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Choosing the Correct Handbag

 

The early predecessors of today's handbags have been around since the 1600's and were small practical bags made out of common materials such as leather and sturdy fabric, fastened with drawstring closures . Today we appreciate handbags as more than just practical conveniences in which to keep our most pertinent items. They have become fashion accessories, decorative supplements to one's outfit that add color, style and sophistication, but also having practical functions such as carrying our very necessary lipstick, cell phone and keys.

The choices in handbags today are astounding! Bags come in every imaginable shape, size, color, and material - textured and smooth, bearing zippers, snaps, hardware, buckles, draw strings, straps and handles. They may have multiple sections to keep our belongings in order or just one large compartment.

So how do you decide which bag or bags is right for you? Choosing the appropriate handbag can accomplish several things: it can help you make the fashion statement you desire; it can simply add a complimentary detail to the outfit you are wearing or it might be a matter of providing the carrying capacity that you need for that given day or event.

In any case it pays to take the time to choose the best possible handbag that fits your current needs and means not just grabbing whatever bag is lying around.

To start with, if you still have the same handbag you used in high school, you are probably completely out of the handbag loop and need to open your eyes to all the possibilities in handbags that are available today. You just may find that there is a perfect bag just waiting for you.

There are literally hundreds of bags to choose from these days and you may want to buy several that provide you with the options you need for days and evenings. A new bag may also enlighten your clothing/wardrobe options, play off your favorite shoes and other accessories and in general shift your overall appearance to a more coordinated look.

If you have a favorite "power" outfit it is always advisable to have a handbag to go with it that enhances and does not detract from the outfit. The first step after looking through the many handbag styles available is to determine what the usage of the handbag will be. Is this a daily handbag that must coordinate with many outfits and accessories? Will this be bag for a special event like a party, a wedding, or a reunion? Is this bag specifically for one of two outfits? Or is it strictly seasonal? What are you planning to carry in it? Do you need a bag large enough for several items with special compartments?

The planned usage of a handbag determines many of the practical applications that should be considered and brings into focus the rest of the questions you need to answer before making your purchase. If this is a seasonal bag the weather will come into play, i.e.: if it is a bag for winter use it should not be suede, nor a fabric that will easily absorb moisture. It should be water proof or at least water repellent.

Next comes the style of handbag and here there are several considerations. What style is most appealing to you? Do you prefer a trendy pocketbook or a more serviceable handbag? Do you want a clutch bag or one with a shoulder strap? What style of bag actually fits your body type? Yes, your body type! This is after all an accessory, so choose several styles that you find attractive and stand in front of a mirror just like you would if you were buying a new pair of pants. How does the purse fit with your body type? Does it accentuate the right attributes and detract from the flaws? Make sure it does not draw attention to the areas you are least comfortable with.

The way the handbag fits your body will also depend on the strap type, where it is designed to hang or sit, etc., plus of course is the bag itself comfortable? Do the straps stay put or fall off your arm or shoulder? Imagine it with the weight of your current handbag's contents and determine whether it will carry the load comfortably or not.

Now that you have determined style you will need to set a budget for the handbag purchase. This will also determine where you shop and whether you choose a designer bag or a knockoff. If this is a short term, trendy or seasonal purchase you will want to consider spending less money than on a handbag that you are planning to keep for years. If this purchase will be a long term handbag for you, you may consider a more expensive brand and/or a designer bag comprised of higher quality materials, since the composition and quality of manufacture will determine the bags overall longevity .

When you find the handbag you can't live without that fits your needs and your budget, buy it! It may not be there next week and you will surely be disappointed if you lose it.

 

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