The longevity of a colorful handbag vs. a neutral? - YouLookFab Forum

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The longevity of a colorful handbag vs. a neutral?

kerlyn

Veteran

I have my eye on a cross body bag in a gorgeous burnt orange color. As an autumn, it's a color that works well with my wardrobe and coloring. And it's a very good price. But...I've always been super practical about purses and only have a handful, all in neutrals (mostly tans and browns). Is orange a color I could carry year-round? And if I'm wearing an all-black outfit, will an orange purse just scream "halloween"?

Do you tire of your colorful bags more quickly, or find that they look out of date sooner?

Shopping

28 replies

Latest reply was from Eliza

donnat

Veteran

I think a burnt orange bag would be great for you. You have said most of your wardrobe will go with the orange. I doubt that it will scream Halloween when worn with black, but wear a black outfit when you go to buy it look at yourself in a mirror and decide. How many times a week do you wear all black? You can switch up the bag from time to time.
I think you should buy the bag.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I love a colourful bag!! And I don't necessarily tire of it faster. In fact, I've enjoyed my brightly coloured and colour-blocked (black and white or bone and white) bags more than most of my neutral bags. But I do wear a lot of neutrals or colours that act as neutrals (e.g. denim).

I don't think I would like to wear an orange bag with an all black outfit, though.

It sounds as if you need more than one bag.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I have a cobalt blue bag that is a total workhorse for me. It's one of my favorite colors, and is well-represented in my wardrobe, so it either matches or "goes" with almost any outfit. I find it almost as versatile as my neutral bags.

So I'd say if this is a color you already love and wear, and it works well with your wardrobe, then it should be very useful. I actually really like carrying my blue bag when I'm wearing an all neutral outfit in blacks, whites, and greys, for the pop of color it adds.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Also, sometimes a wild card colour can work.

I am "cool toned" (a cool summer) and wear almost all blues, berries, plums, etc. -- no warm hued colours at all. But I adored a mustard yellow bag I had for a while. I adored it so much that I wore it out! Still looking for the right replacement. The yellow wasn't a colour I can wear near my face, but it's a colour I love. The bag allowed me to enjoy it.

Anonymous

I have carried black leather bags in my entire life. It has just been this past year (2014) that I started to infuse my handbag collection with color (bright colors, including fuchsia, true red, and cobalt). I have never been so happy with my handbag collection. I wear each of my bags as a signature piece and I have yet to have trouble coordinating with the rest of my outfit.

I highly recommend buying the bag you want. You will be amazed at how happy you will be with it.

Amy

(website)

Veteran

I bought a bright colbalt purse recently and use it all the time. I used to only buy black purses, so this is a great departure for me. If the color works with a lot of your wardrobe, I bet you'll be inspired to pull it out often and it will give you a little thrill to be carrying something bright and different.

Kim

Veteran

If you are wearing all black, and the orange purse screams Halloween, then wear another one from your collection. Easy peasy! LOL

Anonymous

I bought a burnt orange bag a few years ago, and it became my "special" bag for certain outfits. I wore it mostly with denim and olive - and usually wore a particular scarf with a bit of the same orange in it, along with some orange leather gloves (as odd as that sounds, they are gorgeous) . It gets used most in fall and spring, a bit in summer, but not at all in winter. I have to agree with you with the Hallowe'en thing -I just don't care for black and orange. It certainly doesn't get used every day, or even every week, but it's now about 4 years old and isn't going anywhere anytime soon

deb

Veteran

I have several bright bags and found if it works with the colors in my wardrobe I can wear the with everything.

JAileen

Veteran

I used to just have brown, tan and black bags, because I was very practical. But now I have several red bags, a blue one, and even a chartreuse one. Let's say you get this burnt orange bag. Then one day you want to wear black. Just don't use the orange bag that day.

Can you post a picture of the bag? I'd love to see it.

Peri

Veteran

I'm not a "bag lady" but my current one is deep but muted orchid and I have been very happy with it. Before that my main one was red. I think I actually get tired of a neutral a lot faster than a color. I have a very good black one I haven't used in years.

Staysfit

Veteran

Most of my bags have been neutral cognac or navy. I have a few now in brighter colors and I find I use them frequently. They add a fun touch to my wardrobe.

Cerinda

Veteran

I just started playing with colored bags last winter: so far --easy, quick dose of chic.

I hear you o the Halloween thing, but what if the outfit had a splash of black and white or orange and black print in it?

Runcarla

Veteran

I had an orange bag - part leather, part man-made. I used it all the time, and it became a signiture. It was particularly nice with my grey wool winter coat and an ombré scarf that went from peach to burnt orange. I got compliments on that bag. Sadly, after 3 years of near continuous use, it was to broken down to keep in rotation.

I have been on a search for 'the one bag to rule them all'. A hunter green tote January purchase is close, but I am still looking...

IMO, a coloured bag seems to stand out, in a good way, whereas even a super fab bag in black or brown seems just 'meh'. Neutrals like metal colours and white can be pretty fab, however.

Post a pic of the bag you are contemplating!

retailgirl

Veteran

I am a winter and wear cool colors. I have several black bags and one navy bag...I wear the navy one often but the black ones don't get as much love as my red, green, taupe, and wine bags. I swap out my bags more often in Spring summer because I don't have to worry about coordinating with a coat and scarf. Colored bags are fabulous!

kerlyn

Veteran

Thanks ladies! I think I'm going to go for the orange bag!

Runcarla--my winter dress coat and my puffer are both gray, so I think the orange will be a nice pop of color!

Suz--I absolutely do need another bag, and I think a colored one will be a nice change.

Peri--Ha! I'm not a "bag lady" either! But lately I've just been craving something beyond my basic brown bag. I think this might be just the thing!

Elly

Veteran

Oh, I love orange. I don't have a colored handbag, but I do have bright shoes and a bright carry on and I love them.

Joy

Veteran

A colored bag can become a signature piece. A good friend has used only purple bags for years. They really do go with everything she wears.

shiny

Veteran

I'm not sure I'd wear an orange bag with an all-black outfit -- same as I steer away from combining red & green (too Christmas-y).

But I think ink/navy + burnt orange would be fantastic.

And of course burnt orange + brown, beige, khaki, olive -- any of the autumn neutrals.

I also very much like the look of orange + burgundy. Yummy!!!

Carole

Veteran

Thanks for posting, Kerlyn! I've been pondering a recent purchase from the Coach outlet; a fuschia bag! I wanted tomato red but that wasn't an option, so I was choosing between fuchsia and orange...I ended up with the fuschia because I could see it as the "pop" of color for my mostly neutral outfits.

It sounds like the orange will be a great "pop" for your wardrobe and since you are unsure about wearing black and orange together, just wear a neutral bag that day! I think we are both going to love our new bags, can't wait to see pictures...here is mine...

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kerlyn

Veteran

Carole...that fuchsia bag is gorgeous!

Shiney...ooh yes, navy and orange would be lovely! I can actually picture it with many different colors. I guess orange IS the new black!;)

Thanks for all the great ideas, ladies!

viva

Veteran

I just bought burnt orange patent leather booties and have wondered about wearing them with black, and I think I can and will if other colors are in the mix -- even just grey. But I don;t think I will do all black with them. I think I'll need to be careful about the Halloween problem. But I don't regret those booties! I hope you get the bag. It sounds gorgeous.

kerlyn

Veteran

Viva...yeah, that's what I was thinking...another color in the mix might work! Those booties sound so cool!

lyn67

Veteran

I have a coral summer bag that I keep using every second year only, so guess you can tire of it, yes, but it also depends on your current wardrobe. Sometimes am going more colorful on clothes-then my outfits need a neutral bag, sometimes more neutral-and then I dig out my coral bag. I do also have a yellow(or chartreuse) bag for fall, but that is worn each year, as my fall outerwear is always neutral:-).

ananthimathur

(website)

one thing is having the colors according to the season and another thing is wearing an all black and carrying that purse. It is an autumn color no doubt! you must go and get it!

But if you're gonna give up on it for one all black outfit, that doesn't make sense. I would suggest to carry a different bag on an all black outfit day!

ananthimathur

(website)

Now does that say Halloween???

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

FWIW, I never tire of my non-neutral bags.

Eliza

Veteran

Big fan of bags in accent colors. Chosen wisely, I find myself less likely to tire of them and more likely to appreciate what they do for an outfit than my more neutral, but also necessary options.

I wear lots of blue, can't wear coral, olive or orange near my face, yet tried an orange bag and do use periodically to amp up an ink, navy, teal, burgundy or denim look.