Unpacking the Art of "What's In My Bag"

By Diana Campos

Every day, in my plaid red Coach shoulder bag, I carry not only my lipsticks, books, and keys; I carry a mirror into my personality. The assortment of charms and plushies that dangle from my purse presents the whimsical and child-like love and care I have. My pins and buttons showcase some of my interests in shows and other hobbies. My makeup bag and pouches of practical items present a picture of me. My bag is a carefully curated extension of me, almost like a piece of art that travels with me everywhere. It is almost like putting my whole identity out on display. These mystical contents of my bag have me reverting to my obsession with watching the social media trend of “What’s In My Bag?” I’ve been bewitched by these videos of what celebrities or the everyday vlogger carry around with them. With that, it has me wanting to unpack the marvels of how this voyeuristic trend has been appealing to the average viewer for so long, from the point of view of the consumer/viewer. 

Graphic by Nicole Nguyen

I believe that at the core of the trend, that curiosity that we naturally have for others has a play in it. We’re so enthralled to figure out someone, just piece together the puzzle that makes the person. We get a glimpse into what each item means to someone or how essential an item is to them. Someone could be carrying picks, a string winder, and hand lotion, and immediately jump on the idea that they’re a musician. Someone is carrying hand sanitizer, snacks, and baby wipes, which could lead to the conclusion that they’re a parent. Someone carrying books and notebooks galore? Oh, they’re giving the vibe of a student running to their next class in a hurry. Each item turns us toward a crystal ball to make out what a person's identity is like. When I see YouTube videos of WIMB (What’s In My Bag), I’m unraveling what that person is like, why they carry close to them, showing new aspects of them I wasn’t presented with before, with just the contents of their bags. Could this also be a feeling of parasocialism as we gravitate to this art form? Tends to feel that way, as we watch Vogue feed us celebrity videos and we crave to break down the contents of the person down to the contents they own. 

I say WIMB is almost like an artistic exploration of sorts, diving into the notion that, as a capitalistic society, we find that we really do associate the person with what they consume. We try to find some kind of relatability with whoever is at the center of a WIMB video. We want to relate, we want to connect with the celebrity/vlogger we associate with. We see items that we may own or align with the lifestyle we live in, and instantly make that connection through mere objects. We feel more authenticity from the person in the center of the video, so when they show something they own and perhaps “love”, we’re drawn to purchase said items to feel closer to them. With the ease these videos play out and how easily they can be created, we feel closer to the subject of the video, and thus want to replicate them. Even if it’s through small objects.

Regardless of the consumerist format that WIMB may hold, I still feel these cute and silly items we carry, like beat-up and dirty Calico Critters, a random assortment of lip balms, and sticker-covered journals full of bulk, establish that artistic form of identity. An item used only for utility can be wielded into being an extension of us, showing how customizable we are in trying to create a portrait of ourselves for everyone around us. If anything, our curation of what’s in our bags is like building up our social media profiles or our extensive collection of playlists, all curated to our liking and for display. Our bags are the blank canvases or displays we carry around or show on camera, and each item we hold is our paintbrush or art tool, allowing us to create our image. 

We set out to create our own form of uniqueness; we want to be a fleshed-out idea so that we’re easily figured out. What’s in our bags can also be seen as a form of storytelling, set out to share our daily routines and what we have interests in. We reveal our identity through the items in our bag; we brand ourselves that way. We’re ready to be displayed through our bags, we are set to be a true piece of walking art to attract the attention and acceptance we wish to gain from merely walking down the street, or at the click of our phone’s camera and posted directly to the web. We are who we display to the world, and doing so through small objects can be the key to our own types of expressions, in the palm of our hands. Or in the pockets of our bags.  

So, what’s in your bag?