Bag Lady: N.J. Carson

Men often bemoan the fact that they just don't understand women. We're from Venus, they're from Mars and they'll never figure out what makes us tick. Rubbish. Want to know a woman? Take a look inside her handbag.

OK so it's not that easy to rummage around in a lady's bag, so here at the Irish Examiner we regularly do it for you. This week's Bag Lady is a woman whose contribution to the handbag is greater than most and has even been called the Dr. Ruth of purses!

It doesn't matter whether you buy your arm candy at Strawberry or Dior there will come a time when you are elbow deep in the bag of your choice searching frantically for something. If it's pouring with rain and you're at the bus stop that something will be your travel card. If the lovely chap you've just met is about to board a train to a faraway place and your chances of running into him again without arranging it are very slim that something will be a pen to give him your number. If your child is screaming loudly, turning purple and all around you are tutting loudly and looking as though they're going to call social services to report you as a Bad Mother that something will be his pacifier.

Oh yes, the modern bag isn't just an object of lust, devotion and beauty, it is also, for most of us, a veritable life support system. My friend the writer Marian Keyes has a theory that the richer you become the smaller your handbag as all you need to carry is a super slim mobile phone, a platinum credit card and a lipstick. Working on that theory I must be well below the poverty line as I cart around a huge bag which contains books, notebooks, pens, a mobile phone, a blackberry, sunglasses, tissues, several lipsticks, a wallet that in itself is overstuffed (and not unfortunately with hard currency), a bottle of water and all manner of sundry objects that I may need on a daily basis. It's become worse since I had the baby; I now have to cart TWO large bags around with me. And like most girls these days I don't own just the one bag, and when bags change shifts something is always lost in the transition. The result? I can never find my travel card/pen/business card/pacifier. I'm not alone and thanks to Nancy Jane Carson - N.J. to her friends, there is hope for all of us with over stuffed bags.

N.J. is the inventor of Purseket® the purse organizer. Purseket® was born out of N.J's own frustration with being unable to find things "in the black pit of my purse - no matter what kind of purse - deep, shallow, skinny, fat, soft, hard, cheap, expensive, interior pockets or not, it was always a hair pulling episode to find anything. The phone? The keys?" Sounds familiar right?

Unlike the rest of us who just succumb to drink or tears (or both) N. J. decided to do something about it. "I went to my sewing room and devised the first prototype with some left over orange linen." Like all the best ideas Purseket® is a very simple one - portable set of pockets that can be moved from handbag to handbag. Pursekets are rigid yet flexible so they don't collapse in upon themselves which would defeat the entire purpose of using one.

Like handbags themselves Purseket® comes in a variety of sizes - large 6" x 36" ($22) has eight pockets and is designed for use with large bags, totes, carriers, travel bags, beach bags and baby bags. The medium Purseket® 5" x 26" ($20) has six pockets and fits an average sized purse while the small 5" x 20" ($18) with five pockets is designed with smaller bags in mind. There is also a drop in Purseket® 5" x 8" ($16) which has two gusseted pockets on either side and works in tightly divided bags and small narrow slots. Not only does Purseket® come in a range of sizes but in an array of great fabrics and all Pursekets have a 'key post' to hang your keys from which is consistently cited as a favourite feature by N.J's satisfied customers. N. J. currently resides in Rye, New York but is originally from New Orleans where she first learnt to sew to pass the time. "In the deep South we had long, hot days without television or air conditioning, we had to be creative in order to pass the time. I learned how to sew and make clothes for my dolls," N. J. explains. N.J's Irish connections come through her husband Charles R. Carson and after raising her three children she launched Purseket® in 2001.

So what does the Dr. Ruth of handbags keep in her own purse?
Most importantly, where is my handbag!!

How many handbags do you own?
Can't count that high.

Do you have a favourite handbag designer?
It used to be Gucci, but think that I love and covet the real Birken and Grace Kelly bags...wish I could have a genuine one.

What is in your makeup bag right now?
The most important gizmo is my eyelash curler, by Maybelline...the best working of all. I never, never, never leave home without that, plus, of course, mascara [Maybelline], red lipstick, mood lipsticks, toothpick, contact lens case filled with Ponds moisture lotion [the smallest little container I can find to carry some with me], mouthwash, eyeliner, tiny tube of touch-up foundation, folding comb/brush that , hands down, beats those huge, fat brushes gals lug around, [I don't have an afro so these 4 rows of bristles can easily do the trick). In another Purseket pocket is my hairspray: Aquanet, Cherie, or, if out, Rusk!

What would your fantasy make up bag contain?
How about a tube of some wonder makeup that also brightens ones teeth, now there's a combo for you.... Is there such a thing for the mere mortal gal???

How much money do you spend on makeup?
You know what, the basic stuff I find is best is humble Maybelline, Ponds Moisture Lotion and $1.99 "mood" lipsticks because they're truly long lasting stains that don't come off on glasses, or hostesses' fine damask napkins or on your man!!! They last all day and are actually moisturizing. I am always hunting for foundation that doesn't show in pores and doesn't magnify those dadgummed wrinkles that are popping out all over... I need foundation, but sometimes it is a real distraction!

Do you cleanse tone and moisturize?
'Fraid I am the old soap and water school, but lather on lots of Ponds or Nivea until it is all soaked up. Eye make up has to be removed though. I use Almay - nothing fancy for me!

Which cleanser, moisturizer and toner do you use?
Toner would you believe is still Bonnie Bell when I can find it. Otherwise, I use Nivea Visage Alcohol Free Cleanser/Toner... cheap and good and never causes any problems!

What cosmetic/cleansing item could you not live without?
Ponds Moisture Cream!! Keeps me dewey, darling!!

What was the first piece of makeup you ever purchased and what was the occasion?
Eyelash curler, it probably cost 99 cents when in 8th grade, oh, and a Tangee lipstick from the dime store! For 55 cents would you believe? Another awful thought is the white eyeliner I bought at the dime store most likely inspired by the likes of Twiggy or pals!

Would you have cosmetic surgery and do you have any strong feelings either anti/pro cosmetic surgery?
I've seen some pretty bad results, aging gracefully is an art. I often can pick out the reupholstered gals in a dark room. If I could've done something, it should have been a couple of years ago but it is something you start, and you gotta keep at it! So...nope...not in that line...and most likely won't be... I'm afraid of unpredictable results.

Handbags or shoes?
Both and they HAVE to match!!!

Thank you, N.J. Carson

For more information about Purseket® check the website www.purseket.com