Best Handbag color? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Shopping

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Best Handbag color?

tammyw

I'm wondering if there's a "best" handbag color for someone like me -- I love clothes, but I pretty much use one or two basic Tote-style handbags. I already have one black bag I use frequently, but wondering what is the other best color for me.

My wardrobe consists mostly of blue jeans, black jeans, black pants, grey pants. Tops are lots of blues, whites, greys, taupes, pink, burgundy. Shoes are mostly black, grey, brown, white tennis shoes. I dress in pretty neutral colors and styles most of the time (and also prefer classic leather tote bags).

I'm thinking my choices are between some kind of brown or cognac or grey? But I just don't know. I know I want/need another bag, but just can't figure out what's the best for me. Thanks in advance for any thoughts!

Here are a couple Hobo styles I was looking at -- in Whiskey: https://www.hobobags.com/products/kingston-tote

in Cafe:
http://www.zappos.com/p/hobo-o.....color/2427

in Granite:
http://www.zappos.com/p/hobo-p.....color/5667

in Cafe:
http://www.zappos.com/p/hobo-m.....color/2427

I'm not completely sold on the brand Hobo at all, but had just been looking at them today so they were in my browser already

Shopping

33 replies

Latest reply was from tammyw

Sal

Veteran

Hi

I am also a handbag minimalist and find my off white/bone/cream bag is the most useful. It seems to work with everything. I have a cognac bag that I like with tan or cognac sandals, and I have just added a toffee bag. That is it. In an ideal world I would also own a black bag too.

I think grey could be versatile but matching different shades of grey can be hard. It does sound as though you prefer cool colours - I like cognac with blue, black, grey but it does stand out - I love it when I have the matching shoes but not so much if I am wearing white or black shoes. My bone bag seems to work with all colours of shoes.

Suzanne (ambergreen)

Veteran

I used to be more like that. I would carefully choose a single bag (yes, usually black). I am still not that much of a handbag person. But, when I was more handbag-minimal, I would often go with a silver bag if I wanted a change from black. Goes with everything for sure! At that time, I also wore no other metals than silver, so it worked well and I found it a lot more fun than something brown.

Have fun choosing your new bag.

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

I find it easy/convenient to match my bag to my shoes. That said, I find my stone/bone colored bag useful--it lightens-up outfits year 'round.

Joy

Veteran

If I had to choose one color it would be silver or pewter. This color gets the most use year round and goes with everything.

BrieN

Veteran

I think my light pewter bag is a great neutral - seems to generally go with everything. I am surprised by how much I like it with tans and browns.

JAileen

Veteran

Metallic is a great idea. Do you generally wear gold or silver jewelry? That might help you decide which metallic would be best.

Before I went grey I wore lots of earth tones. A brown bag of some sort was best for me. Now that I've gone grey, grey is a much better color. What color is your hair?

tammyw

I wear only silver jewelry -- no gold. My hair is light brown with lowlights - hair is definitely warm toned.

ETA: Added a family photo from Christmas Wearing very typical stuff for me. Maybe I just need to buy another black bag, haha.

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

jill58

Veteran

A pewter metallic or a very light grey works well for me. I also wear only silver jewelry.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I think the cafe color or lighter brown leather would go with nearly everything you mentioned (probably not the black so well) when you want a change from the black. I have a stone colored leather bag right now. Keeping it clean isn't the disaster I feared, but does require more attention than a darker color.

Staysfit

Veteran

I used to think that a silver bag would go with everything until I putchased my first blue bag. It has been a surprising wardrobe workhorse. I see it isn't in your list, but the right shade of ink/navy is a perfect neutral that goes with most everything.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I have one major bag at a time. I had a grey one with laser cut-outs for over 2 years which I really liked, went with most things and was used virtually every day until the straps were wearing ( it wasn't leather). My next bag was my current tan leather one which goes with most things- similar to your Hobo example in whiskey and used almost every day since bought in October 2016. I very occasionally swap out for a cobalt one I bought in May 2015, or a red leather one that was a gift from my mother over 20 years ago. Those are really only used to match specific cobalt or red outfits, and that rarely as I'm too lazy to swap out much. Pics 1 and 3 show you the tan bag, pic 2 the less well used cobalt. I have found grey and tan made an interesting change from my previous usual black.

This post has 3 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Anonymous

My main handbag is navy blue. It works with almost everything in my wardrobe. My suggestion would be to find a color that works with all your neutrals and doesn't clash with your colors.

RobinF

Veteran

I wear a lot of the colors you listed and I would use a dark brown-cognac with all those except for some reason I can't do it with gray. I know it isn't neutral, but what about a pink bag? It goes with a surprising amount of neutrals and would be a pretty pop of color.

Jane

Veteran

I'm like Jenni and have one main hand bag at a time. This time around it is a black bag, smaller than normal, a Michael Kors one, which is unusual for me, as sometimes I find the branding too much. Last time around it was a slightly lighter than usual Radley, which was really nice. I used it for about 8 months, but I am so heavy a user with bags, it wore out quicker than I expected. What was great about the Radley, was that the colour was very adaptable with both black and navy, because of it's slightly lighter colour. So, may be what Staysfit says, that a navy colour is more flexible than it at first seems. Lovely family photo!

Bijou

Veteran

I love handbags, but when I travel I only take one and invariably it will either be my grey or cognac bag - I find these colours much more versatile than black. My grey bag is a dark grey (so a good substitute for black) and the cognac works well with everything. With your beautiful hair, I think a cognac bag would be stunning.

Thirkellgirl

Veteran

I use a basic black tote for work, but the purse that's gotten the most use over the past years has been a silver hobo bag that I wore to death. If I could find another one I'd snap it up but I'm finicky about shoulder straps and inside pockets and size. I've been looking at oxblood purses but I don't think it has enough pop for me. Purses are one of the few areas in my wardrobe where I just buy what I like and throw it in with whatever I'm wearing even if it seems off to me. I have a black purse that's really just my funeral purse, and I get a lot of use from a plum bag in the cool months. I wear a lot of black, blue, teal/aqua, and fuschia.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I own several handbags but only one formal clutch is black. I use navy, cognac, burgundy the most lately, I was using an off white bag for quite a while and really liked the color but haven't found a good replacement and that one is feeling tired. I ordered the small olive cross body Angie recently picked but I'm not sure I will keep it as it is really small for my needs.
I would love to find a larger deep olive bag to use as a neutral.

I wear jeans a lot - denim shorts and jeans in cooler weather, so a navy handbag works well for me but I like to change it up and don't really mind switching bags nearly as much as I used to. I keep them relatively neat and buy based on the same features I know I will use - 2 interior slip pockets, one interior zip and at least one exterior slip or zip pocket works best for me.

Anonymous

Like Bijou, I immediately thought of cognac, because it would relate so well to your lovely hair. Also, if your existing bag is black, a cognac or whiskey would give you a lighter-colored option.

Suzanne (ambergreen)

Veteran

Those who brought up blue bags have a good point as well.

Navy wouldn't work with my wardrobe, but I have a more denimy blue one that goes well with my jeans-heavy closet. So, a blue that complements whatever blues you might wear could be a good alternative neutral.

jill58

Veteran

One comment on the Hobo 'Patti' which features "vintage leather." I had a hobo 'Lauren' wallet for several years that I loved, however, the leather scratches really easily. It definitely looks "vintage," but not in a good way. I would recommend Rebecca Minkoff and Fossil.

Laura G

Veteran

That's a beautiful picture of your family.

I guess I'm the outlier here...I say wear your hair color. There's a "rightness" about having your clothes echo your coloring that everyone can see/feel, even if they don't consciously notice it.

That first bag, in Whiskey, is beautiful.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I agree with Laura. I should have also said what a gorgeous family photo and you have such nice hair it would be good to match it. So I vote for the Whiskey bag as well.

julesegr

I'm in agreement with those who say to echo your hair color, which I might not have said before I saw your family photo. I think a cognac bag would be perfect.

What part of the country are you in? I'm also seeing a lighter tan if you are in an area with 2-3 seasons of warm weather.

Joy

Veteran

After seeing the photo, get the whiskey colored bag. Do you have footwear in a similar color?

JuniperGreen

Veteran

Gorgeous photo!

I think a navy or cognac bag sounds like it could be very versatile for you - or gray too!

The Cat

Veteran

I have found grey to be a versatile bag colour for me. (Both my personal colours and my wardrobe colours are definitely cool.)

Having seen the nice photo of you, I think your personal colours (hair, etc.) look warm, so I guess a cognac or tan bag would be a good choice for you.

madeline

Veteran

Love the beautiful family photo.
I agree with the others who said cognac or tan for your handbag.
I could never choose, so I have about 20 handbags and I switch them out all the time! All different shapes, sizes, colors.

DonnaF

Veteran

I've found that colors that I don't actually wear but *go* with those that I do wear seem to be ridiculously versatile: Like the pleather bag in Finds below that I wore out, an army green bag, and I imagine a mustard bag would work as well. I have a neutral heavy wardrobe (grays, cream, white, and black), so a black bag doesn't really *add* anything. Since cognac is hard to find in clothing, my cognac tote and bag work since I have cognac shoes.

Women's Timeless Collection Small Hobo Faux Leather Handbag - Merona

View Info

Top Pick

4

tammyw

Thank you all so much for the kind compliments and the wonderful advice. It sounds like some kind of tan or cognac might be my best bet (which is what I'm most drawn to anyway).

I've looked at the Fossil bags and kind of like the Emma Work Tote, but just wasn't 100% sure. I love the Rebecca Minkoff bag styles, but haven't found one that works completely. I noticed a lot of the bags lately are unlined and I really hate that. I like a little structure and at least one zip on the inside but preferably a few little pockets (for phone, keys, lip balm). So I'll keep looking and hoping to find the absolutely perfect simple leather tote with long straps but a little organization. I'm sure something will pop up for me!

12