I'm A Bag Watcher

I've been considering this topic since summertime when I saw an elderly woman cross the street towards me.  She was wearing a floral snap-up house dress and sensible elderly woman shoes with black socks.

She was carrying a Prada shopping bag.

There was something about the sight that wasn't quite right.  "One of these things is not like the others. One of these things just doesn't belong" was my Sesame Street ear worm.

At that moment, I became a bag watcher.
Now, months later, I can't stop.

In Vienna, shopping bags are the necessary accessory.  Women and men will carry the extra "papier pouchette", in addition to the traditional purse, briefcase or backpack.  This is a dress code rule I've not yet adopted, but do enjoy taking note as I'm out and about.  Of course, on occasion,  these bags will represent an actual purchase.  More often than not, they are like the glove compartment in a car or a portable junk drawer.

At the risk of getting yelled at or worse, I deployed my Secret Squirrel skills and started surreptitiously checking out the contents of these bags (snapped a few pics too).  Typically, the bag contains some outerwear, shoes, newspaper or magazine and umbrella.  Sometimes a bottle of water, snack bag or fruit.  Utilitarian indeed.  Generally, women tend to go with the luxury or clothing brand bags and men tend to have Nespresso or "non-denominational" bag.  On rainy days, they go plastic.

Dolce & Gabbana and Daisy Dukes

Man Bag

The most amusing bag watching was on Halloween at the school sponsored "Trunk or Treat".  I spied an elementary school kid in costume collecting candy in a Louis Vuitton shopping bag.  Of course, I wanted to track down his Mom to see what LV she was carrying!

So, I've started my bag collection (yes friends, in addition to my purse collection), just in case I decide to join in.

I'm ready, rain or shine.