Finding a Purse Organizer

The Idea

Many modern purses have a boxy, bulky shape with few, if any, pockets. Often, these purses are much taller than they are wide, which means they become deep, black holes when you're searching for something. Small items tend to rattle around in the bottom of the bag, while larger items float to the top of the pile and further obscure your view. Purse organizer manufacturers found this to be exasperating and decided to take action. Purse organizers are designed to do just what their name implies: organize your purse so you can find things quickly.

Purse organizers are typically made of a stiff fabric so they hold themselves upright. They have many separate pockets to hold multiple small items such as credit cards, phones and pens. Each item has its own pocket, so it's easy to find. The center of the purse organizer typically is open, so larger items such as wallets and notebooks can lie flat in the bottom of your purse.

Options

Some purse organizers are made of a rigid fabric such as canvas, and are designed to curl into a tight circle when empty. When they're full of items, they still maintain a circular shape, but the circle is slightly larger. When these organizers are placed in your purse, the circle will mold to the shape of the purse. Organizers such as the Pouchee and the Purseket fit into this model.

Other purse organizers are made entirely of a stiff fabric and include a stiff, square bottom. These organizers also contain pockets along the sides that can be filled with small items such as lip balm and pens. Delicate items such as cell phones and glasses may be slightly safer in a stiff purse organizer rather than a fabric organizer. They're less likely to be crushed or scratched when stiff, rigid sides protect them. The PurseN falls into this category. This design may not be appropriate for use in purses with soft, rounded bottoms as the organizer may flop over.

Purse organizers are available in nearly any color you can think of. Some organizers are made of wild fabrics, so you can quickly spot them in a dark purse, while others have subtle, silky linings you're meant to explore primarily through touch.

Costs and Pricing

Purse organizers range in price from less than $20 to over $50 in 2011. In general, the better the quality of fabric, the higher the price will be. Additional options such as additional key rings or monogramming can add to the price. Purse organizers are sold nearly everywhere that purses themselves are sold. The items have received a large amount of coverage in women's magazines and television shows and have become immensely popular as a result.

Most purse organizer manufacturers provide a variety of sizes to choose from. Pick your sizes carefully. Purse organizers that are stuffed to capacity become bulky and just as difficult to use as an overcrowded purse. Similarly, purse organizers that are only partly full of items tend to collapse and bend, making it difficult for you to see inside your purse.

How to Use

It may take some practice to use your purse organizer. Spend time filling it with your items and make sure you're happy with your organizational system. It will do you no good to buy an organizer if you don't create a workable plan and stick to it. As you remove items from your purse, put them back exactly where you found them. Over time, you'll develop muscle memory about where you store certain items, and finding them and putting them back will become second nature.

Most purse organizers have handles, which allow you to pick up the organizer and quickly remove it from one purse to place inside another. Make a habit of transferring your organizer to your new purse every time you make a switch. Once again, this will help you learn where you're storing items and will help keep you from leaving important items behind in your old purse.