How to Choose an Evening Bag

The jewelry, dress and shoes always come first. But, sometimes women forget about the evening handbag until it’s time to walk out the door and there’s no place to put their lipstick or cell phone. Whether you’re going to an upscale restaurant, cocktail party or a formal, getting the perfectly matched evening bag is not only vital for carrying those extra things but also for completing the look. Follow these tips on how to pick out the ideal evening bag for the occasion.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Access to a store that sells special occasion clothing

1. Go small. The key for any handbag after 6 p.m. is to shrink the size. Totes and handbags embroidered with signature prints, such as Coach, are not usually appropriate for formal occasions. The most popular silhouette is a clutch-type, whether boxed or rectangular. Some also opt for the circular bags, which can hold more.

2. Match the fabrics and embellishments on the handbag and dress. If there are no sequins on the dress, don’t get a bag with sequins. The same applies for fabric, like matching crushed velvet with satin is an absolute don’t unless the dress has both fabrics. The perfectly matched evening bag will look very similar in fabrics and embellishments to the dress you’re wearing.

3. Keep the same style throughout the attire. If you have a contemporary bag that is triangle-shaped or Chinese-inspired for example, be sure that the style of the dress is not reminiscent of the 1930s. A contemporary dress should have a contemporary bag and so on. Fabrics and embellishments aren’t the only factors in uniformity.

4. Check the hardware. If your bag has silver straps, be sure to avoid gold jewelry and vice versa. Know your fashion habits, such as a partiality to silver, and shop with this in mind. If you happen to favor a bag that is all-hardware and no fabric, be sure the style and colors match.

5. Allow practicality for the evening bag. It may be cute, but can it fit your cash, license, camera, cell phone and last-minute extras? Do a test while you’re in the store to see if it holds up to your typical carry-around.

6. Personalize a bag if you can’t find one to meet your needs. Getting an extra pair of costume jewelry earrings can turn into a fun afternoon project if you choose to glue the extra stones onto the bag yourself with fabric glue. Have a dress that’s recently been altered? Take some of the scrap fabric and add a panel or a bow to the purse to show your customization.

7. Invest in an evening bag if you frequent upscale events. If you find yourself attending more than a few evening events a month, find a bag that matches your general evening style and make it an investment.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to use your creativity. If you have a dress that has a touch of pink in it, getting a pink bag and using it as an accent color is completely acceptable. Even if you want to use your bag as the burst of color, feel free. Just make sure that others know you meant to do that by bringing the look together with classic uniformity.