Welcome to the 475th Metamorphosis Monday!
Do you use an organizer in your handbag? I just became aware of bag organizers a couple of years ago and love them! Bag organizers are often designed for larger totes to help make better use of the large space those bags afford, as well as to keep things better organized.
After surviving my “near-death experience” in Germany, as I jokingly and not-so-affectionately have come to call it, (Ha!) I celebrated cheating death with a trip to Hermes where I inquired about their Evelyne bag, a bag I had been thinking about getting for a while.
They had one that sunny January day, but unfortunately, it was already promised to another customer. The next day, which was the day before my birthday, after hopping on the interstate to head north to visit family I received a call that another Evelyne had just come in that morning in the color I had wanted. Since I had just gotten on the interstate only a couple of exits back, I made a U-turn at the next exit and headed toward Atlanta to pick up the bag.
The Evelyne bag, like all Hermes bags, has some interesting history behind it. When you’ve been making leather goods since 1837, pretty much everything you make is going to hark back to another time and another purpose.
The Evelyne bag was originally designed (per THIS article) by Evelyne Bertrand, the head of the Hermes Riding Department. She designed it as a leather carry-all so grooms could easily carry the brushes, sponges and tools that they needed for their horses. The perforated H-shape design inside the horseshoe oval on the side of the bag was to allow air-flow into the bag to dry the tools.
That heritage makes me think of the iconic Barbour jacket with its airholes in the pockets, designed that way originally for King George after he kept cutting small holes in the bottom of his Barbour coat pockets, to help keep the shells he kept there dry while hunting on rainy days. (Read more about that coat here: A Forever Coat.)
After using the Evelyne for a few days, I started wondering if anyone made an organizer for it. The Evelyne has one exterior pocket that’s great for carrying a phone or for stashing away keys when running into a store, but it doesn’t have any interior pockets. Though not a huge bag, I love using organizers because they offer some protection to the interior of a bag, enable you to put your hands on something you need quickly and sometimes offer additional support/structure for bags made of softer leather.
Since the Evelyne is a fairly narrow bag, I didn’t think anyone would be making an organizer/insert for it. I was surprised to discover a couple of organizers available online. The first one I found was a brand I had heard mentioned a good bit by several fashion YouTubers, but they were out of the color I needed (Taupe) and wasn’t sure when they would have it back in stock.
The second one I found online (pictured below) was actually designed and made by an Etsy seller and was more reasonably priced. It has two pockets on the exterior on either side.
And my favorite feature: it has a zipper pocket. I really liked the zipper pocket thinking it would be a great place to store all those little things I normally stash away inside a little cosmetic/accessory bag inside my handbag. The bag works pretty well but I noticed a few issues that aren’t working as well as I had hoped. If I put things in the outside pockets, like the folding brush and perfume atomizer shown below, it makes the bag bulge a bit on the sides changing the silhouette/shape of the bag.
This organizer also has two long, large pockets on the inside, but those don’t work that well for smaller items since they aren’t as secure as they would be in a smaller pocket. Items placed in those pockets tend to bulk out into the interior of the bag, using the available space there that’s needed for a wallet and other items.
I was kinda wishing the pockets were designed in the reverse with the long/larger pocket on the outside of the organizer for stashing away an iPad or Kindle and the two smaller pockets on the inside for holding smaller items like a folding brush, atomizer, small card case, etc…
The other thing that didn’t work quite as well as I had hoped was the feature I had most looked forward to using: the zipper section. When I fill the zipper section with all the goodies I normally carry in a little cosmetic/toiletry bag (lipstick, band-aids, hair tie, small pill box, etc…) that pocket bulges out into the bag making the center interior a bit crowded and not as usable as I had hoped.
Last night I emptied out the zipper pocket and went back to using a small cosmetic bag placed in the center of the bag. That’s also where I placed my glasses case.
I took my driver’s license/credit card, etc… out of my wallet and placed those in a thin card holder that I stashed away in one of the smaller pockets on the outside of the organizer. I placed my insurance card and a couple of loyalty cards I carry in another card holder and stashed those away in another one of the smaller pockets on the outside of the organizer. The remaining outside pockets still hold my perfume atomizer and brush. This seems to be working much better.
This is still a great insert for a narrow bag, and I would definitely recommend it, but for my purpose, I think I may need a slightly different design. If you have an Evelyne bag or another narrow bag, you’ll find this organizer available in a lot of different colors for a very reasonable price here: Organizer.
The Other Organizer
Out of curiosity, I checked back to see if the other organizer I had found online was back in stock in the color I needed (Taupe) and it was! It’s made of French linen and is more expensive, but I think the design will work better for my needs. It’s a bit more structured and has no pockets on the exterior, but it has four small pockets on the interior.
I ordered this organizer a few days ago from the MaiTai Collection. It won’t ship out until mid-March, but I’m looking forward to trying it in this bag. I’m hoping the four smaller pockets on the inside will work for my two thin card cases, lipstick and folding hairbrush.
Update: The MaiTai organizer did not work well over the long run for my bag. The sides were not stiff enough so it collapsed inward AND the pockets were so small, they were almost useless. Very disappointing!
I ended up ordering another organizer that I’ve been using for many months and love! It has worked out great! See the organizer that finally worked for my Evelyn bag in this post: Organizer for Hermes Evelyne 29 Bag.
Looking forward to all the wonderful Before and Afters for this week’s Metamorphosis Monday!
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Metamorphosis Monday
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It’s such a treat to be able to find things in your purse! Your new bag is so attractive Susan, and thank you for the fun today~
Thanks, Jenna! Have an fabulous week!
Susan, you have had several very interesting posts recently that I have read, but didn’t have time to comment on. This is another one that is really timely for me. I purchased a new leather purse this past weekend near Shipshewana, Indiana. It was completely handcrafted from cutting to completion. It is a beautiful shoulder handbag made by an Amish man and his wife. He has a business called Silver Star Leather. My bag is a beautiful burgandy color on the outside and is lined with cream colored leather. It has two pockets inside and a zipper compartment. On the outside there is a pocket and also a zipper pocket. I love it, but I need a little more organization for the inside. Thank you for the information, I will be checking it out!
Thanks, Ann! Your bag sounds beautiful, love that color combination! The Amish are known for making the very best quality goods, so I know that your bag is designed to last a lifetime.
Ann, in addition to the two sources I mentioned in this post, check on Amazon, as well. That’s where I purchased a large organizer for my large totes, but they have them for handbags, too. Also, a lot of folks say good things about Samorga Bag Organizers. As I think of more brands that I’ve heard about, I’ll update this comment with those names. There are a lot of companies out there now that are making handbag organizers.
I am a big fan of an organized purse! What a neat way to accomplish that…
Thanks, Kim! XX
I would imagine the Etsy seller could customize the insert for you if the second one you just ordered doesn’t work out. My cousin used to make handbags to sell on Etsy and took custom orders, and customers were pleased even more when they could ask for different items.
I think she probably could. If this one doesn’t work out, I may need to order another one from her, but I think this one should they’ve been selling them a long time and they tend to sell out. Thanks, Debby!
Nice bag & liner, Susan. Well deserved after a near-death experience. I like the way you think. 😉
lol Nothing like a “near-death experience” to make you seize life by the horns and fulfill a few items on your wish list. 😉 I knew you would understand my fellow bag lover!
For my narrower bags, I store things vertically in the organizer. In other words, I just turn the makeup bag the other way, but I tell you what also works well, and that is those vintage kiss-lock cigarette pouch things. (They look like old-school coin purses, but are longer)
My grandmother had several; I just couldn’t bear to throw them away, and they come in so handy for a narrow bag.
Ohh, I need to look that up to see how those look…I think I know what you’re talking about. I think they used to make glasses cases like that, too.
Yes! A lot of them do not have a flat bottom, and depending on what you use it for that may be an issue, but I have found them to be very useful.
Even though I’m not a designer handbag aficionado (well, probably could be if my budget allowed it – this bag is a piece of art), I read your post avidly and even clicked on the links. Because you have such an engaging style of writing, I enjoy everything you write about even if it’s not a topic I can really relate to. I think it’s that your warm personality (and humor) and lack of pretense shine through.
Thanks so much, Patty, appreciate those kind words so much! I was amazed at every little detail on this bag. I agree, they really are works of art.
I have tried the one that you recommended a while back and returned it because it felt too cumbersome. I have been using handbag organizers from InBag, which I can get from The Container Store. Been using them for years. Reasonably priced, easy to keep clean and works with just about any bag I own. Couldn’t do without it. Right now it comes in two patterns. I have a leopard one that I love. It nestles down in my handbag so that it is undetectable. I keep so much in it and I love that I can just pick it up and put it into any bag I own and be out the door.
Was that the large one I used for my totes? Thanks, Barbara…I will check those out and see if they make them for narrow bags, too. That is one of the neat things about inserts, how you can swap them between bags if the bags are the same size. Love that!
Thanks so much for the party each week!!
Hugs,
Debbie
I love your new bag! Thanks for hosting! Have a great week ahead. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse
Thanks, Kathyrn! Hope your week is a great one!
Purse organizers are the best! Eliminates the frustration when you are pawing through your purse looking for that one item, lol. Happy for you on your new purchase.
Thanks, Cyndi! You’re so right and that always seems to happen at the most inconvenient times.
So happy that you got that amazing bag!!!
Thanks, Shirley! Hope you are doing great!
Nice organizer! I need one!
Thanks for hosting.
Katherine
Thanks, Katherine! Have a great week!
I had to leave a comment- I’ve been reading your blog for a few years, got started because I was smitten with your changing porch tablescapes but I’ve come to appreciate you and your tips on things that I didn’t know I needed but of course I do. fantastic Travel tips , picking out a great xmas tree, the hair roller ninja, and now purse organizers. Who knew? So this is how you change purses fast and keep things in the black recesses of your handbag organized. Welcome to the family cause I’m adopting you and your genius as my sister. 🙂 Keep it coming because clearly I’m in need.
Aww, thanks so much Kay! I love sharing “the good stuff” when I find it! That hair roller ninja has changed my life! 🙂
See through plastic pencil cases are fantastic organisers for handbags. There’s also a French brand called Tintamar make wonderful organisers – one of the best things I ever bought on a flight. They also make toiletry bags and handbags for travel.
Wow, an Hermes bag–don’t know if I could ever spend that much on a handbag, but for sure, it’s work of art. :0)
My hubby bought me two Louis Vuitton handbags as well as a Gucci bag. They cost thousands of dollars each, I never would have spent that much myself. What I noticed bout these genuine designer bags: they had no internal organization other than teeny side pockets. They are just giant black holes that I pour all my junk into, and my junk just rattles around in a mess at the bottom of the black holes.
I have to say, as much as I love my genuine designer bags, I rarely carry them because they aren’t well organized. I need to find organizers (like you did) to put inside them.
I’m a huge fan of Brahmin handbags, specifically the Elisa Hobos. The workmanship and leathers are perfection AND these handbags are really well organized inside. They cost between $400 and $500, that’s a price range I’m more comfortable with.
Thanks for sharing, Susan! :0)
Yup, that’s what I carried for many years. I have 4 Brahmin handbags now and just gave away another one. They have an Atlanta store in Lenox Square and an SA there emails me whenever they are having a sale. Their sales are awesome! Elena, if you live anywhere near Atlanta, you may want to contact them and ask that they let you know when they have their next sale. They may even take a credit card over the phone and ship…not sure.
Just a suggestion for a temporary fix until your new organizer comes in. Would it be possible to turn the Etsy find inside out putting the larger pockets on the outside & the smaller pockets inside? It looks like the organizer is well finished. Hope this helps. Love reading all your adventures!
Oh my gosh, Dayna…that actually worked! It’s a little lumpy/mishappen in some places, probably because of how it was turned the other way, but it does work. How in the world did you think of that! I don’t think I would have thought to try that…so clever! I’m going to leave it that way until my other one gets here. You’re right, it is very well made. You can tell she is an excellent seamstress…it’s very professionally made.
Hi love your collection! The organizer fits the Evelyne 29 so well. Would you share the dimension of the bag insert as I have the same Evelyne bag. Thanks.
Sure, I just measured mine and it’s around 10 inches long, 7-1/4 tall and around 3 inches wide. It fits really well inside my Evelyne 29. Hope that helps, Sandra! Happy New Year to you!