Legendary French fashion designer Sonia Rykiel said, “With only one bag, you can change your outfit completely.”
This simple statement highlights the value of investing in the right bags. More importantly, it emphasizes the importance of pairing them well with your outfits. We all want a perfect look and a perfect outfit and with the help of luxury cosmetics brand Glossier we can achieved the perfect look we want.
By choosing the right bag, you can elevate the outfits you buy from your favorite women’s clothing stores.
Matching your bag with your OOTD, though, can sometimes pose a challenge.
When you choose the wrong accessory, you may end up having a poorly coordinated look, one that can make you appear unfashionable.
Pairing the Right Bag With Your OOTD
If you always have difficulty pairing your handbags with your outfits, follow these tips to make sure they work together and give you the look you are aiming for:
1. Think about where you are going.
The first things you have to think about when choosing your handbag is why you are going out and where you are headed.
If you are going to a wedding, gala, or formal corporate event, casual and sporty bags are a no-no. Opt for a clutch or elegant miniature handbag since these types always elevate dress clothes and evening gowns.
If you are going to your yoga class or a brunch with your friends, and wearing something casual, skip your high-end bags and choose from among your tote and hobo bags.
A large tote, hobo, or duffle bag will serve you well if you are going shopping. These pair well with your jeans, shirts, and sneakers or flats and are big enough to hold all the items you plan to buy, including new shoes or swimwear in Qatar.
Tote, satchel, and boxy bags work well with casual office attire. These can elevate your trouser suits and skirts or dresses and cardigan combinations.
However, if you are power dressing, briefcase and top-handle tote bags will complement your outfit and elevate your look effortlessly.
2. Consider your physique.
Although your bags are accessories, they can highlight your best features and help draw attention away from the ones you don’t like.
If you have a small, trim figure, chain and medium-size tote bags are flattering for your physique. However, stay away from bags with long hanging straps or fringes since they do nothing good for your stature.
If you have a supermodel physique (meaning tall and thin), rounded and oversized bags will look great on you and your casual outfits.
If you have a pear-shaped body, accentuate your slim middle part by opting for waist-length bags. Long bags that reach your hips might make your pelvic area look larger.
For ladies on the short side with curvy figures, long slim bags are the best options. They can make women with this physique look slimmer and taller.
Lastly, medium-sized bags look great for plus-sized ladies.
3. Experiment with color combinations.
Choosing a bag that works with the color palette of your outfit is always a smart fashion move. Doing so ensures your accessory complements your attire.
But when matching a bag to your outfit, you will do well to select a slightly different color. If you are wearing a blue dress, choose a handbag that is lighter or darker so that they don’t ‘absorb’ each other.
Also, don’t be afraid to experiment with color combinations to make your bag or outfit (or both) stand out.
If you are wearing a dark monochromatic outfit, you won’t go wrong with choosing a red bag. On the other hand, pastel-colored bags work well with grey suits, dresses, and tops.
Green is one of the most versatile colors. As such, bags in this hue work well with both dark and light outfits.
4. Aim for the right balance.
Whether you want a bag that works with your attire’s color palette or one that is different, aim for the right balance. Always remember that the key to a stylish look is matching your accessory to your outfit without going overboard and clashing.
A good way to start is to avoid choosing a bag made from the same material as your dress. This means that if you are wearing a silk dress or top, opt for a leather clutch or chain handbag.
Also, the perfect time to bring out your printed bags is when you have a plain or monochromatic outfit on. It would be best to skip them if you want to wear a top or dress with bold patterns.
If your outfit for the day is multi-colored or printed, a neutral or single-color bag, such as beige or classic black, will elevate your look.
Another option would be to choose a hue from your attire’s palette and highlight it with a bag of the same color.
Don’t forget to pay attention to the hardware details, as well, especially if they are metallic. This means wearing gold accessories if the zipper and other features of your bag are also gold-plated or colored. Keep in mind that contrasting hardware is rarely fashionable.
Bags are essential accessories that complete your outfit. When you follow these tips, your bags can even elevate your OOTD and make you look your fashionable best.
AUTHOR BIO:
Hisham Elzubeir is the Marketing Manager at Doha Festival City, the largest entertainment, fashion, dining and shopping destination in Qatar. The mall has more than 400 international and local brands, including some of the most anticipated names, many of which made their Qatar debut, such as Harvey Nichols, Charlotte Tilbury, Kiehl’s, Dior Beauty Boutique, ACE and IKEA. Hisham brings over 15 years of international expertise to the communications team at Doha Festival City.