With the changing of the seasons, it’s out with the old and in with the new; and we’re always ready to polish up our outfits with new accessories! Winter offers a bit more versatility in regards to bag size and structure, because during the summer months, we’re only interested in lighter bags that are easy to manage! Wondering how can you look stylish and still fit every essential in your purse without lugging around a bag that is unattractive and cumbersome? Here are a few of our favorite styles and picks!
As you’ll undoubtedly be packing up and taking off for a much-needed vacation or weekend getaway, the over-large carry-on provides a chic alternative to rolling luggage and heavy, masculine duffel bags. Stella & Dot’s Jetset collection features brightly patterned handle bags that are the perfect size to tote all of your necessities for a beach trip. The design is so bold that you could pair it with most any travel ensemble. Bonus points: They offer wristlets and wallets to match!
For day trips and mini-adventures, cross-body bags are a sweet little number to hold your wallet, cell phone, and makeup for touch-ups that keep your hands free. This summer, compact styles that are rounded or squared off are a hot commodity. ShopHQ offers darling Anuschka handbags with hand painted designs on brown leather that are as unique as they are captivating. We love the boho flair offered by this heart-shaped bag with peacock feathers that’s perfect for casual weekend use, but there are plenty of options that offer more structure in classic color blocks.
For a trendy handbag perfect for office wear, cut-out leather designs are all the rage, and ShopStyle has a huge collection to browse through. For more conservative settings, a classic brown will amp up your arm candy game, while white is a highly appropriate pick for the summer months sure to brighten up your outfit. From lace and diamond, to geometric shapes and other patterns, no two purses or evening clutches are alike. These cut-out options are all innovative and sophisticated, while still maintaining a playful appearance. It’s tough to choose favorites – we want one of each!
2014 is undoubtedly the year of metallic. From glittering gold to shiny silvers to shimmering bronze, there are numerous mixed hues that are as easy to match with your outfit as neutral browns and blacks. Depending on how you accessorize, a metallic bag can be dressed down for play and dressed up a big night out. They offer plenty of flexibility as far as mixing and matching with jewelry and colored apparel, and are a fancy and feminine addition sure to increase the volume on any ensemble. We’re partial to the large, designer-driven collection at Bloomingdale’s that houses this metallic mini by Tory Burch.
What are your favorite handbag styles and trends for this summer?