Honey, I’ve shrunk my accessories! (Say hello to the mini phone bag)
All Saints Ezra bag. Photos: Penny Wincer.
When it comes to accessories, I can be a bit sizeist. I’ve never liked those teeny-tiny micro handbags. Pointless, pocket-sized accessories. No, thank you. What Vogue calls cute, I call ridiculous.
For coffee and a catch-up recently, an old friend was carrying a small leather crossbody bag by Bill Amberg. I admired the beautifully worn item and she confessed it was something she’d really had to think about splurging on, earlier in her career – but long-term had never regretted buying. Having already made the move from a tote-full-of-too-much-stuff to the popular crossbody, I wondered if I could take things a step further. So, when the founder of sustainable brand M.Hulot asked if I’d like to try out one of her new, mini bags, it was time to KonMari the crap out of my paraphernalia.
The M Hulot mini bag
And, guess what, I’m a petite pouch convert. On occasions when all I need are my phone, credit card and the front door keys, small is the way to go. As I’ve discovered this summer, the mini phone bag is perfect accessory for an aperitivo.
Honey, I’ve shrunk my accessories:
That’s Not My Age is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
STYLE NOTES: All clothes are from a previous collaboration with Very. The quilted bag in the first photo is from All Saints (it’s not technically a phone bag but it is small). The tan leather Hornsey Mini Bag is from M Hulot (also available in Prussian Blue).
Discussion (21 Comments)
Definitely very handy for coffee and aperitivo action. Though, sometimes I carry a crossbody phone bag to make finding the essentials easier when I’m travelling around London and then everything else goes in the tote. I think it’s called Double Bagging! And it saves faffing…
Elizabeth says:
I discovered these last year when I bought one from White Stuff in a distressed silver leather, thought I would just use it for taking my phone on hikes rather than having it in my back pack or pocket (I find that new phones are rather big and bulky for pockets unlike my old Nokia Fold!), and indeed I do use it for that purpose, but also for shopping etc when all I need is my phone, as I’ve got my payment card on the phone. I’m having M Hulot envy now though, that bag looks divine. Maybe a whole wardrobe of mini bags is required. (I did hear a programme on Radio 4 which suggested that that carrying credit cards with phones is apparently not a good idea, something to do with identity theft).
Love them. I have one by Scottish maker Iseabal Hendry. She’s a magician with woven leather.
Tricia says:
I found a perfect mini bag fit for my phone but couldn’t get my glasses in too and therefore couldn’t read the menu.
At least similarly aged friends could lend me a pair of reading glasses. Don’t go too mini.Nicola says:
I think it might work if I was double bagging. Nowadays I have to carry, at a minimum, phone, credit card, keys, glasses, sun glasses and migraine meds. And a spare bag for impulse purchases.
Mrs Tonia says:
Much as I like the idea of smaller bags l need to carry too much on a daily basis. As Nicola describes. The glasses, sunglasses. Mirror, comb, lipstick and purse. So I stick with a cross bag design. I’ve got several nice looking coloured leather smaller bags but when I use these I end up having to do double bagging in a tote of some description to accommodate the rest of my stuff.
Goddessinthedetails says:
I have a furry bag from Lululemon which is a big bigger – takes phone, small wallet/purse, AirPods, keys, lipstick. I’ve been using it all summer – just the perfect size – and the expensive Mulberry is in a dust bag (the guilt!)
Helen says:
The expression “KonMari the crap out of my paraphernalia” made me laugh out loud! Maybe I’ll do it one day, but for the moment I’m with Nicola on this one. I’d even add an umbrella “just in case”, so it’s either big bagging or double bagging now. Maybe we should call it “old bagging”: I never needed to carry glasses or half so much other stuff when I was younger.
AMC says:
I’m a big fan of Mywalit’s Zip Round Multi Purse with Shoulder Strap, which is soft leather, not much bigger than a smartphone (11x18cm), with a phone pocket at the front, internal slots for 16 cards, a tiny coin purse and other places to tuck notes and receipts – and its own little ballpoint pen. It comes in interesting colour combinations, too. Not many UK stockists, though. And it won’t take keys. I don’t take it off in the office, but I admit I do usually have another bag of some kind.
Jax says:
Where is that beautiful dress with the nice seersucker fabric from?
I’ve whittled all my stuff down over the years and so far the smallest I can get is a belt bag, where I can carry a very small card wallet (couldn’t even deal with my usual French wallet), tiny thin pouch for lip balm, lip stain, hand salve, hair ribbons, wired earbuds wrapped up in a cord taco, and sunglasses.
I’ve been tempted by the mini phone bag for quick outings sans jacket pockets (or on warm no-jacket days) or outings at night to bars and concerts. I prefer a horizontal style vs the vertical style (don’t like it as much for my short self).Hi Jax, It’s the Vilma dress from Lauren Ralph Lauren (loaned for a previous collaboration but still available).
Johanna says:
I use my leather phone pouch from seasalt mainly for carrying my phone around at home, as so many women’s clothes (and pyjamas) still don’t have pockets and I am forever losing my phone at home otherwise! I also tried one from toast, but ultimately preferred the seasalt one. Lovely soft leather.
Joanna says:
OMG! Genius! I always struggle trying to listen to podcasts while doing house chores. Yes! A housebag is something I definitely need.
Liz says:
Back in the day, we called them Disco Bags. You could wear it on the dance floor to keep your belongings close by.
That’s another reason I like the not-so-flappy belt bags (whether worn cross-body or around the waist) — great for moving around on the dance floor! And when I go to the bathroom, I don’t have to move it so it doesn’t touch the toilet.
Lee Ann says:
Love a small bag! But alas … just when I have winnowed down my essentials and am ready to walk out the door, my wife says: “Do you have room for my reading glasses?” “Can you keep up with my eye drops?” “Darn, where should we put the key?” And at that point, I graduate to the larger bag again. Oh, well!
Leave a Reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
The M Hilot bag is so beautiful looks great quality leather… and the perfect tan colour. But being so Mina Mina list with a bag is v hard unless just popping out for a coffee !