by Shayla Johnson

Created on: May 13, 2010

Choosing the right handbag is critical to the overall look you are going for. Not to mention the wrong handbag can completely ruin your mood during the day. A handbag is a woman’s survival kit. We tend to carry everything from lip gloss to stun guns. The perfect handbag has a way of keeping our essential life bag organized while making our appearance sparkle. To find your perfect match in the handbag world follow these simple steps:

First, decide what size is your ideal fit. Do you tend to carry everything but the kitchen sink, or are you a bare necessity girl? Knowing what size bag you need keeps you from getting angry when nothing else fits inside or from having to lug around a suitcase that is always empty. Go small if you are minimalistic, even if the fad is large oversized bags. Identifying your own sense of style keeps you from living in trends, and takes you to setting trends. Just make sure you have enough room to carry everything you need, plus a little room to grow. You should find happiness in that area of space. I compare it much to house shopping. You wouldn’t buy a one bedroom house if you are a parent of three kids. Nor would you purchase a seven bedroom house if you are single woman straight out of college. Shop smart. Be happy.

Second, choose your features. Do you love to have one large compartment, or do you need several compartments to keep stuff separated? Knowing this going in will keep you from buying bags that you will not like in the end. Decide upfront, what features a bag must possess in order for you to be happy. Another feature that is important to many women is the closure style. Do you prefer a zipper to a snap? What about a drawstring? Some women prefer to have a zipper because they feel the contents of the handbag are more secure and the likelihood of something falling out is slim.

Third, think materials. Some women do not support anything made of leather or other animal skins. Knowing beforehand what material you prefer can make the shopping trip much simpler. Some stores specialize in certain materials while others have a large variety of options. If you are set on one in particular, a specialty shop may be a better use of your time when searching for the perfect handbag.

Fourth, pick a price point. It would be great if budgets were not an issue, but for many of us it is. Knowing what you can afford to pay will not only keep you from going overboard, but will also keep peace in your checkbook. A good rule of thumb is, if you have a purse addiction and tend to buy a new one every month or so, then do not blow the budget on them. It is not necessary to throw money out the window on an item that you are going to carry for thirty days and then replace. However, if you choose to do so anyway, consider donating your “old” handbags to someone less fortunate. That way you can feel good about your purchase and make someone else’s day too. If you are someone who carries the same handbag for a year then you should look into a quality made handbag. This will ensure your bag can hold up to all the wear and tear and still look good.

Once you have all your steps known and identified you are ready to search for your dream purse. When you enter the store and you are overwhelmed by all the shiny material, clasps, and brand logos jumping out at you, remember your needs and go find that one in a million handbag! Now if only Mr. Right was sold in stores….

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