Practice Being A Lady
After months, and maybe even years, of toting around large bags with no closing fixtures, the Lady Bag has really thrown a curve ball at me. The minimalist design is really appreciated, but one of the most unexpected frustrations is with the closure itself. It consists of one long leather tie that goes all around the bag like the much famed bucket bags, but then meets in the center front and is held together in place by another piece of leather with channels for both ends to go into. To close the bag, you have to string the ties up to the top closure, then down through the middle one and tug firmly. Oof, it's a process that I suggest you do not attempt to do the first times while you're rushing to places. Despite the minimalist hardware to keep the bag closed, this is all it takes to keep it closed even when it has my 15" laptop in it.
It definitely took some practice and getting used to, mostly because I was so used to having all of my things readily available with the other bags. Do I miss the ease of the tote bag or the mini bucket bags, where I had the option to leave my purse wide open for any last minute grabbing of pens, notebooks, or iPhones? Yes. Duh. I'm a lady who is also lazy. But just remember that there was once a time when you didn't have all that stuff, and that maybe the most fashionable of people seem fashionable in those street style or vintage photos because of their confidence to just walk to where they're going with their hands free and all their stuff out of sight in their Lady bags.