What’s in my bag

I CARRY MORE THAN I NEED. AND I HAVE ACCEPTED THAT.

There is a very specific feeling that comes from finding something in your bag that you completely forgot was there.

A lipstick you bought three weeks ago.

A receipt you absolutely do not need.

A hair tie.

A charger.

A tiny bottle of perfume.

And, somehow, three pens.

I have never been particularly good at carrying only the essentials.

My bag tends to become a small version of my life — practical things, pretty things, things I might need, and things I am carrying around for reasons I can no longer explain.

THE THINGS I ACTUALLY USE

There are a few things that never really leave my bag.

My phone, obviously.

My wallet.

Keys.

Lip balm.

And perfume.

I like having a fragrance with me because there is something about being able to refresh your scent during the day that feels like pressing a tiny reset button.

Then there is hand cream, because dry hands are one of those small things that can annoy me far more than they probably should.

And some kind of hair tie, because the moment I don’t have one is always the moment I suddenly need one.

THE “JUST IN CASE” CATEGORY

Then we get into the things I carry because I might need them.

A charger.

Tissues.

A mirror.

A pen.

Painkillers.

Plasters.

An umbrella when the weather looks even remotely suspicious.

Do I use all of these every day?

Absolutely not.

Do I feel better knowing they’re there?

Absolutely.

I think that’s part of the appeal of a well-packed bag. It’s a little bit like being prepared for whatever the day decides to throw at you.

THEN THERE ARE THE LITTLE LUXURIES

This is probably my favourite category.

The things I don’t necessarily need, but I genuinely enjoy having with me.

A good lip colour.

A beautiful compact mirror.

A fragrance that I love.

A hand cream that smells amazing.

Sunglasses that make me feel slightly more put together than I actually am.

These things are small, but they change how you feel.

And I think we’re allowed to carry things just because they make us happy.

MY BAG IS NOT A TEST OF MINIMALISM

I’ve seen those beautifully edited bags online with five perfectly arranged essentials and wondered whether I should become that person.

I have decided I probably shouldn’t.

I like being prepared.

I like having options.

I like finding exactly what I need at the bottom of my bag when I thought I’d forgotten it at home.

So no, this isn’t one of those “carry less and simplify your life” stories.

It’s more of a find the things that make your own life easier story.

Because what goes into your bag should have something to do with the life you’re actually living.

THE HER FAVORITES BAG EDIT

The pieces I think are worth having close at hand: a beautiful everyday bag, a compact mirror, hand cream, lip colour, fragrance, a practical pouch for the essentials, chargers and those little emergency things you are always grateful to have.

The goal isn’t to have the perfect bag.

It’s to open it and think:

Yep. I’ve got everything I need.

And perhaps one completely unnecessary lipstick too.

SHOP WHAT’S IN MY BAG →