What is your bag/purse style? - YouLookFab Forum

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What is your bag/purse style?

Runcarla

Veteran

Cross body? Over the shoulder? Clutch? Backpack?

I'm just coming to the realization that I like long handles that I can wear over the shoulder. I don't like short handles that have to be hand-held, and though I thought a cross-body would solve all my problems, I'm not as much a fan as I thought I would be!

What is your preferred way to carry your daily essentials?

General

39 replies

Latest reply was from Colette

viva

Veteran

I was just commenting to a friend that I have been completely sold on the satchel bag that you can carry in your hand or let hang over your forearm, even though when I wear it like that I feel like such a LADY. It's very weird, not at all in keeping with my general vibe. I think it's really a matter of loving this particular navy satchel and having adapted to it over time.

I want to love crossbody bags but I just never love that feeling of them pushing against you. And for some reason, shoulder bags slip on me a lot even though I have a good shoulder. Maybe it's poor posture.

So for now, I continue to stay in the satchel zone. I love their shape, and they make me more ladylike.

citygirldc

(website)

Veteran

My go-to is over the shoulder. I like to make use of my hands when I need to and it comes handy when riding my bike.

JAileen

Veteran

Cross body with a zip top and outside pockets for keys, sunglasses, and reading glasses. No extraneous decoration, especially no chain of any kind. It makes the bag unnecessarily heavy. I like having my hands free, whether I'm at a grocery store, sporting event, or museum. Being hands free trumps all.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I like being able to put something on my shoulder, but it's not good for me to do that too much -- scoliosis and issues with carrying weight on my shoulders.

I'm most fond of satchels and clutches these days. I like totes too but I'm careful not to put them on my shoulder for too long.

In general I'm liking simpler lines and shapes in bags but with something distinctive -- color, texture, some not-excessive detail.

Cross body is sometimes necessary but I never feel fab in them. A strap cutting across my not insubstantial bust and a bag hanging at the hip, adding weight to my not insubstantial hips is really not my best look.

Anonymous

I love my large cognac satchel, which I usually carry in the crook of my arm because I like the way it looks--very "lady." It does convert to crossbody, but that looks clunky to me.

Anonymous

I've changed my tune in the last year and prefer the satchel now over a shoulder bag. There is nothing elegant about a big (or any size, really) bag slung over your shoulder, unless it has a Chanel chain strap involved The shoulder strap pulls on jackets/coats/sweaters, and just doesn't look as polished all of a sudden. Of course I still wear them, but if I have a choice, it's now the satchel. No to cross bodies - my chest is too prominent for that nonsense.

Meredith

Veteran

Visually, I like satchels. I've also developed quite a love for cross-body bags. They appeal to my practical side.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I often carry my laptop with me, along with either my iPad or a book, so I like big bags, mostly totes and messengers. When I don't have the computer, I like the freedom of a crossbody.

Suzanne (ambergreen)

Veteran

First, big bags look ridiculous on me. My current faves are "mini" satchels and similar that can be carried by the handles, on the arm, or on one shoulder with the attached strap (I buckle it at the shortest length). Like Janet and lisap, I find that my bust doesn't work well with crossbody styles (the rest of the hourglass doesn't help either). I like the look of clutches sometimes, but I only use them for occasion wear because they hold so little and I prefer hands free in general.

Anonymous

Healthy back bag for every day. Clutch for going out to eat or whatever.

Anonymous

During the work week, I carry a large tote in either black or fuchsia. Due to their weight I usually carry them in my arms until I reach my destination. I do have the option of carrying them on my shoulder as well, but they can be heavy. I carry a matching wristlet in each tote that I can use for errands, lunches, meetings.

On the weekend, I carry any of my bag collection that are more satchel like.

Joy

Veteran

I use them all, but big totes the least. My newest bags are all clutches on the larger side, often with a detachable strap that can convert them to shoulder or crossbody. My second most used is a small to medium satchel. I like to find those that have two handles long enough to allow the bag to be worn on the shoulder,

Aida

Veteran

Clutches almost exclusively, with the occasional small handbag (either held in hand or in elbow crook). No shoulder strap anythings for me, save for a single crossbody bag that I use for rugged weekend outfits where dirt is highly likely.

Stephanie

Good question! It depends on what I'm doing. I love having a small/medium sized cross body bag for grocery shopping, date nights or just weekend out/about occasions. But for weekdays, I have two satchels I alternate. I've actually been using my burgundy satchel a ton this fall and am loving it. I have one evening clutch I carry for special occasions, but I hate having to carry it around.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Clutch and satchel.

Eliza

Veteran

Satchel, clutch and shoulder are my go -to bag styles, with a couple of cross bodies. Don't like cross bodies with winter coats, though. Love the clutch for evenings out and brief excursions, yet usually need more room for necessities.

I am into bags and don't mind changing them for a purpose, which makes having a variety of styles possible.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

My ideal bag is crossbody because I like to have my hands free. I wear shoulder also. Love the look of clutches but they don't suit my lifestyle most of the time.

Ginger

Veteran

I'm not sure how y'all are defining satchel. Hmm.

I gave up on totes or anything that has to be worn over one shoulder. They do not stay on my shoulder without I hold up that shoulder (which gives me migraines) or walk at a slant, and that's silly. For years I just went to handbags, and have a small but very nice selection of 40s and 50s bags.

Now I like bigger bags, so I use a larger one - what I would call a satchel - with a long cross-body strap. My favorite is from Modcloth last year; it has a top flap with a single short handle, so I can carry it over my arm if I want. It's faux leather but has held up wonderfully.

I still use my vintage bags for evening wear. I love the tiny 30s evening clutch with a strap across the back. I have a 30s040s black faille bag with a
kiss-clasp top with a single wide strap that goes across instead of side
to side. It holds plenty, too; my card case, phone, keys, mirror, and lipstick, plus more, including sometimes my camera.

dakotacheryl

Veteran

I like options LOL. I love my big slouchy black leather Hobo, my variety of cross body bags, and my satchels...love the look of clutches, but get annoyed easily by having to carry them.

retailgirl

Veteran

I like satchels but also totes...as long as they're refined and not too big. Don't like cross bodies. Don't have to have a shoulder strap.

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Satchels, bowling bags and totes. I like to be able to carry my bag on my shoulder. But I also love the lady-like elegance of carrying it slung from my forearm. So I usually pick bags with short handles but an additional long strap that can be attached when I need free use of my arms----added versatility. Adding a pic.

I use totes almost exclusively when shopping (be it groceries or shopping at malls).

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rute

Veteran

it depends on the outfit! I have more lady-like bags and boho bags.

I like to carry my bag on my shoulder and on my arm, I prefer bags that have both options.
I prefer a medium size.

Echo

Veteran

Clutch is my style preference, but it isn't always convenient to have something hand-held, so I often carry a shoulder bag. I dislike satchels without a shoulder strap that I must carry by hand or on an arm, and I despise cross-body style on me (small bag against a not-so-small hip and bisecting my chest is just not a good look for me). I also prefer a structured bag to a hobo or bucket style.

Diana

Veteran

Over the shoulder for the most part. I'll only do a crossbody if it's small enough not to drag me down too much and the strap is adjustable; honestly, at least half the time I carry my crossbodies on one shoulder anyway.

I like slouchier/softer bags for the most part, partly because I just prefer the more RATE style, but also because structured bags always feel a little overwhelming to me. I like a bag that kind of collapses against my body if that makes sense, esp. when it's a larger bag. I find soft bags much more comfortable and natural to carry around than a big boxy thing on my shoulder.

I refuse to use a bag that has to be carried in a hand or elbow. In addition to needing to be hands free a lot of the time, I also have bad wrists and elbows and carrying something by hand or on my elbow is liable to make them ache the next day so I try to avoid that. I need to save my wrists and elbows for important things like knitting!

Even for clutches (which I only use for short jaunts or fancy occasions), I prefer to have a wristlet or removable shoulder strap so I can move it to hands free if I have to.

Renee P

Over the shoulder or messenger bag. I wish I can just carry cute, small purses, but I need a bigger bag so that I can tote my medical stuff around like Epi-Pens, Meclizine and asthma inhaler. I also like purses with lots of pockets so that I can have a special pocket for the inhaler in case I need it quickly.

Summer

Veteran

Cross-body for very casual use, satchel or clutch for other occasions.

Anonymous

Most of my handbags are shoulder bags, coupled with a couple of crossbody bags. I have 2 Etienne Aigner back pack bags that are about 15 years old that I can also wear slung over my shoulder (haven't used these in a while, but do not want to get rid of them yet).

I usually wear a crossbody on vacation or any place where I will be doing a lot of walking so I do not want to carry a bag too long on my shoulder. (Aside: I read an interesting article which stated that women who carry shoulder handbags usually have tight glutes, hamstrings, and hip flexors on the side opposite where the carry their handbags. In my case it is true - I carry on my left and the right side is the one which is always tight. My DD carries hers on her right and her left side is tighter.)

After I decide type of bag, next in importance is workmanship, placement and amount/size of additional compartments, and finally color of bag.

catgirl

Veteran

I currently do a bag in a bag - I have the same Milly silver tote as Janet, with all my gear for work, and I carry a small cross-body in it for running to lunch etc.

rachylou

Veteran

The hip bag is my bag of choice. Mostly I wear crossbodies around my waist, although there are lots of proper hip bags on Etsy I note. For work, when I'm carrying lunch, desk shoes, and maybe a laptop - it's a backpack all the way. Going out, clutch. Sometimes, rarely, I'll use a tote.

For me, bags have to be light, light, light.

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