My Love Affair with Handbags

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.

*** Fashion Nugget *** Every week, at least once but preferably twice, it is recommended you get rid of dead skin cells by exfoliation or a natural peel, which is becoming a more popular skin care routine. This step means that you will need to cleanse and then use a toner on the skin otherwise the exfoliant may not be completely removed.

In the movie Silence of the Lambs, remember Hannibal Lector 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.

I've loved handbags since 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!

*** Fashion Nugget *** About wedding favors... If flowers do not appeal to you then why not give candy a try as an easy wedding favor because it is always popular even if not as original as you would like it to be. If you prefer, there is an even easier method to give candy which can also save money at the same time. All you require to make this successful is to use a large glass bowl and fill it with all your favorite candy for the guests to enjoy. To complete this idea, a small plain bag or carton can be left for each wedding guest to put their candy into. Of course this means that you won't have to wrap anything yourself but it should get the thumbs up from everyone.

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!

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