I have briefly touched on it in my previous blog post (which I encourage you to have a read through by the way ;)) but since the matter is quite serious (and I’m not being sarcastic!) I thought I would share my tips on how to find the perfect handbag. This subject is topical not only during the festive season but all year round.
I’ve spent a good few years on a quest to find a perfect handbag that will not only fit all my “stuff” but also look good. I’m a truly practical person so I value things that generally work for me, including my handbag. And there’s nothing worse than trying to find your train ticket whilst running with the crowds of joyful rush hour commuters, or finding yourself embarrassed at the checkout point with your bag on the floor, frantically trying to locate your payment card (or phone- I recently joined the contactless phone payment gang!). I have been there, I have done that. And I will never do it again. Nor will you if you are willing to take the below steps into considerations whilst handbag shopping. And I promise you, you don’t have to sacrifice fashion over form at all!
So, what makes the perfect handbag and what handbag should I buy, you ask? Well, the perfect handbag, in my opinion, should zip shut. Handbags that snap shut or don't have a closure might work for you but they certainly don’t work for me. And before you say anything I need you to remind yourself all the instances where the entire content of your bag spilled out everywhere, i.e. when sitting next to you on the passenger seat in the car, on the bus, etc. You get my point.
(Do we have anyone here that this not happened to them? Please let me know in the comments section below.)
Bottom line, zipper closure keeps you more organised, and also- safer. There’s no way someone can reach and grab anything that is sitting nicely in your purse when it's zip closed.
When it comes to investing in a bag, size does matter! Beyond the style, the second most important aspect of a forever-in-rotation handbag (and this is your sustainable goal, by the way) is the size. I think the bag should not be too deep, otherwise it becomes a black hole. All your stuff floats to the bottom and stacks on top of each other. This makes it really hard to find what you are looking for.
A bag needs to be able to stand on its own too. It’s a biggie for me. Even though I like the look of hobo bags, functionality is imperative when choosing a handbag.
A purse needs to be lightweight and look nice. I want to make sure that the handbag I buy is durable and timeless.
When perfect handbag shopping, I consider the above factors as well as what colour handbag goes well with everything. And by "everything" I don’t mean everything around you, I mean the colour of the clothes you’re wearing the most. Handbag is a piece of accessory, it should compliment your whole outfit but it also allows you to have a bit of fun too. I understand that black bags are the most commonly used. We are kind of "defaulted" to black ones, which is OK, but there are other great, but there are also other non-season-specific options that don’t bind you to black colour all the time, i.e. camel, tan, and gray are also considered timeless and versatile classics. My little piece of a friendly advice- stay away from white, bone or any lilac shade, which typically requires too much upkeep. Also, to add a little somethin’ to your casual handbag, add a scarf to the handle for a pop of colour or a faux fur pompom for seamless transition into autumn and winter season.
Your handbag shouldn’t get in the way of your lifestyle, it should complement it. There are a lot of elements that go into the decision on what handbag should I buy. Those are very unique to every woman, i.e. their job, things they find useful on the go, how they spend their time, etc. Also, you need to ask yourself, if this purchase if for purpose or pleasure, do you need it or just want it?
Once we’ve made your decision, the fun part begins- shopping. Now, where to buy a handbag? You’ve number of options, starting from an old school boutiques, department stores, high street or the Internet. I do my shopping online. Unlike items of clothing, there’s no worry that the handbag might not fit * (if it’s a crossbody you’re after, please check the strap dimensions though). Pretty much all the clothing and designer stores have their presence online so handbag shopping has never been easier.
Should you shop high street or designer? Well, a designer handbag will stand the test of time, it comes with an unspoken guarantee (as well as an actual warranty policy) on its quality and durability. It is a designer piece not a counterfeit. You won’t see such being worn by mass which makes the handbag more special than any of its fast fashion cousins. Designer bags offer you the best craftsmanship. It is not surprising that a bag is the first place that most women start when entering the world of luxury fashion.
I wholeheartedly support investing in a more durable and sustainable brands. Having said that, I understand that high-end designer bands are out of reach for a lot of us as those would cost you upwards of £1,000, easily. Good news for you, though, there are a lot of emerging designer brands, like FERRON, icon-in-the-making that are providing more affordable luxury pieces. Which is fantastic because that means more women can afford handbags as unique as their personalities.
What are your tips on how to find the perfect handbag? Where do you buy your handbags? Do you invest in designer bags or? What colour handbag, in your opinion, goes with everything?
