Humans are creatures of habit. We’re predisposed to find routines, create schedules and return to behaviors over and over again. Even fashion, which encourages newness and exploration, becomes somewhat rote over time. Most fashion people find a uniform for themselves as they spend more and more time thinking about style and what makes them feel like themselves, and at least for now, my uniform is pretty much set – a black (or black and white) maxi dress, silver sandals and my trusty Proenza Schouler PS1. That uniform will shift with the seasons, of course, but the spirit of the pieces that I’ll incorporate into it will be the same. Especially the bag.
When I look back, I realize that I’ve been honing this “uniform” of sorts for a long time. I’ve always been an ardent fan of black, even in the stifling Georgia summers of my first 25 years on the planet, and I have black sundresses (yes, sundresses) from college that I still wear regularly. My realization about silver shoes came more recently – I’ve bought three pairs of shoes this summer, and they’re all a similar metallic hue, despite the fact that one does not objectively need that many pairs of silver shoes. All of those habits are dwarfed by how specific I’ve become with my bags, though.
Again, this is a habit that I realized recently. Or, more accurately, it was pointed out to me recently by Bea, a new member of the PurseBlog team. I’ve had a Proenza Schouler PS1 for about a year and a half now, and I like carrying it so much that I now more or less only consider buying bags with similar structures. They have to be crossbodies, they have to have a couple easily accessible pockets and I prefer a top flap. My PS1 is paneled in a black-based blanket print textile, and I seriously consider a bag a lot more if it has a similarly dark pattern to it. I may not be buying an identical bag, and it might not be from the same designer, but it’s the same bag, for all intents and purposes.
I’d also buy another PS1, but only one with a print. I seriously considered doing as much a couple of weeks ago during the height of sale season, only to find that the object of my affections had a significantly shorter shoulder strap that my older PS1, meaning it couldn’t be worn cross-body. I’ve never lost interest in anything so quickly. I have a pattern, even if it took me a while (and a little bit of help) to recognize it in myself.
I’m betting that a lot of you guys have the same kinds of patterns – maybe all your favorite bags have similar shapes and details, or maybe you’ve literally bought a dozen Balenciaga Motorcycle Bags over the years. Either way, we want to hear about your habits in the comments.
If you’re like me, you can pick up this PS1 (which I’m obsessed with) for $2,100 via Neiman Marcus.
