Wardrobe Love: It's in the Bag

Welcome to the first of many Wardrobe Love challenges! Let's dive right in!

Q: DnC, I am looking for a purse that is both versatile and in style. Help!
--DL

A: DL, my girl, you have come to the right place. As someone who has been using the same purse for 365 of the last 365 days, I think I can help. The biggest piece of advice I can give anyone who wants to purchase something long-lasting is to be honest with themselves.

With that in mind, I would make sure you can answer three simple questions about the beautiful bag you will ultimately buy:

What colors do you wear the most?
You might be expecting me to say that if you wear black, you should buy a black bag. And while you certainly can do that, the only point I want to make is that you avoid colors that are in that close-but-not-close-enough family. For example, if you often wear black, I urge you to avoid a dark brown purse. If you often wear patterned clothing, I would stay away from a heavily patterned purse, and so on. 

[Photo source: nordstrom.com]

How much do you typically carry in your purse?
If you're anything like me, you have made a new year's resolution every year for the last decade about minimizing the amount of silliness in your purse. And while there are days when there are no gum wrappers, no stray bobby pins, and only one stick of deodorant (with the cap on) inside my purse, I will probably still want to use a large bag -- no what what. I like to carry a planner (do you remember using those things before you got your iPhone?), a notebook for random thoughts, and my big wallet. (Believe me, it's not a wad of $100 bills that's making it heavy. I like to itemize my receipts.) So, be realistic about how much you like to tote around on a daily basis, and keep that in mind during the selection process.

[Photo source: jcrew.com]

How much am I willing to pay for something I want to wear often? 
Just like the other questions here, the answer to this one is going to vary for everyone. No matter if your limit is $20 or $200, the biggest piece of advice I can give is to make sure you know how to clean your purse. If you end up with a leather bag, it's a good idea to invest in leather cleaner. If your bag is machine-washable, make sure you set the water at the right temperature. (Some purses can even be taken to the cleaners.)

[Photo source: michaelkors.com]

The "100-50-25" Where to Buy
Nine West
Price: Less than $100


Gap
Price: Less than $50


Forever 21
Price: Less than $25

That's all for now, gals. Keep your Wardrobe Love questions coming!