In defence of impractical, tiny bags

What We're Thinking is a weekly take on the fashion issues and questions on our minds – from what we adore to what we abhor.

As a long-time tote lover, I was one of the first people to dismiss tiny bags as a trivial, impractical fashion trend that should die a quick death. I even wrote a news story satirising fashion house Jacquemus for its two-inch, $500-plus versions, shown at Paris Fashion Week.

Tiny bags in a big way ... a model at Tigerlily at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.Credit: AAP

And then I got one.

Admittedly, it was a gift at a fashion show and, yet, my first thought was still, "What am I supposed to do with this?"

So I decided to take it for a spin on Monday night, to another event at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. It could only fit a lipstick and my key but given our mobiles are surgically stuck to our hands most of the time, I just carried my iPhone.

Tiny bags have been a micro-trend on the Paris catwalks, as seen at Jacquemus.Credit: AP

All of a sudden, I felt free. I could leave my bag on the table at dinner without having to put it on the floor and have myriad random feet (admittedly wearing lovely designer shoes) kicking it, or, worse, risk it getting stained by a wayward piece of lamb.

I am now officially a convert to the trend, such is the liberating feeling of travelling light. We boast about it when we holiday or go on business trips, so why not in our day-to-day lives? Not to mention the orthopaedic benefits of not lugging a dead weight around on your shoulder or elbow.

The London Telegraph's Hannah Rochell recently wrote about how the ubiquity of the skirt and dress with pockets has answered fashion's oft-asked question: If I want to look good and "do" life, what do I do with my stuff?

"The handbag might not be dead yet, but now that I've found the freedom of a bag-free life, I'll be sticking to my pockets," Rochell wrote.

At Fashion Week in Sydney this week, Tigerlily sent tiny bags down the runway ($79), while The Daily Edited also has its answer to the Jacquemus bag that sells for the much more accessible price of $90.

On the international stage, Loewe recently showcased tiny bags in its collaboration collection with famed Ibiza boutique Paula's; its small heel pouch, at $525 for eight centimetres, definitely gives Jacquemus a run for its money.

After massive totes were the talk of Sydney Fashion Week last year, a shift back to minimalism may be all the rage in 2019. After all, I recently switched from carrying a full zip-around wallet to a simple cardholder, and I've never been happier (the fact it's hot pink, from Saint Laurent and was a birthday gift from my best friend may help).

You can call them silly, impractical or suited to a two-year-old, but it seems the designer teeny bag is here to stay, at least for now. Just don't do the maths on the cost per square centimetre.