How To Shop For a Handbag

How to shop for a handbag, you ask? It may seem silly; don’t you just shop and choose one that you like?  There is actually much more involved in choosing a good handbag than meets the eye.

Take into consideration whether this is going to be a special-occasion bag or a handbag that you carry with frequency.  If it is the former, you likely have a particular occasion in mind when you set out to go shopping. Is it a black-tie affair, or a wedding?  Are you part of a group that needs to coordinate with others? 

For example, you may be shopping as an attendant in a wedding party, in which case your decision-making is going to be quite limited.  Assuming you have carte blanche to decide and wear what you will, the first thing you need to consider is the event itself and this will guide you to the appropriateness of the handbag.  A good rule of thumb to follow is this:  The more exclusive or formal the event, the smaller the bag.  This is usually true because you will be wearing a gown or dress that you don’t want the bag to take away from in any way.  The second consideration for something formal after the size of the bag is the color. Style and design may vary, but the color will need to be complementary to your outfit and appropriate for the event as well.  You may want to accent the beads or sequins in your gown or dress by choosing a small, formal handbag (in a complementary or matching color, of course) with similar beadwork or sequins or jewels.  A good approach to this is “less is more”.  Don’t overwhelm your bag with jewels, sequins, or beads of the same type as your dress.  A little accent to pick up what’s already on your outfit will be perfect.

If you are not shopping for a formal bag or a special occasion, your selection process becomes more difficult.  For your everyday, more casual handbag, the first question you should ask yourself is “What is its function”?  In other words, are you carrying this bag to tote papers and reports to and from work to read on the train ride home?  Are you purchasing a handbag for run-of-the-mill, on-the-go type errands such as grocery trips and department store shopping and casual meetings with friends?  Or is this a handbag you will be adding to your collection for a seasonal change, to coordinate with a number of coats and boots or a certain summer dress?  These are all considerations to make before purchasing your next handbag.

One way to make the selection process easier is to browse some of your favorite collections online.  While you are probably want to choose your handbag in person so you can really examine it closely, you can at least get an idea for style and color and design by checking out various collections beforehand.  Do you have a favorite designer or maker?  If so, go to their website and look at the newest releases for the season.  Do you have a type of bag (i.e., shape or design) that you generally find yourself purchasing?  If so, you can browse one of the many online stores that carry a multitude of designers, and narrow your handbag search with certain criteria.  For example, if you usually prefer to carry a satchel, you can narrow your search to satchel bags only and view all of the colors and designs in that style.  Once you have an idea of the trends for the season and what you personally best enjoy, you can head out to your favorite shop or boutique and select your next handbag in person.

It may not be critical for you to shop in person if you are comfortable with a certain style of handbag and trusting of its designer.  However, some women find that they like to feel the material, examine the stitching, and carry the bag to test for comfort and carrying ease before they commit to a purchase, especially if the handbag comes with a hefty price tag.

Another reason to view your handbag up close is so that you can speak with your sales associate.  Many times, especially in finer stores, they have inside information as to upcoming sales, upcoming designer trends, and new releases.  You may find that you want to wait to choose your next handbag until the following week if that same bag is going to be on sale for 30% off its original price.  Much as we don’t like the idea, cost can definitely be a factor in shopping for your handbag.

All of these suggestions are useless if you don’t also trust your instinct.  If you are shopping for a handbag and there is one that simply ‘screams out’ at you, chances are that is the right bag!  It is rare to be lucky enough to have this happen, though, and the guidelines here should help you shop for your handbag next time with greater ease.

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