabags. I love it. It carries everything I need which is the bare minimum: my phone, card wallet, pen, lipgloss. I’d love to find a tiny handbag similar to the Wabag, but in a solid color, soft leather. The ones I find are always too large… but I’m picky!
They have some cute “hipsters” as they call them. More stylish than a fanny pack.
Ebags has quite a variety of bags. You might take a look.
42k for a purse? It better come with a butler and a chef.
Since I’ve discovered the addictive world of knitting, I’ve been majorly jonesing for a Green Mountain Knitting Bag I cannot decide what style, but a custom bag has a 9 month wait.
I’m also a fan of the Vera Bradley bags, I’ve been looking at the bowling bag designs and drooling over one of those. In Java blue.
Wow, that’s a whole lot of great bags to look at. Thanks so much for all the recommendations.
I’ve seen people with these kinds of bags, but I can’t figure out how you’re supposed to wear/carry it or how the pockets and openings work. So how does it work?
I just designed a beeeyootiful bag on the Timbuk2 site; not sure if I’ll buy it but it sure is pretty.
This one might fit your needs: http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/department/briefcases_bags/briefcases_bags2/assorted_bags/32417.aspx?feature=Product_15
And if it doesn’t, they have lots of others. Very utilitarian, but real leather. Mmmm…leathah.
I have a black leather Kelly bag of my grandmother’s, with cream satin lining and a tortoiseshell clasp.
I hate dragging a monster duffle bag of a purse around unless I really AM on an arctic expedition!
I’ve solved this one with a Coach wristlet and a Dr. Ion bag. In stores, a Coach wristlet is about $35 but much less on ebay. A friend who rides horses swears by it since she can get her cards, money, lip stick and a Treo in it and it stays closed. The wrist strap is connected to the zipper closure so if you are wearing it, the zipper is closed.
Dr. Ion makes a small multi-functional bag you can find on the JList.com. It has the carabiner on the back for quick key release, cell pocket, glasses pocket, side pocket for papers and small notebooks, pencil loops, a loop if you want to wear it fanny pack style AND it’s packed with negative ions to make you feel relaxed! Gotta love them ions! http://www.jbox.com/SEARCH/dr_ion/1/