Dear Shopping Savage...

Dear Shopping Savage,

I am a mom with a demanding career and a demanding home life so when I leave my house in the morning I travel heavy: a gym bag, my work tote, purse and miscellaneous extras for the kids, inclement weather accessories, etc. I recently started seeing a chiropractor because of lower back, shoulder and neck pain. I attribute it all to the many bags I carry but I can't seem to find a way to lighten the load. And before you say it, my doctor recommended the bag on wheels but I've tried them and they can be bulky and cumbersome, not to mention unfashionable.

Any good suggestions on a great bag to handle all my demands without breaking my back?

Sincerely,

Mom on the Move

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Dear M.O.T.M.,

It sounds like you've got a lot resting on your shoulders - literally and figuratively. What's amazing is that you believe that in order to have it all you have to carry it all...at once. And you are not alone. There are women walking in the same stiletto-heeled shoes as you that teeter on the brink of being recognized as a stylish Sherpa.

We could talk bags but you, more than anything, sound like you need a distribution strategy versus a bigger bag that will only lead you to believe that you have room to pile more things in. You are better served by using your routine's resources to your advantage. Keep what you need for the kids in the car; keep what you need for work at work; acquire a gym locker - and utilize their laundry service - to store your workout clothing and accessories.

Buy travel sized items to further lighten the load in case you have to transport a few things on your person that day. But the only thing you should carry from this point on is your purse and work tote and even those shouldn't be stuffed to the gills. You may still want to see your chiropractor to help repair or reverse what damage you've done by carrying so much for so long. With any luck you should see - and feel - a difference in less time than it takes to unpack your current day-to-day baggage. Overnight, you'll go from a bag lady to a lady who carries a bag. Sounds much more chic, n'est-ce pas?

Need sartorial advice? Email me: Dwaun@shoppingsavage.com

Dear Shopping Savage...

Dear Shopping Savage,

I recently bought a fabulous handbag from an up-and-coming new line that uses Chinese brocade - that is silk and viscose - and has wonderful, very vibrant colors. The problem is that it wrinkles easily. I need a way to store it and keep the interface and brocade from wrinkling. Is there a wrinkle retardant? Can I iron brocade and interfacing or do I steam it? I am also worried about how I would handle keeping it clean or removing a stain. The colors are so vibrant I am worried about them fading easily or stains showing up easily. Help!!

Signed,

Silk Purse Panic

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Dear S.P.P.,

Keeping your purse from wrinkling is fairly simple - in theory. When the bag is not being used, fill it with packing paper, bubble wrap or a few pairs of clean socks. This will help maintain its intended shape and reduce wrinkles. (Avoid using newspaper or printed on paper, as the ink has the potential to rub off onto the lining of the bag.) If the purse did not come with a cloth storage bag (also known as a "sleeper") you can use a pillow case to serve as a protector from dust, moisture and light.

Even with this system in place you still want to be prepared for the occasional wrinkle that may occur. You can iron the bag using the silk or delicate material setting, but a steamer would be easier to handle and significantly reduce your risk of causing heat-related damage to the fabric. Depending on how large of an opening the bag has, you want to look at steaming it from the inside. This should release most of the wrinkles and not affect the outward appearance. To avoid burning yourself, invest in a pair of steamer gloves, which may come in handy for future sticky steaming situations like this.

To help combat stains, Scotchgard is safe enough to use on silk, but you will still want to do a color test on a small, inconspicuous spot to ensure it won't alter the bag's overall coloring. In the event that a stain still manages to materialize, these tips on washing silk should help restore your bag back to purse perfection.

Need sartorial advice? Email me: ShoppingSavage@gmail.com

Dear Shopping Savage...

Dear Shopping Savage,

I'm thinking of investing in a white bag for the summer. Do you have any recommendations for keeping it clean and maybe even a brand that makes a good looking one?

Signed,

White Haute ... or Not

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Well honestly W.H.O.N.,

The best way to keep a white bag pristinely clean is to leave it in the store! However, if you're going to invest in a summer bag, and white is what you have your head, heart and hard earned money set on then there are a number of things you can do to get the longest life out of your white hot purse purchase. First, think about what function you want the bag to serve. For example, if you're looking for one to use everyday for work and even on the weekends then you'll want to look at a modest sized tote that can hold all of your daily essentials without looking like luggage. Also, if you can, opt for one that's base (or "bottom") either has "purse feet" or a pebbled leather, preferably in a darker shade. Both serve a dual purpose - they help support the bag but also prevent the bottom of your bag from looking so squalid.

Next, consider the bag's material. Look for leather, canvas or a water-resistant nylon like the one used for Longchamp's ever popular 'Le Pliage' tote - which happens to come in an assortment of colors, including white.

Now then there's maintaining that crisp white look. You could use scotchgard's fabric and upholstery protector for anything that may require a little more protection - be sure to test a small inconspicuous area before "gard"-ing the whole bag. One of my favorite personal cleaning tricks is an oldie-but-a-goodie: Shout triple-acting spray and an old toothbrush. I've treated just about every stain with this simple formula, and on just about everything - from shoes, shirts and pants to accessories such as my bags - that needed a little stain-fighting TLC.

At the end of the day - or more specifically, at the end of the summer - when you put the bag away, store it in a cloth drawstring bag. Most bags come with a "storage bag" like this but if not check with your local "super store" and they should carry something very similar. This allows the bag's material to breath while being protected from dust and the like till next summer.

Just be aware that accidents do happen and that some extra care and attention must be paid to light colored accessories, especially white ones. But take it all in stride. Do your homework, follow the tips I've mentioned and then just go for it. It's all in the name of fashion so it should be fun - anything beyond the rules I've set and your own instincts are just, well, white noise.

Need sartorial advice? Email me: ShoppingSavage@gmail.com