‘A girl can never have enough bags!’ screams a marketing campaign targeting young women. There used to be a time when I too would be swayed by such persuasive advertising. Let me start with a disclaimer.
I’m a low-maintenance millennial who made it into the millennial bracket by a whisker. Unlike reality stars and fashionista celebrities, I don’t have closets with shoes, bags, or skeletons tumbling out.
In my twenties, I would queue up for special offers on handbags despite my natural distrust of anything carrying the word ‘slashed’. Being a finance professional, I suspected that prices were first hiked and then cut to their original values to provide discounts. But the fear of missing out outdid the fear of falling victim to aggressive advertising.
At any time, I owned two handbags; both of rather unremarkable but affordable pedigree. The ‘work’ handbag would be overused, and the ‘personal’ handbag underused. The former, because I spent too much time in the office, and the latter, again, for the same reason.
Over time, my work handbag started moulting due to wear and tear. My colleagues had to organize an intervention to get me to purchase a new one. (A fundraiser could have been nice too.) The unused party handbag protested at my neglect, and the buckle just snapped. I don’t blame it. As its owner, I hardly sparked any joy. I gradually Marie-Kondo-ed both handbags out of my life.
Recently, I have evolved, or so I would like to believe. No, I have not metamorphosed into a handbag connoisseur. My mantra is now ‘one bag to rule them all.’ Have I provoked your curiosity? Without further ado, I present to you the humble solution to my woes; the backpack.
Handbags will come and go, and so will fashion trends, but the backpack remains steadfast in its loyalty to me. I know that some women must be scoffing at me in disgust, but please bear with me while I explain my logic.
Do you prefer money in your bag or your bag being money? Luxury branded bags take my breath away for the wrong reasons. The number of zeroes is enough to wipe out a significant chunk off anyone’s salary. If I ever owned one of them I would apply for an insurance policy first. Premium brands are injurious to wealth.
Also, let’s save some poor, innocent animal from becoming a fashion accessory. I don’t mean to be judgmental, but sporting a carcass on your arm? Not cool. See you later, alligator. Not in a purse, but in a zoo, or a natural habitat! Backpacks are cruelty-free and affordable. The backpack never stops giving!
Where is something when you need it in a handbag? Handbags are portals; they transport your essentials to parallel universes. I have many such cold cases to recount. Imagine standing in a queue for an hour and just when it’s your turn, being asked to stand aside because you couldn’t find the important documents you swore you stashed in your handbag. True story.
The backpack is down-to-earth and helps you retrieve whatever you need, whenever you need, also magically expands every time, giving one hundred per cent visibility and access. Beat that!
What’s in my bag? Recently, Bollywood star Alia Bhatt sported a transparent empty Gucci bag for the 2024 cruise event. Like the size of the bag, the utility had to be examined under a microscope.
My backpack on the other hand is always bursting with stuff; a book or two, my wallet, my keys, tissues, sanitizer, and a bottle of water (I am at an age where water, not alcohol, is the solution to most of my woes).
Backpacks are accommodative unlike handbags which are quite temperamental. I can almost hear the handbag cry in a Diva-like voice, “I’m on a diet. I NEED to be slim. Stuff me not!” The humble backpack carries more weight and does not load-shame. And don’t even get me started on toughness and resilience. Suits every colour!
Having a matching bag for every dress is cool, but does involve effort, time, money, and maintenance. On the other hand, a grey or a black backpack will blend in with every dress, for every occasion. Fashion is what you make out of it. Minimalism is cool and on-trend, and as a bonus, you are under no pressure to conform.
I’ve gotten used to carrying my backpack around. Once, a friend complimented me and told me it made me look younger. College student vibes, they said. If that was flattery, it certainly worked, and I am not complaining.
Occasionally, my sartorial choices have raised a few brows. I can compromise on fashion, but not on comfort. Comfort to me is my all-in-one, chuck-in-what-you-want, I’ll-be-there- for-you unpretentious backpack.