UP FRONT | LIFESTYLE
Love Your Purse Again If your bag is weighing you down, here are seven ways to get organized for a lighter and freer you BY TAMMY KENNON
2 NO CHEATING! Avoid the common trap of proudly sporting a tiny bag but pairing it with a monster backpack or tote.
3 CHOOSE WISELY The perfect bag is lightweight and has some structure and generous pockets. Make sure it has a dedicated pocket for your phone, preferably on the outside for quick access.
4 CONSIDER SHAPE Avoid bags that are narrow at the top and wide at the bottom — aka bottomless holes — and make sure the straps are comfortable.
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BEST YEARS I FALL / WINTER 2015
5 CHUCK THE FREELOADERS The hallmark of hoarding is the inability to discard or remove items that are no longer needed. Gulp. When you ask yourself when you last used each item in your purse, but you can’t remember, that’s a good sign that you can boot it. Good-bye, orange lip gloss.
6 DO A WEEKLY SHAKEDOWN Dealing with a cluttered bag is an ongoing battle. Make a habit of evicting the freeloaders on a regular basis. Adios, useless receipts and flattened granola bars.
7 STREAMLINE YOUR WALLET Most of us lug around way more than is necessary in our wallets. One culprit: all those rewards cards. Many stores let you use your phone number instead (or an app). Poof — you just eliminated half a dozen cards!
THINKSTOCK
1 SCALE IT DOWN It’s a physical law that nature abhors a vacuum. No matter what size bag we carry, we will eventually fill it up, so use science to your advantage and don’t buy gargantuan handbags in the first place.