by Josie
(London)
I am a cool summer and tend to wear soft blues, blue-greens, greys and rose pinks when the weather is warmer, teamed with white or denim. I always have problems choosing a handbag, white ones look cheap, grey is dull, tan is too orange for my colouring. Suggestions please Jane. My daughter is also a cool summer and she has the same problem.
Jane's answer... Thanks for a great question Josie!
When you leave the house you should choose your handbag to complement your outfit, your body proportions and your personal style. The old rule of choosing your bag to match your shoes can be too matchy-matchy, unless your style personality, and therefore the rest of your outfit, is very classic.
However, it is a good idea to tie your handbag into your outfit in some way. These ways include...
- Color
- Texture theme
- Pattern theme
- Material type
In addition, the level of formality of your outfit and your handbag should be similar. For example, a more structured leather bag to go with a structured suit; a satin clutch to go with a dressy evening outfit.
And your bag should work with the style personality of your outfit (and therefore your style personality too).
Bearing all this in mind you can see that it is challenging to find just 1 handbag that works for every outfit, season and time of day! At the very least your handbag wardrobe should include 1 day and 1 evening bag. Or, better still, 1 bag for work, 1 for day casual and 1 for evening.
Evening bags and work bags (especially if your work attire is formal or semi-formal) are typically trans-seasonal. However, it's better to have different casual day bags for summer and winter, so that you can have lighter colors and materials for summer and darker colors and heavier fabrics for winter.
If you're going to go for the minimum number of bags go for neutral colors in your best color range, that don't stand out too much (so people don't realize you only have 1 or 2 bags).
Summer handbag ideas for cool summer season coloring
So, for your (and your daughter's) cool summer coloring (also referred to as cool and muted) I suggest the following (all examples from Marks and Spencer):
Light to medium neutral colors
Such as your lighter browns, taupes, greys and off-white. Or even a medium navy. To save these looking boring, look for bags with some texture, or a mix of texture and smooth. To prevent them looking cheap, look for good quality leather with good quality finishes.
Other colors
You can also choose any of the other light to medium colors in your cool summer range. Muted sorbet colors such as icy lemon, light apple green, and creme-de-menthe should work well where the colors you say you tend to wear. You could also add a statement with one of your stronger, brighter colors, such as deep rose pink (see the example in evening bags below).
Ideas for evening bags
For evening choose a clutch (with or without strap) in a metallic silver finish, or an off-white satin or silk finish. A white, and light grey snake skin print could also work well for you; or a floral pattern where the majority of colors are in your range; or a statement color like this deep rose pink one.
Hopefully I've managed to give you some ideas!
Bending your color "rules"
Since a handbag is carried away from your face, you can choose a color outside of your best range. To make this work most successfully choose one with a matt or sheen surface (rather than shiny) in a medium-light to medium-dark contrast level to your outfit, with a fine texture. A color that is more cool than warm will also work best.
Other considerations when choosing a handbag
- Choose a size appropriate for your body scale -- find out about body scale here
- Where it comes on your body -- the aim of everyone is to balance to an hourglass body shape. If you have large hips don't wear a shoulder or cross-body bag that sits on your hips. If you have a large bust, don't carry your bag under your arm and, if it's on a strap, make sure it sits lower than you bust level. If you don't have much waist definition, don't carry your bag at that position
- Practical size considerations -- will it fit what you'll typically carry in it? If you're not sure, try loading it with those items before you buy it to make sure
Related Articles
- The Magic of Accessorizing
- "The Finishing Touch" ebook teaches you everything about accessorizing. See my review of the ebook here
- Developing Your Personal Style
FAQs
Light Blue. As spring and summer roll around, pastel shades become more and more prevalent – especially light blue. A light sapphire is a gorgeously soft, cool shade that lends itself perfectly to sophisticated and delicate handbags.
What should your handbag match? ›
In years gone by, it's always been the rule that your bag should match your outfit in terms of colour and design. This can be done by pairing similar colours, such as a green bag with an earthy palette or a pastel toned bag with a grey outfit. You'll also want to ensure you match the style to the occasion.
What type of handbag suits me? ›
If you are petite, you should pick a small handbag. It's bad idea to carry a large handbag that will look disproportionally in comparison to your body. If your body type is tall and/or heavy-built, you'd better choose a large handbag. Small ones will only further accentuate your large body.
What color bag goes with everything? ›
Classic Neutrals
Neutral shades like black, beige, taupe, and gray remain the best handbag color contenders. Their timeless appeal and versatility make them go-to choices. Black exudes sophistication, while beige and taupe add warmth and elegance.
What colour handbag is the most versatile? ›
Most Versatile Bag Colors
- Light Grey: Elegant and understated, light grey is the ultimate team player. ...
- Pinky Taupe: A little pink, a little taupe, a whole lot of style. ...
- Merlot: For those who like a rich, warm tone, merlot is a winner. ...
- Tan: Classic and timeless, tan goes with everything from jeans to dresses.
Continue scrolling for seven handbag colors that go with everything.
- 01 of 07. Cherry Red. Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images. ...
- 02 of 07. Silver. Raimonda Kulikauskiene/Getty Images. ...
- 03 of 07. Lilac. Edward Berthelot/Getty Images. ...
- 04 of 07. Chocolate Brown. ...
- 05 of 07. Pink. ...
- 06 of 07. Bottega Green. ...
- 07 of 07. Aqua Blue.
While there's nothing wrong with a matching shoes and purse look, you can create even more layers to your outfit with accessories when you bend the rules a bit over being matchy-matchy. Pick a tone or texture from your outfit to complement or contrast.
How many handbags should a lady have? ›
So go ahead and indulge yourself with that bag you've been admiring, because ultimately, there isn't a predetermined limit on the number of bags one should own. How many purses do you need? As many as you want, so long as you're sensible and don't go beyond what you can store, use, and afford!
Should your purse match your shoes or your dress? ›
The fashion rules have changed: nowadays, the obligation to wear shoes and bags of the same color has lapsed. However, despite the risk of looking a bit plastered and dusty, going classic is never wrong. Choose the classic color combination between shoes and a bag if you wear a bright or sparkling dress.
What is the new handbag rule? ›
Passengers will now be able to carry just one handbag, apart from a list of exemptions detailed in the circular notified by BCAS. The move has been taken in order to reduce congestion at airports and also improve the time needed for security checks.
As just mentioned, today fashion has so rapidly freed itself from rules that wearing a shoe with a bag in the same color is a thing of the past. However, this classic still applies! The combination of shoes and bag is still a perfect option for your outfit.
How do I match my purse to my outfit? ›
Go Get That Bag
When it comes to colors, be sure to choose colors with contrasting (yet complementary) or slightly different hues. For example, don't carry a bag in the exact same shade of fire-engine red as your dress. But if you do want to rock a monochrome look, go for a bag in a darker or lighter shade.
How do you know if a handbag is good quality? ›
Hardware. The quickest way to tell the overall quality of a bag is in the hardware. Distinct hardware shapes are a good indicator of quality because it means they were specifically made for the brand, or for the specific bag that you are looking at.
Is it okay to carry a black purse in summer? ›
People like to wear light colors in the summer, but carrying a black handbag this season is possible. You can nail it with different outfits effectively. Whether wearing a cozy sundress or a pastel jumpsuit, carrying a black handbag with these outfits will help you attain. An attractive and stunning personality.
Can I use a brown purse in summer? ›
Perfect not only for leisure but also for work, school or university. Natural fabrics, white clothes and Your image will be completed by a brown handbag. This kind of look is real salvation on a hot summer day. If Your closet dominates black clothes, diversify your wardrobe with a brown handbag.
What color to wear during summer? ›
One should wear light color clothes for examples white, yellow, orange, sky blue, etc under sun and heat. Avoid wearing dark colors like black, which absorbs more light and heat wherein white color reflects light which results in less absorption of heat.
