The Forever Wardrobe | Wearing Every Single One of my Bags

I think about handbags… a lot. As much as the average fashion blogger, I imagine. As I collect, invest, and indoctrinate more into my collection, I’m consciously planning some sort of a future version of myself through each individual bag. It isn’t entirely the pandemic’s fault for this phenomenon, though my Covid brain does seem to crave a different designer bag every week assuming something new and beautiful in my arms will compensate for the lack of human intimacy we’re all enduring. I’ve always been a dreamer and a planner. My dreams, fashion related or otherwise, are meticulously detailed and can be sparked by just about anything such as the birds chirping - floral print Gucci Dionysus - or a photo on Pinterest of Alex Turner looking particularly hot and sweaty on stage at Glastonbury - edgy black Chanel wallet on a chain.

My newest bag on the wish list is the Celine Trio bag, a simple cross-body bag with three separate zippered pouches that connect with snap buttons. It’s smooth leather, a timeless style, and from Phoebe Philo’s era at Celine, so basically everything anyone could ever want. I’ve been aware of this bag for years now, but never considered it something I needed in my wardrobe. When I saw it in a video from my favourite YouTuber last week, a dream was ignited. Little old me, with my maxi trench coat on, favourite sneakers, maybe a white tee, my best fitting jeans, and the Celine bag slung over my shoulder. I’m in an airport, approaching the automated passport and face scanner machine you only find in major international terminals, and everything I need for quick access is tucked neatly in the three pouches of my bag. It’s a cool, comfortable, relaxed yet elegant travel ensemble. The overall vibe: she knows what she’s doing, and she looks effortlessly chic doing it. She’s the girl who pats on some natural makeup before getting off a plane. Scratch that. She’s far too off-duty for makeup, all she needs is her bag and the minimalist energy it brings. Now you see why I so easily convince myself that I must track down such a bag.

While I’m sure I’ve just displayed all the signs of a shopping addiction, I promise I can bring this all back around to the oh-so-beloved topic of sustainable fashion. Overconsumption: Not sustainable. Buying a new bag every week: Not sustainable. What is sustainable is putting the same amount of dream creation energy into your existing wardrobe. There are just as many wondrous fantasies to create through the clothes you already have. I may invest in the Celine bag one day, but right now I have everything I need, and if I continue to tell myself that I may one day truly believe it!

As my emotions bounce around like my nephew in his jolly jumper, I thought it would be enjoyable and mentally stimulating to wear every single one of the bags in my collection. One after the other, I styled an outfit to fit the bag of that day. It led me to sell one bag and pass on another, since I hadn’t worn either in years, whilst other ‘once forgotten’ pieces tickled me with nostalgia and style inspiration. Getting stuck in fashion ruts is commonplace for me, especially when it’s upsettingly cold out as it has been the past few weeks. Jeans and a wool sweater seem to always find their way onto my body, no matter how badly I want to wear something with a bit more oomf. This bag challenge really forced me to do exactly what I wanted to do with my clothes, but was too scared to do considering the weather. I may have cranked the heat to summer levels of humidity for a few days at work, but it was worth it. Finding wonder and newness in the clothes I choose from every single day reinforced the idea that outfit combinations are endless, and exploring those possibilities is the most sustainable fashion choice we can make. It takes a bit more creativity and a bit more imagination, but it reduces the need to over-consume.

Say it all together now: We do not need to shop! Wear what you have, what you haven’t worn in far too long, or what you’ve been dying to wear but haven’t had the occasion. I don’t care if it’s a bag or a ballgown, today is that occasion! Your wallet and the planet will thank you.

Thanks for reading.

Emily