It really wasn't that long ago that a fanny pack felt like something you'd wear as part of an '80s costume — or because somebody in charge of the family vacation decided everyone needed somewhere to keep their park tickets.
Then apparently we all remembered that having a small bag strapped to your body is extremely convenient.
And just like that, fanny packs were back.
These days, there isn't even one standard way to wear one. Around your waist is still an option, obviously, but you'll see them slung across chests, over shoulders, across backs, and just about everywhere else a strap will allow.
So if you like the convenience but aren't quite sure how to wear one with what you already own, you've got options.
Yes, you can still wear it around your waist
Let's start with the obvious one.
Wearing a fanny pack around your waist is what the bag was originally designed to do, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with sticking with it.
It keeps everything right where you can reach it and leaves your hands completely free. It's especially useful when you're walking around a market, traveling, running errands, or doing anything else where you don't want to keep track of a purse.
Where you position it can change the look, too. Wear it centered in front, shift it slightly to one side, or turn it toward your hip.
And no, wearing it this way does not automatically make you look like someone's dad at Disneyland.
The white sneakers and matching family T-shirts are a separate decision.
Wear it across your chest
This is probably the biggest reason fanny packs stopped feeling like such a throwback.
Lengthen the strap, buckle it around you, and wear the bag diagonally across your chest. You get the same hands-free convenience, but it reads much more like a small crossbody bag.
It also keeps everything directly in front of you, which is handy when you're somewhere crowded or constantly reaching for your phone, wallet, or keys.
Depending on what you're wearing, you can keep the bag fairly close to your body or loosen the strap and let it sit a little lower.
This is also an easy way to make the bag itself more visible — particularly when you've chosen one in a print that deserves to be seen.
Or flip it around to your back
Same idea, different direction.
A fanny pack worn across your back has an almost mini-sling-bag feel. It's out of the way while you're walking around, but you can slide it forward when you need something.
I probably wouldn't choose this position if I were somewhere particularly crowded and wanted to keep a close eye on my belongings, but for everyday wear, it's an easy option.
It also works well when you want the convenience of a crossbody without having the bag sitting directly across the front of your outfit.
Throw it over one shoulder
You don't necessarily have to buckle a fanny pack around yourself at all.
With the strap adjusted appropriately, you can sling one over your shoulder and carry it more like a small shoulder bag.
Is that technically how a fanny pack is supposed to be worn?
Who cares?
One of the nice things about a small bag with an adjustable strap is being able to move it around depending on what you're doing. Wear it across your chest while you're walking around, then throw it over your shoulder when you're somewhere you don't need it secured against you.
Your bag does not know you're breaking the rules.
Let the print do the styling
You also don't need to build an entire outfit around the fact that you're wearing a fanny pack.
Sometimes the easiest approach is jeans, a T-shirt, and a fun bag.
A bright aloha print can add color to something simple. A darker or more understated print can work with an outfit that already has plenty going on. A solid or textured fabric can keep things quieter if that's more your style.
That's part of why I like making fanny packs in so many different fabrics. The exact same bag can feel completely different depending on the print.
And because they're relatively small, they're also an easy place to wear something a little bolder than you might choose for a larger bag.
Wear it however it works for you
There really isn't a correct way to wear a fanny pack anymore.
Around your waist. Across your chest. On your back. Over your shoulder. High, low, centered, off to the side.
The best part of the fanny pack comeback isn't that someone decided they're fashionable again. It's that we collectively realized they're useful and then started wearing them however we wanted.
So buckle it wherever it feels comfortable, put your stuff in it, and go.
We've come a long way from the family vacation uniform.
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