Finally understand purses

[IwishIwasTracy]

So this may sound funny to some of you but this last weekend I went out for the first time in public wearing a dress. I don't pass and didn't even try. I was proud to be a man wearing a dress. Did some shopping and went to a Starbucks for coffee. But as I was standing in my house getting ready to leave I stood there holding my keys, wallet and phone and realized that I needed a purse. So grabbed one of my wife's purses, stuffed everything inside and out the door I went. Now I need to add a purse to my wardrobe.

Tracy

[Kitty S]

Purses rock! Why do men have to stuff everything into their pants pockets? In guy mode I have to wear a belt that will hold my holster and Leatherman, and knife, phone in my pocket keys opposite pocket. I don't usually carry a wallet as I have no need for one unless I"m driving or in town. So much easier to use a purse to hold everything, and they don't look as bad as a fanny pack!

[CynthiaD]

Oh yeah, purses rock. In male mode it’s: ok I need this, stick it in a pocket. Oh yeah, I need this too. Stick it in a pocket, and so forth for a dozen other things. But in female mode, everything is already in your purse, just grab it and go.

[docrobbysherry]

I have to carry a purse. That's where Sherry is most of time I'm out. Except on Halloween!:tongueout

[bridget thronton]

Purses are great - especially when traveling

[Debs]

i always leave the bloody thing in the toilet !!!!, always have to run back, but saying that, when I go out I always take cash only, I have a emergency phone , pay as you go with a ?5 credit on it, and all the people that are important to me have the number, so my total loss if everthing goes wrong is a ?5 phone and about ?50, and yes im always in the vicininity of my hotel room to get more money if required. OMG what a sensible drunk I am, lol

[CDMargret]

Luv purses. I have two favs. A black satin clutch and a small brown shoulder bag. Really think the brown one is so very cute. I do have a great respect for a woman's need for a great purse.

[VivianNewkirk]

Even before my feminine enlightenment I carried a bag of some sort - a "man purse" - for my tablet, big phone, small tools and other such necessary stuff. Those are all now much prettier, big cross-body purses in a variety of colors to match my outfits.

[Geena75]

When I first started venturing out I knew I would need a purse, so I bought a modest size bag which would go with almost anything. I later picked up a ladies' wallet to hold my cards and cash.

[Sometimes Steffi]

Oh yeah, purses rock. In male mode it’s: ok I need this, stick it in a pocket. Oh yeah, I need this too. Stick it in a pocket, and so forth for a dozen other things. But in female mode, everything is already in your purse, just grab it and go.

It's not so much sticking it in, it's finding it when you need it. And a purse doesn't help much there.

BTW, I have it on good authority that it's called a "hand bag" not a purse. I purse is used to refer to a "change purse". I got the same speech from both my adult daughter and my wife at different times. I got corrected when I referred to their "handbags" as "purses". However, neither one of them knows that I have numerous handbags of my own, typically black leather crossbody bags. I also have a few messenger bags that could almost pose as man bags.

[Philipa Jane]

My first handbag was little more than a purse as I had no real idea of what I would need. It held my wallet and phone, car keys and a few tissues.
At a visit to my endo it was remarked that the little bag was rather small when I was struggling to remove the phone. "You need a bigger bag".
So my next bag is a small suitcase (slight exaggeration) but it now hold the above items and some more essentials. A small perfume bottle, a mirror for the lippy, a glasses case, a collapsible fan, (for the hot flushes) notebook and pen and of course a hairbrush. There must be something that I missed.
There are pockets in some of the outfits but items will spoil the line
As a guy all I ever carried was a wallet, keys and a phone.

[Joanie CD]

My wife and I both love purses. She has given me a couple, and lent me a couple on times when I didn't have one that looked good with my outfit. We even have the same Sherpani bag, but in different colors. We went out for a drink the other night and ended up with our (nearly) matching bags. I really like having all my stuff in one place, and it's become second nature to grab it when I leave the car, check for it when leaving a restaurant or a rest room, and so forth. I keep it on the passenger seat when I'm driving by myself.

Also, having a purse had made me understand some things about GGs and purses. I always thought my wife was lazy not to close her purse when we were in the car. Now I realize that sometimes you're in and out of the purse for tissues, phone (only when stopped), keys, etc all the time, and it's just easier. That's one of the great things about crossdressing -- I really have a better understanding of some GG issues.

[alwayshave]

My wife must have 30-40 hand bags. However, they are large affairs. Mine are all fairly small. So, handbags have never been my thing.

[Meg]

It is nice to know that we all struggle with the little nuances of dressing. As I have not really ventured out as yet, I do not own one. My dressing has all been closeted. As the day gets closer that I do publicly present, I have come to the realization that I am going to need a handbag. I have been observing and taking mental notes of what women are carrying. There are a lot of cute options out there. I think I have come to like the crossbody style bag. I will be the first to say I am not a fashionista, I so admire those who are. Someday I hope to have a wardrobe that is worthy of being seen out of the house and when I do I will be happy to share what I have chosen to be my first handbag.

[April Rose]

I have half a dozen bags, ranging in size from a big expensive Coach leather tote that I got for free, to a cute little evening clutch. My go to bag is a baggalini that I can carry in M or F mode. it's just the right size and really convenient.

[Helen_Highwater]

Car keys, house keys, (Coin/card) purse, coin purse full of change for parking, sun glasses, reading glasses, pen(s), gloves, folding umbrella, lippy, nail file, super glue (in case false nail pops off), tissues, folding tote bag for any grocery shopping. No wonder I have handbags the size of the TARDIS.

Not only are they practical but can be part of a style statement as well.

[DianeT]

Purses rock! Why do men have to stuff everything into their pants pockets? In guy mode I have to wear a belt that will hold my holster and Leatherman, and knife, phone in my pocket keys opposite pocket. I don't usually carry a wallet as I have no need for one unless I"m driving or in town. So much easier to use a purse to hold everything, and they don't look as bad as a fanny pack!
Kitty I have to ask: why the leatherman and knife? It seems to me that in modern life a phone and a credit card (or a phone alone with a virtual credit card) would be the only thing you need most of the time. Myself I just carry a phone and a tissue or two. And if I have to carry more (e.g. car papers) I have a small cross bag. Men have purses too.

[Andrea Renea]

I own several bags. Most are crossbody style. Bought them at Ross, TJ Maxx, or Burlington.

No Coach or Michael Kors, but Nine West, Tommy Hilfiger, and Baggallini.

I love the 3 Baggallini bags the most.

I use a unisex sling bag i carry when traveling. Its very convenent for flying and carrying on cruise ships. I use it for me and in Andrea mode. My wife saw it and said I want one. Hers is more fem than mine.

[Jane G]

A purse is so much more feminine than the alternative. Combat trousers. :eek::heehee:

[daphne g]

About 35 years ago I got a bag sort of a half Rucksack made of leather ,obviously a ladies bag but I thought it was very practical for a man
There were quite a few envious ladies around me at the time and I also got looks from the guys,but it had all my important stuff inside like my phone which was the size of a brick this was the 80s don’t forget.and these days I also carry a purse or bag as a man and they’re getting more feminine but what the hell.i often wonder why the guys punish themselves by trying to carry their stuff on their person’s.i am seeing more men with men’s bags now tho,but I find men’s bags boring

[Susan_Michaela]

Purses rock big time . Without a purse I?d absolutely be lost. I have wallet change cash credit cards license and other important documents. Mirror, brush, lipstick, eyeliner, mascara and keys for what I?m driving a purse size perfume tissue pens checkbook notebook compact basically everything a woman or girl needs for any outing anywhere. I carry a purse that?s practical and functional. Don?t want or need something too big or too small it?s like the three bears just right. My favorite purses are Vera Wang or Coach but love classic styles too like Aigner. I?ve been really lucky too with finding bargains on purses too haven?t paid more than $35 for any of them some as low as $10. Over the years the one thing I?ve regretted getting rid of was my first little black dress . It was a Brooks Swead leather dress mid length with short sleeves and runched straps and open shoulders between the sleeves. Zipped up and fit like a glove. My first thing I bought that I still have is a sterling silver bracelet with 25 different charms hanging around it each having memories to me of events occasions that really met something special to me. Love all your girls stories of your things too btw.

[kayegirl]

I carry a handbag or crossbows shoulder bag, ajj of the time regardless of my presentation, and have done so for many years now.

[Sometimes Steffi]

it had all my important stuff inside like my phone which was the size of a brick this was the 80s don’t forget.

I got my wife a "bag phone" in the 90's and it was a handbag sized. The battery was a lead acid battery and was about the size of (half of a) brick all by itself.

[Traci H]

I have to admit I love purses. I have about 6 or so. Two I bought new from Amazon, a soft fake leather light brown and a smaller fake leather black. Both cross body. I then have a pink, white and some other black ones that all came from a thrift store. $7 or less.

Lately I have been using this black leather one that is not too feminine, but definitely a women?s purse. This while in guy mode. I finally just figured what the heck and use it in lots of stores. My only issue is not using it at home as my wife finds it disgusting. So I keep it in the car and load it up there.

I also have found myself constantly checking out women and their purses. What type, color, etc. Very interesting to take in and contemplate one that I may like.

Purses do rock! One of these days I?ll be rocking a floral one perhaps!! I have seen some very pretty ones that I would love!

[Marketa]

Two weeks ago it was 38 years I went successfully without a handbag/purse. Now I've got one small white, one mid sized white and one black and after using those twice each I definitely need one more in neutral/beige tone.

Also it amazes me even though there's no room in them anymore, you can still fit more things in them. It's a miracle of engineering. Or black magic.

So yeah. I understand them now too.

[Patience]

i have between six and ten handbags and purses.

Part of the uniform, as fem clothes' pockets are for the most part useless.

[Michaela Jane]

I used to carry a "man bag", it was a black canvas one and served the purpose of "pretending" that I had a cross body purse. Eventually, it stared wearing out and I bought a proper purse, a small one with a long, thin. strap. I felt great wearing it across my body and it made me thin out what I carried. So many unused gas station cards, so many unused store loyalty cards were all got rid of and I now had a light femme purse that looked good. Today, however, I was wearing a pair of femme denim jeans with no pockets, while out getting fuel and a few bits from the grocery store. I found out that this purse isn't big enough to hold my car key! On the spur of the moment, I put the key in my bra. Seemed like a good idea, and it worked. However, I still think I need a bigger purse. :D

[Claire M]

Welcome to life without pockets!

[Glenda58]

I have 8 purses to match my outfits and a few clutches for nighttime

[char GG]

This thread has become about what purses people have, not the OP's intent of "understanding purses".

Anyone else wanting to talk about what purses that they have, please start new thread in Clothing, Shopping & Beauty.