An embarrassment of clutches - YouLookFab Forum

I'm doing some little quick closet review sessions in the evening lately as I wind down from the day and think a little bit about what I'll wear this fall/winter, and I pulled out some handbags tonight. I have a stupidly large number of clutches. I am not using them at quite the rate I was a year or two ago, but I still enjoy using them, depending on what I'm doing that day. I tend to get clutches that are large enough for day use, so they're not small, evening things (well, I do have three small evening clutches but they are very dressy/formal only).

I have two clutches that are the really oversized ones that were popular for about five minutes a few years ago. I like them but don't reach for them. One was really inexpensive, the other not quite so much. The one I paid a bit more for also has fun memories attached -- I bought it at the Boston YLF meetup a few years ago at BCBG.

The white and silver BCBG is 7"x17" so quite long -- it's definitely a bag that requires the right outfit. The mint one here is 10"x15" and very flat, like an envelope.

What do you think? Holding zone or giveaway? I'm inclined to holding zone the white one and giving away the mint one.

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9 years ago

dashielle (Ann)

(website)

Veteran

Do they 'spark' joy? If you think they'll catch your eye again one day, they're not hard to store. [says the person who retired a couple of velvet blazers that perhaps would be useable this F/W] But, I always seem to find something new to love more.

Anonymous

Both clutches are lovely but I find the envelope style hard to use because they are so flat. I agree with passing on the mint one and holding on to the white one. If you decide that you don't want it, I call first dibs

Jaime

The white one is special and I would hold on to it. The mint one seems ready to find a new home.

Firecracker (Sharan)

I agree with your inclination to hang on to the white and pass on the aqua one, which looks less special to me. The envelope style is still around, so you could easily get a replacement in a smaller size if you were so inclined.

Oh, and if it's any consolation, I actually made an oversized clutch during that moment and carried it a couple of times. I still have it, but don't know that I'll ever use it again.

I am the lone ranger who still enjoys oversized ones and likes the mint!

viva

Personally, I find mint a very hard color to work with, so I would let that go - but that's me. I still love the white one and would keep.

I really like the white one. I would suggest keeping it.

Janet

Ha, Vivian, I find mint easy to work with, but my color palette is heavy on the blues and greens.

I'll definitely keep the white one. I've also revamped how I store my clutches, so I think it will be easier to use them in the future.

Eliza

I like the white, can see how the mint would work with your wardrobe, though the bag itself is a bit more generic. I have a similar style one and it isn't feeling as exciting to me these days either. If one has to go, I'd ditch the mint. If you use it often enough, then keep it. I have a dark mint clutch in a style I like and am surprised by how happy it makes me as an accent color with certain outfits.

How have you set up your clutch storage? I have quite a few also and could have a better arrangement than my shelf.

Eliza, up until now, I have had my clutches stacked in short piles on a shelf that sits just under my hanging jackets in my closet ( jackets hang on a rack above tops, so the shelf sits at about waist height). I don't love stacking them because it's hard to pull out the one I want to use without getting everything messed up, and because the ones on the bottom of the stack don't fare so well over time -- one had a wrinkle/dent from the clasp of the one that was sitting on top of it.

I tested out a couple of bookends from my office to see if I could store them vertically, like books or file folders, on that same shelf. There is *just* enough space under my jackets to make this work, especially if I leave a bit of room between dividers and let the clutches slant to the side a bit. So I ordered a couple of sets of acrylic shelf dividers to use that shelf more effectively.

Colette

I would keep them both but I'm a clutchaholic. If you must let one go I say the mint. And now I'm wondering approximately how many clutches is considered an embarrassment?

LOL Colette. About two dozen. Plus 7 totes, 2 backpacks, and 10 satchels/shoulder bags.

Susie

I feel better about my numbers now; I think mine is closer to only 1 dozen clutches and probably 25 total! I'm just teasing...you've got a great wardrobe of bags.

I agree with your options on the 2; I would keep the white.

Clutches are so easy to justify because they take up relatively little space. ;-D

Staysfit

I'm so sorry I read that last comment. It's likely to sit in my brain and end with me creating a new clutch library.

Thanks, Janet. That is what I should add to my shelves. Note the plural. I also have a couple of small resin clutches (black and white) that I was worried would scratch in storage. I found that my husband's low ankle socks are the perfect protective, easy on/off protection for them. The side shows slightly, so I can grab the one I want.

Happy closet renewal.

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