Bibliotheca: Baggage

Here's my first theme post for Bibliotheca since my extended absence. 

I'm not too keen on the theme of baggage, really-- I like being playful and creative with my interpretations, and the allegorical meaning of baggage is far from cheery. I also don't vacation much: my trip to The Great Lace was the furthest from home I'd been in ages. But I'm no coward, so here's a post about what to carry. Since I don't travel much, I'll focus on everyday items. 

 I'm of the infantile, ancient age such that I remember the initial deluge of "What's in my bag" videos and graphics. From what I can tell, Amoeba Music's Youtube Channel popularized the phrase for YouTube specifically.It was a ubiquitous trend, especially in fashion spaces, as literal a look into another person's internal workings as you can get without firing up the scalpels. Creators still make entries into this genre, such as lolita video team Wonder Tea Party's video.  There's also places like the EDC subreddit, where Redditors (derogatory) can spill their pockets' contents to their heart's content. Apparently, Reddit is the place for people who can't imagine a day without a folding knife. The social media versions of everyday baggage can be so elaborate as to make apocalypse preppers weep with envy. 

Considering the fact that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic prevented people from leaving their homes, it's perfectly natural that social media trends focused on preparing for the outside world temporarily fell by the wayside. I still think that it's worth considering what to have with you on the daily. It just might not be worth social media monetization. Still, I've got some recommendations ready. 

Containers

People who wear dresses and skirts pine for pockets. In this, one of the great clichés of contemporary fashion, (English-speaking) lolitas are no different. Yet many lolita brands have either tiny, near-useless applique pockets or no pockets at all. Lolitas are lucky to have a single side seam pocket, as with many Angelic Pretty releases.  Con of Atelier Pierrot explained this tendency in Japanese brands at The Great Lace-- the greatest motivator for Japanese buyers is consistency, so they tend not to want changes in the designs. Furthermore, most Japanese lolitas already carry at least one bag, so pockets aren't as essential as they might be to the purseless. 

How you carry what you need is linked to where you're going and how you're getting there. In Japan, where mass transit is the default, people need to take what they'll need for the day onto the train. The United States is contrastingly car-dependent, so rather than a bulky purse or tote, a lightweight two ton vehicle carries the majority of the daily necessities. I don't like cars much. 

The main lolita baggage options, from least approximate capacity to greatest, are as follows:

• Decorative pockets
• Stuffed animal pochettes
• Functional pockets 
• Crossbody purses
• Stuffed animal rucksacks
• Small handbags 
• Tote bags 
• Larger handbags and backpacks
• Actual luggage 

For those curious, stuffed animal pochettes really do have a smaller capacity than normal pockets. It also takes time and finesse to open them-- nobody wants to get stuck in line behind someone skinning a Kumya and rummaging in its guts for a credit card. That's why they're categorized as "useless" in the bag section of my wardrobe spreadsheet. 

Magical Pony Bag, AP (2012) can fit approximately jack shit

I personally use a crossbody purse or tote bag for my actual necessities in lolita, but I will occasionally accent my coordinate with my usakumya pochette. I often store my house key in my kumya, because I won't need it until I actually get home but I still want it somewhere secure. 

 Essentials

The WOWEE method is always a safe bet for remembering essentials to bring with you. Wallet (or other payment/ID carrier), phone, wkeys, egg, and egg (backup) are a time-tested combination, though vegans may wish to substitute the egg with a plant-based alternative. 

WOWEE

Essentials for me also include medications and a glasses wipe. This is the bare-bones level of stuff that I wouldn't leave my apartment without, in or out of lolita. For longer days, I also bring a pen, some coins, a reusable tote bag, ear plugs, a spare mask, menstrual supplies, and a first aid kit. I was not allowed to join the Boy Scouts, but I'm damn fine at being prepared. 

There are also things that I bring with me that I really don't think anyone else needs to keep with them. These include a kazoo, the Communist Manifesto, several enamel pins, a combination carabiner/flashlight, a ginger tea packet, approximately 30 cough drops, a remote shutter for my phone camera, and emergency googly eyes. Sometimes I get into situations. 

I also bring a snack for outings of more than a few hours that aren't at a restaurant. Usually, this is a protein bar or some dried fruit, but during conventions, I've been known to smuggle red bean buns or other individually wrapped pastries. 

Most of the time, my essentials fit into a small crossbody. However, if I'm carrying something clunkier, like an umbrella or a water bottle, it's time to upgrade to something more substantial.  

Lolita stuff

When I'm going out in lolita, I add a few items that I normally would leave at home. For one thing, I rarely care enough about my everyday makeup to touch it up or take photos, but for lolita, I try to at least have the possibility of reapplying my mascara, eyeliner, blush, and lip products. 

 

There are also lolita-specific items that make life a little easier-- I often take off my rings, bracelets, and wristcuffs while driving or eating, so I like to have a small box, pouch, or designated pocket to keep them safe together. I only wear wigs in lolita, so I take some bobby pins with me when I wear them. For longer events, I might bring safety pins or even a small sewing kit. 

 

Most uniquely, carrying a bag enables me to bring parts of a coord that might otherwise be too clumsy, like parasols/umbrellas, stuffed animals, or even the bags themselves. Although my purse collection tends towards practicality over flair, I do try to work my purses into the coords.  

On Brand bags

When choosing bags for a coordinate, lolitas often have a variety of adorable novelty purses from our favorite brands to choose from. Unfortunately, these often suck. 

Brand novelty bags are typically made of synthetic leather, or as I prefer to call it, plastic. As cute as it might be to have a box of pancake mix or a bunny-shaped laundry detergent bottle to carry your WOWEE essentials, these purses are fragile. I've had brand bags that dent, tear, and peel at the slightest provocation, which is disappointing for any bag, but devastating when it's as pricey and rare as brand bags can be. The price tag for AP bags is no guarantor of quality, but can instead be an omen of despair and irreparable flaking. Apart from its fragility, plastic is bad for the environment, regardless of whether it cost $10 or $300. 

Because I don't wear super-sweet lolita, my wardrobe is adequate without these adorable novelty bags, and I can keep my pining over them to a subdued level, I swear. Instead, I carry animal leather crossbody purses and cloth tote bags. Animal leather is itself controversial, but it's sturdy and available secondhand, so it's less wasteful than plastic. Cloth tote bags aren't controversial, but they're majorly underrated-- they're often available from brands to match specific clothing series, and are sometimes even made from the same printed fabric as the matching dresses. 

Packing it in

I don't travel enough to see the point in owning much luggage, especially not luggage that matches my coords. If anything, I'd rather not travel with a super expensive, recognizable suitcase-- I like to enjoy the things I own, and luggage spends more time getting thrown into cargo holds and tucked in the corners of hotel rooms than it does anywhere else. 

I'm heading back to Chicago for the Great Lace again next year, so I might have more insight in the future as to the particulars of traveling with lolita. Until then, I'm keeping it local and carrying only the baggage that helps. Everyone's needs are different, but I think it helps to know what quirks separate lolita necessities from universal ones. 

In closing, keep calm and carryon.