wander gear
At long last: The perfect daytime bag.
When I lived in Phoenix, I drove a four-door sedan that functioned as a walk-in closet on wheels. It could carry magazines, newspapers, books, a change of clothes and shoes for the gym, water bottles and a variety of snacks worthy of a top-notch vending machine. Once, while working as a breaking news reporter, I assembled a formal outfit from the contents of my trunk to interview Dick Gephardt at a swanky fundraiser.
Of course, one thing my car didn’t often have room for was passengers. But the trade-off seemed worth it.
In NYC – and any city where public transportation is king — cars are replaced by big bags. When I moved here this winter, I began a mad search for something that could replace my car-closet, or at the very least handle the weight of a Harry Potter tome.
At a craft fair I discovered Yukiko Sato, a line of purses made by a Japanese designer in Long Island City. These totes are as stylish as they are reliable. Many of the bags are lined with colorful kimono fabrics (the designer also offers kimono fittings). A drawstring keeps pickpockets at bay, and the materials are fire- and water-proof. Mine has survived many a rain and snow storm. Luckily, I haven’t had a chance to test the fireproofing.
The most ingenious part of Yukiko Sato’s line is that it includes “inserts” that hold all your stuff and can be transferred from one bag to another.
Plus, the website lists five reasons to buy the product, including: ”Be Smart Lady!” and “Learn Sophisticated Japanese Way of Organizing Skill.” It is hard to argue with this.
A couple things can be improved upon, like sturdier straps and drawstrings. While sizes vary, mine is big enough to carry an entire evening ensemble – and maybe even Dick Gephardt himself.
