Casual-dressy date-night purse- maybe black suede?

I could really use some help from the handbag fashionistas.

I am not a handbag person. Well, I do enjoy them sometimes, but almost wish I didn't have to think about it. My fashion persona isn't much linked to them. I keep mine in the car all day so only carry for errands and when trying to dress up or go out or look like a normal lady. Despite that I've accumulated more than 20 of them and fuss with them more than I'd like.

Where I am stumped is for what I call casual-dressy weekend nights out. I have finally created capsules with darkwash jeans insted of my chino looks--yay me, fighting the frumptastic! Summers are not so hard because I might wear colorful tops/cardis/linen jacket outfits and go for a "natural" or summery/tropical vibe. I have several different types &colors of leather bags that seem to make okay outfits with those schemes.

Heading into fall and winter, I'm not so fab in the accessory dept. I would like to have one main bag that I can just grab most of the time for these occasions have it feel pretty good--not trying to use the bag to be fantabulous.

One of my weaknesses in dressy-casual tops is wearing casual-ish knits with a bit of lurex or sparkle. These would be either with dark rinse blue jeans, black jeans, or occasinally with some of my other black fabric pants (ponte, wool). There is no consistent color scheme in the tops, except that they would mostly go with the dark bottoms as mentioned and the colors are somewhat subdued--examples would be a taupey-brown lurex knit, a black cotton sweater with thin gold stripe; a greeny-bronze sparkle knit. No red sequins or anything. Toppers would likely be a blazer or leather jacket or occasionally a large scarf/pashmina/patterned shawl ( for extra coziness in cold repertory theater) . Footwear would be black or brown boots or bootie-like shoes.

When not doing a sparkle top, I'd probably wear a cashmere or similar sweater of some kind in winter. Or if early fall/spring, some other knitwear.

Soo--black is kind of a linking thread, and I've been trying to learn about not being too matchy-matchy, but I'm leery of a contrasting purse that would work with the array of tops I might wear. An actual color doesn't send me because I worry it won't be versatile enough. I've tried several smooth black leather bags that don't seem to look so good--?too everyday? . My various brown leathers somehow don't seem quite festive enough for the bit of sparkle. But, maybe it's not the color, it's the texture.

So my main brilliant idea so far is that I'm thinking maybe black, but with texture--like a black suede hobo, not too big, or small suede bag with shoulder strap (not cross-body) that would combine a slightly casual sort of style, but maybe seem luxurious? Sort of evoking velvet, but not. Dressy boho?

Other things I've considered:
-- black patent might also work if thnking just about having a contrasting texure, but that's usually too structured, and maybe too fussy.
-- I also considered animal print, but when I think about the tops in this capsule, I wonder if I could find one single handbag "coloration" that I think I'd use with all of them.
--if a color, a color that might work is something in the winey-burgundy range. I think that color is one that might "go" with a lot of things I have. But, not a "day" purse.

Has anyone else come up with the one purse to rule them all for these types of outfits and occasions, in the fall-winter mode?

13 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think you need a great leopard print or dark red clutch. Either that or a black one with studs.

Do I have such a bag? No. But that's another story!

unfrumped

Wow--what a great idea. I had not thought about studs. See, fashionistas to the rescue! That is an idea that brings this texture concept into play, and something more accessory-like, that somehow to me seems needed, instead of plain leather.

kellygirl

I agree with Suz- red or black with studs. My handbag situation is pretty pathetic but I've gotten by with both of these plus a white and a turquoise bag for summer. These are mine.

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shiny

For me, hands down, the most versatile/wearable/used bags in my assortment are cream or white. But, look at my coloring -- I'm blonde. I love pearls. I wear a lot of black, which needs a dose of contrast, and white is just the ticket. It may not work for others with different coloring, but it sure works for me. The only outfits it *doesn't* work with are those in which I'm wearing a white jacket (my denim or pleather or white trench).

My optic white hobo bag with silver hardware was worn 80% of the days this spring through summer. I am looking for a replacement. That bag has been everywhere with me. I have a soft (not so optic) white clutch that is my "go to" year round for evening -- it's what I'd choose for casual dressy evenings out, as you are describing. And, I just added a cream Kate Spade baguette, which is a year round purse as far as I'm concerned, with the added structure for work/less casual dressing. That was a no brainer. I even still have a cream Coach shoulder bag, with gold hardware... it looks a bit dated to my eyes but it's so comfortable to carry, and it has gold hardware... I still choose it sometimes and I'm not quite ready to part with it. If it was any other color, I would have, by now.

But again, a lot of that has to do with my coloring. For me, I can safely say "Just add white" to every outfit, and that's what is missing 99% of the time. For, let's say, Una, it'd be black. For Suz it'd be taupe....

What about YOUR coloring?

As I've mentioned elsewhere, I am a one-purse woman. I really hate moving my things from one purse to another. So I need a purse that will go with almost everything.

And here it is. I included a cordless phone, so you could get an idea of the size, almost like a small tote. There is a pocket on each of the four sides, as well as the flap pocket you can see there, and a zippered central compartment, with a few more pockets in the lining. The brand is Bueno. I find the lizard skin print very nice for providing some textual interest and toning down the shiny patent a bit. I have been very, very pleased with this purchase.

I got it at Winner's this spring, I think (I have a terrible, terrible sense of time), so I'm afraid I have no idea where it can be normally found. But if you can find anything similar, it should keep you going for quite a while.

Caro in Oz

Just some ideas. If the black is interesting I don't think it will look matchy. Not sure how evening-y you want to go. I love the last one (Chanel for inspiration only in my case).

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Ariadne

My first thought was something in dark eggplant with a snakeskin or crocodile type texture. Or burgundy if you do warm colors better.

shiny and jr, thanks for sharing your handbag decisions.
caro and Ariadne, you do give me some other options--in the category of texture but think of quilting, lattice, embossing. I'm still noodling on color issues. I like colors that aren't completely one color--so, for example, am not as drawn to a "pop" of red or solid purple. I've seen some distressed or crackled finishes I like in colors you might call merlot or similar.

Hmmm--will try to make this a fun item on "the list" and enjoy the thought process and the search, and not try to grab something just to fill a hole.

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