Wednesday, 22 August 2012

Handbags - Top Handbag Fashion Mistakes to Avoid


You love the flashy pictures of models wearing stylish handbags on the catwalk. However, in real life, most women do not have a stylist to tell them how to match the different bags they have to their outfits. As a result, many mistakes are made. Find out how to avoid the most common ones of all.

 

Combining a leather handbag with a pair of sneakers is one of the biggest fashion crimes that should be avoided at all costs. The sports shoes are reserved for sports no matter how fancy they look. Leather bags, on the other hand, are elegant and stylish and have to be matched to similar outfits. If you love your sneakers, you can readily pair them with a small fabric or canvas bag, with a nylon messenger back that has an attractive fashionable print or with a sports backpack from one of the top brands. As you can see, there are plenty of alternatives to pick from.

 

Combining a messenger bag with a professional or evening outfit is a serious fashion mistake that you would not want to make. These handbags are quite functional, but the shoulder strap goes over your entire body. This will literally ruin your look especially if you are wearing an elegant work jacket or a lovely romantic or cocktail evening dress.

 

There are a lot of alternative options to select from. A satchel bag or a lather tote is ideal for combining with professional outfits. Go for a clutch for the evening. If you do not like carrying the bag in your hand, you can readily opt for a wristlet. It has the flat rectangular design of a clutch but comes with a handle.

 

Matching a large bag to a winter coat is another major mistake to avoid. Big handbags and big coats do not go together well. Go for a medium-sized bag for the winter so that you can balance out the coat. A shoulder bag would be the ideal choice, even though elegant handbag models will do a great job too.

 

Following the handbag fashion trends blindly is a mistake that many people make, but very few actually realize. For instance, large clutch bags are particularly trendy at present. It is certainly recommended to have one of these in your closet. However, many women do not realize that these do not go well with evening outfits. The large clutches are the perfect match for professional outfits that include jackets and elegant skirts or pants. They also compliment greatly formal and more casual dresses worn during the day.

 

Try and follow your inner sense of style when it comes to handbags and you will certainly look your best. 

Saturday, 11 August 2012

A Guide to Buying Vintage Handbags

The popularity of vintage clothing, handbags, jewelry and other accessories has increased greatly in recent years. Many celebrities are crazy about the vintage fashion that makes them stand out on the red carpet. The really great thing is that every girl can afford gorgeous vintage items including bags. You just need to know how to find them and how to buy them.

What are vintage handbags?

The term "vintage" is not used to define a particular style. Vintage fashion items are the ones that were made from 20-30 to 60 years ago and that were the trendiest during their time. For instance, you can readily go for bags that were the most stylish and elegant in the 60's.

It should be noted that fashion items produced less than 20 to 30 years ago are considered modern. Those designed over 60 years ago are regarded as antique. Antique fashion bags, clothes and accessories are also extremely highly valued, but naturally they are much more expensive than their vintage counterparts.

All vintage handbags have their own unique design and appeal. Given that not many items remain, you can be certain that you will get a bag that has few or possibly no copies. Still, the designer vintage bags are the most highly valued. This is due to the fact the designer items had unique designs and were made by hand using the best quality materials available at the time. As a buyer you can readily consider designer items as well especially if you plan to have a collection.

Where do you find vintage handbags?

There are stores and boutiques specializing in selling such items in virtually all big cities. Some are more posh than others, but this does not mean that you should not check them out even if you have a limited budget. You can find gorgeous items at specialized online stores and auction sties. Just be careful about scammers which are found in abundance these days, unfortunately.

How do you buy a vintage handbag?

Firstly, you must inquire about when and how the bag was made and where it comes from. The seller should be able to provide the information. Of course, it is important for you as a buyer to select models that match your individual style and preferences and not to buy just anything simply because it belongs to the vintage era. Inspect the bag carefully to ensure that it is in good condition.

When it comes to designer vintage handbags, they have to be inspected even more carefully to confirm that they are not fakes. The materials should be soft and gentle to touch. The stitches should be in a straight line. There should be no imperfections.

Wednesday, 8 August 2012

3 Types of Functional Handbags You Will Love

You will make many amazing discoveries in the wonderful world of handbags. It is certainly a great idea to use a guide to the popular types of bags that will show you the way. Follow it and you will certainly be happy with what you have found.

Bucket handbags have the shape of a bucket, but since they are made from soft materials, they are much more elegant and charming than the object which inspired them. These bags are carried over the shoulder so the long thin straps are characteristic for them. The strap can be long or short depending on the position the bag is designed to take.

Most models have a drawstring closure which gives them the romantic appeal of a classic pouch. Still, you can find models with a zip closure and ones with harder sides that are designed to stay open.

Bowling bag purses have gained huge popularity in recent years. These handbags have the design of bowling bags. The wide flat bottom and the gentle smooth curves make these accessories extremely elegant and stylish. They are quite functional as well since they can accommodate a wide range of personal items. The small sturdy handles allow for these bags to be carried by hand very comfortably.

The bowling bag purses are typically medium in size, but you can find large models as well. You can go for a more casual model with a sporty appeal or for a more sophisticated leather model. The selection of materials and colors is huge.

Saddle purses are the ideal accessories for the leisure time. They are special because of their saddle shape. You can easily recognize the gentle dip at the top and the smoothly curved sides that remind you of a real saddle. Saddle purses should not be mistaken with saddle bags which typically have half-moon shape and are attached to the saddle of the horse.

Saddle purses are among the handbags with come in a variety of sizes. They typically have a single shoulder strap. It can be long or fairly short. In general, the shoulder strap determines the position of the bag. You can select from leather and fabric models. Irrespective of your choice you will appreciate the casual appeal of saddle purses.

You will certainly find a lot of attractive handbags. Consider each model on its own merits. Do not hesitate to experiment with shapes, designs and colors. Remember that the bag has to be functional as well as beautiful and stylish.