THE DRESSING â—½ TIPS
The Bag
by Marcy Lytle
Just focusing on purses this month. Why not? We all carry them. Some of us enjoy tiny ones, and others love them huge, and yet others somewhere in between. Purses can be expensive, and we don’t know if we should splurge or save. And what about color, shape, functionality and cuteness? It’s all daunting, sometimes. And yet, a purse can be such a great accessory to have this spring/summer.
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Here are a few thing to consider when shopping for purses…
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Decide if you are a purse person that enjoys switching out bags, or you’d rather buy one and carry only one. Think about what you carry in your purse, so you’ll know the size you need. And finally, do you want a basic color or one that gives a pop? All of these will help you in choosing that next new bag…
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Black and Big – I found the prettiest large black classic bag at Marshalls recently with a great strap for carrying or one for across the shoulder. It’s super roomy, will go with everything, and I’m hoping to carry it the rest of the year. It’s just so special!
Whimsical – If you like something unique, colorful and different, you might want a bag you’d find at a market, one that’s handmade. These are the most fun. Grab one and enjoy it all season long. I grabbed a Mexican leather bag at a great price and love it so much – I’ve had it for years.
Elegant and Handy – Quince is a great store with beautiful bags, ones you can order online and they arrive so nicely wrapped and look quite amazing. I have a woven bag in a neutral color that elevates any outfit, yet it’s purely and perfectly functional as well.
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Crossbody bags are great for shopping, traveling and being a mom. They leave your hands free. So maybe, you want one that’s got a wide strap so it doesn’t hurt your shoulders, and you want the bag to be roomy, but not heavy. Marshalls is my store of choice for this kind. So many choices, and you can even get a good leather bag at a fraction of the cost of a leather store.
A Backpack – I carried this backpack on a recent vacation and it was so roomy, so pretty, and had a pocket and a slot for everything. I liked it even more than I thought it would. It’s from Amazon, and they have a couple of colors available!
Something different – I found a tote at a festival, made by Madeline Parks Designs, and it was on sale, and I grabbed it. It’s still available on line. It’s in the prettiest blue, and it’s a tote/purse. I can carry it to the theater with a couple water bottles inside, or carry it on a date, to look chic and put together.
Fabric Totes – I can never seem to have enough of these. And you can find so many in so many stores like Marshalls, and even in the Dollar Spot at Target. They fold up nicely in a drawer and they’re great for taking snacks to the movies!
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What about Red? Red is a pop of color that you’ll be sure to see a lot of this season. And a bag is the perfect thing to have in your wardrobe to add red. It can be your new neutral, instead of black and brown. This one is also from Marshalls. Check out TJ Maxx and Ross, as well!
Box with Handles – I have a couple of these. They’re always on the Target site as a laundry tote, I guess because of the handles. But they make great lunch totes for those picnics this season. Load them up with a rolled up blanket, a few snacks, and games for all.
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If you haven’t gotten a new purse in a while, step into the stores and browse. Hit the farmers markets where artisans sell their creation. Or even stop by a vintage store, if that’s your vibe. Purses are a necessity for all us, so why not enjoy having a drawer of several to enjoy this season?