Bags are this month’s theme for the Bibliotheca, a new J-fashion blogging circle. “What’s in my bag” is a prompt I’ve been meaning to write for years, but just never got around to making it. When the theme was announced, I suppose it’s finally my time to write this. It’s been awhile since I wrote a post about daily life Stephano, so today I’ll spill the contents of what’s in my waist bag.
Handbag collecting is something I have zero interest in. Growing up, I watched others in my family buy a lot of luxury brand bags only to hide them away in the depths of their closets. I just don’t see the point of buying a bag and not using it. In my wardrobe post, I only own 10 bags. 6 out of 10 are usakumya or kumakumya pochettes and rucksacks, so they are basically just decorative plushies with a shoulder strap. Purses are bulky and my closet space is limited, so I don’t need to start an extensive collection.
Fanny Pack Superiority
My bag style of choice is a waist bag/fanny pack. Over the last few years, fanny packs re-surged into popularity again, so there a lot more fashionable options available! Here are just a few reasons I prefer waist bags:
- Never lose a thing
It’s attached to you, so you’ll never leave it behind. - Free hands
Your hands are free if you don’t have a bag to hold. I usually have a camera in one hand, so holding a bag would only make me fumble endlessly. - Travel lightly
When I used to carry a purse, I often overpacked it with non-essential items. Having to carry a heavy bag around led to sore shoulders or unnecessary physical exertion. By limiting yourself to a small space, you’ll only carry what you need. In a sense, it’s freeing. - Look stylish
As mentioned above, there are a lot more design options for waist bags nowadays. Choose a from statement waist bag with bright, bold colors or stick with a sleek, modern waist bag. No longer will you have to fear looking like an old man. Fanny packs are the way to go.
My Bag
My daily bag is this Y-3 waist bag I bought in 2019. Y-3 is a brand collaboration between Adidas and Yohji Yamamoto. One reason I like Yohji Yamamoto is his designs are mostly monochromatic and sturdy enough for daily wear. If you squint hard enough, you could also say it’s sporty sometimes. I admire the brand, but the luxury price is higher than I like to pay, so Y-3 is a good entry point for fans looking to own something associated with Yohji Yamamoto.
At one point, I was vaguely interested in the techwear and sports goth trends. One aspect of techwear is its emphasis on utilitarian design. This bag kind of hit both of those points. It is made of a sturdy, somewhat waterproof fabric. Technically, it’s a 2-way bag, but I only wear it one way. The other way is to wear just the middle portion using chest strap. Plus it has multiple pockets; what more could you ask for?
It doesn’t really match my superfluous gothic lolita style though. I usually take it off for photos which is why you’ll rarely see it in my outfit shots. The only bad part is it usually messes up the waistline silhouette of my outfits. It’s basically a utility belt though and the function works well for me. I’m rough on my clothes and it’s survived so far.
What’s Inside My Waist Bag
With a waist bag, space is limited, so I carry only the most important things.
Those important things are (from left to right):
- Phone(s)
Two phones: one for work, one for me. I’m a loyal fan of Google’s Pixel phones. Top is the Google Pixel 3A and bottom is the Google Pixel 4A. - Pocket tissues
Tissues in your pocket! Pocket tissues are a running joke in the Yakuza video game series, but after I visited Japan, I was converted. Never know when I’ll need one. Carrying these around also gave me an excuse to buy a Moi-meme-Moitie tissue cover. This one uses Moitie’s Holy Cross lace. - Wallet
Can’t leave the house without this one. Inside it holds my driver’s license, cards, and sometimes cash when I need it for cash-only establishments. I’m using Moi-meme-Moitie’s Logo Frame Wallet in navy. It was supposed to be the black colorway, but Wunderwelt mislabeled the color. At least I can find it easier? - Face mask
Carry a face mask because we are still in a pandemic. I’m quite fond of the fabric ones by Jannuu. Apparently Obama wears the same kind. - Pen
Black, of course. - Eye drops
I just started carrying these in my bag because apparently they’ll end up getting lost if I leave them in my medicine cabinet. I get dry eyes from allergies and staring at screens all day, so these help keep them nice and moist. - Hand cream
Another new addition to the bag because if I didn’t carry it around, I would never use it. This one isn’t that great though. - Ring(s)
Sometimes. I like to take them off when I wash my hands, so I’ll store them in one of the more secure pockets. Sometimes they stay in there for awhile. - Keys
I suppose I have the option of carrying only a few things because I store the rest of the things in my car. I really need a new keychain. - Headphones
Wired because I’m still living in a time before wireless headphones.
That’s everything in my bag! There is still some room to spare inside, too.
Despite not wearing lolita fashion daily, I do incorporate lolita brand items in my day-to-day life. Using brand novelties is an easy way to earn lifestyle lolita or lifestyle goth points.
Join Bibliotheca
Bibliotheca by Bay Area Kei is a new blogging circle for Japanese fashion content. They created it to circulate the long-form content of J-fashion blogs in an easy-to-follow digest. If you are a J-fashion blogger, join today! There is an optional monthly prompt to participate in. If you’re not a blogger, you can subscribe to their e-mail list to keep up via a monthly newsletter!
Read more posts about the bag theme:
- Cupcakes and Unicorns: What’s in my lolita bag?
- Hello Lizzie Bee: What’s in My Gyaru Makeup Bag?
