Not like the other girls...

[graculus]

I've admitted for many years that I am a geek and have no issues where that is concerned. Next week I've got a couple of days off work and admitted that it's time for my biennial shopping trip for clothes since my underwear is starting to fall to bits - in general, if I need a pair of trousers, for example, the fact that a couple of local supermarkets now sell clothes has been sufficient for me.

However, the statement I made at work that provoked the most disbelief was this one: I have never owned a handbag.

Peeps at work - "But where do you keep your stuff?"
Me - "I have a briefcase for work, otherwise I use a daysack or my pockets."
Peeps at work - *stunned silence*
Me - "Do you really need a handbag and a briefcase if you're working?"
Peeps at work - "Probably not, but still... never?"
Me - "Nope."

And then I told them I didn't really care for buying shoes either. ;) E.T.A. Last wore a skirt in 1991, don't own a skirt or a dress and haven't for a similar length of time.

Help me, oh friendslist - surely I am not alone in this lack of slavish devotion to the cult of handbags and shoes? I always knew I was not a 'girl', even when biologically I was young enough, but even so...

Comments

[innocent-lex.livejournal.com]

I generally don't have pockets in my work clothes, nor anywhere near enough pockets in my other clothes to carry the things I carry in my handbag. Where would I put my UMPC? My work stuff gets carried in a work-supplied backpack (laptop, notes, papers, pens, etc) which I carry on my back where anyone can get at the stuff, so it has none of my personal items in it. Handbags need to be a certain size to hold what I want to hold, need to have a long strap so it can go over my should and across my chest to be safe, and be fairly cheap.

Shoes? Have to be comfortable. I have one pair of shoes I wear at work, and otherwise have hiking boots, trainers, flat boots and flip flops. I don't understand obsessions with shoes, handbags, clothes, hairstyles, all that stuff. I do understand having a keen interest in gadgets. Everyone's different, I guess.

[graculus.livejournal.com]

The relative lack of pockets in suits made for women is one of my bugbears. Fortunately I don't have to cart a laptop around, so my workbag is generally just diary, mobile, wallet, a couple of A4 notebooks, my mp3 player, a pencil case (in which lives a USB cable, pens, ibuprofen and lipsalve, for example) and that's pretty much it.