I ditched my handbag for Gen Z’s crazy ‘girl grip’ trend – an encounter on a date proved why I’ll NEVER abandon my tote

I’M a woman who loves a huge handbag – and I need one for the many items I rely on. As a constant water drinker, I’m never without a bottle. After washing my hands, I need hand cream or I’ll be distracted by the dryness of my skin. Samantha Rea, 44, left her handbag at home to test Gen Z’s ‘girl grip’ trend Credit: Sonja Horsman – Commissioned by The Sun Samantha spent a day carrying all her essentials in her hands as young women are ditching handbags Credit: Sonja Horsman – Commissioned by The Sun I’m addicted to lip balm, which I reapply almost as often as I breathe. I have flyaway hair that needs ­brushing, even when the wind is barely whispering. Sign up for the Fabulous newsletter Thank you! Unpredictable periods (or my inability to keep track) mean I always carry a toiletry bag filled with sanitary essentials and spare knickers in different styles and colours. My habit of leaving late, then rushing, means that deodorant is a must. Then, of course, there’s my make-up bag, purse, keys, perfume, sun cream, hair grips, phone, sunglasses, selfie ring light, tissues and a pair of ballet pumps or flip-flops to change into out of my heels on the way home. So, you see, I can’t leave the house without a big bag. The trouble is, I’m worried it makes me look dated because, apparently, only the over-40s are heaving handbags about. Almost a third of 18 to 29-year-olds don’t take a handbag when they’re out socialising, according to a study by wine brand Echo Falls. Most read in Fabulous A third of young women (34 per cent) say ditching their handbag makes them feel freer. Meanwhile, 44 per cent see handbags as old-fashioned. Ugh. There is clearly a generational divide, with 45 per cent of Gen X and baby boomers refusing to leave home without a handbag, and 60 per cent using it to carry “everything”. Oh dear . . . I might as well be wearing a big badge with “old lady” on it. But how on earth are younger women coping without at least a clutch? It turns out they are simply carrying all the items that would be in a handbag in their hands. Known as “girl grip” or “the everything claw”, younger women keep their possessions in the palms of their hands with any excess items stuffed down their bra. Instagram account GirlsCarryingSh*t is dedicated to women carrying everything they can. Posts include pics of women lugging combinations of coffees, keys, cigarettes, sangria, books, wine, phones and flowers. Snakes, bagels and rubber chickens also make appearances on the account, which has already amassed more than 450,000 followers. I don’t want everyone seeing the secrets I stash in my bag, but clearly my handbag habit is putting me in the “older” category. And I do carry far too much stuff. So I challenge myself to ditch my handbag for a day and try the “girl grip” instead. Starting my day at the gym, I quickly realise I’ve taken on the ultimate organising consultant Marie Kondo makeover. Some items I leave at home: the unused selfie ring, perfume, make-up, hair grips and deodorant. I don’t need my spare flats as I’m wearing my trainers. But my hand cream is coming with me because I always wash my hands after using the gym equipment, and my lip balm is non-negotiable — as are my keys, phone and hairbrush, along with a bottle of water. I’ve put on factor 50 at home, but it is a hot, sunny day and I’ll need to re­apply after sweating, so that’s coming, too. Ditto my sunglasses. The writer started off her day in the gym and found a bench to unload her hands, but she says ‘my lack of a bag means I’m stuck in one spot’ Credit: Sonja Horsman – Commissioned by The Sun Never again am I leaving the house without a handbag. I do not care if it dates me, she adds Credit: Sonja Horsman – Commissioned by The Sun It’s not my time of the month, but I never leave the house without my period bag in case it starts unexpectedly, so I’m worried about leaving this behind — only I’ll have to as I literally can’t carry anything else. As I struggle to lock the front door, I drop my water and my lip balm. The lid of my lip balm ricochets off and rolls into pigeon poo. Aargh. I already hate this. I make my way to PureGym Piccadilly on the Tube, but when I get to the ticket gate, I drop my sunglasses as I swipe my card on the reader at the barrier. I still haven’t mastered “the everything claw” and end up dropping my hairbrush on the pavement outside. Now I can’t brush my hair because the bristles have touched the ground and that is disgusting. I’m not even in the gym and I really hate today. Once inside, I find a bench to unload my hands. I don’t really want everyone seeing my personal items, but here they are, scattered like an art installation by Tracey Emin. Luckily it’s a quiet time, but my lack of a bag means I’m stuck in one spot as it’s far too much effort to lug all of my individual items around to different workout areas. That would be a workout in itself. I head home to shower and change before making my way to meet my friend Sonja for alfresco drinks at the chic hotel Sofitel London St James. We have a table reserved at the hotel’s outdoor Bistrot On The Terrace, which is as close as I’ll get to the French Riviera this summer. While the setting is stylish and elegant, I’ve suddenly made our beautiful table look a mess with my belongings strewn over it. It honestly looks like someone’s done a smash-and-grab in Boots, then emptied their haul. Using the loo, I have to put my things on the cubicle floor, which is not ideal. As I open the door, I remember I’ve run out of toilet paper at home. Usually, I’d put a loo roll from the cubicle into my handbag to take with me — only I don’t have my bag and there’s no way I can return to my table and dump loo roll on it. I will have to stop at Tesco on my way home and I’m now stressing about how I’m going to juggle a four-pack along with everything else. My friend wants an ice-cream and a stroll in nearby St James’s Park, but the last thing I want to do is walk around in heels. If I had my handbag, I’d have my ballet flats to change into. I want to say no but, trying not to be a spoilsport, I agree. However, my heels are not meant for walking and every step irritates me. Next, trying to hold an ice cream in addition to all the other bits and bobs is virtually impossible. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. The wind blows my hair in my face and I don’t even have a finger free to move it out of my eyes. Awkwardly, I try to use a knuckle and end up dropping my phone. Luckily, the screen doesn’t smash, but the ice cream is dripping sticky sauce over my hairbrush. I am really done for today. Never again am I leaving the house without a handbag. I do not care if it dates me. However old-fashioned a handbag makes me look, it won’t age me as much as the frown lines I’d get from struggling to manage without one. So I’ll leave “girl grip” to the girls — I’m keeping my old lady bag. Comment now