Handbags for tall women?

Jeanette Lynes

Hi All, I'm new to YLF, thanks to my dear
friend Susan Olding (who always looked
fabulous). So please forgive me if this
has already been discussed many times.
I'm 5' 10" and love handbags. But I have
never been sure what style of purse
suits someone of my height. Sometimes
a long-handled shoulder bag makes
me look *too* tall or out of balance,or
something. I'd love to hear advice on
this. I have many purses but lately
can't seem to find one that I really feel
'at home' with, if you know what I mean.

11 years ago

Dressing

12 replies

Latest reply was from Nicole D

viva

Veteran

I don't have an answer for you but am so intrigued to find out what advice you get from others, because I have a daughter who is 5'10" -- and I have never thought about this!!!!
Welcome to YLF! I hope you have as much fun here as I do.

11 years ago

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Interesting. I'm 5'9" and I have occasionally found shoulder bags that I can't sling over my shoulder with one hand, because the strap is too short. Besides avoiding those I haven't thought about height vs bags that much - I suppose the usual advice to keep your bag in scale to your build would apply, but I'm, in the end, a function over form person most of the time so it's not like I'm going to carry around a bag bigger than I need just so it doesn't look weird.

11 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Jeanette!! Yay! Welcome!

I somehow missed this thread when it came up but I am bumping for some of our other tall members.

Not long ago, Cocolion had a really interesting thread about scale of handbags and fashion backpacks. As a relatively shorter woman she found that she had to make "translations" from the website -- what looked just right on the models would totally overwhelm her. I'm the same height as she is and I find that a shopper bag, for me, is the scale of a tote bag. A tote bag looks like a suitcase on me.

I happen to know that Jeanette has a rectangular body shape. I'll bet that's a factor as much as anything. A really long strap would make a long vertical line and would seem to unbalance. How about a cross body bag? Or a shorter strapped shoulder bag?

11 years ago

Echo

Veteran

I would bet that the size of the bag in relation to the size of the person means more. In other words, while we all sometimes carry what is convenient regardless of what flatters, smaller people tend to look swamped by large (especially large and unstructured) bags, and larger people tend to look even larger against tiny, cross-body swingpacks.

I think if you find the size that looks best next to you, you could probably carry almost any style - a shoulder bag or satchel or clutch. In my mind, a cross-body bag is purely for practical purposes and not everyday, though others would differ with me on that point. If you like a shoulder bag, try to find one where the bag falls so that your elbow is about in the middle of the body of the bag. Those styles don't have the long straps that look odd on some people, but they aren't underarm-huggers that are tough to carry on the shoulder, either.

11 years ago

Beth Ann

Veteran

Welcome, Jeannette! Unfortunately, at 5'6", I'm not an expert at managing handbooks for women of great height. I have learned that an adjustable shoulder strap is key for me, since I'm particular about where a handbag sits.

If your goal is breaking up your height, a crossbody satchel might work well. Perhaps something like this one from Banana Republic. Mary K has a similar bag in red.

http://bananarepublic.gap.com/.....=950213002

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11 years ago

Marillen

Active Member

I just assume we can rock any size bag!

Large totes are no problem, I know some tall girls worry that small clutches make them look bigger but I don't see it. Maybe the length of a shoulder bag strap is the only thing I personally think about, making sure it doesn't sit too low or high, but that's about it.

For (5' 11") me personally I care more about color and structure of a bag than how it looks on me compared to shorter women. I use mostly medium-ish bags that I can sling over the shoulder and fit a sketchbook in.

11 years ago

jamieyh

Active Member

Girls, how about the handbag on the following link:
http://www.vogueplaza.com/bags.....-blue.html
Personally, i love it very much. I guess it will fit you well.

11 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

If I remember correctly, Imogen Lamport, on her Inside Out Style blog, had a post on scale of handbags. You could run over to her blog and do a search if you're interested. (I'm very short, so I have the opposite problem.)

11 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I'm not terribly short for being asian - 5'7" - but I find that cross body bags or those with really long straps (like messenger style) do look a little wonky on me. I prefer a satchel type or something I can wear over my shoulders.

11 years ago

April

Veteran

I'm 5'2" but I have a tall sister and have one observation from seeing her bag choices: on a tall frame, a small bag can definitely look too small.

At 5'10", I would embrace the opportunity to go as big as you like.

11 years ago

rute

Veteran

Big totes and big clutches! You can go smaller also, if you have a party, you can go for a small party clutch.

11 years ago

Nicole D

Veteran

I avoid crossbody bags...not sure if it is because I'm tall or I just prefer shoulder bags. I'm a big Rebecca Minkoff bag fan: the mini MAB (although the drop is a bit short if I am wearing a heavy jacket), the cupid... I think tall women can generally wear bigger n=handbags and should avoid wee ones unless it's a clutch.

11 years ago

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