How to choose a bag for every day: practical tips. How to choose the right bag, taking into account the style, size, color and composition of your figure
The wrong bag can ruin even your most beautiful look. And if almost everything is clear with evening clutches, then choosing an everyday version of the bag is quite difficult. Today “Modnaya” will help you in this matter.
Form
It would be better to choose a bag with a geometric shape, which will make any look look put together. It is important that your bag holds its shape so you don't look unkempt. Women over forty years old should not choose handbags in the shape of a scissor, which will only make you look older.
Color
Many women believe that a bag for the cold season must be dark. However, stylists believe that the color of the bag can be absolutely any. The main thing is that you like the color and go well with the rest of your wardrobe. Today it is no longer necessary to choose a bag to match your shoes. If you are choosing a bag for the cold season, pay attention to sand, chocolate or gray models.
Jewel-colored bags also look very interesting.
Size
When choosing a bag size, you should take two things into account. First of all, you should consider your lifestyle and determine how much stuff you carry with you every day. If you work in an office and have to carry documents with you, you should choose bag models that will fit A4 format.
You should also take into account the proportions of your body. Large women Small handbags that will only emphasize your large shape are not suitable. And petite women should not choose large trunks. Therefore, it is better to try on the bag before purchasing. You can also take a photo of yourself in the mirror, because you can always see better from the side. Also pay attention to the weight of the bag. If even when empty it looks heavy, it is better not to purchase it.
Material
For the cold season, bags made of leather or faux leather are more suitable, because you can get caught in the rain or snow. Of course, you don't want your things to get wet at all. Modern leatherette bags look no worse than leather models. The main thing is to choose a bag made of smooth material, which will look more expensive.
Design
Your bag should look as simple as possible. The more creative your bag is, the less likely it will be to match your entire wardrobe.
Accessories
A simple rule is that the cheaper the bag, the less accessories it should have. Often it is the accessories that can reveal the real cost of a bag, because it is on the accessories that manufacturers of inexpensive bags prefer to save.
A casual bag should be fastened with a flap or zipper. Ideally, it should have short handles, as well as a long strap, so that you can carry it comfortably both in your hands and on your shoulder.
Price
We do not encourage you to spend a third of your salary on a bag and then worry about it. Buy the bag that you can afford. Even in the mass market you can find decent options.
12.04.2015 | 4606
We'll tell you how to choose the bag that's perfect for your style and lifestyle.
A woman's handbag is a mysterious object. They say that if a woman finds herself on a desert island with her bag, she is guaranteed not to be lost. Indeed, men will never understand why every day they carry with them not only a wallet, phone and house keys, but a thousand other important and useful little things.
But it’s not always easy to choose a stylish and practical bag so that it complements your look and harmonizes with your clothes, and doesn’t look like you grabbed the first thing that came to hand while running out of the house.
We will try to give some tips to help you choose a comfortable and beautiful universal bag for every day. When you go shopping for a new accessory, keep these questions in mind to help you navigate and choose exactly what you need.
What things do you need to carry with you?
This is the main question, the answer to which is worth starting from when choosing a bag. Let's say that there really are women who are able to fit everything they need in their jeans pockets. If you consider yourself to be in their category, you are extremely lucky: apparently, you don’t need a bag at all! Well, perhaps as a fashion accessory.
And we, who are used to carrying a little more things with us, will have to decide on the amount of “burden” for each day. Is your wallet the size and weight of a brick? Do you carry ballet flats with you everywhere instead of heels? Do you need to carry a lot of documents with you? All this influences the choice of bag size and shape.
For example, for documents more suitable a rectangular hard bag, for replacement shoes - a bag-bag (or “dome”, in extreme cases).
What do you need the bag for?
The logical answer is to carry things in it. But what about the aesthetic function? Do you want your bag to look businesslike? Was it a bright accent of your image? Was it neutral and easy to match with clothes and shoes? Did it fit into your summer wardrobe?
In other words, determine what visual “message” the bag should convey.
How practical should a bag be?
Decide on your personal criteria for practicality. The bag will be with you wherever you go. Evaluate your lifestyle to understand what's in store for your bag.
Do you live along the route home-work-shop-home or do you manage to visit a hundred places in one day? Do you spend a lot of time outside? Do you mind carrying your bag in your hand or is it more convenient for you to hang it on your shoulder? Do you travel during rush hour traffic, so you prefer cross-body bags that hold securely and don't slip off in the crowd?
What styles of bags suit your style?
Focus on the style in which you are used to dressing. If you work in an office with a business dress code, it's unlikely that a backpack or hobo bag will suit you. For romantic types who love ruffles, floral prints and bouffant skirts, a kelly bag is unlikely to work.
Go and choose a bag in your usual clothes to evaluate whether it fits into your outfit.
What's your budget?
A bag is one of the status accessories that determine the “expensiveness” of an image. Realistically assess how much money you can set aside to buy a quality bag and choose the highest quality available to you.
Many women, for the sake of practicality and economy, try to purchase one single bag for all occasions. But in reality, such a task is completely impossible. Even a carefully selected bag in some cases of this very life will look out of place, and your image will lose all its charm. Let's see why it's still worth having several bags in your wardrobe.
- Today it is rare to meet a person who prefers a certain color scheme in clothes and does not deviate one step from it. Especially among women. Of course, the same bag can match the color of several outfits, but not all of them.
Conclusion: Your wardrobe should have bags of different shades. - Do you go to the gym? You won’t go to training taking your office bag with you! Its design simply does not allow placing in it sports shoes and other paraphernalia, not to mention the visual absurdity of the situation.
Conclusion: bags vary in purpose. - An elegant handbag can be carried perfectly in your hands to the nearest cafe and hung on the back of a chair. But for walking with a child, for example, a bag with a shoulder strap or a backpack would be more convenient.
Conclusion: you need to take care of your comfort.
Choosing a bag by body type
And now - the main rule by which you will choose all your bags. The shape and size of the bag should match your height and body type. The right bag, like clothes, can transform your silhouette, balance your look, and even compensate for figure flaws. The wrong bag, on the contrary, can emphasize too little stature or place an unwanted emphasis on problem areas in women who are prone to being overweight.
Broad shoulders
If you have wide shoulders relative to your hips, then a handbag under your arm will only aggravate the situation, drawing attention to the upper part of your figure. You can wear a bag with a horizontal orientation (the width of the bag is greater than the height) on your elbow or arm, which will visually widen your hips and give your silhouette a proportional shape. A crossbody bag with a long strap would be an excellent solution. The strap represents vertical lines in the image, which visually narrow the shoulders and elongate the figure.
Big breasts
This feature of the figure suggests the same methods as the previous case - visually reducing the top and expanding the bottom. Additionally, it is worth noting that girls with a large bust are not recommended to wear bags with a diagonal strap.
Rectangle or apple shape
Both types are characterized by the absence of a waist, so you should not wear bags with short shoulder straps. Such a bag is located exactly at the level of the abdomen and makes this part of the body even wider. To create the impression of a slimmer silhouette, opt for a vertical orientation. Choose a bag whose height is greater than its width, and also use long straps. Carry a bag with short handles at hip level - in your hand or on your elbow.
Excess weight
Miniature bags and clutches are absolutely not suitable for chubby women - they contrast with the overall silhouette, making it even larger against its background. Wear medium-sized bags in a vertical orientation and elongate your figure with long straps. Avoid thin chains. The bag's strap should be impressive - at least 4 cm wide.
Wide hips
Owners of a pear-shaped figure should try in every possible way to divert attention from the lower part of the silhouette. To do this, choose a baguette bag - the width of such a bag is at least twice as high as its height. Carry this bag under your arm to visually widen your shoulder line. Wide, rounded hips can also be balanced by the strict geometry of the bag - a rigid frame, rectangular shape, geometric prints will slim the figure.
High growth
For tall girls, only horizontally oriented medium-sized bags are suitable. With tall stature, even if the figure is extremely proportional, the shoulders seem quite broad. Therefore, focus on your hips, carry the bag in your hand or on your elbow. Shoulder bags cannot be worn - long straps will only add to your height.
Thyroid body type
This figure is characterized by excessive thinness, an almost complete absence of hips and chest. To round out your silhouette, avoid bags with clear geometric lines. Small soft bags of round or oval shape, bags in the form of a teardrop, etc. are suitable. Do not wear bags near the waist - this will further emphasize the absence of breasts and hips.
Small stature
Large sports bags do not suit petite women at all. You should focus on models with a maximum size of 30x20 cm, where the first indicator is height. This orientation of the bag will help visually elongate the silhouette. The best option is bags with long chains.
Ideal figure
Even if you are lucky enough to be among the owners of a slim and proportionate figure, you should not relax. Baggy, shapeless bags will give a chiseled figure a careless look and mercilessly ruin the image. Your bags must be neat.
Bag color
Previously, the bag had to match the color of the shoes and nothing else. Today, most designers consider this approach to be bad manners. But those women who carefully stock their wardrobe know that it is very convenient to have several universal “bag + shoes” sets. To solve this difficult problem, torn between practicality and fashion, we will use an original tactical move. One part of the set will be plain, and the other will have elements different colors. For example, black boots will go well with a bag beige colour with black decorative inserts (pockets, straps). Blue and white loafers will perfectly support a white sports bag.
It is not at all necessary to match the details of the shoes in the bag. This can be any accessory - a scarf, bracelet, headdress, belt, etc. of the same color. But it’s an accessory, not clothing. If the dress and bag are the same color, then the latter will simply get lost against the background of the dress. But the bag is still a separate element of the bow. Under no circumstances take a bag if your outfit doesn’t have a single piece of the same color! The bag will certainly attract attention, but at the same time it is guaranteed to create an awkward impression of an unfinished image and hint at a lack of taste.
· In summer, it is preferable to choose universal white and other light-colored bags, as well as bags of bright colors. In winter - dark, mostly black or brown.
· A motley bag can be paired with a plain outfit, and a pockmarked outfit can be complemented with a bag without patterns.
· You should use prints very carefully - the patterns on the clothes should match the style of the pattern on the bag. These may be complementary floral motifs, animal, ethnic, geometric. The latter are the most capricious; never take a checkered bag with a striped suit.
Material and accessories
What are bags not made of today? The materials used are varied - from genuine leather to straw and plastic. Not only the price of the bag, but also its appearance, durability, style orientation. Let's look at the main types of materials for women's bags and compare their advantages and disadvantages.
- Leather. The most popular and practical option is a leather bag. Genuine Leather is a fairly durable, waterproof material. A leather bag does not require special care and is easy to wash. Leather bags can be casual, office, evening or even sports. The color is not necessarily black or brown - material of various shades is used. The fittings are often metal - locks, buttons, handle rings, decorative buckles. The main disadvantage of such an accessory is its relatively high cost.
- Suede. Suede bags always look sophisticated and attract attention. However, suede is a capricious material; such a bag will have to be carefully looked after in order to maintain its original appearance. The best option made of suede - evening bag.
- Faux leather. Now from artificial materials produce products that are outwardly indistinguishable from leather. Prices for leatherette bags are quite affordable. This accessory looks quite solid, but it will not last long - under the influence of moisture and active use for its intended purpose, the bag will begin to deform and crack.
- Textile. Beach bag made of cotton or linen, shopping bag made of synthetic materials- inexpensive, convenient and practical. Such bags are lightweight, many of them can even fit into a pocket when folded, and they are easy to wash and dry. With the help of interesting prints and colors, such handbags can look quite elegant, original and stylish. Another thing is an evening bag made of satin or silk with a thick frame. This item cannot be washed or washed, so it must be handled with the utmost care. Denim, corduroy, velvet, knitwear, nylon, etc. are also used to make bags. The fittings for simple textile handbags can be either metal or plastic.
- Yarn. Handbags look amazing self made, knitted or crochet. Such fashion accessory you can do it yourself. The advantages are obvious - cost savings, the opportunity to realize all your design fantasies. Purchased metal elements are often used as accessories, but you can make, say, a fastener in the form of buttons and air loops, the original lacing is suitable for a sports bag. Such a bag can be placed on a lining, decorated with embroidery, embroidered with beads or sequins.
Stylish looks for any occasion
Now let’s use specific examples to try to match a bag to an existing outfit and the designated situation.
1. So, given: bright purple Evening Dress, silver sandals, yellow bracelet with inserts of silver stones. I think we’ll go to a cafe or a party like this. You need to complete the look with a matching bag.
The first option is a chic purple clutch, embroidered with stones and sparkles. We remember the rule and determine that this handbag will fade against the background of a purple dress. Black color is, of course, a classic and will suit an outfit of any shade, but here a black handbag will be inappropriate, since apart from it there is nothing black in the outfit. Perfect option- yellow clutch to match the bracelet. Note: the combination of yellow and purple flowers It is recommended to use in clothing only for women with dark skin.
2. The next task is to choose a bag for a business lady. Black trousers with arrows, classic pumps, a burgundy blouse in a retro spirit and discreet earrings of the same color.
Let's immediately discard the third option - such a textile bag is more appropriate with jeans for a walk around the city. The first bag is leather, black, laconic. However, its baggy nature makes the look a little sloppy. The second option is the best bag for the office. Geometric shapes support the rigor of the style, and the rigid frame ensures the safety of working documents.
3. Now let's help you choose beach bag this charming girl in a bikini.
What immediately catches your eye is that her outfit is very colorful. The handbag on the right is immediately canceled - in our case we will need a plain bag. The option on the left is not entirely practical - the bag is quite narrow and cannot accommodate all the necessary beach accessories. The bag in the middle is what we need. Plain, soft, light, roomy, it goes well with a swimsuit and pareo in color.
Let's sum it up
When choosing a bag, be guided by the characteristics of your physique and lifestyle, the color scheme of your wardrobe, as well as personal preferences. Even if you have chosen the perfect bag, but you don’t like its appearance, this accessory will regularly ruin your mood. Unfortunately, the choice may be limited by material possibilities, but even here there is always a solution - bags made from inexpensive materials or your own handmade ones.
Bag - an invariable attribute fashionable look, an accessory that you simply cannot do without, either at important events, or on a walk, or at work, and especially in the store. But this is not only a functional attribute, but also a stylish thing that amazingly emphasizes the individuality of the owner, will certainly be combined with a suit and suits any outfit. different cases. So it should be selected consciously, guided by trend trends, personal taste and advice from professionals.
Key Requirements
There are quite a lot of them, because they pay no less attention to accessories than to the outfit. So, the main characteristics include:
Selection by palette
Classic
The harmonious combination of black or brown bags with shoes of the same color is a constant traditional trend. Such combinations will help out in any situation, even going beyond the strict official business style. After all, this is not at all a conservative relic of the past, but rather tricky way draw the attention of others specifically to the clothing, without emphasizing the other components of the image. However, this option is not suitable for an outfit in muted tones - it needs to be diluted with something colorful and interesting. 
According to the wardrobe
You can choose bags not for shoes, but for other things. For example, bright accessories look great with a discreet dress, and vice versa. If there is a pattern on the fabric, it is quite acceptable to focus on its tones. There is nothing wrong with completely duplicating the color of clothing with a slight shift in tones. Still, a lot depends on the specific case. 
Modern approach
The main task is to express yourself, to show your imagination, by creating not the strictest work suit, but a weekend, even festive, set. Non-standard solutions will help with this. So, you should discard stereotypical thinking and stop pursuing an exact match of palettes.
The only possible exception is very expressive clothing like a snow-white fur coat or a burning red coat. Naturally, you should not mix dark with light. After all, it is expected that fashionistas will come up with their own complex, deep color look, and not wear something tacky and terribly contrasting. 
Other paints
Among original options Reddish-pink, sky-blue, yellow, blue, and scarlet bags stand out. But the following are considered universal:
Sizing
Large attributes
In any case, you should rely on personal needs. Are you heading to the store to stock up on groceries? Perhaps you go to college and carry a lot of textbooks? Or are you going to relax in nature? Take a large but elegant bag, you definitely won’t regret it! 
Miniature options
Even if giant bags become fashionable, don’t rush to grab them thoughtlessly. If the only personal items you have with you are your phone and wallet, wouldn’t it be better to put them in a compact clutch? And your hands are free, and you don’t have to think about how to take up extra space. 
Selecting handle size
It is carried out not only for practical reasons of convenience. Thus, a bag carried in a straightened hand gives emphasis to the legs. When it is hooked on the forearm, the movement of the hips is emphasized. But the accessory directly on the shoulder visually enlarges the breasts. 
What to look for inside the bag?
Lining
Naturally, first of all, on the lining. Make sure that it will not tear literally in one season. In addition, a thing with poor maintenance is unlikely to be good and durable on the outside. Even if you are focusing on the budget or mid-price categories, try not to make a mistake with the material. Sometimes the cheapness only backfires. 
Seams and fittings
You can recognize a quality product from a range of similar ones by its reliable fittings and even seams. Sticking threads are not allowed on the stitching, rivets must hold well, and clasps must open and close smoothly. Moreover, this applies to both the internal contents of the bag and its external appearance. 
Pockets
Another important factor is the presence of a suitable number of small pockets. If you like to carry around a bunch of oversized items, take care to place them in order. This is where additional compartments will help. 
Selection depending on material
Leather
It is believed that textiles spoil an elegant image. Therefore, the best option is leather. For example, veal, well prepared. It is quite thick, durable and at the same time has plastic softness. A great expensive alternative is a patent leather crocodile bag. 
Leatherette
Among budget non-exotic products, accessories made of high-quality leatherette have proven themselves well. Of course, they must look respectable and should not arouse suspicion of unnaturalness. It is better to wear them in the warm season, because due to sudden changes in temperature and frost, such material becomes covered with microcracks. 
Suede
Suede is somewhat inferior to leather. Due to its capriciousness and impracticality, it is more often found only in finishing elements. But there are products made entirely from it. They look incredibly representative, rich and noble, although they require a special approach. 
Choose according to style
Demonstrative simplicity is a modern global trend. It affected not only clothes, but also accessories. This includes bulky “totes” intended for shopping. Their relevance does not depend on the time of year, so at least one copy has every chance of entering the wardrobe of every fashionista. In addition, these models are in harmony with many outfits.
Another option is a backpack, which will add some spice to a completely unsportsmanlike style. But even if you live an active lifestyle, why not complement your everyday look with a matching bag? 
Vintage
Although it is quite difficult to combine with modern comfortable clothes, it never goes out of style. Moreover, several specific trends have emerged in the selection of bags for the 80s. For example, the classic banana is in demand. It has a wide, comfortable strap and is soft in shape. Now two of its variations are common:
It should be moderately stable and rigid. That is, rectangular and trapezoidal shapes with clearly defined edges are welcome. Soft products without a bottom are unlikely to be suitable. You should also avoid annoying brightness, shiny zippers, rivets, and chains. It would be good if the fittings were black or bronze. So – choose to your heart’s content! 
