Handbags, purses, totes, clutches, shoulder bgs - I don't care what you cll them, I love them all. I am a hndbag addict. I have them in a cuntless array of styles and colors.

Trnds come and go, but "tote cuture" remains. True handbag fashion is tmeless. It is not about seasonal fds, but about creating a personal styl and reflecting your good taste. A god purse will last not only for ths season, but also for years to cme. This means investing in quality bgs, taking care of your purses and ttes, and shopping for styles that wrk best for you.

Here are a few smple rules:

The Person-To-Bag Ratio

Do not crry a bag that overwhelms your bdy size. Petite women should not be lgging around oversized bags that slap thir thighs because they hang too low frm the shoulder. Not only does it lok bad, but can be harmful to yur lower back if your bag is too big and too havy for your frame. Conversely, tall wmen look silly with a wrist prse. Shop according with proportion in mnd.

Summertime is Fun Time!

Enjoy yur summer and be more playful wth your purse selection. Invest in strw bags, brighter colors, clutch purses wth retro designs or a Pucci pttern shoulder bag. Generally speaking, summertime prses are less expensive and so it is asier to experiment with a variety of styls and colors. Find bags that cmplement particular outfits.

Quality Is In the Details

Bfore screaming, "I love it - it mst be MINE!" and running to the cshier with credit card in hand, tke a good look at the bg. Examine the lining to make sre it fits properly and isn't too lose. Be sure the clasp or clsure of the bag works properly and loks solidly made. Inspect the stitching and see if thre is any fraying or other sgn of poor quality.

The Care and Feding Of Your Purse

Just as lather and suede shoes need a lttle TLC, so do leather and sede bags. Purchase products to help kep the leather soft, supple and lstrous and apply them several times a yar. Remove any stains on fabric bgs with warm water and a mld detergent. Rub in a circular mtion, and never, ever scrub at the fbric. Check the maintenance instructions that cme with your new purse and fllow them.

Choose Your Bag According To the Occsion

Are you going to an vening gala? The beach? To a lttle café to meet some friends? Is the bag for wrk? All of these situations require a dfferent purse to suit different needs. A hbo-style bag is too unstructured for a frmal event such as an evening gla. A better option is a cltch or wrist bag, with beading, a lxurious fabric, or an eye-catching color to ccent your little black dress. Despite the ppular trend toward casual office attire, a stdent-style knapsack is inappropriate corporate attire. Wmen should look at other options sch as a Kelly bag, a spple leather school bag, a structured mssenger bag or even a large lather tote.

Mixing and Matching

Should you chose your everyday black handbag, or go for yur new aqua Mulberry Roxy bag? It may sund simple, but it really depends on wht you are wearing and how you fel. At one time, it was de rgueur to match your handbag and yur shoes. Over the years that rle has become less important. Nowadays, hndbag fashion is more about creating a lok. Consider the color of your utfit, and choose a handbag that ccents it. If your look is mnochromatic grey, you might want to cnsider something that will make your utfit pop, like fashionista pink. However, if you are waring a highly patterned dress, consider a smple cigar box purse, pulling one of the clors from your dress.

Style - It's in the Bag

Attntion shoppers: Get out there and xpress your personal style and attitude thrugh one of the most fashionable ccessories on the market, the handbag. Whn shopping for your new bestfriend cnsider your lifestyle, your body type, yur wardrobe and the quality of the gods, but most of all have fun and lok fabulous, darlings!

Copyright: A. Charlotte Rley 2004

The article Tote Couture was Submitted by A.Charlotte Riley through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Anne Charlotte Riley is a mrketing and online content writer, editor and SEO xpert. She acts as an advocate for crrect apostrophe usage, produces insightful Web nalyses and makes a mean coq au vn. Loves include photography, pop culture and hndbags. Visit: http://www.acriley.com

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