The Professor's Homework: Bags!

My very late homework for the Professor at

::The Dancing Maenad's::

latest 'bags' assignment. As far as my accessories go, my collection of hand-bags is the most diverse collection of my accessories. Here are a few of my favourites!

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Yes, I am writing a post about my belongings and style, but The Dancing Maenad's homework assignment this month sounded fun. I've got quite a few bags to showcase here, and these are just the ones I brought with me to Scotland; I have more at my father's place back in England, it's just I have limited storage space. This collection hasn't cost me much at all, considering, because I've either bought things very cheaply in thrift shops or been given them. I don't think I could ever buy a handbag for hundreds of pounds in some designer shop! 

♕ Gothic Lolita/Goth Bags

My most 'Goth' bag would be my coffin backpack/handbag, but I left it at my Dad's house the last time I visited, so at the moment I don't really have a very Goth bag at all. 

The claws are reflective white plastic and the embroidery very shiny.

Firstly, my most used handbag. Proof that I have a silly side! Yep, it's in the shape of a kitty, and far, far less romantic and more 'kawaii' than any other accessory I own. While made by Living Dead Souls, I don't think it really counts as Goth, Gothic Lolita at best. This is going to make me sound like a very sad 'elf and safety' person, but a major selling point for me was that the claws, paws, and other white designs are actually quite reflective, which makes me far for visible than an all-black figure, especially as with the second strap I can wear it as a backpack. My Dad bought it for me as a Christmas present a few years back after I'd been eyeing it up for ages. As it is light rather late here in summer, currently I have been using it as a shoulder bag, but in winter the second strap will be put back, and I will take advantage of its reflective properties when commuting in the early dark. 

A hard heart in indeed!

Secondly my favourite bag; I actually rarely have occasion to wear this bag, and it is the one bag I bought for myself, on sale in Peacocks. I liked the lace over silver, and feel it goes best with my silver and black striped corset and a lace shirt I have that happens to come in matching lace. This is definitely an evening bag, more a purse, and doesn't hold much stuff at all.The heart is three dimensional and rigid. The heart shape and lace and 'jewel' clasp definitely lend this bag a Gothic Lolita feel, despite the fact I've never worn it with a Gothic Lolita inspired outfit! 

Bat! Courtesy of my local Co-Operative

Thirdly, my 'bat' bag. This was a plain silver satchel handbag I got in a charity shop. The bat was a window decal in my local Co-Operative last Halloween. When they were taking all the decorations down afterwards, I asked to keep the bat window-cling, with the intention of sticking it on my laptop, but the brushed aluminium (yep, I have an Apple MacBook pro) isn't conducive to it adhering.  As such, I stuck it on my handbag. I like the metallic finish plastic on this bag, and it tends to be my handbag when I'm going out clubbing to events which lean towards cybergoth. The purple on the bat goes quite well with my braided wig and the UV reactive rubber spikes on my favourite cybergoth choker. 

Some days I can't take a photograph, even if it were to save my life. 

Fourthly, my satchel. This was my college bag, and fitted most of my papers (even in a ring-binder) and my laptop too, alongside compartments at the front for things like pens, cards (inc. my student ID; how I miss the discounts that brought me) my wallet, etc. It has three roomy sections each over A4, and was really useful. I still use it as a laptop bag, but it's out of action until I repair the D-rings to which the straps connect, as they have pulled through the wooden dowel that reinforces the top of the bag. I'm not risking my laptop in a bag where the shoulder strap might suddenly disconnect! My Dad also gave me this bag, long, long ago, when I was more Neo-Victorian/Steampunk than goth, hence the brass findings. I love how old-fashioned it is for something purposely designed as a laptop bag. 

Lastly, as mentioned, the coffin bag that I left at my Dad's house last time I visited. It came with a tacky plastic cross on it, which I was going to replace with something far nicer (probably including fabric roses and lace) and has chains for straps. It is a huge cliché, but I love it anyway. As it as at my Dad's house, I haven't had chance to photograph it. 

♕ Other Bags
I've got quite a few bags that probably don't really come under the aesthetic umbrella of this blog - a few from my pre-Goth days in more colourful fashions, and a few in Chinese brocade which I have out of a love for the fabric and Chinese textiles in a more general sense. There is also the consideration that showcasing another 10 or more bags  would be a bit vain and a bit too much in one post.