My Romance with Handbags and Purses

For centuries, women have carried a bag with them wherever they go because there are many items we just 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. If you have ever watched "What not to Wear," you have learned that this coordination is not necessary. Your bag and shoes can definitely complement one another without being the same color. Who knew? A handbag should always fit your lifestyle and your personality. The abundance of choices for purses makes deciding the best one very important. Choose well and everyone will know who you are by the handbag you carry.

Did you watch Silence of the Lambs? Recall how Hannibal Lector told 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.

Ever since I was a little girl I've fallen in love with handbags. 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!

Well, not only did I get a bag like that, in time 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! At the other end of the scale, there are those handbags by makers like Prada, Gucci and Louis Vuitton that are so expensive, they're practically heirlooms. Those 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!

You can find 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 well and fine for the minimalists, but I've always preferred handbags that are spacious, with zippered compartments where I could hide items like house keys 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!

More recently novelty handbags have caught my attention. To the dismay of my conservative, Aigner carrying mother, I returned 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 Kristie Simmons - All Rights Reserved