October 20, 2006
Style Friday
Because I have a lot of time on my hands these days, I Googled “Fashion Friday” and lo and behold, I’m not as original as I thought. Style Friday, on the other hand, only turned up a newspaper in Glasgow, Scotland, and an on-line betting site, so Style Friday it is. Hooray!
Welcome to Style Friday. Let’s talk about your bag.
I love handbags. I do not believe that a woman can own too many handbags. I am, however, surprised by how many women are carrying the wrong handbag–wrong size, wrong season, wrong material. Your bag is more than just a home for your cell phone; it’s an integral part of your wardrobe. The wrong bag can completely undermine an outfit. It’s time to ditch the wrong bag and find one that really works for you.
Think first about size, both the size of the bag and YOUR size. A good rule of thumb is this: bigger women can carry bigger bags, and vice versa. If you are petite, a very large tote can easily overwhelm you; by the same token, a teeny tiny bag can make a larger woman look even larger. If you are on the small side, stick with smaller bags; if you need a tote, chose one that is long rather than wide. If you are larger, particularly if you are big-chested, avoid little bags that tuck under your armpit; for evening, go with a beautiful hand-held bag, and for daytime chose something with a little substance.
Next, think about function. What will you be doing while you are toting this particular bag? What will you be putting inside it? For example, if you are spending most of your day with a potty training child, you probably need a bag big enough to carry a change (or two) of clothes. If you are child-free during the day, you can opt for something smaller. If you are the type of person who really CAN leave the house during the day with just a cell phone and a lipstick, go with a small bag all the time. I fall somewhere in the middle; I only rarely carry anything child-related any more, but I need my Filofax and my wallet and three pocket packs of Kleenex and a whole makeup bag of I don’t know what all.
I am partial to a medium sized tote or hobo for everyday, because I always seem to have a lot of stuff in my bag. I also prefer something with an open top, so that I can easily find my cell phone and car keys, but if you are travelling, you might want something that closes, to keep your things from falling out in the security checks. Finally, I like a bag that I can sling over my shoulder, leaving my hands free for coffee and tethering my children in parking lots.
For evening, I am all about the embellished clutch or very small shoulder bag. I really like the idea of a bag you can hold in your hand–think how stylish and sexy Carrie Bradshaw’s clutches were–but if you prefer to keep both hands free–say, to hold a drink and shake hands with Important People–look for a bag with a SHORT shoulder strap, something that tucks up in your armpit. Do not–DO NOT–chose an evening bag with a waist-length strap. Also, steer clear of bags with “rope” handles (you know what I mean); they look cheap. Instead, look for a bag with a chain strap, or a strap that matches the material of the bag itself. I have a small beaded bucket bag with a short beaded strap. Lovely.
When you shop for a bag, think about what you will be wearing when you carry it. If you are shopping for a winter bag, put a big coat on and THEN pick the bag up. A hobo that fits snugly over your t-shirt-clad shoulder may NOT go over the shoulder of your winter coat. When you are looking at tote bags, test the weight; put your existing bag inside the new bag and walk around the store. This will give you a sense of how the bag will look and feel when it’s fully loaded. Carry a clutch in your hand as you browse. Are you comfortable with it, or do you find yourself constantly tucking it up in your armpit?
Regardless of what you are carrying, don’t overload your bag; it’s bad for the bag and it’s not pretty. If you find that you are jamming a million things into your teeny bag, either get rid of some of the things or get a bigger bag.
Some of you, I know, are mommies of smaller kids, those who still need diapers and wipes and extra clothes and sippy cups and . . . . You should be extra cautious about overloading your bag. I see moms everywhere who are either carrying a diaper bag that is bursting at the seams or toting TWO separate bags, one for the baby and one for the mommy. This is just silly; for starters, you don’t have to take EVERYTHING with you every time you leave the house. When Henry was a baby, I carried my own Tylenol, everywhere, JUST IN CASE, and I never once needed it. However, it did leak all over the diaper bag on more than one occasion. Think carefully about what you really REALLY need; you can always keep spare diapers and another change of clothes in your car or tucked in the stroller basket (if you’re a walker and not a driver). Keep the stuff in the diaper bag to a minimum, just like you would with any other bag.
Then there is the whole dilemma of the diaper bag itself. You aren’t required to carry a bag that looks like a diaper bag; there are some really great bags out there, many of which don’t look at all like baby gear. Look for a bag that resembles something you would carry if you DIDN’T have a baby; Target has a nice selection of diaper bags, many of which look like cool totes (in other words, they are not embroidered with bunnies. Avoid the bunnies). Or skip the waterproof diaper bag all together and choose a tote that accomodates everything you need. I found that I never used most of the stuff that makes a diaper bag a Diaper Bag–the Attached Waterproof Pouch, for example, wasn’t big enough for Henry’s dirty clothes. I carried ziplock bags and stashed icky things in them. Whatever you do, though, don’t carry more than one bag; if you want to keep your things separate from the baby’s, store them in a small clutch that you can pull out on its own.
Finally, this: I don’t think that you need to spend a fortune on a handbag; in fact, I tend to steer clear of very high-end bags, because INEVITABLY those damn antibacterial hand wipes will leak all over the lining, and that stuff does NOT come out. HOWEVER, I do think that very VERY low end bags–those made of Clearly Not Natural Materials–should be avoided at all costs. Fake leather is a big NO, girls. Fake ANYTHING, actually. Shop end-of-season sales and look for classic styles; I’ve bought a couple of bags at the Gap recently for about a third of their original price; two were leather and one was a lovely suede. Don’t be afraid to buy a nicer bag, don’t be afraid to take proper care of it, and don’t be afraid to retire it when it gets sad looking. Just be sure it’s the right bag for your life and your style.
Just for fun, send Sheryl a picture of the contents of your bag for the In The Bag gallery. Be sure to let me know so that I can go gawk at your stuff! Because that’s the best part.
Posted by Susan @ 5:32 am • Uncategorized
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October 20th, 2006 at 7:33 am, chris Says:
I need you to be my personal shopper. Please?
October 20th, 2006 at 7:37 am, Abbey Says:
This brought up another style question I have. What coat with what outfit, and how to look good in your coat. Thanks for all the advice. So far, my closet is much emptier and I look better for it.
October 20th, 2006 at 8:57 am, Candace Says:
We have two options: either you move across the street (it’s for sale! You can TOTALLY overbid the people who are currently trying to buy it) or I can move to your neighborhood. Or maybe I should wait until you move?
Because, see, we have such similar taste. We could expand our accessories by *combining* them. See? I’m brilliant.
Plus, we could have cocktails every day while the kids played. Or destroyed everything. Either way, we’d have alcohol.
October 20th, 2006 at 9:56 am, Candace Says:
p.s. I sent a picture, and it’s also on Flickr.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/95824759@N00/274661833/
October 20th, 2006 at 10:48 am, Melissa Says:
You are so right. Ditch the diaper bag. Just get a cool tote, messenger, anything. But there is no excuse– er, ahem, I mean, no NEED– for vinyl and bunnies.
Now I want a new bag. You make me spend money, woman!
October 20th, 2006 at 2:11 pm, Busy Mom Says:
I knew I hear you type “bag”.
I went to a fashion thing once and they said that the size (width) of your bag should approximate the distance between your hip bones, i.e. measure the bag by holding it in front of you in the “hip” area.
I can apparently carry a suitcase every day.
October 20th, 2006 at 4:03 pm, mad muthas Says:
thank god! someone else who understands bag law - or possibly is a legislator! i’ll have to call back regularly, i can tell.
today, i was mostly using a large pistachio green leather bucket bag, with straps just too short to fit over the shoulder. in is defense, it does have a magnetic clip, four little metal feet and a zippy phone pocket. you?
October 20th, 2006 at 4:14 pm, MommyWithAttitude Says:
Guilty guilty guilty. I am so terrible. I have a black bag and a brown bag… year round until they die.
October 20th, 2006 at 4:46 pm, Susan Says:
Staci, I don’t necessarily think that two bags for the entire year is a problem–UNLESS they are the wrong size or they are worn out or one is a whimsical straw bag (NOT FOR WINTER, girls). I also don’t think that a basic bag wardrobe of brown and black is bad, AS LONG AS the bags are the right size and not seasonal and in good condition (I’m repeating myself, aren’t I?).
For evening, you can always sucker your date/spouse into carrying your stuff, which is what I most always opt for–so much easier, and it forces me to take only a lipstick and cell phone. Because that is ALL Wade is willing to hold for me.
And I LOVE the idea of a pistachio green leather bucket bag. Love.
October 21st, 2006 at 11:48 am, The June Cleaver Diaries Says:
I love the Kate Spade bag (anyone with Kate or Katy as a name is bound to be cool). But it’s out of stock
!!!!!
It’s just as well. I’ll bet it’s one of her $1500 bags.
October 23rd, 2006 at 7:54 pm, Jenorama Says:
I just bought a red hobo. My chest is too big for my other red bag. I am in love with red bags, though. They go with my Keene’s.
I’m with Melissa. I read your blog and then I go buy stuff.
October 24th, 2006 at 6:53 am, Laura Says:
I had a little black hobo style Coach purse from my mother and instead have been carrying a little square bag from my SIL in Japan, which has these lovely Asian flowers all over it. I have gotten more compliments from that bag (including a salesgirl who was relieved that it was from Japan because then she wouldn’t be out at Marshall Fields scouring the aisles for it, and besides, she really shouldn’t be spending the money on a new handbag right now, so THANK YOU JAPANESE PEOPLE! Which was exactly how she talked.)than you would believe. However? Everything gets smushed in it, and I need to find a new one. I am going to consider the tote. Thanks again for the fashion advice!