vanity

[GoesStation]

It was always a "toiletries kit" in my family, but I'm not sure that's a widely-used collocation.

 

[GoesStation]

"Vanity case" was the first word I was taught to describe this sort of bags, but I am not sure if it is used only for make-up and if it is used only by women.
Can we also use cosmetic bag and toilet bag as general terms (used by both sexes and for all types of cosmetics)?

I would understand "vanity case" to be a women's accessory. Don't use "toilet bag"; it sounds like some horrible kind of portable lavatory.

 

[GoesStation]

This unfortunate translation was prominently displayed at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris:

 

[andrewg927]

You can use cosmetics bag, don't forget the s.

GS is right, don't use toilet bag.

I know of vanity box but not vanity case. Other women on this forum might have a better insight.

 

[andrewg927]

It was always a "toiletries kit" in my family, but I'm not sure that's a widely-used collocation.

Some of my friends use it.

 

[emsr2d2]

"Vanity bag" sounds very old-fashioned to me.
When I go away somewhere, I take a "washbag" with me, containing toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, moisturiser, shower gel, razor and comb.
If I used makeup, I'd probably take it in a "makeup bag" or "cosmetics bag". These days, my makeup consists of a black eyeliner and some lip gloss - I just shove them in my pockets.
When I was a teenager, I had a "makeup box" that looked a bit like this (except mine was all silver, not pink).

 

[GoesStation]

This unfortunate translation was prominently displayed at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris:
View attachment 2609

For those who haven't looked at the photo, let me say that you really shouldn't tell an American* you have your bathroom in a bag.

*Thanks, ems.

 

[emsr2d2]

In BrE, it makes perfect sense and isn't at all unfortunate. It simply shows that you can fit all the vital things you normally keep in your bathroom into a single, small bag. A BrE speaker wouldn't look at it twice.
The only thing they got wrong is that they put a space before the exclamation mark.

 

[Meja]

When I go away somewhere, I take a "washbag" with me, containing toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, moisturiser, shower gel, razor and comb.

Can it be also called a "sponge bag"? If it can be called like that, is that a common word?