A taxonomy of my bag collection

A couple of years ago I bought a large metal shelf with wheels so I could stack my magazines on it for easy access when I would scan them for @glossyarchive, my Twitter archiving project. When I was done scanning everything, I started selling a good number of them to make space and raise some funds for personal needs. The issues I wanted to keep, I stored in a big box. And as for the shelf, I wheeled it into my room so I could deal with the Bag Situation—which was finding a way to store my bags that would be accessible and OCD-proof. 

It's been a total lifesaver. I got these boxes that fit perfectly stacked two by two in the middle shelf, and they have front latches so it's super easy to take out the bags and put them back. Lots of space so nothing's sticking together, and they're safe from dust, and I put silica gel everywhere. Like I wrote before, I've been reframing my mindset so I'm less precious with them and I can enjoy using them like I should.

I've been really excited about this new development, so I decided to gush about the bags in my current rotation.  

mango small saffiano effect shopper bag (left) and crossbody bag with pockets

When I first felt secure enough to buy slightly more expensive bags, I turned to Mango. Their bag line is full of quality basic pieces in sleek and simple styles that are just my type. I love anything with two front pockets, and it's something I reach for when I have a night out. At 10 inches the shopper bag is not too small or big, just the right size for a day where I'm on the go and I might have a lot on my to-do list but it doesn't really include lugging my laptop around. It doesn't have a clasp, just two easy-to-reach-in compartments with a zip-up pocket in the middle for the valuables.   

Shocker of all shockers, I'm not really an impulsive buyer. I'm often in an infinite tailspin before I finally decide to buy something I've been eyeing. When I bought my Canon G9 X, my dad had thought it was out of nowhere, especially for such a big purchase. But he didn't know that I'd had it on my wish list for a couple of years, and only took the plunge when I realized it was about to be phased out and unavailable for good. The same has been true for these bags—I convince myself I don't need them several times until they go on sale and I'm like "Y'know what? Fuck it." 

side by side mini-bag by j-hope

I'm not a fan of chain bags at all and I wish the strap offered more options for customization. I had to use my dad's pliers for a better fit, for one, and I got a fan-made version with the "Blue Side" cover art as the pattern and its strap is detachable with clasps that make it so much easier to adjust and store. There's another fan-made dupe that has a denim strap instead. But still, this bag will never stop being special to me. It's such a clear indication of known bag lover Hoseok's keen eye for detail, style, and design and it would be so exciting to keep seeing what he could come up with. (We need those fashion collabs or a full-on streetwear line!) I love the chic, dreamy tie-dye and the sweet little "made by hope" tag. It's compact but bigger than you'd think, and the front pocket is the perfect place to put your camera when you're traveling or out and about.  

coach pillow tabby 26 

When I first bought this I thought I was "settling" for it. We were at an outlet and it was the only color available, but I really wanted a Pillow Tabby so I couldn't pass it up. But it didn't take me long to realize how much I love this color. I'm immediately drawn to this shade now, especially Prada's Re-Nylon shoulder bag. My dad pointed out that my mom had loved it, and in my head I call it "Cinderella blue." Just so classic, charming, romantic. The dark metallic hardware and the softness of the bubbly padded leather are adorable to no end. 

maverick & co. noelle boxy

I went through a phase recently where I absolutely needed a spruce green bag. Did you know you can filter for color on Zalora? I went on it and did just that, which is how I found this little darling. It was smaller than I thought and the strap is definitely not crossbody-length like advertised, but it's exactly what I was going for and it has all the space you need for essentials. 

eve & adam hanni

I also stumbled across this style from a local brand during my spruce green phase, but when I first found it, the dark green was sold out. So I just decided to forget about it—until one day when I found myself looking at it again to check out the new pink shade and saw that they somehow have one available! Forgotten stock, maybe? Either way, I didn't hesitate. I'm obsessed with its shape and the texture of the vegan leather, and I can't wait to see what else Eve & Adam releases. 

saint laurent baby cabas

You've heard all about this. <3 

kate spade boxxy

Okay, I swore I'd hit my bag quota when I bought the YSL, but I checked Zalora one day and found that a local retailer had the exact color I wanted in stock for a very reasonable price. (I had searched back in March and nothing had come up then!) And, well, I had been telling myself that it would be the final thing on my list, and I could rest. I'd had an eBay link bookmarked and everything, but it was located in New York and I just didn't trust or care to spend so much for international shipping. So really I would've been a fool to let this go. 

And it's everything I ever dreamed it would be! Super cute and lightweight. There might not be a lot of space, but it's well-designed so it's easy to wear and actually use. A unique statement piece for sure. 

donkie connie

I needed a dressy crossbody for traveling, and the day bag to end all day bags: the one I would reach for any day, any time, for any situation. "Expendable" thanks to its price but still a step above casual. After a search that's been longer than I care to admit, this style from Korean brand Donkie has finally given me exactly what I wanted. It's not easy to find an affordable leather(ish) bag with a strap long enough to actually be crossbody on me—the designer and more upscale ones have been more inclusive in that regard somehow. It's super soft and roomy, and it even has front pockets! 

the ones i can grab and go

Continuing the "expendable" theme, these are the bags I would choose for grocery runs or a long, heavy day of travel. My favorites are dupes of Kipling's Ron, because you won't ever catch me spending P6000 on an original. Even if it's barely bigger than my palm, it has about six compartments that safely hold everything I need, including two cameras, and it never feels bulky or heavy. Other nylon sling bags of all shapes, sizes, and colors (mostly army green) go in this category, as well as a trusty Fossil bag that's been with me through the good times and the bad and was the catalyst for my dual-front-pocket obsession. Finally, a Marikina-made double handle crossbody in emerald green that cost me like P300 and has been a pleasant surprise, if only its edges were properly sealed. Still, it looks pretty good and I've been so much fun with it. 

If we don't watch the sun, it will rise

It's been a week since I came home from Tokyo. A little funny to think about, given the weeks I spent agonizing over the decision of whether I wanted to even go on the trip or not, and the month I spent after that going full-on apocalypse-bunker mode, trying to prepare for every possible thing that could go wrong. 

It made me a little sick to think about going back to the airport and on a plane for the first time since January, when I flew home with my dad and thought we had this whole new year ahead of us, none the wiser that he would be gone just nine days later. If anything went wrong on the trip, I wouldn't be able to call home. And if anything went wonderful, I still wouldn't be able to call home and tell him all about it. It was a scary and isolating and heartbreaking thought. 

But I'd applied for a Japanese visa as soon as I got my latest ITR, and I got a five-year one. Five whole years of no more documents and waiting around, of just needing to buy a ticket and leaving whenever I want. What a relief, and how freeing. (Of course, I would still need to pace myself, because the expenses tend to be a significant dent in my net worth.) I suddenly had a passport that's ready to go anytime, spring was about to end, and I would have to wait until September to experience any cold again. 

The idea of going didn't get any less scary, but I told myself I couldn't let what I went through stop me from enjoying a good opportunity, because I could rely on myself, and I could give myself this.

So I went. 

Weeks later and I was in Odaiba, peering up at a life-size Gundam statue under the pleasant spring sun. 

A group tour was the perfect first trip with this visa: I'd never been to Tokyo before so it wouldn't feel repetitive, it had stops in places that aren't quite as accessible, and there was a free day where I could study and practice commuting by myself for when I returned, this time completely solo. Having social anxiety and no choice but to travel alone, I've found that group tours are great for going on autopilot and following along wherever the wind (and the tour bus) takes you. Like that song "I Love the Unknown" from the Rocket Science soundtrack, except you knew just enough to keep anxiety at bay. 

Of course, me being me, I looked at the itinerary and did extensive research on every place we would be visiting, making checklists on my weekly planner app (so handy!) so I wouldn't miss a single thing. 

That first day, we mostly went around Aqua City. I was sitting in the food court wondering why they've decided it was a must for tourists to visit a mall when I heard excitable puppy barks. Across from my table was a pet shelter. In the middle of a mall! I suddenly never wanted to be anywhere else. 

There were lots of puppies and kittens around, all of them so sweet and playful. An adorable toy poodle kept pawing at the glass when I gave it a bit of attention. But my heart was instantly won over by Marin-chan, who's a little older than everybody and has the most gentle, prim demeanor. She reminded me so much of my kitty-nephew Fifi, and I miss her already. 

After dinner we hung out a little on this floor with a row of shops that made it feel like a retro '80s alley, with vintage gift shops and old-school arcade games and vending machines. We passed through the Rainbow Bridge on our way to the hotel, which gave us beautiful views of Tokyo Bay at sunset and was probably my favorite moment of the entire day. 

(I didn't know it was Tokyo Bay until I sat down to write this, and now I'm listening to "Tokyo Bay" by The Academy Is..., a deep cut that was a vinyl bonus track.)   

We set out early the next day for our trip to Mt. Fuji. I'd made sure to buy a cozy puffer jacket to prepare for the cold when we disembarked at the 5th Station. Like clockwork, I fell asleep on the drive, but I woke up to the most surreal view. 

At the 5th Station, we visited the Fujisan Komitake Shrine and I bought a few souvenirs and collected stamps at the local rest house. The drive up was unlike anything I've ever seen or experienced, just lush forest all around made even more breathtaking by the huge bus windows. We even spotted some deer milling about. 

Lunch was at Fuji-Q Highland, the local theme park. I got a chicken teriyaki rice bowl and sat with our tour guide Yuki, who's quite warm and friendly. We talked while we ate. I learned that she's been guiding tours for a few years as a freelancer, and it's her retirement job after working at a travel agency, then moving to the States to become a language teacher and translator. "So it was natural," she said of the tour guide gig. "It connects to all my previous jobs." 

 

I had just enough time when we finished eating to book it to the yakisoba shack, where they're also selling the ice cream I've been dreaming about for years: Cremia, a softcream (what they call soft-serve) that tastes extra rich with Hokkaido fresh cream and milk fat, and a buttery lengua de gato-type cone that brings it to a whole new level of melt-in-your-mouth. It was everything I'd imagined and more.

Just before the entry gates to the theme park was La Ville de Gaspard et Lisa, the most charming little walk that transported you straight into the world of these puppy BFFs. With a cafe, tea and dessert shop, souvenir shop, grand carousel, and garden with its own mini-Eiffel Tower, the entire area looked just like a chic rue en Paris. I especially adored the bakery, which had super cute Gaspard and Lisa and Mt. Fuji-themed cookies and smelled heavenly thanks to the freshly made caramel cakelets. I wish we'd had more time to linger around it a bit longer. 

Our final stop for the day was the premium outlet mall in Gotemba. I've been on a couple of group tours that also made stops at outlet malls, but I never really found them interesting since I could never let myself afford anything, anyway. But when I went on the website, I saw some less common luxe brands that had me thinking, what if I splurged, just this once?

My top priority was Saint Laurent. I'd been telling myself that if I ever would own anything designer,  a YSL bag would be it for me. So I was excited to look around and see if I would find something within my budget, especially with the significant discounts. 

The Saint Laurent outlet was a bit of a walk from the entrance we used, requiring crossing a bridge that went over a forest and had another unbelievable view of Mt. Fuji. I was determined to look for a monogram crossbody that didn't have a chain strap, and I was immediately drawn to a gorgeous moss green satchel. I've been obsessed with deep green in bag form, so it should've been perfect. But the satchel on display was the last one in stock and it was just too damaged to justify buying. I guess I'll be seeing it in my dreams. 

I looked around a little more, and eventually found a black double handle bag that also checked off my boxes. And this one was less expensive and had new stock! The walk back across the bridge felt extra giddy with the tall black shopping bag in hand.

I'm so in love. I kept admiring it while having my dinner of carbonara from the Family Mart in the hotel. (Literally inside the hotel, just off the ground floor elevators! Would've been so useful to know the night before when I'd gotten hungry at 10 p.m. from having such an early dinner.) 

My attitude when it comes to the more pricey bags I have is that of a mother to a newborn—always careful and precious with them to a fault, and it gets to a point where I end up not using them as often as I should for fear of damaging them and because there's so much work to my OCD-heavy ritual of taking them out of storage and putting them back. But with this bag, it's like there's a switch that flipped in my head that's made me more open to just using it in my day-to-day life. I'm still afraid to death of making it anything beyond pristine, but I'm more normal about it. And it's had a domino effect, I think, because now I'm starting to think this way about my other bags, too. 

I did read something somewhere that went a little like: What's the point of collecting beautiful things if you're not using them? Loving the objects that make you happy means enjoying them to the fullest, so I'm going to do that.