When it comes to the best accessory for a woman's wardrobe, the handbag reigns supreme. While a handbag offers obvious practical benefits like being a substitute for the pockets that most dresses lack or an being an easy-to-reach place for storing whatever you use for self-defense, it also provides an aesthetic benefit. Yes, a particularly fetching necklace or bracelet may grab someone's eye, a handbag can do just as good of a job as any accent piece but from a much greater distance.
Even if you agree that a handbag does a wonderful job of bringing an entire outfit together, you may be curious about what sort of design best suits the look you are going for. The rest of this guide will provide an overview of the various kinds of handbag you can buy and tips to bear in mind when looking to buy or carry one with you.
Types of Handbags
There are a huge number of different styles and constructions of handbags that people can choose from. Some of the most popular include:
- Shoulder bag - While the sizing varies, this is great for holding everything you need. Since these work great for casual and professional scenarios, you want one in a neutral color.
- Crossbody - A crossbody bag suits any scenario where you want to keep your necessities handy. Given its great deal of flexibility, consider investing in several different designs with different colors, patterns and shapes.
- Satchel - This is a medium sized bag that usually affixes with two paired short handles or one long strap. Imagine a soft briefcase suitable for storing your books or laptop. Fashionable and functional, these are great for school or the boardroom.
- Tote - This has a large single compartment and no closure. You can find totes in many different materials.
- Evening clutch - These are glorified accessories with limited storage options best used to complement formal attire. Some designs feature shoulder straps or can serve double-duty as a wallet.
- Backpack purse - These have a lot of variance in size but most are suitable for storing tablets and laptops. Consider one if you do a lot of travel, weekend errands or casual outings with friends.
- Wristlet - This compact bag is perfect for storing keys, cards, a bit of makeup and maybe even a smartphone, depending on the design. Just store it on your wrist when you head out to several events, festivities or errands.
- Hobo bag - This large, droopy crescent item is a timeless design suited to just about any event. While stylish, it never conveys a sense of being snooty.
Handbag Selection Tips
Handbags are a lot like shoes, you can always benefit from having multiple options to suit different occasions. There are several points to consider when looking into the purchase of handbags and this section will cover some of the major concerns.
- Quality matters - A handbag is an investment and, just like with any other investment, the more money you put into your bag, the longer it will serve your needs without falling apart. Be mindful that there is also a point of diminishing returns, not just in durability but ostentation. Some bags bear high purchase prices because they are attached to a particular brand or design. You want to optimize quality per dollar paid.
- Stitching - You should make sure that the bag's stitches are symmetrical and consistent within and without. Proper stitching is a sign of thoughtful fabrication and you can feel safe knowing that the bag will endure quite a bit of wear.
- Hardware - These are the fiddly bits like clasps, zippers, stubs, decorations and even the design of the handle. Your clasps should be hassle-free, zippers need to work without resistance, any feet or decorative elements need to look nice and secure and any metallic components should be pristine, free or chips or tarnishing.
- Comfort - You are going to be holding or wearing your bag for a considerable amount of time and that amount of use requires you to feel comfortable handling such an item. A properly designed bag will feel perfectly comfortable and it should never feel awkward when engaging in repetitive motions like reaching for the bag and fishing around for whatever you might be looking for.
