“What’s In a Bag?” is a content story for Instagram. It features a look into the bags of real women focusing on the functionality of a bag and how that is what helps a gal take on the world— not the brand she carries.
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WHat's In a Bag?
Poppy Lissiman
"I don't know if I care what kind of bag I have if I'm being honest. I prefer not to even carry one, so naturally I always go for something that resembles a sack. I'm an avid market go-er. I just need something to throw my new treasures in and go. Something functional and cute gets the job done, plus if I need to I can swing my sack bag at anyone who tries to come of it. Sacks are good like that. They hide the weight of what's in them."
- Casey, 25 /PART 1
"Surprisingly these are not for sun protection. I usually carry about five different pairs of glasses max in my bag. You just never know when you will need to change up your look. I have a fashion blog, and changing my glasses can change the whole outfit. It's a necessary evil, but only because they take up space. I rather have a million glasses in my bag than a bunch of loose change."
- Karmen, 18/ PART 2
"Today it's kale, tomorrow it will probably be gym clothes. Anything is in there. I love to hide my little pepper spray in the bottom of the bag too because the bottom is the only place I can ever be sure of. Everything else gets lost in the middle, but the things at the bottom never move. I always have my pepper spray there just in case. Maybe a hair brush too. The items in my bag change depending on my mood or the day. It's my own personal secret weapon, a tote of mystery. You never know where you will end up, so I might also pack a granola bar. You know if the world ends while I'm not home, I guess a granola bar will help."
- Marni, 31/ PART 3
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"Okay this isn't what it looks like, as in I don't carry five knives on me. I collect different carvers, and was taking these to see if I could get some extra cash for them. I'm just not into these ones anymore. Yet, I will say I do carry at least one on me just in case. It's not pretty like these, but I figured I don't need to bring it along if I have five on me today. It's helpful too if you buy street fruit. I've carved many an avocado as soon as I bought it because I had a knife on me."
- Janna, 22/ PART 4
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"Every weekend I visit my grandma for breakfast and bring her fresh flowers as a thank you for cooking. Rather than carry a million bags, I just stuff them in my tote next to my laptop. This bag cracks me up, because it looks like a quirky shopping tote. I feel like I have less of a chance of getting it snatched since it doesn't look like a purse."
- Gemma, 28/ PART 5
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"I wake up at 4 am every day to catch the train to work. Everything I need to get a good rest on a 65 minute ride is in here. I don't have time to be put together at 4 am, so I bring a few essentials to make me look alive by the time I arrive. I fit it all in a small pouch inside one larger pouch so that I am somewhat organized. Plus, its so compact I can keep it in-between my legs while I nap. Can't risk someone stealing my genius get-ready hack!"
-Paulina, 32 /PART 7
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"You don't want to see what is in here! It is a mix of emergency tampons and gift cards. The inside of my bag is a mess, but that's fine because it looks cute. An essential tote for me to throw all my nonsense in is all I need. I also tend to go for a plastic type of bag because I'm a serial spiller. Functional fashion is a blessing that some people do not even realize."
- Steph, 24/ PART 6
"Listen, when you are speeding down the highway bugs will hit you. Have you ever seen a dirty windshield? My body has been that windshield. I kid you not, I keep wipes in my backpack incase anything gross hits my neck. It is possible to pull off the biker thing, and still be clean."
- Mandy, 26/ PART 8
"There is a bottle shoved in here, a travel pack of baby wipes, a diaper, and a pack of fruit snacks.I refuse to carry one of those god-awful baby bags. Why can't moms be cute too? I always have a tiny pouch and I can put what I need in there accordingly. There is just no reason to have to worry about remembering a huge sack if I have my daughter with me. I can fit what I need in a wristlet and then I know for sure I will be less likely to forget something. There also might be a juice box or too shoved in there. I don't mind wiping out any spills."
- Laura, 33/ PART 9
"I usually just have one of those sticky pockets on the back of my phone for cards. I don't like to carry things, I'm all over the place and I don't want to have to worry about remembering anything but myself. I do on a chance, carry fun bags if they add to my personality. This one had an empowering word on it. I felt it was important to make a statement about feeling strong, but inside is just a gum wrapper. I have another one that says "support your local library"."
- Bianca, 20 / PART 10
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Reflection
Following an Instagram real-life story format, my posts bring viewers inside a women’s bag in 2018. Pulling from Shakespeare’s Juliet, the ‘What’s In a Bag?’ story title is a play off the famous quote, “What’s in a name?” from the ethereal badass beauty. The choice to name the story campaign for Poppy Lissiman after this phrase is crucial for defining the brand and the audience. Poppy Lissiman is an accessories specializer for the rebellious woman that seems innocent on the surface; she isn’t afraid to play with life, but does so with grace and amusement. Just as Juliet did not care to run away on an adventure with a forbidden love, the Poppy girl does not care what brand of bag she is seen taking on the world with. A Poppy girl does not need a bag that is accepted (Dior, Louis Vuitton, Gucci), she just needs one to carry her exciting life.
Essentially, the formation of the story would start by emailing questions to past customers who have purchased Poppy bags, or DMing those who have tagged Poppy Lissiman in their Instagram photos. The questions would relate to what kind of items the customer has in their bag, and what it is they even need a bag for. The language then (in the form of quotes) would be realistic and paint the picture of the modern everyday girl. Many women have more than just a lipstick and credit card in their bag, and this authentic approach to discovering what they take on the go proves to be more important than the bag they carry their items in.
The choice to showcase this story as an interview, hides the fact that Poppy Lissiman is essentially speaking against branded expensive designer bags. The interview style makes the posts seem less like an advertisement and more of a focus on the individual. The long paragraphs, will make the audience take a double look at the post as they might not realize this is coming from the brand’s account right away. The labeling of the different parts entices the viewer to click on the Poppy Lissiman account to read all of the different posts to finish the story. Once they read all of the different interview’s they will understand the practicality in choosing a bag that doesn’t scream logomania. Even if they miss a few of the different posts — due to Instagram’s algorithm— the realistic look at actual women who have purchased from Poppy Lissiman will translate better into the understanding of what an effective bag should be in comparison to the high-quality produced fantasy campaigns of high-end designers.