Clutch - want, not need - 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

Clutch - want, not need

Astrid

Veteran

So, I saw this marked down clutch online and I'm very tempted. I fell in love with the messenger bag of the same line some months ago, but then Inge gave me a fantastic satchel and I didn't have need for it any longer. I know this brand and the quality is great. I don't have a clutch at all, besides one for fancy party dress that I can't use in everyday life. I do think the style would go with everything, on the other hand I'm not sure if I'm a clutch person and would really use it. And it is too expensive to just sit around.

So, should I just sit this one out? Or is this a good wardrobe addition that could take my style a step forward this year? This goes into the direction of my new mid calf boots stylewise, not so much the boho/prairie part. But I think I like that.

http://www.jost-bags.com/de/sa.....09438.html

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.

Shopping

22 replies

Latest reply was from Astrid

qfbrenda

Veteran

I'm NOT a clutch person but am glad I own one silver metallic clutch. I consider it my wedding bag. Hopefully you would use yours more than that, but even if it's a special occasion bag it's probably worth owning.

Diana

Veteran

What do you carry every day? For me personally, I can't do everyday clutches because I carry my lunch to work every day, along with my iPad. But if you don't carry much I think it would get used as I see it has a shoulder strap. For you, since I know you, like me, also commute by foot/public transit and don't drive, I would not get one without a hands free option or without a full zipper closure. But this one seems to fulfill these requirements.

Thistle

Veteran

Hmm, I second Diana. What do you carry everyday?

If I remember correctly, you also use public transportation. That alone would rule it out for me as I am certain I would leave it behind at some point.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Brenda!

Thanks Diana and Thistle, good points. At the moment I use either Inge's satchel or my backpack, because I need to lug a lot of stuff around for Uni and work. This would be the option for going out, meeting friends, that kind of thing. Of course that would only work if the weather is holding and I wouldn't need an umbrella. Maybe this is not the best idea... And yes, I do use public transport.

Dee

Veteran

I'm not a clutch person except at weddings either for the same reasons as you (public transit and need to carry everything). But, sometimes I actually throw a clutch holding my wallet/phone into my bigger bag if I know I'm running out for lunch/cocktails, so I can just grab that and don't need to be be digging through a messenger bag all the time. Not sure if that might work for you. It is a fab bag!

April

Veteran

I discovered that I wasn't a (daytime) clutch person by getting one secondhand, very inexpensively, and one from Asos that was also quite inexpensive, and carrying them for a couple of days.

I discovered that for me, it was too nervewracking because it wasn't hooked onto my person in any way. I can handle that for an evening but on a busy day I was too worried about leaving it somewhere.

So I save mine for evenings out only. Can you "practice" with a borrowed clutch or one from a thrift store to see if it's something you should invest in?

ramya

Veteran

I like clutches only as a secondary bag in my tote. Especially when I am out on weekends or shopping. Its nice to stuff my wallet keys and phone in them so that they are not lost in my bag.

Glory

Veteran

It is very nice Astrid - I can see it working for evening type events if you have those. Not sure it would work for day to day given your current lifestyle

gryffin

Veteran

Astrid - if you are seriously thinking of trying out a clutch then I think this is a good investment. You know the quality and the brand so I think you'd be happy with the bag itself. But only you can know are you really committed to using it and how much do you want to use it to make the purchase worthwhile? I think if you think about that you'll know what you want to do. It's very pretty and yup, I think it will go with everything and up the style quotient if you think you'll like being a clutch girl!!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Oh, honey. Most of us passed the "need" part of a purchase long ago. I vote go for it. A versatile, trendy and modern piece.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Dee! That's actually a good option, to have the important stuff in one place in a bigger bag. I can see that being useful from time to time.

Thanks April! This one comes with a shoulder strap you can add, so I could also use it as a regular shoulder bag. I guess I could search for a cheap one to see if I like it, but I prefer to not spend on stuff I don't really use later on.

Thanks Ramya!

Thanks Glory! I do have some evening events, although not super dressy ones. But we go to the opera or the theater regularly.

Thanks Gryffin! I do think I'd be happy with the bag itself, yes. I was in the store a few months ago petting the leather. I don't expect to use it all the time, but this would be my bag to use when I would want to dress up a bit. I think the style is classic, so I could use it for some time.

Thanks Angie! I was trying to be sensible. Of course there are very few things we really "need", but I could definitely find something I'd need more than this bag. But I think I'm going to go for it. My winter wardrobe is in good shape with the new jeans added and I don't really need anything else before spring.

Gigi

Veteran

I have to laugh at Angie's response. But sometimes it's really true! Most of what we purchase isn't for a practical need...I think very few of us are really in danger of going around naked. Most of what we purchase if for a style/emotional need, to move our style forward.

It's scary to move forward on a purchase when we don't know if it will work. But sometimes there's no other way to do it than by jumping in. You could try April's suggestion of getting a clutch at the second-hand store first, but seeing as this one is marked down, it might be gone by the time you have conducted the experiment. I guess I would say that if you can handle it financially, go for it. It's on the expensive side as far as purses go, but it's not high-end-designer expensive. It's kind of like the stock market--you might lose some money, but the (emotional) payoff might be really nice.

Neel

Veteran

Go for it .... If you can part with that amount it would be a great refresher for basic outfits. Clutches add instant glam to any outfit IMO.

Anonymous

Could it work as an evening/night out bag? It is really pretty.

Scarlet

Veteran

I REALLY like that clutch and I think it would add a fresh element to your style. I am nervous though about whether you will enjoy carrying a clutch, but everyone needs a little going out bag.

ramya

Veteran

Ammm Astrid would these be available in shops? I am now lusting:)

Lucy

Veteran

It's such a lovely bag!
And I'm going to go against the flow and say that a clutch can be weirdly practical. I too need to lug a lot of stuff (or so I thought!) as I work on campus, and always have books and things to carry. But a recent back injury made me rethink. So I switched from a big tote, to a small clutch (cards, tissues, lipstick, ventolin if I think I need it!) And I have a backpack. The beauty of it is that I leave the big bag behind in my office a lot of the time, and can get around very lightly for a good part of the day. You might not have that flexibility, but if you do, the clutch can be great. Saves carrying the big tote around all day....

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Gigi! You're right that waiting too long and road testing the idea wouldn't work, I'm going to have to decide soon. And you're right that sometimes we won't know if something was worth the investement until later on...

Thanks Neel! I thought so too. I've thought about trying one before, but I never found one I could really see myself using that was worth the money.

Thanks Parkmommychic! Yes, I think I could always use it like that, even when I find I don't care for daytime clutches after all.

Thanks Scarlet! I think thinking of it as a little going out bag with daytime option takes the pressure off, because I know I could use it for that.

Ramya, here is the list of the stores http://www.jost-bags.com/en/me.....ost-stores. You could visit the one at Hackesche Höfe, that neighbourhood is nice visiting in any case, for shopping or going for a walk.

Thanks Lucy! And that makes sense, yes. Going out for lunch with only the clutch and not having to carry the backpack sounds like a great idea.

Astrid

Veteran

I ordered it just now! I'm going to see if the size and strap length works out for me before I decide if I'm going to keep it, I'll definitely post some pics.

unfrumped

Veteran

I you don't need a big bag lots of times, and if you like the fit of the shoulder strap option, then you'd have 2 ways to wear it and might feel you can use it more often than if you have to only carry as a clutch.

Bess

If I carried a clutch I would SO sit it down on a shelf while picking up something to look at and then walk away without picking it back up!

Astrid

Veteran

You're right, Unfrumped! I do think that I'd want to have the option with the strap, so hopefully the length will work.

Bess, I guess you have to get used to just tucking it under your arm and not setting it down somewhere.