Finding the Perfect Purse

Investing in a good purse can really elevate your wardrobe. This by no means needs to be designer! Investment does not necessarily mean brand names or high price tags, it means deliberate choices to buy quality pieces that will last and be used often in your life. So when trying to figure out what kind of bag to invest in, think about your lifestyle. What kind of bag do you use everyday? Is this applicable to the lifestyle you see yourself having in the future? What kind of piece would fit in with the items you already have? For me the type of bag I use most often is fairly small and I like to be able to be handsfree. This means when I’m looking for purses I don’t bother looking at big bags or anything that doesn’t have the option to be a crossbody. Because I know what serves me best I really only have two small purses that I love and take everywhere; one is for spring/summer and one is fall/winter. One is from Coach and the other I picked up in Florence (almost 8 years ago)  from a reputable leather maker. A few things I would look for before making a purchase would be: quality materials, I prefer leather, classic colors that will age well, black and jewel tones work well, and thoughtful design-does this purse suit my lifestyle. If a bag hits all these marks and I am in need of a bag to suit a need then I think it is worth purchasing. The key is not just is this bag practical to my life, but also will it continue to be. That’s where the idea of investment comes in, investing is purposely taking more time and possibly more money to make informed decisions before adding pieces to your wardrobe. It should be a piece that will age well and that you will continue to love for years to come. So there is no point in buying a bag that is practical if you don’t love it! For example many people would say that my summer purse isn’t practical and it wouldn’t qualify as a classic because it’s orange leather but for me it’s perfect and was well worth the money because I love it. Or with my newer Coach bag I knew I wanted the option to remove the shoulder strap in order to dress it up for the evening. No one knows you better than you so if your wardrobe is mostly neutrals and you love a pink bag and know you’ll use it everyday then it is worth it. I think it is good to do research before purchasing, especially for bags. Seeing them in person and getting a feel can be really important. It may seem silly but I use my Paddington bear as a size guide for my purses. It can be helpful to find something to use as a size guide; that may be a laptop or folder size for a work bag or a cellphone for an everyday bag. This can really help you get a feel of how the bag will serve you rather than just looking at an empty bag. If you are buying from a brand it can be important to look at their policies, do they offer maintenance on leather goods or warranty?  These aspects can make it worth spending a little extra money to make sure your bag stays in a condition where you will still want to use it for years to come. The world of bags can be overwhelming and confusing but remember that just because it has a designer name doesn’t mean it is the best quality. There are loads of smaller companies producing beautiful quality products at a fraction of the cost. So take your time to find what best suits you and best of luck in finding your perfect purse and let me know what your favorites are in the comments!