Summer Style: Affordable Bags

Shopping for the warmer weather season has been in full swing since February and the one thing I realized was lacking in my wardrobe was bags. Your bag is that one accessory which can really pull an outfit together besides your shoes, but most of mine were a sea of basics and neutrals; browns, beiges, blacks, whites, reds and navy. With a full-time 9-5, being practical was always my top priority. First, bags that would be coordinated with nearly everything was my go-to. Second, I love a large tote bag style because they hold everything one can need during the day on a commute far from home. My planner, a make-up bag for touch-ups or post-work occasions, hygiene items (hand sanitizer, wet wipes) feminine items "just in case", a portable pharmacy in case I got a migraine, a cut or had an allergic reaction to something, hand lotion for my chronic hand washing (this is all pre-Covid, by the way) and daily electronics (phone, tablet, laptop, earbuds, charger, etc.). And don't forget snacks. Gotta have space for my water bottle and transporting breakfast or lunch items. I'm the person you want to be stuck with if there's a public emergency and hunkering down for hours is a necessity. You name it, I probably have it in my bag; prepared for any and all occasions. No, I'm not a Mom, but I had a Virgo parent (if you know, you KNOW), where being prepared for anything is always top of mind.

In any case, in 2021, I've let go of my "bag lady" ways. I still like to be prepared, but the pandemic has provided perspective about lightening my load. As a result, it has changed my outlook about being so practical with my bags. I'll still keep the ones I have, large enough for anything and neutral enough to coordinate with everything, but I really wanted to add more colorful and fun items to round out my collection. I want to be able to wear a cute bag with my stylish weekend outfits, versus settling for a basic black, brown, or that one casual bag in my arsenal. Acquiring more interesting items began a couple of years, ago, but I still played it safe with sticking to neutrals. This year, however, I decided to be more adventurous by not only reducing the size of my purses, but introducing more color. My smaller bags were mostly reserved for fancy/formal events. I needed something for daytime looks and have enjoyed shopping for them. A cute, colorful bag really does make putting outfits together so much more fun!

How I'm going to pare down what's necessary when I'm out and about will be dealt with when I have to deal with it. In the meantime, I've eased into the smaller, colorful bag world with the items below. This is only the beginning. Get ready for the "new in" posts displaying a rainbow of hues and patterns!

NEW IN!: