Discover The Unexpected Things Women Carry
Discover the unexpected things women carry daily — and how Honey & Toast handbags are designed to handle your everyday essentials with style.
When it comes to handbags, most of us assume we know exactly what we carry every day. Purse, phone, keys — job done, right? But peek inside almost any woman’s bag and you’ll discover a fascinating mix of everyday essentials and surprising extras that make life tick.
At Honey & Toast, we’ve always been a little obsessed with what people actually carry, because it shapes how we design our handbags. Every pocket, strap, and compartment is there to make space for not only the obvious necessities but also those “just in case” treasures that we can’t help but tuck inside.
So, let’s spill the (handbag) contents. Bet you didn’t know this about everyday essentials…
The Non-Negotiables: What Everyone Carries
There are some things no handbag is complete without. These are the big three:
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📱 Phone – Your connection to the world.
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🔑 Keys – House, car, office. Always at the bottom, always impossible to find without rummaging. (unless you use the inside pocket!)
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👛 Purse or wallet – Even in a digital-first world, most of us keep some coins with their cards, and maybe some receipts or dry cleaning tickets floating around.
Design-wise, we keep these in mind by making sure every Honey and Toast bag has quick-access spaces, so you’re not left fumbling at the door or checkout.
The Surprising Essentials We Don’t Always Think About
Here’s where things get interesting. Everyday essentials aren’t always about survival — they’re about comfort, preparedness, and a dash of your personality.
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🛍️ Reusable Shopping Bag – With eco-friendly habits becoming second nature, a foldable tote is almost always tucked away “just in case.”
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🍎 Snacks – Whether it’s raisins for the kids, a cereal bar for commuting, or mints before a meeting, most handbags double as mini snack cupboards. Tin of G&T anyone?
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💄 Lip Balm (or Entire Makeup Bag) – Quick fixes for when you’re on the go. One survey suggested lip balm is more common than pens in modern handbags.
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🎀 Hair Ties, Clips, or Grips – Tiny but lifesaving, especially when the wind picks up.
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🩹 Plasters or Safety Pins – Quiet proof that we’re all secretly prepared for emergencies, just like when we were a Brownie.
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📝 Notebook and Pen – Even in the smartphone age, there’s something about jotting ideas down on paper.
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🎧 Tech – Earphones need to be stashed and kept safe. Chargers, kindles and tablets for reading on the go.
These aren’t just quirks. They’re proof that handbags are more than accessories — they’re lifelines of practicality.
How Honey & Toast Bags Handle It All
When I design and develop new bags for the collection, I don’t just think about what looks good (though yes that is important!). We think about how the bag will perform in real life - in your real life.
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The Katie Bag – Our best-selling “Tardis” bag, known for holding far more than you’d expect. Perfect if you’re someone who likes to be ready for anything, without being weighed down.
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Crossbody Styles – Designed to distribute weight comfortably over your shoulder, even when you’re carrying more than you realised.
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Lightweight Leather – We carefully select soft leathers so your essentials don’t feel like a burden. H&T bags are dreamily light when empty. The Frances bag weighs 350g (that's the same as a banana!)
Fun Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About What We Carry
Here’s where the “bet you didn’t know” comes into play:
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The average handbag weighs around 2-3kg — that’s like carrying a small cat around every day. I mean that is hefty!
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Most people only use 20% of what they carry daily — the rest is “just in case.”
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A woman’s handbag often travels over 5,000 miles in its lifetime (commutes, travels, school runs).
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A well-made leather handbag can last decades — and actually improve with age.
When you choose a handbag that’s carefully designed, you’re not just carrying your essentials; you’re investing in a companion that keeps up with your life and adventures.
Why Everyday Essentials Matter for Handbag Design
At Honey & Toast, I like to think of the bags in the collection as being a step ahead of you. They anticipate the what ifs. They’re not just there for your phone and purse; they’re there for the snack you forgot you packed, the umbrella you tucked in last week, and the receipt you’ll need two months from now.
What’s in Your Bag?
Here’s the fun part: no two handbags are ever the same. I love seeing the unusual, quirky, or simply funny things our customers just have to carry. I know that a regular half moon bag will fit a tennis ball and pair of socks for instance..! From paintbrushes to lego men, every handbag tells its own story. Your story!
I always carry headache pills (in a Jester card holder), hair band and lip balm. And if I am out with my children there will be a snack to bribe someone with for sure.
Tell me — what’s your most surprising everyday essential or thing in your bag? Please share it with me on email - info@honeyandtoast.co.uk
Final Thought
Everyones handbag is so much more than just an accessory. It’s a reflection of your everyday life — the things you can’t leave home without and the hidden extras that make you, you.
At Honey & Toast, I am designing leather handbags that don’t just look beautiful but handle life’s surprises with ease. From lightweight crossbody bags to roomy totes, each one is crafted in Frome, Somerset with the idea that everyday essentials deserve a home that’s both stylish and practical.
Because let’s be honest: your handbag isn’t just holding your stuff. It’s holding your life.
