Sure, some purses can be very efficient, well crafted, and look nice. I am not protesting nice craft or criticizing personal choices. Instead I am trying speaking out against the concept behind "The Purse" and the way it negatively impacts a woman's self image. I urge women to invest instead in quality products that will last, be appropriate for many different activities, and benefit a woman's pursuit of a balanced lifestyle while representing her interests. These are my thoughts based on my personal experience switching over.
Here are the things I find wrong with The Purse:
1. It is a symbol of materialistic female values and stereotypes. The kind that are exclusively and unfairly associated with our gender, and which unfortunately many women still choose to represent in addition to other lifestyle choices that are just as bad.
2. It is reminiscent of old ladies. The kind who will brutally assault you with one if you ever try to help her across the street and she thinks you are trying to rob her. The kind with bad perfume, atrocious hairstyles, and clothing that only suits a woman her age. Seriously, The Purse is outdated and we need 21st century options for 21st century women. Why do we carry on a trend that is popular with a generation that, in their day, thought it was just not proper to leave the house without pantyhose on? Who considered it the husband's duty to provide while they made a home for him, and occasional took their purse out on a shopping spree with his allowances? Hasn't feminism changed the way we think enough for women to not feel restricted to these ways of thinking and accessorizing?
3. Major brand names have lost their subtle, minimalistic style. These days a Michael Kors bag screams MK! MK! MK! MK! MK! MK! MK! MK! MK! MK! MK! all over it . Or some horrible faux animal print with fake gold chains and rhinestones. Okay, we get it, but is that really necessary? It used to be the style and craft of the bag itself that was worth the cost and appreciated based on look, quality, and distinctive class. Now it's all about showing off, and the resulting effect looks....cheap.
4. You can't fit books in them. They aren't designed for readers apparently. Or for women with equipment for a day outing or outdoor hobby (i.e. a professional camera, rock-climbing gear), a job requiring work in the field (tape measure, drafting tools), school (notebooks, tablet), or other activities. The design of The Purse is almost as if to say that women don't have such activities.
5. What do you really need to put in them anyways? Since they are too small or poorly designed to fit practical items?
6. They get in the way when you are trying to do stuff. Like lifting and carrying things with both arms. Like going for a run. Basically, the design of The Purse sucks because it is not designed with any kind of physical activity in mind. Strictly sitting and walking only.
7. They go hand-in-hand with a lifestyle in which a woman's self-esteem depends on material things in order to feel "feminine." The most obvious example is The Purse itself, used as an object to show off and represent its owner. Many women also feel the need to carry make up in their purses instead of being confident with their natural beauty. If you want to wear make up, you can put it on at home. If it wears off, so what? If you use make up to cover skin problems like acne (as I do), learn ways to take care of your skin including healthy diet and lifestyle choices. Most of all, be confident about YOURSELF. Don't hide behind your make up or purses, because at the end of the day you are not these things nor should you be limited to them.
And the benefits of switching to the "no purse" lifestyle?
- You don't need to constantly upgrade to the newest style of purse.
- You don't need to buy a different purse to match with every outfit.
- Matching your outfits becomes easier because you no longer have the awkward purse problem. (Ladies, why is a purse even considered part of an "outfit" anyways?)
- You will not be targeted by purse-snatchers. Belongings kept closer to the body are usually kept safer. Logistically speaking, a snatch-and-go thief can cut a single strap faster and easier with a knife/scissors than he can wrestle with you for your close-kept belongings or a backpack. Be advised, however, that there is no 100% guarantee against street robbery whether or not you are carrying a purse and that caution is to be exercised no matter the circumstance.
- You will be liberated economically, physically, and emotionally. You will experience increased confidence due to non-dependence.
- You will come to understand that your femininity or attractiveness does not depend on your choice of accessories. If anything, your exaggerated accessories do the opposite by being a distraction from your natural charms. By going purse-less you will experience higher levels of confidence and self-esteem.
Many women are attached to their purse by habit. They instinctively grab their purse whenever leaving the home or a certain locality. So some questions about the practicality of not having a purse might come up. I will try to address those issues below:
Q1. What do I put my wallet/keys/cell phone in? And other things?
A1. Pockets work great. So does a lanyard for keys. You will spend a lot less on clothes with pockets and lanyards than you will constantly upgrading to the new Louis.
As for other stuff, what other stuff? What is so important to keep with you that you need it to drag you down? Unless it's something that contributes to meaningful activities, it can stay home. Otherwise, on a daily basis, there is really no need to bring needless crap with you as extra weight. Men don't have this problem, so why should you?
Q2. What if I have my period and need to keep sanitary products with me?
A2. My suggestion to the fashion industry to address this issue is to design more shirts, sweaters, and jackets for women with discreet interior pockets. Feminine products could be kept in them and taken to the bathroom more discreetly than having to bring your purse. Plus, it would just be nice to have a hidden pocket! Perhaps your wallet can be kept safely in it, or other personal items can be kept out-of-sight. Nobody can snoop in an interior pocket the way they can in your unattended purse.
However, until this happens, my suggestion is this: You can discreetly tuck them away in large pockets (ones with buttons or zippers work best). Keep can also keep a small toiletries bag full of them in the glove compartment of your car. Carrying a small clutch or bag for the duration of your period is also a nice option for the minimalist, though there is no functional way to secure it to your body. If you are already carrying a day-pack or similar bag, put your feminine products in there in a hidden or discreet compartment.
Q3. What are some good alternatives to purses if you actually need to bring stuff with you?
A3. It depends on the kind of stuff you need to bring. I generally find satchels and backpacks very practical. They leave your hands free while you're out and about, come in many stylish options, and can be made of durable yet fashionable materials such as leather and with quality craftsmanship.
Q4: But my wallet doesn't fit in my pocket.
A4: A "woman's" wallet is just an extension of The Purse. It has all the same materialistic implications, if not more. Think about it. A man's wallet has a place to put cash, business cards, and a few credit/gift card slots. The implications are straightforward and to business. A "woman's" wallet is often characterized by being oversized, blinged or flashy in design, and has at least twice as many slots for credit cards and gift cards, but a smaller compartment for business cards. The wallet itself seems to speak for it's holder: I'm a shopper. I will max credit cards and shop my way into debt on materialistic crap I don't need. Is this the image we want women to promote for ourselves? Does this image really represent you?
Buy a (quote-on-quote) "man's" wallet instead. They are thin and will slide easily into your jeans' back pocket. The simplicity of the design looks serious enough for business and is easily seen as a unisex accessory. And ladies, coins can be kept in your pockets (men do it all the time, so why not?). I hope one day all wallets will be designed for simplicity and efficiency, with perhaps some slight gender varieties in craft, color, or print.
Here is an explanation of what the fashion industry needs to change about women's fashion:
1. Pockets. At the moment women's clothing does not always have roomy pockets, or may have no pockets at all. Women just aren't used to having pockets on finely crafted wardrobe pieces, and I hope this attitude changes. But the main reason is that clothing designed for women is, by expectation, made for purse-carriers. And by clinging to our purses so much we unknowingly reinforce the demand for low-functionality design in women's clothing. Which keeps us needing to spend money on our purses after we've already spent so much money on that designer dress, blouse, or pants that didn't have pockets in the first place. This is a cycle that has many parallels to much broader dysfunctional habit to earn, spend, and then catch up on newest styles/technologies/debts.
2. More simple designs. Less complicated pieces of clothing and blinged accessories. As Coco Chanel once said, simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance. This is coming from a woman who, during her fashion reign, told women they were more beautiful in gowns that accentuated true beauty instead of covered it in obscene decoration or exposed it vulgarly. She designed equestrian riding pants for women so they wouldn't have to ride sidesaddle, and eliminated the corset to literally allow women to breathe. Consistent with the concept of simplicity in her designs, Chanel thought it was silly for women to try hard to impress men who ultimately trapped them in restrictive roles. In today's world, the blinged Purse and wallet, exaggerated jewelry, and tacky nail fashions represent all these genderized trappings on female identity.
3. Take "male" fashions and make them feminine. Women should not have to choose between overly-tacky female items and overly-masculine pieces. I have owned wallets that meet my simplicity and functionality standards, but I still had to choose a man's wallet over tacky-looking women's wallets. The fashion industry needs to market more of these wallets to women (and remove the label of it being for men), and part of doing so would be having more variety of color and print. This concept can far outreach just the wallet or purse example. Dressing smart makes you feel confident.
We need to extend our conceptualization of women's fashion as a whole. We do not need to dress like men to have a practical wardrobe. We just need to make women's clothing more practical. We do not need to compromise fashion to accomplish this.
No comments:
Post a Comment