Ah the joys of ‘almost spring.’ While it’s a bit early to switch in our spring décor or shop for a new season, it is the perfect time for organization. (No wonder The Container Store runs its annual organization sale through February!) If you’re on a bit of a tidying tear, how about giving some love to your purse? Like our closets, an organized bag is the difference between having what you need and fumbling fruitlessly for a pen / pack of tissues / notepad. Finding items with ease or loosing things – typically our keys – in some deep dark recess. Read on for our bag bootcamp - six steps help us contain beautifully, curate impeccably and always be able to find what we want.

1. See things clearly

There’s a reason the TSA requires us to use quart-sized Ziploc® bags. They make our liquids, creams and gels easy to see – and judge! You can apply those same virtues of visibility to your purse. Companies like Truffle and Paravel have given the Ziploc an upgrade. Their clutches and cases are made of polyurethane trimmed with leather, cotton canvas or nylon – making them easy to see inside and easy-on-the-eye outside. I discovered Truffle’s Clarity Clutch Small as a TSA-compliant kit for travel, but now use one as a makeup bag too. You can see instantly where your hand cream is hiding and locate lip balm in a flash. Essential when living in the frozen tundra of the north!

2. Get kitted out

We never know what life will bring. But we can be as prepared as possible for what it might bring with a kit. What’s in your kit will be personal to you, but I like to have one for electronics (AirPods, mobile phone charger, back-up earphones and an extra charge), one for wee emergencies (Band-Aids, emery boards, feminine hygiene products etc.), and one for the kids (tissues and wipes). If you have multiple kits, color-coding can help – your pink kit is for the electronics, the blue for the personal supplies and so on. Delfonics offers a lovely collection of pouch colors in their Quitterie collection or get more options from Dagne Dover.

3. Create a mobile office

Bag+bootcamp+laptop+case+pocket+EDITED+min.jpg

Many bags offer a laptop compartment, which is welcome, but doesn’t quite cover how you carry your machine – and your phone / wallet / notebook / pen / charger / coffee / water around – when you get to work. Enter the computer case – your extra pair of hands. Versions with pockets let you store whatever you need on-the-go and many companies are elevating this basic. Mochithings’ Hello 13in. Laptop Clutch comes with a front compartment that hold phones, pens, cables, pads, pens – oo, and lip balm! The Tech Carryall from Cuyana, Laptop Cruiser from ANDI and Envelope Sleeve from Senreve do the same – while looking boss doing it.

4. Note beautifully

graphic image refillable notebook (underneath)

Even with the advent of electronics, many of us still like to carry paper and pen. There’s something about capturing your ideas in physical form – plus, in company, it’s more polite to jot something down in a notebook than to whip out your computer or phone! So how about getting a pad that inspires? Refillable notebooks, like the leather ones from Graphic Image, let you buy one fancy cover (they cost about $130 on Amazon) and replace the inserts for $10 a time (I like the Rhodia ones as they’re lighter and light is so important in a purse). Other inspiring journal makers include Leatherology, Rustico and Blue Sky Papers.

5. Carry your own water fountain

bottles from avana, thermo tank and s'well

There are so many reasons to pop a refillable water bottle in your bag. One, none of us are camels – we’re going to need refreshment at some point. Two, buying plastic bottles just feels wrong if it can be avoided. And three, lots of companies are now making truly leak-proof bottles in a variety of sizes. For a wee purse, a 9 oz version from someone like S’well fits perfectly and cheers up your purse environment. Got more rucksack real estate? A 17 oz option has a bit more quenching power. Models from Thermo Tank, Modern Innovations and Avana can be tossed in your bag, turned on their heads and roll around merrily with nary a drop being spilled. Phew and ahh…!

6. Never lose your keys again

Where do keys go exactly? No matter how big the bunch, it seems they can always find some dark corner of our carry-alls to hide in. I’ve found two tricks that help. One is to have a key chain with a clip – so you can attach it somewhere sensible. The other is to use a big, bright pom pom, tassel or other light but large fob. There are so many options out there, but the tassel versions from the Little Market are made by refugee or other disadvantaged artisans. That means you can feel good about your keys and, finally, find them!

Hope these tips have been helpful. As always, do let us know your own organization insights. We’d love to hear your secrets!