Hmmm, a Zen riddle...how can we carry our stuff without looking as though we're carrying our stuff??

>>Slim skirts, full skirts, dresses, dress pants

Dahling, if you're dressed to the nines, why on earth aren't you carrying your Vuitton Murakami bag? ($3000 on eBay!) Do you know how much paracord you could put in that ugly purse?

>>>> I don't carry a purse... even so purses are not on your person so they are not the best option.

What do you carry your money & driver's license in? Even if it's just a wallet, you can fit in a credt-card-sized Swiss card of some type. They at least have a cutting edge on them.

I don't like carrying a purse, either. But since I do, I make full use of it. Esbit stove, tarp lean-to, -- oh, wait, I was daydreaming. Seriously, I do have a Spyderco knife, a Leatherman, 3 or 4 Bic lighters, a good signal mirror, and a standard Altoids EDC kit, plus a lot of other stuff that's typical 'Mom' junk (my husband calls my purse 'the hellhole of Calcutta').

The only thing that is ALWAYS on my person is a dogtag chain with a Photon II, a Fox whistle, a big safety pin, and a dogtag with my name, phone number, country, and brief medical info on it. The chain is encased in a clear plastic tube that ostensibly keeps the chain clean, but also doubles as a drinking tube if needed.

Perhaps you could always have at least an Altoids tin for EDC. I'm not willing to give up my comfort zone of preps for the sake of fashion. Make use of that Kate Spade bag and start toting those preps! <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />