Clutching fragile identity
by Elouise
Clutching fragile identity
close to her body
She enters the room
secured by precious props
disguised in glitter –
Mundane necessities
for the ornamental woman
I’ve often wondered who invented clutch bags for women. The most alluring, annoying, disempowering fashion item I’ve ever met.
Imagine working a room with only one hand and arm. Clutching a small bag in the other hand, or trying to keep the bag nonchalantly hanging by a metal chain from your shoulder or arm. Or eating your meal while balancing a slippery clutch bag on your lap. Or going through the agony of deciding which absolutely essential items you need to take along this evening. Or the higher agony of feeling totally insecure and incomplete without something clutched in your hand, close to your body. Like a decoration, or a weapon of social warfare.
I still own a few beautiful clutch bags—small, lovely, ‘feminine’ and retro. They’re sitting in the museum of my dresser drawer. Nothing worth selling. Just reminders of past years when I flirted with being a ‘stylish’ woman, and how awkward I felt.
By the way, what ever happened to sensible, stylish pantsuits for women, with sensible pockets?
Thanks to WordPress for this prompt, and the invitation to highlight one of my favorite imponderables.
And thanks to you for stopping by! We spent Thanksgiving Day with D’s sister, her husband, one of their friends, and their sweet kitty. Great food and conversation, a brisk walk around the block a couple of times, and a chance to enjoy and strengthen bonds that matter. No clutch bags allowed. 🙂
Elouise♥
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 24 November 2017
Image of vintage clutch bag found at pinterest.com
Daily Prompt: Clutch
Telling the Truth 
I’m with you: pockets. If it can’t fit in my pockets, I probably don’t need it.
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Thanks, Kijo! For this comment and for the follow. I was just over to check out your site. You have a wonderfully creative take on things mundane–which, of course, are anything but mundane.
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You are so right about the mundane. Sometimes I wonder where the secular ends and the sacred begins– it’s not as clear as Sunday School had us believe. Your “About This Blog” page touched me so deeply, like the line “If I don’t tell the truth about my life, I will die inside.” I think that happens to many people who are forced to deny parts of themselves that are unacceptable to whatever social circle or human era they happen to be born into. It will probably continue to happen. Perhaps that’s a challenge of being human: can you maintain, or regain, your integrity in the face of family or cultural pressure? … hey wait, I didn’t mean to get so serious. 🙂
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Hi, Kijo! Thanks for your comment. I get it. Totally. And I don’t mind at all that you got ‘so serious!’ I do it, too. 🙂
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ah, the old clutch bag, I used one for my first wedding, what a pain in the you know what. Yours in the museum of girliehood, hmmm….I hear you, I am of late now having to go shopping to enhance the girliehood as the new job demands smart/beautiful clothing and is so unlike how I’ve lived most of my life. I feel like I’m playing dress up every day….still getting used to it and used to feeling good enough/pretty enough. Reading a book that’s at the baby steps of what I need by Iyanla Vanzant…..learning and absorbing. Pretty pic of the bag ❤ and glad your holiday went splendidly even without the tiny bag 🙂
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girliehood! What a great word for ‘the look.’ I think I wouldn’t last a week in your new job! At this age, letting go of fashion (without becoming a total wreck) is one of the most precious freedoms I have. Nonetheless, I’m certain Iyanla Vanzant will get you where you need to go without compromising your glorious self! 🙂 I do love that photo of the little bag, and am still beyond ecstatic that I won’t be carrying it anywhere!
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❤ ❤ ❤ I'm enjoying the girlie girl thing, been so long….but I still have my slacker days too of course, evenings hanging about with the girls and the hubs ❤
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Years ago, I had a magnificent gift from one of my father’s friends – one of his front row tickets to the Metropolitan Opera which he attended frequently. I think it was Madame Butterfly, but may have been Tosca. I sat next to a woman who attended the opera five days a week (!). My guess is that a small bag such as you describe would have fit into her stylish lifestyle, though I can’t recall much about her attire. The bags can be beautiful objects, but they do present a real challenge to the person using it!
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Indeed they do. I could never get it quite right, so felt awkward and clumsy all evening long. Yes, the woman you describe probably had a collection of them, and small stylish opera glasses/binocs to boot! One of D’s aunts had mother-of-pearl binoculars for opera and stage. She gave them to D before she died. I tried them out once at Verizon Hall–and was disappointed. Not great for women who wear eyeglasses. To say nothing about how clumsy I felt! 🙂 I did my duty with the clutch bags in my prior youth. In my current youth, I just don’t care anymore.
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Think of the dance cards of the (was it the) 1800s – that’s the original purpose. Just dance cards, which is why they were so small (and I’m fairly sure they weren’t called clutches then, but the males would speak of ‘how tightly clutched it was to her body, so none could see it empty/full.
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What an interesting comment. I have a friend who still has an old cotillion dance card (looks like a small book). Maybe you’ve already seen this article with photos: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_card. It says the cards sometimes had cords that hung on women’s wrists. Very elaborate styles, some with jewels, for example. Thanks!
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