This post is triggered by a comment Antje recently made about her reluctance to spend a great deal on handbags, and that most of her bags in the past were impulse purchases. I can relate, although from what I've seen Antje is much farther along on building a good handbag collection than I am.
I also noticed that in Angie's sample photos for her spring accessory posts, she routinely changes up her handbags depending on what she's wearing, which is something that I don't really "get" how to do (except for changing between seasons or levels of formality.) I'd love to see a discussion about how to think of handbags as fashion accessories rather than functional pieces and see if I can change my perspective towards my purses.
I tend to buy one or two cheap bags per year ($40 or more is an "expensive purse" to me) and use them until they fall apart. I carry about twice as much as Angie's normal purse contents, and I usually like to carry big bags in case I bring my bulky camera along.
I guess I think of handbags as functional outerwear pieces that I use every day, not as interchangeable accessories, so I haven't posted any of them with my outfits. I do try to make sure my coat and shoes don't clash with my bag, but that's about as far as I go. (Same thing with eyeglasses - I rotate between two pairs of specs, but though I like my frames, they are everyday accessories that I need to function.) Are any of the rest of you in the same boat?
For a better idea of what I'm talking about, this is what my purse collection looks like:
Three large bags. I used the giraffe print bag in fall and early winter; the straps aren't terribly well made and one of them needs some repair. I'm currently using the purple one. The canvas and pink patent Lands End bag (a gift) is probably something I'll use for summer, although right now I use it for overnight travel.
http://i645.photobucket.com/al.....ure124.jpg
A bunch of mid-size bags. In the lower right is a brown patent Beijo bag I got as a gift - I use this for most fancy events. The silk print bag in the upper right is pretty but doesn't get much wear because the print clashes with printed outfits. I've used the green bag in the lower left as a smaller summer purse. The two small bags in the upper left were bags I used a lot as daily purses when I carried much less, but I feel like they are out of style now.
http://i645.photobucket.com/al.....MG_452.jpg
Some small bags. The gold, pewter, and black velvet are relics from high school formal dances and I haven't used them in ages. (Maybe I should for weddings?) The blue silk bag was something I picked up in a market in London about 6 years ago because I liked the beading. The cord is too long, even for a cross-body bag. The emerald patent clutch was a more recent buy that I'll try to use this season (probably without the wrist strap) in situations where I only need to carry cell phones, wallet, and a few cards/cash.
http://i645.photobucket.com/al.....MG_447.jpg
