Because if you’re carrying something like this or some other cutesy or sloppy or “ironic hipster” bag, you’re undermining your own authority before you even open your mouth:
If you’re carrying something like this, you’re looking professional and classic.
Must. Have. That. Bag.
and in colours too! great
There is something in-between! I tend to buy one nice leather bag a year and wear it with everything. My current one is a dark jade green. Last year was dark bright pink. A particularly useful one when I was teaching was plum mock croc – big enough to fit my folder, lunch etc. but not looking too huge.
I’m not a minister, but I certainly wouldn’t judge a minister with a coloured bag (although I agree you can get too cutesy).
Aside from the looks of it, I’m sort of a “germphobe” about carrying cloth bags in most all the ministry places I go (hospitals and family court in particular). Lice, bedbugs, staph, etc. [ME TOO! – PB]
madgebaby – I would think that an entirely cloth bag would be more washable than a leather / faux leather one, though? Just empty it out and chuck it into the washer? Cloth with leather trim would probably be the worst for easy washability.
(I’m trying to achieve a presentable handbag that goes with everything on a cheap student budget. Handbag fail.)
I recently discovered Kaboo bags when I was looking for something that would fit both my IPad and my phone, etc, and not look too huge. I have the Roxie in red, which I love. I also love purple, but find the Olivia in plum too frilly looking for my taste.
The prices are reasonable too and the service to Canada was great!
http://www.kaboobags.com/store/products.aspx?col=3
I gave in and bought the bag. They were out of stock in tan and red, so I did go with black. Excellent customer service on the site (ordered on Sunday, in my den in MA today). It’s not exactly what I was hoping for — the leather is a little stiff. There is no outside pocket for a phone or keys. Nice inside pockets with a couple of zippers and nice hardware. [Thanks for the review! I just bought a Tignanello bag that has FOUR outside pockets and I’m pretty happy with it. – PB]
This is just what we were told when we started volunteering in family court. I’m guessing most people don’t wash their bags that often.
Hmm! What about an oilcloth messenger bag? They’re structured, not floppy, and a nice dark floral design can look professional enough without saying ‘look at me, I’m power-dressing’. [I think that I’d love to see a photo. Sounds nice. As with everything, your context matters! I don’t know about oilcloth and germs for all the settings we serve in… that might be an issue, the bag getting super dirty. How does it hold up? – PB]
My current bugbear is bag linings that are too fragile for the purpose – you know, the sort that “pick” when you put anything in them, or that catch on your rings when you are rummaging around in there, or the seams of which give up the ghost.
I had a gorgeous slouchy leather bag which has lasted 12 weeks…yes, 12 weeks. The leather is immaculate, the lining has “gone” – and I am very careful with my bags. (This is the 2nd such bag I have owned, the first one was replaced after 2 months because one of the seams in the lining failed, owing to the fabric in the seam allowance fraying.
So I’m after somewhere which will reline my lovely bag in a nice strong and hardwearing fabric so that I can enjoy it again.
The problem I have with a lot of bags, in the winter, is that the straps are too short to go over a shoulder with a coat on it. I am not a dangling-on-the-elbow-crook kind of gal. I like the look of the black one, and Sara F’s suggested Kaboo bags, and as a Texan I would be totally down, but now that I’m up north I know that those would drive me bonkers. It does help keep the budget in check though!