My Love/Hate Relationship With Handbags

I have to admit that my love for handbags will never disappear. I still love its practicality of letting me carry my ever-growing list of essentials that I must have with me at times.
This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, send us an email.

My love for handbags or purses had begun ever since I was old enough to appreciate fashion. I believe I was five years old when I handpicked a tiny little purse from my mom's handbag collection and decided that this is a more fashionable way to carry my belongings instead of putting them in my big and clunky caboodle box. I had a limited set of treasured dolls growing up and I would pick my favorite doll of the week to take with me wherever I go. My mom's little purse was just the perfect place for my imaginary friends to sit in as they accompanied me whenever I went with my family to the store, the park, to our occasional outings, and sometimes the dreaded dentist. I immediately fell in love with how stylish and grown-up a handbag or purse made me look and feel.

But as years passed, my love for purses slowly diminished while the number of items I needed to place in them grew. My beloved dolls that once occupied my purse were replaced by make-up, cell phones, bulky wallets, keys and miscellaneous paperwork. As my purse got bigger and bigger in size to accommodate the growing list of things I needed to put in it, I started to realize that carrying one around was becoming a hassle. Bringing my purse wherever I went, which at times seemed to weigh a ton, has definitely added additional fatigue to my already aching neck and back. And no matter how much I try to organize what is in my bag and get rid of accumulated junk, it just can't seem to avoid being filled with things accrued on a daily basis.

I also realized that regardless of size or weight, handbags or purses can be quite cumbersome, especially at events and social gatherings. I hate the fact that I have to constantly be aware of its whereabouts if decide to put it down, or reluctantly have it glued to my body wherever I go due to fear of it being lost or stolen. Unfortunately, this is something I have experienced enough times to make me seriously re-think of whether or not it is best to just leave my purse at home.

Then, there were times when I foolishly decided to take my handbag on nights I went out with friends to clubs or bars. I would immediately regret bringing my bag as soon as I step on the dance floor. Spending time with friends in a busy and hectic place like a club or bar is not as fun when a bag is in the way. I hate the fact that I can't fully enjoy the moment as it limits my ability to freely move and dance the night away.

But I guess even with these nuisances, I have to admit that my love for handbags will never disappear. I still love its practicality of letting me carry my ever-growing list of essentials that I must have with me at times. And even though I am all grown-up, I still love the way they make me look and feel stylish.

Popular in the Community

Close

HuffPost Shopping’s Best Finds

MORE IN LIFE