If I’m in the market to buy a cute leather purse, I like to doing a little thinking and researching my options before I settle on “the one”. Within the last few years, I have realized I no longer wanted to purchase the budget-friendly purses. They simply don’t last any sort of wear I give, even if I handled them gently or did not use a particular purse all too often. I think those gave out faster just sitting in my closet! I have no idea why. Here are my steps to choosing the right bag for my needs. These are in no particular order since my priorities may be different from somebody else’s needs and of my own needs at the time of purchase. Placing budget aside because I may already know how much I’d like to spend on my next bag, here are some things I think about when buying my leather purses.
Color
I tend to favor neutrals; particularly black for one very simple reason: they will go with anything. To me, it doesn’t matter if the outfit is black, green, polka-dotted, or purple. A black leather purse will match the clothing, no matter the weather, no matter the season. Is this purse going to be used for all of my wardrobe or just a specific set of clothing? Do I want it to blend in or for it to be a bold statement? Should I go with another color just to add variety to my palette. What should I go with? Brown? Burgundy? I’d like helps to know exactly what colors I primarily use. In my case, I wear lots of black, but will wear reds and bright colors such as orange and green from time to time. Certain tones would blend in better than others. One day I shall buy a purse in a bold color, like red or lavender.
Style
I personally enjoy totes because so much can fit into the bag and a good bag holds more than it looks like it would. I would not be opposed to using a backpack either. Backpacks are great in that they do hold so much more, but both sets of hands are free and I don’t have to worry about any strap(s) sliding down. Nothing is worse than thinking your purse is secured on your shoulder only to feel it slipping down. If your hands are already full, you’ve got to do that awkward shoulder dance until the strap slides back into place. Another bag I tend to gravitate towards are single strap handbags. I like using those for short trips out or when I go out for the night with my husband and family. There’s something about having a nice, broad strap on my shoulder that makes me feel confident. Plus, a single strap is easier to control than two when they’re being carried on my shoulders. Aesthetics might also end up playing a role in choosing your next bag, whether this is your very first bag or your 100th luxury purse. After all, why choose a bag that looms ugly to you? Is the style of bag available in the color I want? Don’t settle for the style you didn’t want in the first place just because it’s the color you want.
Storage inside the bag
Is this purse roomy enough? am I able to put what needs to be put in there comfortably or am I having to squeeze things in? Is there room to put in an unforeseen or emergency item, like a cell phone charger, plus the wire? Do what needs to be put more than just lipstick and a compact mirror to touch up my makeup, or do what needs to be put my mini travel bag? My kids are older now, but for. Those of you with small children out of diapers: is there room to pack a small toy or storage of a toy if the child wants a toy or no longer wants to hold their toy? Maybe toys are not what you have in mind, what about your wallet? do you have a million store cards like many of us do? I know I have my fair share of cards from a variety of stores, and never know if I may need to venture to them one day without planning ahead. Is there enough storage for my 10,000 cards? OK, so I really just have 10 cards, but it feels like 10,000.
Purpose
Why am I getting this purse? No, that is not what my husband is asking me, rather a question I ask myself. I will ask myself this question because I’d like to be sure I am getting the right purse for my needs. Can we really have too many purses? Not if they’re designer bags, haha. I don’t want to buy a wristlet when I clearly need a hobo or a tote-sized purse. I also don’t want to do the opposite. If it has more than that, bonus points for the purse. As cute as the bag may be, if it doesn’t have all of what needs to be put, I gotta walk. This is so much harder than it sounds as some of you may already know.
Conclusion
When looking at designer purses, you almost need to approach them like you are shopping for a car. There are so many options (zipper/snap/drawstring), colors, sizes, styles, and little nuances to each bag. As much as we wish we could buy them all at once, for some this may not be an option. Knowing the reason why a specific bag is needed, how much space is wanted, the aesthetics, and even color may play a role in our final decision on a bag. Sometimes the biggest decision is Should I buy the little red or black one? Do I want the hobo or the tote? Whatever priorities you have when choosing your next favorite purse is totally up to you. I’d love to hear what you look for in your next purchase.