Some women rarely carry a traditional purse. Instead, they reach for a large tote that can hold a laptop, notebook, water bottle, makeup pouch, sunglasses, charger and everything else they might need during the day. At first glance, the choice may look purely practical. But psychology suggests that the objects people repeatedly choose can also reflect personal values, identity and consumption preferences.
Research on handbags has examined how these everyday accessories can become part of people's experiences and identity construction. A qualitative study of consumers' relationships with handbags found that the contents and use of the bag could become meaningful ways of understanding everyday identity and consumption.
