Cato van Ee is a model at Paparazzi, alternates living in New York and Amsterdam, and flies all over the world for job after job after job. During my visit to New York, we met for tea and a chat, and also took a peek into her bag.

Which bag do you carry the most?

“I always travel with hand luggage so I have a wardrobe in New York and one in the Netherlands, and then I only have a small bag from Rebecca Minkoff with me. Everything fits perfectly in there, it's really the perfect size. I never carry large bags during the day because I like to have as little as possible with me.”

How many bags do you have?

“Hmm, about 15. Some of them are gifts but there are also plenty that I bought myself. In the collection, among others, a small Rika bag, a very nice Alexander Wang bag, and a really nice one from & Other Stories. Oh, and one from Smaak.”

Do you wear them all?

“No, I'm the type that if I have something new, I wear it completely out right away. Except for a few good ones that are good forever.”

First designer bag?

“Oh yes, that was really exciting. I was 18 and went shopping with my modeling agency, and then saw a black leather Chloé bag that I just had to have. And I still wear it every day because I always travel with it. It's quite large and therefore the perfect size for the airplane. And it has also always remained beautiful, that black leather has only gotten more beautiful. So you can really see that it was a good investment.”

Organized?

“Yes, very organized. Everything has a fixed place. Passport, wallet, keys, phone, everything is always in the same spot. And I have to be because I travel so much, otherwise I would go crazy. I am really very tidy.”

Do they stand at home on an altar or just somewhere in the corner?

“Well, they don't go in a dust bag or anything, but I always put them down somewhere. Someone once told me that you shouldn't put bags on the ground because then you lose money, that's a kind of wisdom. But since then I never put them on the ground, I've really developed a tic about it.”

What do you always have in your bag?

“I always have lip balm from Hurraw! with me and gum. Oh and earplugs!”

And what's on your wishlist now?

“Yes, I would really like a real Céline bag. The one with the flaps, the Trapeze Bag. And of course there are more bags that I just find very beautiful, but I don't necessarily need a Birkin or something later. It's not that a bag necessarily makes you happier.”

Does a bag open doors?

“At castings for sure, yes. I remember when I just started modeling that I was told: “Look like a million, make ten million.” That is somewhat true, as a model you are your own business card. So if you look great, they don't have to come up with anything else and they think, ah yes, that looks good. That Chloé bag, for example, always does very well at castings. I earned it back with work.‘