I have proclaimed that I don’t baby my handbags in previous articles, and while I still believe that is partially true, I think there is a lot more to the story. When I say I don’t baby my bags, I indicate that I am a firm believer that bags are indicated to be worn and enjoyed. When I first started collecting bags, I rarely took them out of their dust bags. In college, I would take my Rebecca Minkoff morning After Bag out of the dust bag every night, place her on the bed while I did homework, and wrap her back up very carefully before bed. I’ve broken those routines and carry the bags in my collection, but that’s not to say I don’t take extra precautions to keep my handbags safe. maybe I do baby my bags after all?
I carry what I lovingly refer to as my handbag toolkit. This includes a few extra items that make sure my bag can be preserved and protected while I am enjoying carrying her. I also try to make calculated decisions on which bags to wear when to stop any handbag heartbreak (for example, I never wear my white bags with jeans or a suede bag on a rainy forecast day). As careful as I am, often I run into unexpected circumstances, which is when my toolkit becomes essential.
Tool #1: My handbag Hook
I have said it before, and I will repeat it, do not put your handbag on the floor. I believe this to be a cardinal handbag sin, and I honestly get sad when I see pretty bags on the floor. Not only is it incredibly unhygienic, but it can also cause wear and tear on the bottom of your bag a lot quicker, especially if your bag doesn’t have protective feet.
Bag Hooks
via Amazon
Achetez maintenant
I saw a Louis Vuitton Onthego on the floor of a restroom recently and nearly asked if I could clean it myself. but I digress—back to the hook. I purchased this handbag hook in the gift shop at the museum of handbags & purses on a trip to Amsterdam and haven’t looked back since. This little hook is in my handbag in any way times, and I use it mostly at restaurants to avoid having to put my bag on the floor. I always love when there is an extra seat for my bag, but that is not always feasible, so the hook is my trusted backup plan. The handbag hook has been my number 1 way of protecting my handbag corners. corner wear is a handbag pet peeve of mine, so I take utilizing my hook very seriously.
Tool #2: storage Pouches
Not only are storage pouches an outstanding way to organize the belongings inside your handbag, but it is also a way to secure the interior of your bag. I carry lots of items that could potentially damage the inside of a bag, such as pens, lipsticks, hand sanitizer, and wet wipes. all of these items could melt on hot days or have an accidental leak, but by storing them in a waterproof pouch, I feel that I am adding a layer of safety to the interior of my bag. The last thing I ever want to see is a pen explosion inside my bag or a hand sanitizer leak.
I have several different pouches that I rotate between, some a lot more protective than others depending on the weather or what I am taking with me that day. pro tip: these pouches also make it a lot much easier to switch your bags out regularly. I don’t think a handbag lover can ever own too lots of pouches.
Storage Pouches
via Amazon
Achetez maintenant
Tool #3: A good wipe Down
I want to preface this by saying that you must always spot test anything before putting it on your bag. a lot of brands of wet wipes have alcohol that could be damaging to your bag, so check the ingredients if you’re going to use one of these in a pinch while you’re out. I’ve used a wet wipe on my bags in emergencies only, as sparingly as possible.
I once had a sticky IPA beer spilled on my Saint Laurent Envelope bag at an outdoor brewery. before panicking too much, I gave the handbag a quick wipe down, making it look as good as new. However, the best recommendation would be to wait until you get home and use only a damp cloth with warm water, but again, spot test and use your best judgment.
Tool #4: rain Gear
I live in the suburbs, so I drive nearly everywhere. For that reason, I always keep an umbrella and an oversized nylon tote in the trunk of my car in case of unexpected weather. depending on which handbag I am wearing and how prone to rain damage the bag is, I will tuck it into the nylon bag for coverage if needed. I am much a lot more likely to use my nylon pouch for delicate leathers, such as lambskin and suede, than my calfskin bags. For my a lot more resilient materials, I use the umbrella as water protection and call it a day.
Again, I try to check the weather forecast if I am carrying a a lot more delicate bag, but often surprises happen. The nylon tote isn’t something I use regularly, but it brings me peace of mind to know I have it on hand in case of a handbag emergency.
[editor’s note: you can also purchase a handbag raincoat which works well for city-dwellers]
Tool #5: leather Conditioner
I do not carry leaTHES CONDUCTIONS avec moi dans mon sac. Cependant, je garde toujours un stock dans mon placard. J’essaie d’en faire une routine pour conditionner mes sacs une fois par an pour préserver le cuir. Le cuir, comme la peau, peut sécher avec le temps. Faire une condition annuelle peut aider à garder le cuir doux et brillant, ce qui est crucial pour la préservation. Normalement, je mets de côté quelques heures par printemps pour les conditionner tous en même temps, qui est ma version de Spring Cleaning!
Comme les lingettes humides, assurez-vous toujours de faire un test au comptant avant de conditionner tout votre sac. Certains cuirs n’aimeront pas tous les conditionneurs, donc je vais toujours tester un petit coin au bas du sac, le laisser sécher et continuer une fois qu’il est sûr.
Cela conclut ma liste d’outils de sac à main. Après une auto-réflexion, je pense que je fais peut-être beaucoup plus mes sacs que je ne le pensais à l’origine…
Avez-vous des articles que vous utilisez pour sécuriser vos sacs? J’adorerais en entendre parler!
