Cate Blanchett in NYC

 No. I can’t. I have one large-ish handbag and I never use it because shit always gets lost in it and I swear, receipts and papers fuck like bunnies down there, multiplying exponentially overnight.

Oops, didn’t read your much better description of the bag size before my meager attempt, above.  Siento.

 For Cate, no idea.

For me:
Always: wallet, keys, phone, makeup, healthy snacks and/or lunch, sunscreen, crushable sun hat (ooh yes, my nerd look is pale AND horrifying), whichever glasses I’m not wearing, current book, folder of work I’m not actually going to do, folder of personal business I may get to, research journal (steno size or smaller), post-its or wirebound pad of 3 x 5 cards, pens, pencils, kleenex or coffee shop napkins, ibuprofen, collapsible umbrella, gloves in winter.

Depending on the trip, zero to many of these: Wadded up re-usable shopping bag, aluminum water bottle, mini gym-kit (toiletries, socks, undies), notebook computer, charger for computer, digital audio recorder, packet of thumb drives or portable hard drive, digital camera, small items to return/exchange, small items to be used as reference in purchasing replacements, folders, brochures or notes to self accumulated in the course of the day, spare tights, shirt, scarf and/or jewelry for outfit adjustments, medicine or vitamins may have to take while out, library books to return.

Yes, I could and sometimes do divide all this crap into several bags. But on days I’m out for the duration and especially if taking public transportation, there’s really nowhere to leave some bags unless I’m leaving work & will return. So I end up toting same crap, just subdivided.

How some of you do it with just your pockets and maybe a laptop case astounds me.

Not a question of “need” – question of “want.”  And the designers give these bags to the celebs who in exchange go out on the street and have themselves photographed with the bag prominently displayed on their arms/shoulders. See, TLo knew exactly what bag this was – so the marketing machine is working as it is supposed to.  Mission accomplished, Cate… and Tod.

 didn’t it come from the Rachel Zoe school of making oneself look small by carrying oversized bags and sporting oversized accessories?

 Yeah, on my mac, the street shots it looks intensely blue, and the studio shot makes it really purple looking.

With the prices of bags being as high as they are, if I fork over that amount of cash for a purse, I better be able to climb inside it and time travel.

I totally would. But unfortunately my local stockist of Miu Miu doesn’t have those in my size. So unless I want to venture into London with the Olympics hullabaloo in the background… I totally want those shoes though. I have never wanted a pair of sneakers more in my life. Damn me and my child-sized feet.