Did you know that the average number of bags owned by a woman in the UK is 14 (as reported by statista)? But how many do you really need to accent your year-round wardrobe? Can you get away with just 3 bags – one for work, one for casual, and one for special occasions? Maybe if you live in a monochromatic world – this could be an option for the minimalists among you! For those who like a bit more colour, here’s your guide to the essential bag styles to invest in and the total is in single figures!
High five!
Five bag styles means you’ve got all the occasions covered. Check out the key bag styles needed to kit out your wardrobe to meet a modern day lifestyle:
- For work – whether you’re climbing the corporate ladder or keeping it freelance and need your laptop within arms reach at a moment’s notice, you’ll benefit from a bag with more structure
- For travel – a tote for hand luggage to carry all your essentials from a water bottle, passport, and cosmetics to look fresh on arrival after your journey or to just to take to the beach, or go shopping
- For a night out – if partying or attending a fancy event, a smaller bag, say clutch or top handle will add a bit of glam to your outfit
- For active days – think days when you are out exploring or sightseeing, you need a bag that can be crossbody to keep hands free
- For the weekend – or casually elegant days. This is when you’re likely to be sporting a bit of denim and need a slim bag to throw over your shoulder.
For work
Backpack and briefcase bags rarely look so chic and classic. From By Banoo, a sustainable brand from Sweden, who are all about work bags for women. Ideal to be taken seriously and available in black (not just this more informal caramel colour).
For travel
The handy tote bags are an essential part of our travel luggage set. Good quality tote bags come in at all price points from canvas totes, the nylon Le Pliage bag from Longchamp to the fun and multi-functional tote bags from designer Anya Hindmarch. Or from Australia, The Beach People provide a bag to take you to and from work, travel, beach or shopping.
For nights out
Think textures; from quilting, suedes, and satin to embellishments including beading and pearls; clutch or top handle bags are the essential bag styles for a night out. From high street to designer bags there are plenty of smaller bags to accompany your evening. Check out the Meleni bag from Lalingi in semi-transparent pink at the front of the picture below (thanks Sona Memon), for those wanting to channel a Barbie vibe.
For weekends
For those weekends when you want a change from your work bag and don’t have the need to carry lots, a shoulder bag is just the bag to grab. Think baguette style, but if you don’t have the budget for an original Fendi there are more affordable brands. I think for days when you have a loose white shirt and jeans, you can’t beat a neutral-coloured slim shoulder bag – adds a touch of grown-up style. And you can’t beat the brands in Europe to nail it, such as Carnevale from Madrid.
So if you’re starting from scratch and building your own collection, five bag styles will have you covered. And without a doubt, there’ll be many of you who have many more. So if you haven’t used a few for a long time, now might be an ideal time to release any designer bags to a preloved fashion retailer or to a charity/thrift shop to give another person a bag to cherish.
And if you’re looking for an investment bag to add to your wardrobe check out the iconic designer bags.
Thanks to Hermaion for the header image.
Bagwhispers 