Ladies carry a purse or no purse?

Purse. I'd rather not, but too often can't get away with no purse.

knapsack

No purse unless I'm on a road trip.

Always. Especially now that I'm no longer a driver, and everywhere I go is now on foot or on a pushbike. I need things with me on my person, that can't just be left in a car because I don't have one; and there aren't enough pockets in anything.

I carry:

Money purse/wallet with my debit cards, my ID, business cards of cab company etc.
Tissues for a sneezy/runny nose
Pen
Housekeys
A small notebook for my wildlife spotting
Two large plastic "use it for life" shopping bags folded up in the corner of my purse, for anything I might need run in to a shop and pick up some things. Again, with no car to just dump something on the seat, I need to carry them home in something.
Reading glasses.
My compact camera that has as good specs as a full sized DSLR camera, because I'm always looking for an interesting image to photograph. I always carry a real camera on me, and I don't have a smartphone.
My non-smart cell phone.

I don't carry makeup around. I put a minimal bit on here and there in the morning and don't care about it the rest of the day.

When I used to be a driver, lived in a "driving" city, and never ever walked or took public transportation, I still carried a purse but even left it hidden/locked in the car a lot while running in with just a wallet/cards. Left stuff like tissues, notebooks in the car. Really only needed bank cards on my person.

But it's different when you live in a walking /public transportation city like I do now. You need to bring with you whatever you'll need for the day.

A purse. It's not even a matter of vanity; just seems safer to keep your keys and money/credit cards on your person and it's weird carrying them around in your hands.

Backpack purse made of kevlar (though I wouldn't stake my life on it protecting me from bullets). When traveling to another country, I have a special purse that has only one zipper and I keep close.

I’m from old school...and I mean old! I recently flew to Florida & back. I had a carry-on, a personal item, and checked luggage which contained my handbags. My personal item was a small train case which would hold my iPad, meds, candy, tissues, driver’s license, around $20 & lipstick. The folks who picked me up decided to stop and eat. I had no handbag which made me feel lost! I couldn’t pay for my meal, but being dear lifetime friends they picked up the tab. I have always carried a handbag so the 10 Brahmins I own will go with me when I leave this earthly place. ☺️

I carry a purse. I don't like jeans, and a lot of women's pants don't have pockets, or pockets that can hold my wallet and keys without looking ridiculous.