foundations: big bag theory

in the bag (reviewed here): something old (7-year-old CdG wallet) // something inspiring (the power of habit) //
something new & something blue (large zip pouch c/o everlane)

last year, i wrote about using zip pouches of various sizes to keep a big bag from devolving into a black hole. so when the kind folks at everlane sent me the large structured pouch, i was pretty happy to find that it fits nicely inside my petra tote. it's a stylish sleeve for my 13" macbook, but i've also been using it as a bag divider of sorts – handy for stashing papers + files that would otherwise get crumpled (standard manila file folders fit perfectly), notebooks, and other odds and ends. it's also chic enough to double as an oversized clutch for a lunchtime meeting or an after-work event. i like that it's lined and there's a bit of padding that helps the pouch keep its structured shape.

i also use a muji nylon bag organizer to keep smaller essentials in one place (especially handy when you're switching bags). it may seem fussy at first, but over the years, i've found that it's the little 'optimizations' that really help streamline and take a bit of the stress out of the everyday.

do you like to keep things compartmentalized/organized, or do you just throw everything in?