The art of selecting the perfect handbag—is there one? Does it exist? What do you need to know about choosing the perfect handbag for your life, your outfit, and your personal style? The beauty of this process lies in its personalization, empowering you to express your unique style and needs in a way that no one else can.

A handbag is and always has been much more than a vessel to hold your belongings while out and about. It's a versatile accessory that can adapt to any gender, inspiring you to experiment and be creative with your outfit, and the piece de resistance when it comes to your style.

So whether you're simply looking for a new bag to fit your style and look good on your arm or you need a more practical bag that is functional for you, there is an art to choosing the right handbag, which this post will explore.

It Starts With You

Firstly, you need to know what you want from a bag as this will heavily dictate what type of bag you opt for. If you're out and about frequently but need your hands free, a backpack or crossbody bag might be preferable; if you need it for arm candy only, then a tote or smaller handbag could be your preferred option.

How you prefer to carry bags is as important as the style. Not all styles are comfortable for all people, and if you don't like holding bags, this will rule out many styles and vice versa. So, know what type of bag you feel comfortable using prior to shopping so you can tailor your search.

If you want to delve a little bit more into the perfect handbag, experts suggest that your bag should ideally be the opposite of your body shape.

Let's say you have an apple-shaped body with a fuller shape up top, i.e., shoulders, chest, and waist, and smaller legs, structured satchels, and landscaped tote bags are recommended. But if you have an hourglass figure, aka Marilyn Monroe, then you can opt for any bag type while rectangle body frames, which are straight and less defined features and measurements are similar whether chest or waist of the body then portrait leather totes or shoulder shoppers are advised for this athletic body shape.

While the above isn't a hard and fast rule, if you really want to accentuate your body shape and clothing style with your handbag, it can be worth considering this as part of your decision-making process.

Lastly, for this section, you need to understand your personality. There's no point in choosing dramatic bags that make a statement all of their own if you're more of a shrinking wallflower. And if you have a more outgoing, gregarious personality, then a simple, understated tote might not do you or your personality justice. While there is a style guide we will go into in this post for choosing the perfect handbag, it's important to balance this with your personality and your preferred style because otherwise, the bag won't work for you, and you will simply be left with an accessory that doesn't do what you thought or wanted it to do.

Tips for Choosing the Perfect Handbag

Size

The right size bag is just as important as the right size clothing. If the bag is too big or too small, it can detract from the style you're trying to achieve and overshadow the entire look. With this in mind, it makes sense that shorter people avoid more oversized bags that could swallow up their entire body and take over their style, while taller people ideally won't get smaller bags as this can be drowned by the rest of the look and body and be almost irrelevant.

Shape and Style

We touched upon the style of handbag you prefer to use above. However, eliminating choices based on their features and your body style can help you limit your options and rule out those that won't work for you. One general rule is that your bag shape should be the opposite of your body shape. This is because the area the bag sits in will draw attention, and this can be helpful in balancing your body shape and creating a more impactful look. For example, those with an inverted triangle body shape can benefit from a designer crossbody bag as this will even out the body shape by attracting the eyes down to the waist or hips where the bag sits.

Color

The color of your bag is vital as not only do you need to like it for it to be representative of you and your personality, But it also needs to match the outfit. The perfect handbag will be able to blend into a range of your outfits. The bag doesn't necessarily need to match other accessories, i.e., shoes; however, matching accessories is more common in men than women, and it can if you want it to. However, the bag can also be used to add character and style to an otherwise understated outfit or to tone down more eye-catching attire.

Comfort

Your bag needs to be comfortable to wear and use because otherwise, it's going to be a bad experience for you, and your awkwardness or irritation with the bag will show. This means assessing the material to make sure you're comfortable with it, as well as the weight of the bag, its size, and how you wear it in your hand, on your shoulder, across your body, etc. Your comfort is a priority in this process, and your needs are at the forefront of the selection.

Occasion

The occasion will also dictate the perfect bag. You need more than one perfect bag for different occasions. A tote you use to go out with friends shopping or on day trips won't work for more sophisticated events or nights out, will it? Luckily, there is more than one perfect handbag, and using the tips in this post, you can find the perfect bag for the occasion so you can move between different bags to help you create the look and aesthetic you want and need.

Area of Focus

Reiterating the fact that where you wear or hold your bag can be eye-catching, you need to make sure you are comfortable with that area of your body being the focus of attention and the part of you people are drawn towards due to the bag. If you're wearing a crossbody bag, are you okay with your chest/breasts being the focal point, as this is an area of the body that can be made prominent by the strap? If you're holding a clutch, are you okay with people looking at your hands as you hold the clutch, which will make them the main focal point of your body? If you do not want to emphasize or attract attention to certain body parts, this needs to be a factor in your decisions.

Security and Reliability

The bag you choose needs to fit the purpose you're using it for but also not be at risk of breaking off so you can use it time and time again. It also needs to be kept secure. If the bag is an accessory only and not to hold valuable items in, then this won't be as big of a selling point. But if you need a new work bag, for example, to navigate busy areas, public transport, or carry purses, smartphones, or laptops, it needs to be safe and secure to give you peace of mind.

Price

The price of the bag needs to be an important consideration. When styles can run from a mere few dollars to thousands of dollars, you need to consider if you can realistically afford the price and if you will get your money's worth. Does it have features that justify the price, or is it lacking because it is more affordable? Will you use it as often as you want to or need to, and will it wear well? All of these factors are important when looking to justify a purchase of anything, but they can be used to help you determine if a bag is of good value for money or not.

How Does It Fit

Lastly, now that you have run through all of the tips to help you find the perfect handbag, you need to try it on. It might look right and appear perfect on paper, but if you don't like how it looks on you or you don't like how you need to use it, then it's not the perfect bag.

You can follow all the tips in the world, but if something doesn't feel right, use your gut instinct to help you eliminate choices or find the right handbag for you.

Choosing the perfect handbag is about more than following a set of fashion and style rules. While they can help determine the type of bag you opt for and point you in the right direction, ultimately, how you wear the bag and how you feel when using the bag will dictate if it is indeed the perfect handbag for you.

Choosing The Perfect Handbag: What You Need To Know