Five facts that make shortlisting easier
- Each of the six folders holds twelve or thirteen published photos, so a first pass through one folder is a bounded read rather than an endless scroll.
- The tote folder splits three Balenciaga photos against nine Chanel photos, which means two clearly different structure families sit in one place.
- The shoulder folder runs the other way: eleven Balenciaga against a single Chanel, so brand variety has to come from outside that folder.
- The mini folder repeats one body shape across several finishes, which is the fastest way to shortlist a colour rather than a model.
- Folders are grouped by how the bag is carried, so one shortlist can hold a tote, a shoulder bag and a mini without leaving the same site.
Number the options instead of describing them
Once three photos are saved, label them one, two and three in order of preference. A numbered list removes the ambiguity that appears when two photos of similar black bags travel together without labels.
If an option turns out not to be in the folder, the numbering has already told the other side which direction to move in, because the second and third choices are on the same list.
Keep the three options in different lanes
A shortlist works best when the three are not variations of one idea. A structured tote, a slouched shoulder bag and a compact mini cover three different ways to carry the same everyday contents.
- One structured option, for the days the bag has to sit upright.
- One soft option, for the days it is carried close to the body.
- One small option, for when a phone, cards and keys are the whole load.
What one message has to carry
The three photos, the colour you prefer for each and the quantity. Adding a fourth line with the country of delivery closes the message; without it, the same questions come back before anything can be confirmed.
Shortlist questions
How many options should go in one message?
Three. Fewer leaves no fallback if the first choice is not in the folder, and more turns the reply into a comparison exercise instead of a short answer.
Should the options be from the same brand?
Not necessarily. Because folders are grouped by how a bag is carried, a shortlist that starts in the tote folder can finish with a mini from another brand, as long as all three photos travel in one message.