funnyblog: EWP Handbag Guide: Clutches and Evening

Friday, March 26, 2010

EWP Handbag Guide: Clutches and Evening

I love clutches. I am seriously a clutch-aholic. When we went out for my bachelorette many moons ago, five of my friends grabbed one of my clutches for the event. There's something in the clutch collection for everyone. I really think a well-placed clutch can really make an outfit - add a print or a pop of color with just adding a little bag. I love 'em.

To recap:
Evening bags, including my all time favorite go to dress up bag - the clutch (which has no strap and you hold -- or "clutch" -- in your hand) and wristlets (which have a strap just long enough to hang over your wrist), are the handbags you'll want for a special night out.

With lovely details like beads, fringe and sequins and fine fabrics like metallics and satins, evening bags will complement your evening wear perfectly. You can choose between soft, leather evening bags or handbags with structured metal frames, depending on how formal your eveningwear is (I'm definitely going through a structured box clutch phase. I can't get enough of them!) If your evening bag has a handle, you can tuck it inside to transform it into a clutch bag. You can also use a clutch bag as a wallet inside your larger handbag during the day, and then pull it out for evening. Nothing says glamour and romance more than accessorizing with a beaded or rhinestone evening bag.

Where you'll be taking your evening bag:
To a holiday party when you're there to impress
To a fine restaurant when you're there with your special someone
To a wedding (with a few tissues inside, obvi)
To a cocktail party, where a statement ring-clad hand holding a clutch bag will be the perfect elegant look

Do: get dressed to the nines and take advantage of the style of evening bags.
Do: let a fun evening bag, clutch bag or wristlet take center stage when you're wearing a little black dress.
Don't: try to cram too much into your evening bag. Only bring along the essentials: cell phone, mints, a credit card, lipstick and cab fare.

Here are some clutch/evening options. I will admit to totally being lazy and only shopping at one site for all of these. Other places to check for cute clutches (but always hit or miss): Banana Republic, Forever 21, Aldo, and Target.