There are guidelines for bags
that suit your figure better than others.
Within what you already know about your Harmony’s scale
rules – small to medium or medium to
large – for a good match, follow these
rules.
Proportion:
Your bag
should work with your size, not against
it. If you’re either
tall, full-figured or both– a
teeny bag will look like a toy and
accentuate your size.
If you’re petite, an oversize one will look like a circus prop.
Color:
Neutral colors
will be practical and can blend into
more outfits. Taupe, camel and browns
go with warm colors. Gray, pewter and
black compliment cool colors.
Carry a splashy print or high-color bag to add personality to solid-colored or
simple outfits.
Shape
Your Harmony
determines much of this. Geometrics
not round for Falls. Rounded or curves
geometrics for Springs and Summers.
Winters may choose either.
That said, if you’re
roundish in figure, a streamlined bag
lends you look some edge. If you’re
lean, borrow some curves from a bag with
rounded edges, or a straight and curved
combination.
A clutch or handle bag style is for everyone.
Straps
If you’re
busty, skip short-strap
shoulder bags that snuggle under
your arm, adding bulk next to your
bustline. A sleek handbag
that you carry near your waist is
a better choice.
Wide hips? A
short-strap style worn
over the shoulder and
under the arm will divert
eyes upward. A
long-strap shoulder bag,
especially in a round
or bucket shape, will
only add to the hips.
Petite
or small-busted
also look more
balanced with
a shorter shoulder
strap as
the longer straps
drag you down,
making you look
shorter.
Dressier or lightweight shoulder-strap purses that hit around the waist could
be worn by petites.
Taller people wear long straps well.
Function
Are you often on
trains, planes or buses? A
structured bag or tote in a dark
color and somewhat weatherproof – canvas,
treated leathers or micro fibers.
Look for closable exterior pockets
for tickets and cell phone and
a closable top or interior zipped
compartments for valuables. Use smaller,
zipped bags as needed to control
clutter in this larger bag or tote.
Want to look business-like? Skip
crushy, soft styles; you want structure
small to medium size as opposed to
huge, conveys polish. All leather
or fabric with leather details
to assure the bag won’t
look too casual. The
shape and material should say “efficient”.
The color can be neutral or have
more personality depending on your
workplace. Chain straps and hardware
are fine as long as they’re
neither punk-inspired nor oversize,
and the bag meets the other business-like
criteria.
Do you carry a lot? Get
a bag that gives you a means to keep
it all organized. Paperwork? Look
for dividers.
Random
stuff? You’ll
want
compartments
or
consider
a
system
of
smaller
bags
that
organize
everything
and
will
slip
into
larger
ones.
These
could
possibly
be
in
different
colors
of
the
same
style
or
various
sizes
in
the
same
color
whichever
suits
you
and
your
needs. Should the color
of purse always match the shoes? Not
anymore. The colors can blend
and not necessarily match. A
multicolored purse should have
a color or fabric of the shoes
in it. Today, it’s
more important to
make sure your bag
and your shoes compliment
each other in style and
mood. If you
wear gold metallic shoes,
for example, pair them
with a bag that has gold
accents or hardware to
tie the look together.
Should you be wearing boots, you want to avoid a small shiny clutch and use
a bag of comparable value and substance.
Always
be consistent in
the similarity of
style and purpose, wear
shoes and a bag that
are both suited
for the activity
and reflect the dressy,
casual or business-like
situation.
The Bottom Line:
If it doesn't look good on you, it's
not in style
