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Your warm weather handbag

viva

Veteran

I am not a bag lady - I am really a serial monogamist when it comes to handbags, and sometimes I like a little on the side. What I mean by that is I have a main purse (for the last two years it has been the navy Tory Burch satchel) and then I occasionally swap that out for something specific (the metallic Coach crossbody, for example). I have a couple of bags that I no longer love (a citron Kate Spade satchel and an older metallic Coach hobo, but I am going to consign both locally as I NEVER reach for them.)

I'd really like to get another bag, hopefully one I will love as much as the Tory Burch satchel. I definitely want a satchel -- one that is a lighter color than Navy and one that is slightly less formal and stiff in construction than the Tory Burch Robinson one that I have. I'm thinking about a Rebecca Minkoff. I had been considering bright white but is that going to be a total drag to keep clean? I really am unlikely to fuss over it at all; on the other hand, I don't want it to look like a dishrag.

What color bag do you carry in the spring and summer? Do you worry about keeping it clean?

'Micro Perry' Satchel

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'Regan' Satchel

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'Regan' Satchel

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'Regan' Satchel

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29 replies

Latest reply was from Janet

deb

Veteran

I switch my bags quite often and all of them are leather except for my new spring bag, it is denim and leather and I just love it. Surprisingly it dresses up or down quite easily.

Denim & Leather Crossbody Bag

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viva

Veteran

Deb, do you have a white bag? Off white? Anything really pale? Does it get dirty? How do you deal with that?

JAileen

Veteran

Oh boy. I don't change my purse for the season. I've always loved Coach, from way back, and I have a lot of them, but right now I'm using a seatbelt bag. I love it. I don't worry about it. My understanding is that it's washable, although I haven't washed it yet. I have it in dark grey.

http://www.zappos.com/harveys-.....tote-storm

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rabbit

Veteran

I think Angie is the white leather bag queen, so can probably give you the best advice.

I have a very pale gray leather bag, and it can be a little more tricky to keep clean, mainly I wipe it off with gentle baby wipes around the seams and the bottom. It's pebbled leather, but also very soft/flexible. I also have a white vegan bag, and have to do the same for it, but I can also use dawn or spray cleaners and it seems to pick up a lot less in the same time period as the leather.

I think maybe stiffer leather, or leather with a treated surface might pick up less. Also it's great if there are feet on the bottom of the bag if you have to put it down somewhere and you are careful wearing it with new dark denim, or new dark navy sweaters/coats -- those have been the iffy ones in terms of dye transfer for me.

ETA: I happily play the field with handbags in every season. I have eight I'm mostly using this spring, I tend to carry less black and less furry/fuzzy bags in the spring and summer, but otherwise they are pretty much year round. I have a wallet I transfer from bag to bag, and not that much else needs transferring, I add things for special outings of course.

Sal

Veteran

I have three day bags but am going to donate one that I never call for.

I love both my bone handbag and my cognac tote and swap them often. I find the bone slightly more versatile. I will donate my dark red.

I am looking for a cross body or backpack that is smart but easy to carry on a bike. I am thinking of getting a trendy non-leather backpack, in black or a pattern with black.

I love bone, I find it goes with pretty much everything.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I have two white handbags. Both have a somewhat stiff shiny finish. I don't have problems keeping them clean. In fact my Michael Kors one went through a desert hike and sandstorm with me and still looks good. The Brahmin one is newer but I will admit to having set it down on salt/sanded asphalt this winter a couple times with no issue.

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rabbit

Veteran

UmmLila that is some serious road testing, I love it !

Staysfit

Veteran

I have white leather. My biggest problem is if I get pen on it, otherwise I haven't found it hard to keep clean. One of my white bags is a Minkoff backpack.

viva

Veteran

Lisa, that picture of you is gorgeous. Really beautiful!!!!

kerry

Veteran

I love light coloured bags so I bought this one (it's white on the inside -reversible). I prefer leather and this one isn't. I decided it's better that it's not leather so not a huge investment that might look tattered after a season. I find summer bags take a lot more abuse.

Slouchy Vegan Tote

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texstyle

(website)

Veteran

viva - I have an off white leather bag I carried all last spring/summer and it still looks okay to me. I will use it and my new bright indigo bag this year. I'm not very careful with my handbags really - and it did get a little blue rub off from my jeans on the handles, but it still doesn't feel ruined or anything. I think you'd be fine with a white bag.

catgirl

Veteran

I do not really use handbags by season or any other rational thought process. I do love my B/W Brahmin striped satchel for summer months as it seems to add some pizazz to my otherwise boring warm weather wardrobe.

AviaMariah

Veteran

I am pretty much just like you. I've been carrying a black MK bag for the last year that is perfect for me but I'm really thinking I "need" a lighter bag for summer. I have some of the same white bags in my finds as you do. I've also considered citron/yellow, gray, or floral. But I am paralyzed by indecision. I did have a white fossil bag years ago that I eventually got rid of because it got too dirty. Maybe I just didn't take care of it properly.

Michael by Michael Kors 'Medium Colette' Zip Detail Satchel

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'small cobble hill - toddy' colorblock leather satchel

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Rebecca Minkoff 'Moto' Satchel

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Fossil 'Sydney' Satchel

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'Rina' Crossbody Bag (Nordstrom Exclusive)

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Fringed Leather Tote

$465.00 $232.49

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Rebecca Minkoff 'Micro Perry' Satchel

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Kate Spade New York Cedar Street Rose Maise

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Karie

(website)

Veteran

I have a black and gray Coach cross body bag that I carry regardless of the season and a few fun/funky clutch bags that I've gotten in boutiques in whatever town I'm visiting. For my clutch bags I usually care more about the design than I do the color (like my clutch that has Vogue issue covers all over it). I do have one white floral bag and have never had any problems keeping it clean. These are the bags that I carry on the weekends or when I am not going to my job.
For my everyday bag must confess to being an inexpensive purse purchaser. My current purse (a pretty shade of spring blue) is from Charming Charlie. My purse spends its days in an old filing cabinet at the city school where I teach, and up until a month ago there was no lock for the filing cabinet. Spending $$$ on something that could get stolen just didn't make sense to me. In the spring and summer I like to carry a light colored or floral bag. I don't worry about keeping my everyday purses clean so much as keeping them safe.

Joy

Veteran

I need a larger bag in Summer to carry a bottle of water and a small cardigan for air conditioning besides all the other stuff I need to carry. I like a light pewter or gold metallic bag best but found a taupe bag to sort of blend with taupe summer shoes. I would also like to find a nude bag because I have more than one pair of nude summer shoes.

Aquamarine

Veteran

I have a yellow bag that I've used as my main summer bag for the last few years. Surprisingly, it still looks good but I am a bit fussy as to where I put it down. I remember reading once that baby wipes were a quick way to spot clean a leather bag.

Brooklyn

Veteran

I switch bags a lot. My favourites last summer were my tan cross body bag and my cognac barrel bag. I have found that the stitching on the cross body is starting to pick up marks but they are otherwise maintenance free. I also have an ivory satchel. It's ok but it does pick up some marks. Pen marks are a killer. I am not careful enough with my bags.

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Anonymous

I'm just slightly less monogamous than you, but not by much. I use a black nylon quilted nylon Marc Jacobs bag in the summer when I am wearing black, and then the MK Signature bag below for most other days. Last summer, I bought the baby blue Marc Jacobs leather bag (also pictured below) on a bit of a whim, and found it so, so useful a colour to have. It worked with far more than you would expect. I am toying with a red bag for this summer, but only if I find something so totally outstanding that I can't pass it up. I have never had a white leather bag, and not sure I could be talked into one. Keeping it looking nice would be a worry, and I don't have the headspace for that. For special occasions it would be nice to have , but for everyday?

I quite like Rebecca Minkoff bags and my fall/winter tote and handbag are both RM. Quality is outstanding and worth the price. Of the bags pictured above, I do really like the Regan satchel in the tan. It's very similar to the one I have, but mine is super soft and crushy so may be of a different leather. The pink is gorgeous but strikes me as a little precious for your look.

Take my comments with a big grain of salt though - I'm in a " I hate having so many things" phase right now and am feeling cranky about clothes in general.

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New Q Perforated Mini Natasha Bag

$328.00 $164.00

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Rebecca Minkoff 'Moto' Satchel

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jill58

Veteran

This has been my summer bag for awhile. I got it several years ago on clearance at Marshals or TJ Maxx. It's a slightly lighter shade than the one shown here. I'm a little tired of carrying such a big bag--may go with a crossbody for the summer. I was actually looking at the 'Regan' Satchel myself--I love the style, but I don't think it qualifies as a smaller bag.

Hobo Jude Leather Shoulder Bag

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krishnidoux

Veteran

I don'T know what colors you like to wear but I would go for either 1 or 3. They both go with denim and most spring and summer colors. If pressed for one, I would go with the first one in white.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

The cognac Regan looks so nice, and it has the advantage for you that it will work nicely beyond summer.
I have an off-white bag with taupe accents that I like by Fossil. I got it last summer and have carried it quite a bit without getting it dirty. If I did have something to get off of it, I'd use Angie's tips for keeping white footwear clean--the Mr. Clean eraser, babywipes, and maybe some other tips, which she posted a while back.
I also have a light gray Rebecca Minkoff backpack that I love--such a great summer bag, too. It's fairly new, NAS last year, but so far it seems quite stain-resistant.

Fossil 'Vickery' Leather Shoulder Bag

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Rebecca Minkoff 'Line Quilted Julian' Backpack

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Anonymous

So many great bags featured in this thread!

I'm turning into a bag lady. I think the structured satchels give a lady-like appearance, which feels natural in the spring and summer.

I ended up getting Angie's Furla bag in navy. (I believe you posted about the sale at Last Call.) I'm very excited to receive it.

Looking at the bags you posted, I think the RM pink bag would go well with burgundy, olive, and maybe even mustard and poppy, in a clashing kind of way that gives an outfit energy. But then again, maybe I'm crazy and these colours just plain clash.

I prefer the RM bags because of the shape and fringe.

Neiman Marcus Last Call

Elena Medium Leather Satchel Bag, Navy

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chirico (Chiara)

(website)

Veteran

During the summer I am almost monogamous, using mostly a leather bag whose color is called "mud" (not sure of the use of "whose" here, help me!)
The color is a lighter Avana,or darker beige,and goes with everything. I have a Red and a yellow bag too, but they get less use.
I live the idea of a white bag, but I am afraid it's too high maintenance for me... I envy those ladies who walk around with pristine white bags...

Bijou

Veteran

I am a self confessed bag lady, I like changing out my bags regularly. My go to bag is a cognac leather bucket bag that has gold hardware. I find that this works well with most summer clothing and is robust. A few years ago I had a white patent tote bag and was amazed at how useful and versatile it was. It wore out more quickly than other bags, however, because of its happiness factor - it was well worth it. I am looking for a replacement.

deb

Veteran

I have a white Brahmin lady bag that I have used for several years. I just wipe it down and polish it annually.

Colette

Veteran

I really like your collection of bags and if you want a light color I think you should go for It.

I have an off white Dooney satchel I carried for several years and the only thing I avoided was wearing it with dark colored jeans that are still shedding color because it can stain the bag. Other than that, I did clean it a bit more often than my other bags, not much, but it still looks great. In general I'm not hard on my bags though and do switch around especially for errands, I find I'm grabbing a crossbody or wristlet and a clutch for going out.

viva

Veteran

Thank you all for the great advice and food for thought. Here's where I netted out.

- white is probably impractical for me since I want a bit of slouch. White could work if it is shiny or stiff or treated so that I could wipe it down (as I am not careful about where I put bags and they tend to get worked hard) but treated or shiny means not soft and slouchy.

- also: ink. Somehow I got an ink stain on the citron Kate spade satchel, not sure how. If it happened once...

- if I really want a white bag I should probably do a cheap one (see above).

- the cognac / saddle RM seems like the best choice (thank you to all who championed its versatility) so I am going to nip into Nordies on my way back from the airport today to take a look in person.

I'll let you know what I find. Thanks for helping me get sorted!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

(That's too bad about the citron bag. It;s gorgeous quality filled with fun memories).

I like the first white bag you showed here best, but you can't go wrong with any of them.

As for my own Summer bag selection - this is what I use:

Neiman Marcus Last Call

Elena Medium Leather Satchel Bag, Stucco

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Leather envelope clutch in crackled gold foil

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Radley Millbank Leather Multiway Bag

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Amsterdam Bag Company

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Alexander Wang 'Dumbo' Leather Clutch

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Rosie Leather Small Bag

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MILLY 'Riley' Backpack

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MILLY 'Color Digital' Satchel

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Fossil Erin Foldover Clutch

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Ombre Color Leather Clutch Bag

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$350.00 $175.00

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Janet

(website)

Veteran

Some great ideas here, and wow is Angie's collection beautiful!

I change out bags pretty frequently, but I tend to select my lighter and brighter bags in the summer. My silver Milly tote and my cobalt blue Aimee Kestenberg backpack get a lot of use -- the backpack is already making a resurgence in the last couple of days. I have a mint green satchel and a black and white Michael Kors satchel that will start to make more of an appearance too. My clutches seem a bit more seasonless for some reason.

I have found that a way to sidestep the problem of white and cream bags getting dirty/stained, is to go for a shiny metallic instead. I think it works better for me and my style anyway, but I'm not sure if that's something you'd like or not. Just an idea.