funnyblog: kooba

Monday, March 22, 2010

EWP Handbag Guide: Hobos & Shoulder Bags

Perfect for everyday, shoulder bags are the workhorses of a handbag wardrobe.

With straps long enough to go over your shoulder (hence the name), shoulder bags will keep everything you need handy without taking up one of your hands. The shoulder straps may allow the purse to hang as low as your hips or up high by your waist. Many shoulder bags have outside pockets as well as interior places to organize everything you need, from your cell phone to your keys. Shoulder bags are available in many different styles, like the soft, slouchy, and unstructured crescent-shaped hobo bag, the functional and necessary diaper bag and all manner of luxurious designer handbags. With a variety of sizes, shapes, colors, closures and designs, there's sure to be a shoulder bag that you'll love to bring with you.

Where you'll be taking your shoulder bag:
To the store, with your wallet, cell phone and keys tucked inside
To the movies with your friends (I won't tell if you sneak in your own candy)
When you go out to eat at a casual restaurant or bar
To the office, but remember to choose a higher-quality material to maintain a professional look

Do: let your shoulder bag be a pop of color when you're wearing a neutral outfit.
Do: adjust the strap so your shoulder bag doesn't hang any lower than your hips.
Don't: wear your glamorous clothes with a shoulder bag unless it has a very delicate strap; otherwise, the shoulder strap will interfere with the beauty of your eveningwear. Unless your name is EWP, in which case you lug a black leather shoulder bag to weddings even though you'd rather be wearing a clutch, because it's the only thing short of a tote that will hold your giant SLR digital camera. My apologies to all people who I offend by this.

Some shoulder bag and hobo options:

Longchamp, $545 @ *

MARC by Marc Jacobs, $398 @

MICHAEL Michael Kors, was $448, sale $269.90 @

See by Chloe, $735 @

Nordstrom, $128 @

Kooba, $595 @ *

Kate Spade, $395 @

Marc by Marc Jacobs, $378 @ *

Kate Spade, $395 @

Cole Haan, $248 @

Kooba, was $595, sale $396.90

Kate Spade, $355

Cole Haan, $328 @

@ Available in more colors

* EWP Fave

Thursday, March 18, 2010

EWP Handbag Guide: Totally Totes (& Shoppers)

Once upon a time, an EWP wrote a handbag guide (find it here) and promised to give options for each type of handbag. Then life got in the way, along with other topics she wanted to blog about first. But she never forgot about those handbags or that promise.

Which brings us to today. Today's all totes and shoppers. To recap:

When you need to bring along many of your belongings, totes bags and shoppers are the large bags for you. Tote bags and shoppers have a bigger capacity than other handbags. Most tote bags and shoppers have a heavy-duty design. Totes bags and shoppers are available in several types of materials, often in canvas twill and leather. Totes and shoppers usually have a functional square or rectangular shape and an open top. Make sure to look out for zippered-top totes if you worry about pickpockets. Some tote bags are wide open and ready for whatever you want to put in, while other totes have handy storage compartments for key, cell phones, water bottles and anything else you may need. Tote bags always have some sort of handle, and often the handles are long enough to use as a shoulder strap.Tote bags have one other special quality: The bigger the purse you carry, the smaller you look -- instant weight loss from your accessories!

Where you'll be taking your tote bag or shopper:
On an airplane as a carry-on
To the beach with all of your gear
To work when you need to bring along a full day's supplies, including a change of shoes for walking to the office and/or your lunch
Out shopping so you won't have to use any plastic bags

Do: take advantage of the utilitarian design of tote bags and shoppers and use one of these purses when you're wearing casual clothing, like jeans and a sweater.
Do: choose a tote bag that can be taken to the office by selecting one in a neutral color, possibly out of leather, so it won't take away from your career look.
Don't: use a tote bag for a dressy evening, like a wedding, even if your tote bag is a designer handbag.