Top 3 Best Bag Styles for Spring
Casual chic style is in the bag with these easy options for purse perfection
By Laura Carson Miller
As we welcome warmer weather and change up our wardrobe with lighter textures, colors and fabrics, it’s a wonderful opportunity to incorporate a new handbag into your accessories mix. Let’s look at a few classic styles and learn a bit about their history. Not only do these bags stand the test of time but they continue to evolve without losing their inherent charm and ease of function.
Join me, won’t you?
1. The Bucket Bag
It’s a best seller for a reason, my friends!
The history of the bucket bag lies in – wait for it – champagne anyone??? It seems the bucket bag was created by Louis Vuitton to carry bottles of bubbly. Well cheers to that! Here’s the story:
‘The design of the Noé bucket bag actually stems all the way back from 1832 when a Champagne producer asked Gaston Louis Vuitton – the grandson of the Louis Vuitton founder – to come up with a sturdy yet stylish bag in which he could transport bottles of Champagne without breaking them. You can there for place five bottles right side up and one upside down in the middle of the four. The drawstring closure helped the bottle stay still to avoid bumping and breaking.’ Via The Vintage Bar – by Alberte Gram, a fashion writer based in London.
So while you are likely carrying all sorts of items, and maybe once in while a bottle of something sparkling, in your bucket bag, you will always know it goes with any and every outfit and goes any and everywhere.
2. The Double Handle Tote
And tote things, you will!
The double handle tote bag is a classic because it actually meets important needs while being stylish and is available in a wide variety of colors and textures to compliment your warm weather style.
Because inquiring minds want to know, let me share the humble beginnings of the tote bag here:
The 1940s is an iconic time stamp in the history of the tote bag, together with the great state of Maine. Officially, the tote bag was born in the forties in the shop of the emblematic outdoor brand L. L. Bean.
The famous brand came up with the idea of an ice bag in 1944. We still have the easily recognizable, legendary, large, boxy, canvas ice bag. Back then, the L. L. Bean ice bag was exactly that: a large, sturdy,durable canvas bag to carry ice from the car to the freezer.
It did not take people long to realize that they could use the bag for more than ice transportation. Bean’s bag was versatile and resilient to wear and tear. So what else could it carry? Via The Tote Bag Factory.
True to its name, the tote bag can be as chic or as pedestrian as you like in terms of its actual design or style, depending on your plans for use. If you’re filling it with produce, herb plants and peonies at the farmers market or magazines, bottles of sunscreen and waters for the beach or bringing along stuff for your kids to the play date, a canvas model may be your best bet.
‘This is of course completely different than the ladies who lunch double handle tote which houses your wallet, keys, phone, your three tubes of the exact same lipstick shade by three different cosmetic companies and hopefully some peanut M&M’s or a Dark Chocolate Milky Way for situations that require candy.’
This is of course completely different than the ladies who lunch double handle tote which houses your wallet, keys, phone, your three tubes of the exact same lipstick shade by three different cosmetic companies and hopefully some peanut M&M’s or a Dark Chocolate Milky Way for situations that require candy. We owe it to ourselves to be perpetually prepared for those. The LWL DHT tote can be white or cream or a mid to light shade of brown. I have one from Madewell that just gets better with age. I use leather conditioner on it now and then. I personally love a good woven leather tote that can take you into fall. Or something in a rattan or raffia always gives off carefree tropical vibes even if you are in Chicago or NYC. Talk about a shape shifter.
3. The Clutch
The clutch is great when you only require a few items and it’s a game changer for clothing pieces I wear often. I truly dig the way carrying a clutch totally changes the vibe of an outfit. A clutch can make jeans look more chic. This particular accessory also has the power to give proper, for lack of a better word, outfits a dose of cool like nothing else can. It’s not the hair, the nail polish shade or the jewelry or shoes. It’s the clutch, people!
For a bit of history on the clutch bag, read on…
‘After World War 1, women’s apparel changed drastically in keeping with the times. Gone were the restrictive corsets and superfluous layers. Gone were the frills and softness of the Victorian era. They simply did not fit in with the lifestyle of the more independent and fun-loving women.
The clutch bag sees its conception in the 1920’s when short hair and small pochettes, the first version of the clutch were the top fashion must haves of the day. The designs of clutches in 1920’s were reflective of the women of the time – sleek and sharp.
The clutch became so popular as it was seen to be flattering to the shape of a woman’s body, where she was able to keep a streamlined silhouette. Featuring geometric motifs, it no longer needed to be precisely coordinated with the outfit, as was the case in previous decades.‘ Written by Von Lukacs Laszlo.
There are times when not being hands free comes in, well, handy and the ever stylish clutch bag is always up for the task. Are you a germaphobe? Don’t particularly like having your personal space invaded? Frankly, if you are attending an event and you don’t particularly want to do a lot of shaking hands and/or hugging, use one hand for your clutch and one for your beverage and suddenly your warm, engaging smile is what everyone remembers. And how simply casually chic you were with your clutch bag, a la Princess Kate.
A classic bag is always a great investment as you can enjoy and use it to change up your outfits year after year. Remember: if there is a specific brand or style you are coveting always peruse ThredUP, Poshmark, Facebook Marketplace or trusted upscale resale handbag sites, where you can find great deals on gently used or NWT (new with tag) bag. You may be able to find exactly what you are looking for without having to pay full price.
‘A good selection of accessories, including bags, belts and shoes in the best quality your budget allows, will take your casual chic wardrobe pieces to new levels.’
A good selection of accessories, including bags, belts and shoes in the best quality your budget allows, will take your casual chic wardrobe pieces to new levels. They are actually the ‘glue’ that anchors the various clothing items we choose to wear each day. Furthermore, they are the details people with a great sense of style notice and appreciate. They are likely what you notice and appreciate in and on others.
I knew I liked you.
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