Who would have known that the way a woman carries her clutch bag or wristlet is telling of her age.

According the online definitions, the correct way to carry a clutch purse is “in the hand”. For wristlets, you must strap the band that it comes with the purse around your wrist. In conclusion, they are both supposed to be carried in or around the hand.

Or…. must they?

For my 22nd birthday (I told everyone I was 21 last year so I must be 22 this year for consistency's sake), I received a Coach purse from The Sister. Well, I asked for a regular purse but this turns out to be much bigger and it came with that band thing for you to wrap it around the wrist. Furthermore when the band is removed, it turns into a clutch. The short of the long story is, I got a wristlet/clutch thingamajid (let’s just call it “The Thing”).

The Thing is very cute. I never had one like these before. Whenever I go partying, I normally wear a waist pouch like a DVD seller. I showed off The Thing during my 22nd birthday dinner and everyone (i.e. the gay boys) ooh-ed and ahh-ed at how cute it is and how it made me look my "fake" age.

After my birthday dinner, we went to Taboo, the gay club, to embark on a champagne journey.

One bottle.. two bottles… three bottles….

“HAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHHAHAHAH!” the gay boys suddenly laugh.

Frou: What? What? What is so funny?
Gay Boys: OMG. Look at you!
Frou: Look at me what?
Gay Boys: Look at how you carry your purse!
Frou: What’s wrong with the way I am carrying it?
Gay Boys: Darling! Didn’t you tell us you are 22?
Frou: (defensively) I AM 22!
Gay Boys: Then why are you carrying your purse like a 50 yr old ah sum? You look like one of those aunties in the wet market haggling the price of kai lan!

Apparently, no respectable 22 year old will kiap their purse under the armpit in a club.

But.. but... I don't have a spare hand! How else am I supposed to carry champagne flute in one hand, wave the other hand in the air and shimmy to Kylie Minogue at the same time, right? Under the armpit is the obvious solution.

I bet they don’t have an issue with good looking men kiap-ing their clutch purse under the armpit like this dude here…