There’s still time to get your vacation in before summer’s over, so this is a good time to review some of my helpful vacation fashion tips.
Chillin’ with the rest of the PTA and lookin’ gooooood.
I have a fanny pack. I am not being ironic. I own a fanny pack, I use it, and I like it. Deal.
I realize that any shred of cool I might have claimed has just gone out the window, and I hope we can still be friends. My daughters treat me like a leper if we’re out in public and I’m fanny-tized. I wore one when we went to New York City a couple of years ago, and they insisted on walking several blocks behind me. I had to keep turning around to keep track of them – I was afraid they would be abducted from the streets of Chinatown.
Me on vaca. What? WHAT???
I don’t fanny-up for important business meetings, swanky events or funerals – there’s a time and place for everything. But they’re extremely practical for a lot of situations. I bet more people would give in to the fanny-allure if they really thought about how great they are to:
tote stuff: Daily life requires a lot of equipment. There are very few places outside my living room where I don’t need my car keys, Kleenex, pepper spray, drivers license, credit card, spending cash, hairbrush, Chap-stick, cell phone and hand-sanitizer. Any mother of a young child could double this list. You can’t carry more than a Kleenex in today’s skin-tight jeans – ask anyone who has been to a college or pro football game lately, where bags of any kind are banned.
keep your hands free: I need to keep my hands free when:
– walking/hiking/exercising
– shopping
– sight-seeing
I usually carry a purse, but they can get in the way. They’re heavy, they dig into your shoulder and they slide right down your arm at the exact moment you’re reaching for a fragile, priceless vase at an antique shop.
stay with you: The world is a dangerous place and I’m careless. Put the two together and the risk rises exponentially that my purse will be:
– stolen
– left behind.
I might set my purse down in all the excitement of bargain hunting, and the next thing you know, poof! It’s gone. When your valuables are firmly belted around your waist it’s a lot tougher for them to walk away. And while I might not feel it if a robber dipped their hand into my purse, I think I’d notice if somebody was fondling my midsection.
I was talking about this vital fashion accessory recently with my cousin Kathy, who is a super-chic fashionista, and she said the fanny pack is coming back into style. Yes! I knew if I waited long enough I would be fashion-forward once more. Wait until I tell my girls!
This would be a good time to root around in my closet and unearth some more classic fashion pieces. Now that the fanny pack is back in style, mom jeans are sure to be cutting-edge again any day now.
Peg-o-Leg's Ramblings 
I used a cross-body bag in Europe. You can thank Matthew McConaughey for the revival!
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Must be nice to have so much clout you can start a fashion trend single-handedly, eh?
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If anyone can rock a fanny pack, it’s Peg-o-Leg! (Your vaca picture notwithstanding)
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What do you mean? That’s one of my favorite pictures!
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For many years my daughter would never let me forget that i did use a fanny pack once about 25 years ago. Recently ( gasp), same daughter comes to my house with a fanny pack around her waist. Not being one to pass up an opportunity to get in a snide comment, I remarked on the new fanny pack. After eye rolling , she informed me that these are now in style, but I just don’t know new fashions trends. So, roll out the fanny packs!
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Yeah, when we do it we’re old fuddy-duddies. When they wear it, they’re being “ironic.” 🙂
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In Ireland we call these bumbags. We use the word fanny for lady private bits so you can imagine how funny this is for me😂
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Seriously? I was there a couple of years ago – trying to remember if I started any international incidents by not knowing that. Oh, the joys of language!
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I reckon people would have smiled internally but would have known what you meant!! ☺
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It’s the same in the UK. So with Ireland included that’s 65 million people who find the US term hilarious. “Having a rummage in my fanny pack” is funnier to us than “George was surprised to see that Henry had a fag between his lips” would be to Americans. 😛
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How did I not know this??? This is a family friendly blog! Hope I didn’t cause an international incident.
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And that George/Henry comment would be considered pretty damn funny.
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Well, now that I can be a slave to fashion, I can dig mine out too!. Thanks for the update, Peg!
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You’re welcome, Elyse. I do my best to stay up on all the latest trends. As long as they coincide with what’s already in my closet.
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Thanks for another good read! Love you, Miss Margaret😘
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Why, thank you Miss Jude Bude! Right back atcha. 🙂
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Yes! I am glad they are back in style because, as you so succinctly summarized, they are uber handy.
If anyone knows about fashion trends, it certainly would be cuz’n Kathy. You’re both fashionistas!
I giggled when I learned the meaning of fanny in Ireland. Must be a hoot! 🙂
Fun read, Peggles 🙂
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Thanks, my dear. I also giggled about the Irish fanny. Who knew?
Maybe you’d like a bum-bag for your birthday tomorrow?
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Some of today’s fanny packs come with an additional strap to secure the thing around your thigh, or strap configurations to wear like a shoulder holster. Some others are wider belts with a ton of pockets around that belt.
The hippys and funky call ’em festival bags or utility belts…but you can only lay claim to those names if you’ve been to (or are planning on going to) burning man.
Me? I like the classic…bring on the fanny pack!
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I’ve never even heard those terms, so I obviously can stake no claim to either being hip or funky.
I have a really skinny fanny pack – more of a belt- that’s good to hold car keys, and nothing else, if you’re playing tennis. It’s just a stretch of lycra. I can jam my cell phone in one zippered pocket if I really stretch it, and then it looks like a python who just swallowed a groundhog is wrapped around my waist.
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I use to have a couple of fanny packs. They were perfect when travelling or walking/hiking for all the reasons above. I folded under the pressure of the anti-fanny pack fashionistas and got rid of them. At least once a week I wish I had kept one “just in case”. I’m glad they are making a come back and as soon as I see one in a store I will be all over that.
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I keep one on the floor in my back seat because it’s my go-to when walking/hiking. Must admit I don’t wear it anyplace else where anyone except bears will see me.
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I love my fanny pack that I purchased 13 years ago in Las Vegas at the Golden Nugget. I know where I got it because ‘Golden Nugget’ is imprinted in gold on the front of it. Yes, it is tacky, but, hey, it is becoming a family heirloom. Who knew?
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Make sure your family knows about its heirloom status or it will be in the box going to Goodwill before you’re in the box going in the ground.
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I think if they marketed them as “Bum Bags” they’d truly come back in style. I think I’ll have to dig mine out of the closet now. (I do have a photo of me wearing a fanny pack back in 1992 in Oregon….I’ll email it to you later so you can have a good guffaw at work today!)
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That will make my day.
If everyone knew what “fanny” means in Ireland, as explained above, sales would soar as well. You could sell embellished versions, like with steel wool glued on…better not go there.
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See my Facebook page…..bwa hahahahaaaaaaaaaaa!!
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Most women look good with fanny packs. I may get one for my wife. You should see her purse. Personally, I would rather be slowly cooked over any open flame, then wear one.
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Fashion is pain, so they say, but I don’t think that adage is contemplating the slow-roasted variety of pain.
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I use a “waist pouch” when I walk my dog to hold his treats and bags. “Waist pouch” makes me feel better about the whole thing.
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Jeez, Jackie, not me. “Waist pouch” reminds me of the one made of flesh that I’m permanently toting around. But if you add the word “dog” to it – maybe “Puppy Pouch” and specifically market it for holding treats and bags, you would probably make a fortune. People will buy ANYthing for their dogs.
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Ooh… the Pooch Pouch. I think we’re sitting on a gold mine, Peg.
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Pooch pouch? Genius! Let’s get working on our marketing campaign.
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I still can’t keep a straight face when you refer to it as a fanny back. We always called them bum bags…although most people seem to wear them on the front, so maybe they should be marketed as “belly-wrap-bags” or something like that!?
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I can’t believe I didn’t know that! I think I’ve caused an international incident. Diplomats are scurrying back and forth across the pond and the Queen has been quoted as saying, “we are not amused.”
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My first thoughts, too – it’s the same in Australia. Fanny not a polite word. Stunned that we Americans name our daughters that….
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I have a training pouch for when I was training my dog — room for pet treats, ID and keys, etc. No problem when with the dog. More recently I got a running belt to carry my phone, keys, and ID when out walking, but I couldn’t easily access the phone once it was secured. Obviously there’s a lot to be said for a hands-free carrier of some kind, if we could just get past the “fanny pack” label.
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You did get past it! You called it a training pouch. Well done, you.
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No, it really was a training pouch, sold under pet supplies, designed specifically to hold the treats while dog training. The top was designed to stay open (and/or snap shut) so the treats would be readily accessible with one hand.
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You mean this is already a thing? dang! Jackie Cangro and I were going to market the Pooch Pouch and make our fortunes! Another get-rich-quick scheme goes out the window.
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Huge bum bag fan here. I know it’s ugly – but it’s so functional. When hand was injured, could be operated with one hand. No setting it down, hanging it on the back of the chair, no losing stuff. It’s on me at all times. It’s not a purse, it’s a kit, and an essential for modern living, style be danged.
But I did a number on the hips and have switched the kit to the “Healthy Back Bag” – it’s just as functional a kit as they bum bag. Almost as ugly, too, as it sits across shoulder and front. But – can fly it with one hand, it’s almost as bottomless as a Bag of Holding (holds kindle and a book in addition to a drink and my regular gear.
I might even take either of these bags to a funeral or a meeting. It’s just too functional to have free hands, especially when you get older!
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Sounds like a keeper! And very functional for a funeral, especially if you have to carry around an urn of ashes.
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If you use and fanny pack AND a selfie stick AND walk three abreast slowly on a sidewalk, you get pushed in front of the crosstown M42 bus. Just a warning.
I think MC Hammer pants are making a comeback, too. Not kidding.
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At least MC Hammer is making a comeback – you can’t turn on the TV without seeing him hawking something.
I’ll keep your advice in mind next time I’m in NYC, thanks.
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As always, no charge.
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Haha! I love this, and hope fanny packs make an amazing comeback. I’ll keep an eye out for stylish styles for gifts and giveaways my clients can consider for swag gifts. 😉
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You’ll help fuel the trend!
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Mom jeans and a fanny pack. The perfect combination!
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For those of us not afraid to live dangerously and explore their inner-mom.
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I didn’t realize the virtues of a fanny pack until I travelled with two small kids by air and then on s cruise. It’s sure handy for passports. Good thing I didnt have teens though because it was BRIGHT yellow 😉
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Thank goodness! It would have caused a safety hazard because your kids would be trying their best to avoid being seen with you.
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I’d just like to have my midsection fondled, to be truthful. You’re so right about purses being more trouble than they’re good for. Nice post!
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I’m sure there’s an online club for that sort of thing.
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