The Modern Materialist

Browse by Tags

• Airport Security To Become Slightly Less Annoying

  Earlier this week, the New York Times reported on bag designers developing airport security-friendly laptop bags. So while you still may be asked to remove your shoes, if you have the right bag, you won't be asked to remove your laptop.   Read More... Posted Jul 03 2008, 12:30 PM by Steph Auteri with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Accessories, Bags

• Piss Off American Airlines

  Hey, want to drive American Airlines up the wall? I’m referring, of course, to their new bag policy, which forces you to pay extra just to stow a bag on one of their planes. You know, because it’s considered a luxury to travel with a change of clothing? In any case, if you want to really drive ‘em nuts, get one of these: Read More... Posted Jun 05 2008, 03:00 PM by Alex Zalben with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: concepts, Bags, luggage

• My Document Laptop Case

  It may not be practical, but it sure is a neat idea… This laptop case concept from 25togo is shaped, of course, like a document folder. Forged from vinyl*, the bag comes in four  different versions, including laptop, camera, mp3 player, and cash. Obviously, those are all different sizes. And here’s why I say it’s not practical: Read More... Posted May 16 2008, 01:30 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: concepts, tech, Bags

• How to Flip & Tumble

  No, this is not an instructional graphic for storing your tights. Well, yes, you can store your tights this way. And I do. But this is not that.  Trust me.   Read More... Posted Apr 30 2008, 01:00 PM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: design, Accessories, Bags

• Can I Get That In a Doggie Bag?

  After posting about underwear, and then stuff you put in your underwear, I thought I’d give you guys something a little cute and normal to chase away the possible weird taste in our mouths. Instead, I’m giving you a bag shaped like a sad, sleeping dog. Sorry! Read More... Posted Apr 11 2008, 11:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: Bags, Ridiculous, Pet Products

• Who Wants To Go On a Picnic?

  Right now, I’m trapped, sitting in my apartment. I’m typing on my laptop, while two feet away is a giant window looking out at people having fun and frolicking in the almost-warmth. Instead of going with them, I’m here, slaving away at my desk, like some sort of Blogging Monkey*. Point is, this weekend, screw you guys, I’m going outside. And not only am I going outside, I’m going to the park. And even better than that… I’m going to have a picnic. A DELICIOUS picnic. Which I shall carry in my sweet-ass Malibu Picnic Tote. Find out more about its sweet ass, after the jump...  Read More... Posted Apr 08 2008, 04:30 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: Food and Drink, Bags

• Recyclables

  [$52, Uncommon Goods]  Alex sent us a link to this post about these recycled newspaper market tote bags because — as the type of guy preoccupied with arcade games and general geekery — he felt he didn't have the required knowledge base to judge a tote's attractiveness or womanly functionality. As I'm the type of girl who uses men's wallets and prefers laptop bags to Coach purses, I'm not so sure I can be trusted either. But I do like decoupage and collage-work, and so I deem these sorta cool. Speaking of laptop bags...   Read More... Posted Apr 07 2008, 10:30 AM by Steph Auteri with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: design, Accessories, Bags

• Love It Or Leave It: Angry Little Girls Bag

  [$15, Angry Little Girls]  [Via Hippy Shopper]  Posted Mar 25 2008, 05:30 PM by Alex Zalben with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: Love it or Leave it, Bags

• Wii Sports Bowling Bag

  I have, on occasion, taken my Wii to other people’s houses. That’s sort of because I’m a good friend, but mostly because I want to whip them at tennis, which I rule at. Hardcore. However, I’ve always had a problem as the Wii doesn’t pack up nicely in any of my bags; and I’d rather not have everything rattling around inside, breaking as I do a good deed. This bag solves that problem. It has a large pocket for your Wii and A/V cables, and smaller individual pockets for your plugs, wii-motes, and nunchuks. Also, it looks like a bowling bag, which is pretty cool. [$45, Best Buy] [Via GeekSugar] Posted Mar 25 2008, 03:30 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: video games, Bags

• Handbag/Television/Awesome

  Ladies, please gather around, because I may have some shocking news for you: we fellows will never, ever, ever notice how cute your handbag is. No matter how much time you spend coordinating it with your outfit, no matter how cute it is, no matter how much stuff you can stow in a tiny place, our feeble male minds will only register it as “bag” and move on. I’m going to fix this problem for you, right now, with the Hanns Milano TV. Not to make gross generalizations (though, why stop now?), but I guarantee every man in the room will want to check out your TV handbag. The cables “handily” store inside the bag, and the TV has RCA/S-Video inputs, a headphone jack, and speakers. So that's one problem solved... Now don’t even get me started on shoes. Am I right, fellas? [$260, HANNSpree] [Via Shiny Shiny]  Posted Mar 11 2008, 05:30 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: gadgets, Television, Bags

• Carrion Items

  For those of us who like freaking out the security officers at the airport, have I got a couple of bags for you. All of them are made by Vlieger & Vandam: First up is the Guardian Angel Classic L, in handy gun shape. If I saw this, my first thought wouldn’t be, “OMG, she has a gun,” it would be “OMG, that’s a super tight bag.” And I’m not using the hip street slang definition of “tight,” homeslices. [€235] After the jump, a new take on the term "doggie bag..."  Read More... Posted Mar 06 2008, 04:30 PM by Alex Zalben with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Bags

• Retro Arcade: Mushroom Dealer T-Shirt, Tote, and Hoodie

  This is kind of turning into “Retro Mario Arcade,” isn’t it? Anywho, here’s the perfect gift for the friend you like doing shrooms with*, or for any friend who likes to do a little power up now and then. Or, get it for yourself, and let people know where all the best warp whistles are. They come in 14 different colors for the shirts, down to five colors for the totes, and all sizes, from Mario to Super Mario. Tote and Hoodie after the jump...    Read More... Posted Mar 05 2008, 09:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: video games, clothing, Retro Arcade, Bags, geeky

• Love It or Leave It? Swag Bag

  [$1,587.13 USD, Money] I was gaping at NotCot's post on the Waist of Money belt  (get it!? get it!?) put out by Money Clothing when I decided to check out the clothing line's online shop myself. Which is where I came upon...the Swag Bag, "made in Italy from the supplest Italian leather...Japanese-made, 18-carat, gold-plated zips," and a lining made from real dollar bills. Seriously people!?      Posted Mar 04 2008, 09:00 AM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: Love it or Leave it, Accessories, Bags, handbags

• Tote Bag Makes Robots Cry

  Hey, I don’t need a bag to tell me to go f*ck myself, but I may need a bag to tell other people the same. Enter Etsy user RedPaperRecord, who has created the perfect black tote bag to tell people what you think about them, without them having any idea what you’re talking about… Unless they’re a robot. And that’s because the bag says "F*ck You" in binary! Robots speak binary! Get my joke? Though I’m going to guess the bag will be sold out by the time you read this (there’s only one of them available), RedPaperRecord is happy to print the lovely little message on a shirt, or in a different color. May I suggest requesting a computer cosey? And if you don’t like that suggestion, you can go 01100110011101010110001101101011001000000111100101101111011101010111001001110011011001010110110001100110. [$14, Etsy] [Via Thoughts From the Sidelines] Read More... Posted Feb 29 2008, 12:30 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: Bags, geeky, Etsy

• Compartmentalize Your Life

  [$95, MoMA Store]  Some people have trouble keeping their home life and work life separate. Me? I have the same problem, but how am I expected to be able to tackle it when I have enough trouble keeping the chap stick from the lip gloss from the cell phone? Read More... Posted Feb 28 2008, 11:30 AM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: design, Accessories, Bags

• Retro Arcade: NES Back-Pack

  I was at the airport the other day*, and right in front of me at the x-ray machine was a guy who must have had, at least, 40 Playstation 2 games sitting in a bin. I know, in general, you need to remove laptops and other electronic devices from your bag. But I’ve sent my PSP through the X-ray doohickey plenty of times with no problems. This is ignoring, of course, the fact that he had 40 Playstation games in his back-pack that he was taking on the plane with him. The exciting conclusion of my story, after the jump. Oh, and info on the above back-pack... Read More... Posted Feb 20 2008, 10:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: Retro Arcade, Bags