Alright guys, it’s time to get serious up in here. As you can tell by the title, today’s post is about bags! As I’m sure you all know by now, they’re my favorite accessory by far. I pretty much collect them – #sorrynotsorry.
I’m all about being sensible, however, I believe smart shopping is all about knowing when to save and when to splurge. Bags, in my humble opinion, are worth the money. We’re going to talk about four must have bags every woman needs today on Sensible Stylista.
1. The Investment Bag
Every girl needs a solid investment bag, one that’ll last them a lifetime. Now, I’m gonna ask you to splurge here. I mean, it’s called an investment bag for a reason. Don’t cut corners, and go for big designers if you can, and “big designers” is obviously relative.
Consider three things when you’re shopping for an investment bag: style, material, and color. Pick a piece that’ll look chic even when you’re 80. I don’t know about you guys, but I don’t have the funds to purchase 40 different designer bags. If you have a limited budget like I do, you’re not going to want to drop a ton of cash on the current “it” bag – it’ll eventually go out of style, and you don’t want to be stuck with an expensive bag you don’t carry.
Moving on to material. I recommend purchasing a leather bag because it’s easier to take care of. Pieces made out of suede and fabric can be a pain to maintain. Color’s also an important factor as mentioned previously. As much as I love bold hues, I recommend a neutral tone like black or brown. White’s also good, but it’s a bit limiting because it’s more of a summer color. I don’t usually like wearing a ton of white in the fall & winter, but that’s just me.
Some amazing investment bags are as follows: the Prada Saffiano Tote, the Hermes Birkin (so out of my price range, but I wanted to list it anyway), and the Chanel Classic Flap. Now, if these are too pricey, other brands like Coach, Michael Kors, Rebecca Minkoff, Kate Spade and Tory Burch carry more affordable versions.
Stylish Investment Bags $50+:
2. The Clutch Bag
If I had it my way, I’d buy 20+ of these in varying prints, colors, and sizes. I’ve acquired 6 or so over the last few years, and none of them were investment buys because I don’t carry them enough to warrant the splurge. They were all $50 and under, which I’d say is budget-friendly.
I typically carry these for formal events and fancy dinners. I recommend purchasing a chic, simple version in gold or silver to start. If you already have a “standard” clutch, don’t be afraid to experiment with different designs! Just make sure you can fit in your basics.
I’ve gotten pretty much all my clutches from Full Line Collection. They have some really great designs available for purchase online so definitely take a look – peep this mesh metal version as a possibility. Don’t see anything you like there? Here are some other fab options for you guys (different price points of course):
Stylish Clutches Under $50:
Stylish Clutches $50+:
3. The Everyday Tote
I call this my Mary Poppins bag because it fits all my essentials and then some! This tote is a must-have for college students and young professionals alike. I have several different versions in my closet: brown, black, gold, animal-print, and LV (my Louis Vuitton).
Purchasing the LV tote was a mistake on my part because I did a bad job taking care of it. It’s all tattered up now so I die a little inside every time I look at it. Luckily, the LV store will patch it up for you. It’ll cost you though so be gentle with your bag!
Not ready to spend hella cash on your tote? No worries. If you’re like me and you fling your everyday tote around, you’ll want to stick with more inexpensive versions anyways because you’ll go through them quickly. Trust me, I’ve learned my lesson from my LV…which I now guard from the rain and keep OFF the floor. I usually place it behind me when I sit down or set it on a chair next to me because it’s clearly a person and deserves its own seat, ha. Kidding…kind of.
In all seriousness, I purchase mine at factory outlets, mainly Tory Burch, Coach and Kate Spade during blowout sales. Pieces that are marked $500 go on sale for as low as $150-$200 so I suggest shopping then to get max bang for your buck. Regardless, I listed items under $50 and serious designer splurges in the thousands in case you feel like ballin’ out.
Stylish Tote Bags Under $50:
Stylish Totes $50+:
4. The Crossbody Bag
The crossbody’s arguably my favorite bag of the four listed above! I have a bunch of these because I love being hands-free. Although this is my go-to when I’m running errands, it’s also a favorite for a fun night out on the town so if you have the extra cash, I recommend splurging on a designer version in addition to the more affordable options you accumulate over the years! I bought YSL’s Cassandre tassel crossbody, and it’s a serious staple for me because of its versatility. I’ll make sure to share both splurges and affordable styles below!
Stylish Crossbody Bags Under $50:
Stylish Crossbody Bags $50+:
Alright friends, I hope you all enjoyed this post! What do you think of my list of must have bags for every woman? What would you add or take out? Also, where do you guys like to shop for bags? Let me know by leaving a comment below, friends! And for those of you interested, you can take a peek into my bag collection here.
very nice bags:) swiatwkolorzeblond.com
Find your blog so great,
pretty pictures and beautiful colors.
great tips 🙂
Shoesmaniac
Oooh, I'm all about bags, so this is right up my street! Some great styles, though I usually find myself just going for the medium sized cross body and investment means for me Mulberry rather than Hermes. Maybe one day… 🙂
Totally on point! I myself am a designer bag girl.. but I find myself always swooning over the everyday tote or crossbody that are wayyyy more practical.. lol
Love this post! I find myself having too many totes and not enough clutches! Thanks for the inspiration!
Lovely post ..and great information
Such a wonderful and helpful selection!
xx from Bavaria/Germany, Rena
http://www.dressedwithsoul.com
Everyday Tote bag is my fav,..
Author
=D What does yours look like?