Will You Ever Roll Your Purse?

rolling briefcase.jpg
Lisa Belkinâ€™s piece in Thursday Styles about briefcases and backpacks on wheels really struck a chord with us.

Although running around NYC with an approximately ten billion ton purse (while wearing heels, naturally) has left us with no small amount of pain, we have to veto the rolling bag idea - unless we’re at the airport.

It’s not because of the danger of running over small children and animals, but because these rollers are the most hideous thing weâ€™ve seen since last weekâ€™s toeless boots.

This quote from the article really sums it up for us:

â€œNerd-o-rama,â€? sniffed Mark Stevens, the chief executive of MSCO, a global marketing firm in Rye Brook, N.Y. â€œI would rather carry a baby grand on a broken back than swish around with a rolling bag.â€?

Is this all just senseless vanity?

At what point to you have to compromise your style in the name of practicality?

(Alison says never! Faran says, only if you need physical or psychological therapy for a particularly painful outfit…)

—ALISON COOL

posted by elizabeth

Jun 29, 2007 9:46AM

Only if you're pregnant, and close to the end of it at that.

posted by yo`

Jun 29, 2007 10:13AM

i hate nytimes style section...they just stuff all the other things that they couldnt fit elsewhere in it and it never has good photoshoots. every thursday and sunday i am dissapointed over and over again

posted by HauteDamn

Jun 29, 2007 10:16AM

While I wholeheartedly agree, I mean, c'mon, if you had had had to use a rolly bc you were disabled or psychologically unsound or a pharma rep/stewardess, would this be slightly more acceptable:
http://hauteandbothered.blogspot.com/2007/06/haute-finds-botkier-tumis-love-child.html
Just asking...

posted by MH

Jun 29, 2007 10:19AM

You don't have to compromise your style at all, just clean out your freaking bag. No matter how huge it is, it doesn't mean you have to fill it.

Also, not to get personal about it, but the article was about bankers and lawyers--people with deadlines. I'm pretty sure fashion bloggers aren't expected to lug around file folders, therefore you're not really the target market for rolling bags.

posted by kenbot

Jun 29, 2007 10:29AM

I draw the line at wheels, unless they're on luggage. As soon as you add a laptop to your bag, it can get unbelievably heavy - so I just make sure I'm wearing stylish flats if I'm going to have to do much walking.

posted by lisa

Jun 29, 2007 11:10AM

I have to confess...I have a rolling backpack. But in my defense, I'm a law student, so at any given time I'm lugging around my laptop and 3-4 gigantic (several thousand page) textbooks. I also have carpal tunnel from all the typing...so picking up a bag with all that shit in it isn't the most fun I've ever had.

But I know its ugly as sin, and now I want that bag HauteDamn linked to.

posted by Sarah

Jun 29, 2007 11:29AM

I def understand that carrying a heavy bag can cause your back to be not so happy-- when I was a bike commuter in grad school I used to get cramps from all the books in my bag-- but I feel like ppl are so not-conscientious on the subway with their rolling monstrosities! I have had my feet rolled over so many times! Plus they are dork-tastic (sorry, Lisa...), but then again I am one of those chumps who refuses to let go of her punk rock youth and buy rolling luggage at all. Look for me at LGA, breaking my back with my crammed full army surplus backpack in the name of aesthetics, rather than practicality!

posted by Chels

Jun 29, 2007 11:48AM

I'm with MH...why do these people have that much in their bags? In this day and age, where so much is digital, why do they need two computers and a metric ton of files?

I understand if you're a lawyer and you need court documents and such, but, seriously, most of these people needed to let go of their stuff.

That said, Lisa, I feel for you with the law school thing. I did one law class as an undergrad and my shoulders still hurt thinking about carrying around one book. Good luck!

posted by leia

Jun 29, 2007 11:56AM

well, I work in wholesale apparel and have to lug around all kinds of books and linesheets. I've learned all the tricks....I've found the thinnist binders (Profolio) and the biggest of bags (MJ) that make it unnecessary for a roller bag!
And if my bag does get too crammed, I pawn stuff off on my boss. He's the dork with the rolling swiss army briefcase! ;-)

Jun 29, 2007 12:25PM

Its ok guys, I know its bad. Sarah, I was also one of those people who refused to let go of their punk rock youth (which I really should have known wouldn't go well with law school in the first place) and started out with a messenger bag. Then the strap on that broke, so I moved to a backpack (horrors!!!)...and the strap on that broke. So I'm left with the rolly bag. Maybe I'll get that go-go gear one in nylon, you guys have made me feel bad ;)

posted by GG

Jun 29, 2007 1:35PM

I work at a literary agency, so I am always toting several manuscripts, magazines, etc. I have to do the big MJ purse PLUS a tote bag. Even though it's not cool (is it?) to have a big purse AND a tote bag it's better than having a rolling suitcase, right? I am waiting for Amazon to come out with this ebook reader you can put manuscripts on. I am on the verge of needing physical therapy.

posted by Jordan

Jun 29, 2007 3:21PM

AGH!

The only thing I can't think of when I see that is the girl at my college who wears jean short overalls, scrunches and 1/4 inch thick glasses. I'm no nerd-hater and to each his own. But the day that becomes fashionable, I'm done.

Ditto Veto.