I wouldn't have thought it was so much of an ask. All I wanted was some carry-on luggage that was practical and didn't make me look like a tourist. My requirements were an oversized handbag or tote with a strap long enough to be worn across the body.
Clearly, this was indeed to much to ask. After a week of trawling through every bag store I could find, I had found only one that met my requirements, and I really didn't think it was worth $300.
Instead, I've decided to design and make my own. I often favour crescent-shaped bags (they wrap across the hips much more comfortably than a messenger-bag style), and I have an old one, so I'll start with the pattern for that an enlarge it a bit. I'm also going to significantly widen the strap, firstly to distribute the weight more evenly and secondly because I once saw a woman with what I can only describe as a bag/scarf mix, and thought it was a really novel idea. See below for a basic idea of what it will look like.
I've chosen a blue/gold shot fabric which I think is a poly-cotton. It's not truly ideal -- I would have preferred a darker colour in a more durable fabric, such as cotton drill, but it was the lesser of the various evils in the not-suitable-for-costume-making section of my fabric stash. Besides, it's not all bad. The thinner fabric will drape well across the strap, I can reinforce the bag part with interfacing, and if it gets dirty I can just put it in the wash.
More updates to come as construction commences...
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