What's In My Bag?

I have a confession to make. I like fashion.

That’s it. Nothing shocking, I know. Well, it may be shocking to those who’ve met me and wouldn’t think to call me fashion forward or trendsetting.

And they wouldn’t be wrong. What I like about fashion is how we use it to communicate who we are without saying a word. For example, I’m a creative professional, which means I use my creative skills and knowledge (writing, editing, layout and design) to inform my chosen profession. In short, I make art with words.

I love the idea that I subconsciously communicate this vocation while also expressing my inner quirks, nerdiness and desire to be as comfortable as my body type will allow without being mistaken for a slacker or vagabond. One of the ways I relay this message is with my totes, purses and bags.

Everyone shares a little part of themselves when they carry an item that holds their “life” on the go. Regardless of gender, nationality, ethnicity or orientation, we put ourselves on display when we carry a backpack, messenger bag, tote, briefcase or purse as we go about our day. So this low-key fashion fanatic gets a big kick out of all those “What’s In My Bag?” bits on YouTube, Flickr and Tumblr. To the untrained eye, they may all seem to present the same images. However, the detail is where you’ll find the heart of your exhibitionist.

So with that in mind, I thought I’d share what’s in my bag. My unidentifiable style shifts with the phases of the moon, but the contents of my bag reveal that there are methods to my madness. Inside, you’ll find evidence of the following aspects of my personality:

• The Control Freak
• The Wannabe Bohemian
• The Girl Scout

Let me know if you can tell which is which.

As you can see, I don't have many electronic items in my bag. I'm a very tactile person, so writing on paper helps my creative flow much more than using a laptop, tablet or netbook. And although I don't mind reading blogs or news articles online, I prefer my books and magazines in printed form as well. The only item missing above is my cell phone, which I'm using to take the photo.

The sun shifted, so pardon the low light, but I like the angle on this picture. It shows you the rustic, but sturdy tote I use to carry my "mobile life" around, as well as the purse that lives inside the tote. Bags within bags are a control freak's way of staying sane.

Most people wouldn’t think of your average “proofreading egghead by day, writing chameleon by night” as fashion conscious. But creativity is all about expression, whether we’re expressing ourselves with paint, music, dance, design, words or fashion. Whether you consider yourself a fashionista or not, you to tell the world about yourself with your clothes, your hair and your bag.

Do you feel your carry-all represents you (vocation, personality, aspirations)? What’s in your bag?