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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is like most of her millennial counterparts in that she uses social media to share her day to day on The Hill. She was recently featured in a Vogue video where she takes us through her beauty and skin care routines as well as her thoughts on fashion and makeup.
On Sunday, she posted a “what’s in my bag” video on Instagram stories. Her red bag is from Black queer designer Telfar Clemens, who she says is from the same hometown, Lefrac, Queens. AOC pulled out a shawl because it gets cold in the chambers, sunglasses for her walk across the lawn, an eco-friendly glass water bottle, an iPad and her dental kit. All standard for long days I assume but I also expected to maybe see an iPhone, laptop or a tube of red lipstick in her bag. Instead she also had a crap ton of notebooks, five to be exact.
Now I was intrigued as to why she carried so many notebooks and not a cell phone and with a little digging Celebitchy found out that you can’t have mobile phones or laptops on the floor, although tablets are allowed. AOC also admits that she likes to collect stationary, too.
Here’s a few more details from her stories as reported by Jezebel, which also has the video:
On Instagram Stories Sunday, AOC took followers through a tour of her red Telfar bag, which included predictable elements like her eco-friendly water bottle and sunglasses. It also contained her Congressional binder, a “dental bag,” some stationary, and her iPad, “because technology.” Queen of utilitarianism!
Her delve through the recesses of her purse comes on the heels of comments she made last week praising designer Telfar Clemens, the bag’s eponymous creator, after a week in which he made his popular, often sold-out bags available for pre-order caused something like a frenzy. She wrote, on her Instagram Stories: “Fun fact: @telfarglobal is now known as a globally celebrated designer, but did you know this Black, LGBTQ+ designer + founder got their start in Lefrak City, Queens? That’s right! Telfar Clemens is a HOMETOWN HERO.”
I too am a stationary geek as well. I used to carry different colored pens, highlighters and calligraphy pens along with at least two notebooks to write down information. I have actually kept some of them over the years.
I love a politician who stands by their principles. By carrying a glass water bottle, she demonstrated to her followers how just doing these small things helps the environment. She also showed her support for a black queer business owner.
Anyways, enough of my fan-girling. I’m here for physical note-taking.
photos credit: Getty and via Instagram/Jezebel video
Totally with both of you on the stationary love and there’s also research showing that the act of physically writing notes rather than typing helps you absorb/process the information more effectively. Everyone wins plus you get to buy a ton of lovely notebooks and pens!
The studies that show information retention is higher with handwriting is how I just justify buying stationary. And hard copy books cuz you can scribble notes and underline things (in pencil. I had a friend who underlined books with a pen… and I prefer the impermanence of pencil).
Anyhow beautiful stationary just sparks joy for me.
The more senses involved in an act, the better the memory retention because more parts of the body and brain are involved.
I have bunch of pens to underline in my books and I’m never without notebooks and memo pads. Love stationery stores!
I’m a big planner person so I love handwriting notes. Easier to remember, and you know you won’t accidentally delete the note on your phone.
Mostly came here to say I love how AOC shares her experiences as a Congresswoman on social media. She makes it so accessible and I don’t doubt she’s inspired many young people to follow in her footsteps. And in the middle of talking about important stuff, she’ll stop to talk about jewelry or nail polish. I just adore her.
I’m an old school paper notebook person too, that’s just how I organize and remember best. I use different ones for each project, and a set of codes/symbols to indicate to what needs research, followup, when I owe X info for their project, etc.
As someone who has two bookshelves in her home with just notebooks and stationary, I feel you are my kindred spirit and I feel seen.
Thought this was just my occupational hazard. Discovered Martha Stewart’s collection in Office Depot last week.. beautiful and chic. She forgot about the fine point pens especially in fun colors
I LOVE stationary and also have saved all my notebooks and sketchbooks over the years. Being able to revisit handwritten ideas really helps me connect with my creative practice.
I assume her red lipstick is in her makeup bag 💄 but she did say she’s love the Stila one cuz it requires no touch ups… so maybe she really means NO touch ups.✨
Thanks for the heads up. Just curious, what was the .01 time you were incorrect?
I would love to compare her notes to the notes of other Congresspeople. Jim Jordan’s is probably just some drawings of boobs.
@ Mumbles. Ummmm…..well, there was….let me get back to you. I have to check my notes. 🙂
Ha. I’d guess Gym doesn’t take notes. Someone probably gives him his talking points every day.
I love notebooks and stationary, too. I recently started a new job and after a couple months of different methods of taking notes and making to-do lists I think I’ve landed on an old school composition notebook. I also tend to do most of my work notes in pencil. I feel like I write better and more neatly with a certain type of pencil than a pen, lol. And when I do use a pen, I abhor ball points. Felt tip is the only way I roll.
Amazing how my comment got erased.
What struck me was the bit about the stationery section of the grocery store. There was a time when whole shops were devoted to stationery. Sigh. I miss those shops, I’d browse & buy all the time.
All her recent instastories have been fantastic. How she preps for committee hearings, her supplies, her team, media approach, etc. Demystifying it and showing the behind the scenes stuff is one of the biggest things she can do to encourage people to run for office. You don’t need to be a 60 year old white guy with an Ivy league law degree to be in congress.
I LOOOOOVE stationary too. The notebooks with the cute inspirational sayings or references to the outdoors or travel are the ones I go with. I imagine all the subjects I could write about and when I get home, i just always go back to noting itinerary travel ideas and recipes. And now, i also obsess on the pretty files with sparkly gold details or the newest fashion colors for folders. I love paper products.
Anyone else want to see the fabulous layout of the House notebook? And are they available to plebes? Because AOC + stationery = my forever jam.
It’s Lefrak City, Queens.