once read that if you follow a trend the first time it comes around, you can’t do it again the second time. My sense of style is a bit stunted, so this usually does not affect me, but then I saw an accessory with an obvious retro vibe making a comeback.
I’m talking about the Fanny Pack.
Not the purple nylon accessory a-la the Mom from the Goldbergs, but
bling-laden pieces
from Gucci with
thousand dollar
price tags. They
were slung on the
generous hips of
several Kardashians
and belted up high
and tight on the
waist of none other
than Sarah Jessica
Parker.
When I was growing
up, fanny packs
(now rebranded as
‘Waist Bags’ or ‘Belt Bags’ or ‘Bum Bags’) were the accessory of choice for European tourists in my adopted home state of Florida. In fact, they were easily identified by their pale/firey red complexions, dark socks, sandals, and ubiquitous black leather fanny packs.
I own a small cross-body Eddie Bauer backpack that is my primary Mom handbag. It’s functional and light, holds a small water bottle, spare keys and a day’s worth of snacks, wipes and essentials like my wallet and phone. It’s admittedly low on the Coolness Scale.
Enter the Fanny Pack, with its promise of convenience and the allure of fashion. A friend inquired about a particular style on Facebook and the comments gushed with enthusiasm. “You will love the hands-free lifestyle!” one said.
Is that a thing?
Intrigued, I took a test drive. I borrowed a friend’s pack and tested it out on several typical outings to see if I was ready to live the Bum Bag lifestyle.
I
Kim Kardashian West sporting a belt bag.