you can't just have one... 28 Jan 2013

Bob always asks me why I need so many handbags. He'll say, "Why can't you have just one?"

I mean, does he even know me? Or know women at all? 

As we women know, different bags serve different purposes—therefore, we need at least a few to cover various occasions, as well as complement the outfits we wear. So today I've partnered with Fossil to share some of my favorite bag styles for different moods, needs, or situations—and show you what I carry in each.

One piece I've recently added to my bag collection: an iPad case/carrier. Especially when taking it to meetings, I love making sure my iPad is protected, and this case also holds my business basics, too (a notebook and pencils, business cards, my phone, and a cute leave-behind).

When I'm out with Ruby, I always carry a roomy tote bag. I rarely use a traditional diaper bag anymore since she doesn't need quite as much stuff now that she's a toddler. But I'll still bring a few essential baby musts in a tote, including a zip pouch to hold diapers and wipes, snacks, a multi-purpose ointment, and a small pouch that holds my own daily essentials so I can quickly find my money, keys, and phone in a bag full of baby stuff.

For evenings out with friends (or a date night with Bob), a clutch that's compact and holds the bare necessities is my go-to. While some like tiny clutches, I prefer one that is big enough to hold lip gloss, lipstick, a little pouch for my credit cards, my phone, and a dressy watch or piece of jewelry I can throw on as I head out the door.

And finally, for day trips, quick jaunts, or occasions when being hands-free is helpful, a cross-body bag holds my major essentials plus a notebook for jotting down all that inspiration I'll come across.

So tell me...what's your go-to style of bag? And how many handbags do you have? (I'm afraid to count mine.)

*This post is brought to you in collaboration with Fossil. All content, ideas, and words are my own. Thanks for supporting these sponsors that allow me to create new and special content like this for Oh Joy. See my Q&A on Fossil's blog.

{Photos of me by Bonnie Tsang; interior bag photos by Oh Joy. All bags shown are by Fossil and linked above if currently available. If they are not linked, they are brand new and will be available soon.}