I have been insisting that my Goyard St. Louis tote (the smaller one — P.M. size) will continue to work as a diaper bag for two children, and it’s laughable. I constantly have things laying precariously across its (overstuffed) top. A wubbanub is almost always dangling out. It’s hard to get my wallet and keys in and out because everything is packed in like sardines. I want so badly to travel light around the city, but I’m finding it increasingly difficult when one child is still toilet-training (and therefore backup clothes and wipes are essential — and we’ve also been toting this with us everywhere we go) and the other is so young that I actually need things like a burp cloth, a spare bottle or two, formula, diapers. Add to this the fact that mini has grown increasingly daring and I’ve had a regular need for things like neosporin and bandaids — plus ample snacks to soothe and quiet and preoccupy when need be. And always, in these summer months, a swimsuit (currently wearing these on repeat) for a last-minute trip to the splash pad. Blarg!
I spent a lot of time researching a possible alternate. I knew I didn’t want the larger Goyard because I already feel guilty seeing how much damage my smaller size has endured. It’s borderline sinful to plop it down on the sandy playground floor, or the dirty subway bench, but I do it regularly — and its handles are seriously showing wear and distress. I don’t know that the Goyard is meant to accommodate the kind of intensive wear and tear to which I subject it as a diaper bag.
So, I wanted something a little less precious.
On days where I will have the stroller as a home base, I have been loving my Pamela Munson plaid tote. It’s delightfully roomy and DEEP, goes with just about every item in my summer wardrobe, and coated in an easy-to-wipe-clean material that is borderline water resistant. (I also appreciate its under-$150 price tag.) I like to hook it right on the back of the stroller and it keeps everything easy-to-access. (I still keep mini and micro’s items separate in monogrammed wet/dry bags, and it makes it very easy to access what I need to access.) But. The tote is NOT convenient if you will be parking your stroller anywhere, as the handles are too short to fit over your arm and you will have to carry it on your wrists — trust me, not what you want when you are also carrying an infant and wrangling a toddler.
I also already own and love the M.Z. Wallace Metro Backpack in black, but there are times where a backpack is non-optimal, as I often carry micro in his beloved Baby Bjorn Mini, and it would be too much to wear him in the front with a backpack on the back. I’d rather have a tote I can hang on a stroller hook or tuck into the stroller basket.
So, I have been on the hunt for a roomier bag that costs less than a Goyard and won’t show wear-and-tear too readily. I have been thinking seriously about:
+A hand-painted Corroon (“Big Daddy” size, seen above!) — though I worry about whether the color/fabric options will show wear and tear too easily?;
+A Parker Thatch “Big Easy” (the “Lil Easy” looks just a touch too small, but is the Big Easy overkill? It looks cavernous — I don’t want to look like I’m traveling when I’m just park-bound);
+A L’Uniform tool bag (though this is pretty pricey and I worry I’d be entering the same too-precious-for-heavy-duty-use territory I’m already in with the Goyard);
+The MZ Wallace Metro tote. I love the lightweight, easy-to-wipe-clean material that the backpack is made of, and just the other day, I saw a crazy chic woman wearing Chanel flats, black pixie pants, and a black blouse toting one in gold at the nearby Maison Kayser and she looked incredible. I can’t decide whether I’d want the medium or large, as it’s hard to get a sense for proportion from the website…
+Prada Large Logo Tote. This has all of the virtues of the Pam Munson tote (similar in size and shape, and I like the short handles for hooking onto stroller hooks) — but it also has that lovely shoulder strap! My concern is that I’m drawn to the white, AKA the least responsible colorway to buy as a mom.
Votes? Other late-in-the-game entrants?
Post Scripts.
+Stocked up on a bunch of essentials thanks to the current Sephora promotion (20% off with code SUMMERSAVE if you are VIBRouge; 15% off if you are VIB!) Because I have been growing my hair out this summer (it’s longer than it’s been in years!), I am currently obsessed with this detangling, protective mist, which I just repurchased. I have less time for a full-on blow-out with all the products, so my minimalist routine consists of shampooing and conditioning with the Ouai Smooth duo (love love love these products, scents and all), spraying all over with Prep Rally, combing it out, letting it air-dry for an hour or two (I have so, so, so much hair — it is fine, but there is a lot of it, so it takes hours and hours to fully dry), and then blowdrying it at the very end. This routine makes sense for my currently frenzied lifestyle since I can break up the showering and blowdrying process into chunks and squeeze them in whenever I have time over the course of a few hours. I also, of course, stocked up on my beloved facial cleanser.
+Very intrigued by this chic high chair. I have no complaints with mini’s, whose main virtue is how easy it is to keep clean), but I far prefer the styling of the Lalo…
+Love this ethereal dress for a bride-to-be.
+These have saved my life more than once. I’m in the throes of dealing with spit-up, pee, poop, yogurt, boogers, all day every day. These are helpful not only for their intended purpose, but for housing soiled items.
+How effortlessly-chic is this flattering dress?!
+OMG — these personalized stickers for your child’s school gear! Mini would love these; she enjoys watching baseball with her father.
+A cute sweatshirt for mini — debating between the heather color and the navy (the gingham trim!)
+These shades are super fun.
+Love the print and cut of this transition-to-fall dress.
+Mamas-to-be: check out the new Hatch x J. Crew collection! I would have ordered this in a flash.
P.S. All of my favorite baby gear and a couple of new discoveries that I have loved with micro.
P.P.S. I am heading to D.C. this weekend with children and the dog and I will admit I am not particularly excited about the five-hour car rides, but — had to revisit this post after my trip to the Hamptons to remind myself of the small joys that come in any trip with little children.
P.P.P.S. Chic Amazon finds for littles ones.