When looking for a smaller purse that can be carried by hand and not on the shoulder at all times, such as a tote bag, besides the question of choosing between that small leather clutch, the large leather clutch, a wristlet, or even a crossbody, the choices can be overwhelming, and we haven’t even looked at the color or other features yet! Here is a closer look at each of the three styles, not looking at their internal features, such as internal pockets or card slots.
The leather clutch: a closer view
A leather clutch is always a good choice to have no matter the size! If you are just going out for a very quick trip to the store or for a night out on the town with friends and family, a small leather clutch, or even a large leather clutch will be a great choice in any situation as far as having a handbag is concerned. Even with a small clutch handbag, with proper planning, lots of necessary items can be put into these purses without it being overstuffed. A properly packed clutch should not feel overly heavy to where carrying the clutch feels more of a burden than a joy to have, but maybe also not so light as to nearly forget you have a bag in the first place. With a large clutch purse, naturally you are able to pack more items, but sometimes bigger isn’t always better, and if a choice needs to be made, the smaller handbag may need to be the way to go.
The goods on the leather wristlet
What’s in a leather wristlet? Leather, of course! Aside from that, the one main difference with a clutch and a wristlet is that the wristlet has a strap that loops around the wrist, like a bracelet of sorts. One thing with wristlet is that the point where the strap meets the main body should 
always be inspected since the weakest point of the bag is going to be in this area. It makes sense since this small section of the purse will receive the highest strain since it carries almost all the weight of the bag in just one little area. The same rules of packing a wristlet also applies to a wristlet-proper planning will make the smaller space seem larger if only what TRULY needs to be carried is what’s inside the bag. Just like the clutch handbag, it’s always best to have some extra room to allow for emergency storage of a small item and to also allow room to be able to properly view the contents inside instead of awkwardly taking all the contents out just to retrieve that one item.
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Check out these wristlets and clutches!
The convertible clutch
The convertible is not exactly a proper term for this type of purse, but I’m just going to call a clutch that can be converted to a wristlet by having a removable strap. Not all wristlets will have the removable strap feature, but it’s a nice way to change the look of a clutch to a wristlet or vice versa. Having a removable strap will also allow for a handbag to look a little more dressed up or to have a little more casual feel to it, depending on the environment. A more formal feel may be to have the clutch
without the strap, for instance. The best way to find out if a wristlet has a detachable strap online is to look at the product details or if the site offers a 360 degree view of the actual bag. If purchasing in person, a closer inspection will let you know if the wristlet is detachable by the way it is clasped on. If there is no way to detach the strap, the strap is a permanent fixture, although some styles may allow for the strap to be concealed either under the flap of the purse (if that is the style) or tucked within the zipper gap. It never hurts to ask or see if this is an option.
The crossbody: a little of both worlds
Still can’t decide on the wristlet or the clutch purse? This is where the crossbody can come into play. Many times a crossbody is best suited to work as a wristlet, but instead of attaching to the wrist, this purse is able to be worn by the whole trunk of the body, from one shoulder, having to cross to the opposite lower side of the extra One nice feature of crossbody handbags is that if it’s suitable to go without the crossbody strap, it’s possible to do so as some bags have the crossbody strap detachable. If the strap is not detachable, then there may be an option for the strap to be concealed inside the purse, along with the contents. This is also why it is important to make sure that there is extra room inside the bag for this type of situation. As great and as secure a crossbody strap may be, there are some who feel a long strap can either hinder or take away from the overall look of the outfit. Regardless, crossbody bags are indeed nice to have because of the convenience of being hands free while carrying a purse; and generally speaking about wristlets and clutches, having only a small amount of items to carry around in a small purse.
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Final Verdict?
Apples to apples, disregarding the internal features of each handbag, each type of handbag has their redeeming qualities. Depending on what contents you will mostly need will be a huge indicator of what purse you should choose. If you feel like you need a varied set of looks to go with your wardrobe, by all means choose a handbag with a removable strap or one that can be concealed. If straps don’t truly matter, then feel free to choose one with a permanent strap. Should you choose one where a removable strap is an option, remember to leave room in your bag to allow for the strap to either be removed or attached.