I believe in the power of the handbag. Look no further than Kerry Washington’s portrayal of Olivia Pope on Scandal – add the right handbag and she’s not just a brilliant mastermind in pantsuit, she’s a brilliant mastermind who doubles as a fashion icon for working girls everywhere (even while wearing a whole lot of pantsuits).
But a good handbag isn’t just a style statement, it’s also a bit of a lifesaver, a trusted companion, a thing that has the power to make your life easier. Figuring out the perfect price point of a bag isn’t easy, though. Opting for a cheapie means you run the risk of broken zippers, holes in the lining and general wear and tear. But then what about when you spend too much money on a bag? The convenience factor is just not there when your carryall is a precious thing. I mean, would you toss a pen or a bottle of water into a Birkin? Didn’t think so.
And then of course there’s the matter of knowing how many bags you really need. I use the term ‘need’ loosely here because you probably won’t actually wither and die if you try to make a go of it in this world without a fabulous handbag, but you really are better off with a few options. So let’s take a look at what they are whether you should drop a bunch of cash on each one of keep it cheap.
Elegant clutch: Splurge when you find the right one. If you choose a simple, sophisticated clutch in black, gold, silver or beige, you can use it for years and years. This is the bag you reach for when you’re hitting a fancy dinner, a night at a swanky club, a wedding, a black tie event, a non-black tie event, etc. You should be able to fit your phone and a tube or two of lipstick. Don’t sweat it if your wallet doesn’t fit – the small clutches tend to be more formal.
Work tote: Save on this. You’ll be carrying it every single day and you’ll associate with work (or class) so you’ll probably get sick of it. Get an affordable model so that you can just toss everything in there without worrying about. Opt for a huge one and stash everything from your computer to some gym clothes in this baby.
Statement clutch: Unlike the elegant clutch, this one is a save. I had a few fun, embellished numbers in college that I scored for like, $15 a piece, They looked wartorn about a year after I got them – think holes everywhere, studs falling off, party stains all over – but they really did add a fun punch of color and sparkle to my outfits. Save on these and buy a few of them.
Everyday/weekend bag: This is the largish carryall you take with you to brunch, shopping days, picnics, stuff like that. It’s difficult to answer the ‘splurge or save’ question for this one – I think you shoot for something in between. You will get a ton of use out of a bag like this so don’t feel too guilty if you feel like you’re spending more than you’d like to on it. On the other hand, you don’t want to spend all your free time worrying about how it will fare in a social setting. Something that’s well-crafted but practical is your best bet here.
Crossbody: This falls under the save category in most cases. Crossbodies are fabulous for travel. Buy a medium-sized one that’s durable and practical. It doesn’t have to be beautiful, it just has to free up your hands. It’s like a fanny pack but better.
Splurge or Save: Find Out Which Handbags Are Worth the Investment
