Brown Leather

Posts Tagged ‘Brown Leather Bag’

It’s time to buy that all-season, multi-purpose, goes-with-everything brown leather bag. But don’t rush to the store and purchase the first one you come across! Think about it for a little while and make sure you cover all the bases so that you’ll be happy with your new purse for a long, long time.

First, realistically evaluate what you are going to be using this bag for. What kinds of things do you need to carry in it? What are your habits in regard to your handbag? Do you stuff everything but the kitchen sink in it or do you prefer to keep it light and minimal with just a wallet, keys, maxi pad and lipstick? Is this purchase going to be a man purse for someone? Will you want to carry your dog in it as well, or is it solely for your dog? Do you often have to dump out your purse to find your keys? Do you keep your cell phone in your purse, and if so, do you need an outside or inside pocket for it?

Be honest with yourself about your purse. Sure, the sleek little clutches are sooo darling, but if you need to have a lot of stuff with you at all times, you simply cannot use one of those. You need a real bag, preferably with lots of pockets and a reinforced bottom, and made out of super durable brown leather.

Next, check out the designers! Even if you don’t think you can afford a designer hand bag, you still need to know what they’re doing and what is considered to be in fashion right now. Some designers to look at are Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Chloe, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Givenchy, Gucci, Miu Miu, Mulberry, Yves Saint Laurent, Jimmy Choo and Prada. Louis Vuitton makes leather bags too, but they are not necessarily purses; more like extremely small suitcases. They also make a very popular line of dog purses, which are handbags you carry your toy dog in (like Paris Hilton).

Research past trends too. You should see a pattern in styles that reappears every 20 years. If you really, really like a very trendy bag, it’s okay to buy it…just know you’ll be putting it in your closet for a 20-year sleep in a few years. The good news is, it will be just as beautiful in 20 years when it comes back in style as it is today.

That’s because leather lasts almost forever if you care for it properly and store right. Never store leather items covered in plastic. They need to breathe. Wrap your leather handbags in a cotton sheet and put away somewhere cool and dark. While you’re using a leather purse, keep it clean by wiping dirt and stains off with a damp cloth as necessary. If you must do a deeper cleaning than that, use special leather conditioning cleanser, available at leather repair shops.

photo credit: Kent Ng.

Once you’re up to speed on designer trends, head out to your favorite shops and start trying on purses. Make sure they fit your body properly. If you sling it over your shoulder, does it bind you or bump you awkwardly on the back? If it hangs from your arm, does it hit your thigh uncomfortably? Will it fit over your arm when you’re wearing a bulky sweater or coat? If it has fat sort of body to it, will it be comfortable under your arm? Evaluate each purse objectively. Try on any color at this point, as you learn exactly what size and shape purse you want. You can zero in on a brown leather bag later.

Evaluate the styles of the bags. Do they have a zipper top, a clasp, fold over flap, or are they just open. Will any of those styles not work for you? Are you someone who never zips the top zipper on your purse? Or maybe you can’t stand having a purse that doesn’t close on top, for fear of pickpockets.

Once you’ve found some purses that fit you well, match them up against your needs. Discard all the ones that don’t really meet your requirements, no matter how cute they are, or how good a discount they have on them! It’s a waste of money to buy something you end up stuffing in the back of your closet so you won’t see it and feel guilty about not using it.

Check all the seams and stitching. Make sure everything is tight and none of the threads are coming loose. If they are, maybe find a different line of handbags…those are not well made and won’t last.

Last, check around for deals. You’ve got your dream purse in your sights, but there’s no need to pay for it at the first price you find on it.  Hit the Internet, check some other shops, and even ask for a discount from the first place you found it. They may give you 10% off just to keep you from leaving without making the sale on it.

Enjoy your new handbag! It’s ok to feel smug about it too, and tell all your friends how you shopped for it like the genius shopper you are.