Don't be a bag lady...

I have always loved history, especially the lives of ordinary people in a specific decade. Looking at old photographs is one of my favorite activities, so it is fantastic that St. Scholastica has so many wonderful historical pictures and preserved papers.

The Scholastica library has an awesome archive with every Scriptorium (now know ast The Calbe) saved online. I found an article titled "That Mysterious Bag" which drew my attention.

Of course I had some thoughts, so here's my feature regarding "That Mysterious Bag."

Don’t be a bag lady…

Michelle Ruszat, Feature Writer

At The College of St. Scholastica, we have a rich and beautiful history. Seriously, have you ever noticed how those ladies dressed? They knew fashion. Perhaps every student was born with a high sense of style, but I bet columns, like “Shelia Shops” or selections from Mademoiselle influenced these stylish Scholasti-cats. Wanting to become a chic co-ed myself, I perused the Scriptorium to learn from the past. Little did I know, the quest for fashion would unleash the raging feminist within me. In celebration of Womyn’s Week, which took place at Scholastica March 26 to March 30, I am giving Mademoiselle and The Scriptorium a little piece of my modern-woman mind.

On April 7, 1937, The Scriptorium ran an article “That Mysterious Bag” from the magazine Mademoiselle about the purse being a reflection of the woman. Of course, I immediately thought of my own purse and its uncanny resemblance to a satchel. Purses and bags are often an expression of the user, and I like to think I am easily relatable to Indiana Jones.

“As far as character and temperament are revealed by the contents of handbags, surveys of the situation show that women have been caught with such miscellania [sic] in their bags…We’re no crystal gazer, but we think we can give as good a performance…when a female purse is opened to our inquisitive gaze.” Sure, I have some strange things in my purse (for example: a legal pad, a deck of cards, a few pens, a pack of tissues, and a set of knitting needles) but is this truly a glimpse into my life?  As I continued to read, my hopes of learning from the strong, fashionable women of St. Scholastica’s past decreased.

“The woman whose bag practically explodes in your startled face-she’s the one who can never throw anything away, an acquisitive creature handicapped by her muchness in career or home life.” Now, this concerns me. My bag doesn’t “explode” per se, but there is a definite fullness to it. Am I a hoarder?! Will I find a dead cat crushed beneath my wallet the next time I go to pay for groceries? Also, I don’t think having a giant purse with many interesting things means I am too ambitious in my career or home life, just that I’m an interesting person who occasionally likes to play a game of cards.

“Her husband is bored by it all and would like to start housekeeping all over again…and a checkrein on the little woman.” First, I am not a barn animal. Yes, I carry a saddle bag, but please don’t consider using a checkrein (a horse restraint) on me. I am a woman and being 5-foot, 8-inches, there isn’t anything “little” about my body or my personality. Plus, the joke is on you, article! I don’t have a husband or a house to run. So, I think I’ll keep my giant purse, thank you very much. Unfortunately, the article doesn’t stop there. According to “That Mysterious Bag” being feminine relies on many facets that are all revealed by the state of your bag.

“Ah, but when a bag opens to a delicate aura of perfume, a glimpse of immaculate white handkerchief, no clutter, no cramming, ah, ah, ah! This lady has her life to rights, tolerates nothing even bordering on mussiness in her home, professional or emotional life. She bathes often…has her lingerie…sent expensively to the French hand laundry for perfection. Her beau thinks she’s just wonderful, epitomizing feminity [sic] at its daintiest.” Who perfumes her purse? I’ve never heard someone being condemned for having a purse that smells like purse. Hand laundry is darn expensive and I know my Fruit-of-the-Looms don’t deserve more care than some Tide and hot water. If a smelly purse and fancy laundry are the only ways to woo a beau, then I am out of luck.

There is no way the ideal purse from Mademoiselle would even be applicable in this century. We’ve got places to go, people to see, snacks to sneak into movie theaters! If anyone carrying a purse at The College of St. Scholastica approaches me and shows me a functional, dainty purse with a crisp, white handkerchief, I promise your next bundle of French laundry is on me.

There is a cliché which states “history is the best teacher” but more often than not, the past gives an example as to what should not be done. I began this search trying to improve my style with advice from the fashionable ladies in Scholastica’s past, but realized my love of functionality will always prevail.