My Love Affair with Handbags

Remember the saying? If the suit makes the man, then the handbag makes the lady. For centuries, women have carried a bag with them everywhere they go because there are many items we simply cannot do without. We carry our lives in our bags. We also tell a lot about ourselves by the bag we choose. Many women even coordinate their bags with every pair of shoes and every outfit. This is very common in the South. If you have ever watched "What not to Wear," you have learned that this coordination is not necessary. Your bag and shoes can complement one another without being the same color. Who knew? A handbag should always fit your lifestyle and your personality. The plethora of choices for purses makes choosing the best one very important. Choose well and everyone will know who you are by the handbag you carry.

There was a scene in the movie, Silence of the Lambs, which I remember quite well. Hannibal Lector was telling Clarice that she wore nice shoes but had a cheap bag. He was telling her that she hadn't left her country roots far enough behind. After Hannibal left, I bet she bought a better handbag.

Handbags were my passion when I was a little girl. I remember my mother's handbag of choice, her burgundy leather Etienne Aigner. I used to love feeling the soft supple texture and inhaling the leathery aroma. I dreamed of the day when I'd have a handbag like that!

Not only did I get a bag like that, I eventually acquired quite a collection of handbags. To me, handbags are more than places to stash your stuff. The right purse can be a fashion accessory, chosen to match what you're wearing. With so many affordable purses out there, a girl can have one for every outfit! On the other end of the spectrum, there are those handbags by makers like Gucci, Prada and Louis Vuitton that are so expensive, they're practically heirlooms. Lucky celebrities get to have closets full of these super pricey bags, but the rest of us have to make do with replicas and moderately priced purses!

There are handbags for every style and occasion. You can go casual with a medium sized denim purse. Try a canvas bag for a sporty look. There are big purses for people who carry lots of items, as well as tiny ones. These mini purses don't weigh you down and are big enough to carry your money, keys and perhaps a tube of lipstick.

That's all fine and good for the minimalists out there, but I've always preferred handbags that were spacious, with zippered compartments where I could hide items like housekeys and cash. The strap is another matter of choice. I prefer a long strap that I can throw over my shoulder, you may like a shorter strap or even a clutch purse. No matter what your personal syle or preference, there's a handbag out there for you!

Novelty handbags are also something that have caught my attention recently. To my conservative, Aigner carrying mother's dismay, I came home from the mall one day with a darling pink purse shaped like a woman's bustier, complete with lacing and frilly adornment. I must say, however, after my husband also expressed his immense dislike of this purse, I found it a home in my closet. I do look at it sometimes, but I haven't carried it in public yet. My handbag of choice? An Etienne Aigner, of course!

Copyright 2006 Frances Coleman - All Rights Reserved

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