one of the surest ways to add distinction to a rather ordinary street ensemble is to carry an elegant handbag...but it is also the surest way to downgrade a lovely outfit...by carrying a shabby, cheap or wrong for the outfit handbag...
this practical accessory is so important that it merits a very thoughtful selection...and even a generous share of your clothes budget from time to time...
so what do i mean by this? for example...you walk into a wedding reception...and there she is...a beautifully dressed woman...gorgeous dress...elegant up-do...strappy sexy shoes...and she is carrying her "every-day" handbag...no no no no no! and yes...i've seen this more times than i care to mention...
another item of contention...would be the size of the handbag...yes...size does matter...in proportion to your body size...generally speaking...the size of a handbag should be in proportion with your own...it is just as comical...and needless to add...not very elegant...to see a tiny woman lugging about an enormous satchel...as it is to see a larger woman clutching a tiny purse to her ample bosom...
the larger a handbag...the less dressy it is...the most elegant form of evening bag is certainly a tiny clutch or fitted vanity case...which can practically fit in the palm of your hand...
elegance in handbags is synonymous with quality...and quality...alas...is very often synonymous with expensive...however...one well-made top-quality handbag will outlive three or four cheap ones...and is therefore often a profitable investment in the end...
so...know how to choose the right one for the right occasion and the right ensemble...while it is always shocking to see a sports bag with a dressy outfit...it is quite possible to add formality to a simple dark dress or suit by selecting a handbag that is somewhat dressier than the ensemble...
Great advice. I loathe when people don't change their bags to their outfits! It kills an entire look!
ReplyDeletethank you "style, she wrote" for your comments...you are so right...if someone is going to go to all the trouble of putting a look together...don't stop short of the accessories...
ReplyDeleteOne can never have enough handbags! The only probelm is that I always forget something when transferring from one bag to another. But that could be because I'm am ALWAYS running late!
ReplyDeletei read somewhere that 4 handbags is what one should strive for...i surpassed that =) between everyday handbags...to clutch purses...to vintage...how can one stop at 4?
ReplyDeleteSuch an important post. The wrong handbag really does cheapen the whole look. On the other hand, a simple classic look can easily be made fresh and new with the right bag. Now I'm inspired to buy a new spring bag which I so desperately need.
ReplyDeleteI'm a handbag fanatic. I'm like a moth to a flame in any store with a handbag department. Unfortunately, I do have a taste for the expensive. You're so right, a handbag can make or break an outfit. I too have seen that woman at a wedding all dressed up with her everyday bag.
ReplyDeletegreat comments ladies! and the thing to remember as well...is a great handbag can be that one thing that livens up an otherwise plain outfit...this is usually how i work my clutch purses in...a little bit of whimsy, or pop of color!
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