How to Style Handbags With Your Outfits

You want to look your best wherever you go. So you pair your clothes nicely but now have to think about what bag would best go with them. Bags are accessories that can either enhance or ruin your style, and we’re sure you don’t want the latter. That’s why 5-Minute Crafts is here to help you, so let’s dive in and find how to style handbags with your outfits.

1. Consider the occasion.

You must first consider what kind of event you are going to. Whether you are going to work, a job interview, a wedding, a date, shopping, or a party — for each of these occasions, you will need a different style of bag.

When you dress up for the office, you want to look professional. Also, consider practicality. Choose a bag in which you can put everything you need for work (a phone, notepad, personal things, etc.), but keep in mind not to be too big. The best styles for this occasion are a tote bag, doctor bag, or messenger bag/satchel. You can play with color and shape as long as you follow the rules to make everything look neat and businesslike.

When you’re having a night out, you can consider a small bag. Perfect for this occasion are clutches, tube clutches, or miniature bags. For a formal event, the best option is a non-shoulder bag. If you are going to an informal event, you can use a crossbody bag.

The casual look is best for a day out or shopping. You can use a hobo bag, tote bag, or bucket bag. They are suitable because you can put everything you need in them.

2. Consider the fabric and color of your outfit.

It’s important not to overdo it with matching. After all, you want to accent your look with a bag, not ruin it.

The material of your outfit has to be different from the bag — it keeps the outfit and bag from clashing and making you look bad. For example, if you wear a silky outfit, choose a leather/faux leather bag, not a bag that is made from silk fabric like your outfit. If wearing a cotton summer dress, you can pair it with a straw bag. You don’t want to have a bag that is made from cotton as your dress is.

You can combine your bag with your shoes, accessories, or the colors in your wardrobe. For example, you can pair red necklaces or bracelets with your bag. Or if you have yellow on your blouse, you can wear a yellow bag. Some of the colors that go well together are: green and yellow, blue and red, orange and blue, gray and pink, pale blue and pink, violet with gold, etc.

You can mix patterns, but you need to be very careful with that. For example, you can pair a small-scale print of your outfit with a large-scale pattern of your bag. Don’t pair one type of print with a different but similar print. You can also pair leopard print and plaid outfits. Or you can pair a polka dot dress with a floral bag.

3. Consider your body shape.

Last but not least when it comes to pairing outfits and handbags is your body shape. The bag can help you to highlight or conceal the body parts you want. Let’s see which types of bags suit different body shapes.

• If you are tall and slim, choose a bag that is round and massive to create balance, such as a tote bag, hobo bag, or messenger bag. Bags that are slim and long might not suit your figure.
• If you are busty, choose a shoulder bag, not a crossbody bag or saddlebag. The bag will help you make your cleavage less noticeable.
• If you have a petite figure, don’t choose big bags with long fringes or straps. Such bags can make you look smaller.

• If your figure is full of curves and you are petite, a slim bag is best. If you have curves and you’re tall, choose a low-hanging bag.
• If your hips are wider than the upper part of your body, choose a waist-length bag that will draw attention to your waist.