The Bags I Carry

From an investment handbag to the perfect vacation tote, the bags I love—and why the right one can make an outfit.

I have always loved handbags.

There are few things in fashion I enjoy more than a beautiful handbag. I can fall in love with the shape, the leather, the color—or simply the way it transforms what I'm wearing.

For me, a handbag isn't simply practical. It can completely change an outfit—and often says as much about personal style as the clothes themselves.

Over time, I've become much more selective about the bags I buy. I'm less interested in what's having a moment and more interested in what I'll actually carry.

The Investment Bag

There are certain bags I think of almost like jewelry.

Beautiful leather, extraordinary craftsmanship, and a shape that still looks fabulous years later are what make an investment bag worth it to me.

I don't need every new “it” bag. I'd much rather own a few exceptional ones that I continue to reach for.

The Everyday Bag

This is the bag that has to earn its keep.

It needs to hold what I actually carry, work with most of my wardrobe and still make me feel pulled together when I'm wearing something as simple as jeans and a shirt.

I've learned that if a bag is beautiful but annoying to carry, I eventually stop reaching for it.

The Evening Bag

This is where I have a little more fun.

A clutch, an unexpected color, embellishment, metallics—an evening bag doesn't have to be practical in quite the same way.

Sometimes it's the smallest piece of the outfit that makes the biggest difference.

The Vacation Bag

I have an entirely different relationship with bags when I travel.

A great woven tote, a crossbody for walking around all day and something small for dinner usually cover most of what I need.

And I particularly love bags I've discovered while traveling. They become both something I wear and something that reminds me of where I found them.

What Makes Me Buy a Bag

I've become much more disciplined about this.

Before buying one, I ask myself: Do I already own something that does the same job? Will I actually carry it? Does it work with my wardrobe? And do I still think I'll love it five years from now?

The last question is usually the most revealing.

Because the bags I love most aren't necessarily the newest ones in my closet.

They're the ones I keep reaching for.

The MBellished Edit

The Investment Bag · The Everyday Bag · The Evening Bag · The Vacation Tote · The Crossbody