I am a firm believer that you can gather a lot about a person based on the contents of their everyday bag. Not every item has to be profound, but each one holds a story that says something about its owner.
That’s the reason that I’ve always religiously watched Vogue’s What’s in My Bag videos. Whether it be a tote, a backpack or a purse — or in the case of Bella Hadid, a YSL purse — there’s something oddly intimate about seeing the mix of essentials and keepsakes someone hauls around.
It’s not just about what they carry, but why they carry it — who gave it to them, what it reminds them of or why it feels essential. After years of watching other people unpack their bags, I figured it was only fair to open mine up and share the 20 things currently residing in mine.
- Wallet; the perfect essential for housing my keys and an Apple AirTag — especially because I am prone to losing my belongings. I have spent years searching for the perfect wallet, and this summer, I stumbled upon a compact, but still spacious wallet in my favorite color: red.
- A tiny pink embroidered pencil pouch; for storing my favorite writing implements. My dad used to always travel to China on business trips, and every time, he would bring back some sort of souvenir, including this pencil pouch. It’s the perfect size for a couple pencils, pens and highlighters for class.
- A portable phone charger; an absolute necessity for days when you’re on-the-go. For years, I somehow survived without one, until one of my friends accidentally left hers at my house. I started using it, not realizing it was hers, and soon started taking it with me everywhere I went, making my life infinitely easier. I am no longer worried about strategically rationing my phone or laptop battery. Even though the charger is (technically) stolen, it is one of my favorite things I carry with me.
- Trident gum; the number one must-have for those who love eating food that contains garlic and onion (like me!); so naturally, I have to have gum on hand at all times.
- My journal; for writing about my minor conveniences, making miscellaneous lists, drawing random doodles and occasionally, for jotting down actual thoughts worth keeping.
- My laptop; the non-negotiable. School work isn’t happening without it.
- A book; every semester, I vow to myself that I will read more, so I always keep a book on me — partly a desperate attempt to look more well-read and sophisticated. My current read is Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead, which I highly recommend.
- Mini Glossier perfume; this was my favorite perfume in high school (basic, I know), and even though I no longer wear it, I still keep the mini version with me. It’s a nice backup and a small reminder of my high school self.
- Glossier hand cream; another Glossier purchase I fell victim to. My hands get painfully dry during the Ithaca winters, so this cream lives permanently in my bag.
- A tiny makeup pouch; inside: a Revlon lipstick in Rum Raisin, a Tower28 jelly lip gloss and a Maybelline brown eyeliner. Perfect for any touch-ups during a long day on campus.
- My Bose headphones; as someone who struggles to focus or sit down and actually get work done, I have found these headphones to be a lifesaver. They are comfortable enough to wear for hours, have incredible noise cancellation and come in various colors.
- Wired earphones; I only really wear these around campus for the purpose of having a less-bulky alternative to my headphones. I can’t stand walking anywhere without having either music or a podcast playing, and wired headphones feel less stressful than Airpods (which I would, without a doubt, lose at some point).
- MUJI notebooks; a solid lightweight notebook option, this is for the student who likes taking notes by hand. Last year, my backpack was ridiculously heavy, mostly because I was lugging around too many big notebooks. One of my friends suggested the MUJI notebooks, and honestly, they have made an enormous difference. They are light, and I never end up wasting extra pages I don’t need anyway.
- My water bottle; a 36 oz bright pink Yeti water bottle that has not left my side since the first time I bought it four years ago.
- Sunglasses; for the (very few) days that the sun decides to show up in Ithaca.
- Umbrella; I have been caught in too many torrential downpours to ever risk leaving this behind again.
- Embroidery kit; this isn’t a permanent item, but I am currently working on an embroidery assignment for one of my classes. I like to pull it out and work on it during small breaks throughout my day.
- Granola bars; I like to carry the Kind Breakfast Protein Bars on days I get hungry between meals.
- A flower claw clip; one of my friend’s from home brought it back for me from a trip to Hawaii. At some point, another one of my friend’s dogs got a hold of it and left tiny bite marks. It’s a little beat up now, but that’s what makes it special.
- A crossword book; last year, I got into crosswords and ended up buying a puzzle book to keep in my bag. I like pulling it out when I have random downtime or I want a break from my phone.
Looking at it all together, my bag feels like a mix of practicality and personality. Some things I carry because I have to, others because I want to and a few simply because they remind me of a person or a moment I don’t want to forget. It’s a little messy, a little sentimental, but it’s mine.
Ruhi Datar is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences. She can be reached at rrd56@cornell.edu.
