Can you ever make a fanny pack cute?

What do you do when there's absolutely no room in your jeans pocket to squeeze your debit card, it's not safe to wield a giant tote bag, and it's too inconvenient to carry a cute clutch?

It's the ultimate tourist and active lady dilemma -- do you hold tight to your purse and say a little prayer you don't drop your phone in a creek or your traveler's checks aren't lifted, or do you suck it up and strap on a fanny pack with as much dignity as you can muster?

Perhaps one of worst fashion fouls there is, fanny packs serve do serve the purpose of keeping your valuables safely and conveniently on your person. They also serve the purpose of making you look like a tourist carrying a pile of cash and negating any other style you've attempted. The practicality and ginormous plastic clips are a priority to some folks. And although one reality star is adamant that she can rock her pack "Real Housewives"-style and designers have attempted to make fanny packs runway worthy-ish, they inevitably just look like slightly less frumpy fanny packs.

Regardless, made-over fanny packs are clearly not going away. When I paged through this Etsy boutique that's full of ruffly, animal-print, sort of sassy "waist purses" (apparently, the make over also involves NOT calling fanny packs what they really are), I wondered if it really is possible to make these things look cute or at least more acceptable? Am I the only person who thinks this, whether you spend $38 or Gucci prices, is a really lost cause?



Can tartan plaid or a little frill turn a fanny pack into something you'd want to wear to a market, on the plane, or even out and about in your own city?

Would you wear a made-over fanny pack for more than practical reasons?



More on Shine:

• High-fashion makeovers for fanny packs
• The Olsen twins' T-shirt of the month club is awesome
• One fanny-pack alternative
• Gag: human hair necklaces