choosing the perfect accessory for your capsule wardrobe
so if you haven’t looked me up on linkedin yet, and i know some of you have
you’ll know that i’m a fashion professional, with a specialty in bags
bags, small leather goods, tech accessories, and shoes are my passions!
after beginning my career in home goods, which was an interesting world, i found myself in accessories at a lovely brand you may have heard of, called coach
not only did i fall head over heels in love with handbags but i also learned the necessity of finding the right pieces to carry your stuff
while you are creating your capsule, you will get to the point where examining your accessories is necessary
what accessories do you wear the most and why? what accessories do you wear the least and why?
so we’re going to dive a bit deeper into handbag trends
as well as some accessories that you may want to add to your capsule
just like every piece in your capsule
all of your accessories should be pieces you cannot wait to wear
and just like your clothing
when choosing accessories
you are looking for pieces that fit a specific criteria
they should coordinate with the colors/prints in your palette
the item should be large enough or small enough to fit what you need to carry
yes!
accessories MUST BE FUNCTIONAL
sorry to yell, but that’s a pain-point for me
the accessory must fit your formulas, therefore, must function well in your lifestyle
there is a bag silhouette for each purpose of your life
instead of going through each silhouette, like the bag nerd that i am, i’ll break them down by their size and function
excluding overnight bags and travel bags (which we may cover in another blog post)
these are the essential bags for the capsule wardrobe for black girls
an "urban woman on the go" essential handbag capsule
you should have all of these or most of these in your wardrobe
let's begin with the workbag
also known as the carryall bag
this one is a personal favorite of mine
from a tote, like the telfar shopping bags
to the perfect lady briefcase, like the gorgeous creagh workbag
the point of a carryall is to fit all of your business and leisure items in one place
a workbag should fit your laptop or tablet, or the many variations and hybrids
it should fit a notebook for notes, a full sized notebook preferably
it should fit at least one mobile phone, if not two
have pockets for pens and cables, or fit a pouch comfortably that fits that purpose
even a small umbrella for those not so nice days
it should fit comfortably over your shoulder
whether it closes completely at the top or remains open
there are many different sizes and shapes for different uses, but this is an essential bag
next, is the everyday
this is a bag just slightly smaller than your workbag, that fit almost everything a workbag does, except for a laptop and full-sized notebook
it is the most popular and most used bag in your closet
it can be a satchel, a small tote, a bucket, a saddle, a flap, camera bag, or a hobo
you’ll probably have multiples of these in different sizes and shapes
it should fit a full sized wallet – where you currency does not have to be folded to fit in
a makeup case
at least one mobile, maybe two
a small book
it’s the bag you commute with, if you actually have an office to go to…
office? like… what are those?
the bag you take to brunch if you have a long ride and need that book to read
it’s the bag you take to your house of worship (you always have treats at the bottom)
the bag with just enough space for what you need
my favorite functional everyday bag is the mini kit from OAD
the mini bag
also known as the date bag
this can be an evening bag, depending on the materials used and formulas worn
but the purpose of this bag is going out
a mini bag is required by almost everyone
it should carry at least one mobile, your keys, a small wallet or card case, and a lippie
if you cannot fit a small wallet or card case, those pockets and credit card slots should be built into the bag
if you can find one with a removable strap, that’s golden
you can carry it as a clutch!
isn’t that perfect?
my fav is from kate spade
not just because i worked there for years
but because they perfected the chain wallet and chain clutch bags
one of my favorites is the spencer python embossed chain wallet
the canvas bag
you must have a dozen of these, I know I do
my fav canvas bags come with a logo or statement and are as large as a workbag
these should be washable and foldable
i always carry at least one folded tote wherever i go
they make the best shopping bags
many brands make them, my favorites are the free ones you get filled with goodies at festivals
which i hope return in the very near future!
so that’s it…
in a capsule wardrobe, you only NEED these four bags
now how many of each of these do you need?
well
that’s an entirely different story
capsule wardrobe for black girls does not believe in minimalism
you should have as many or as little as you want
as long as they meet the needs of your formulas and fit your capsule wardrobe criteria
the editorialist did a great job outlining “the best designer bags of 2021 to invest in now and love forever”
https://editorialist.com/style/best-designer-bags/
this list should help you chose the perfect handbags to partner with your formulas and round out your capsule
let’s go through the highlights from this list
first, the icon
this is the bag that you covet the most in your capsule
a “timeless, classic, iconic” bag that you really adore
for some, this would be an hermès birkin or kelly, for others, it would be classic michael kors tote
this bag should appreciate in value (in your eyes)
it should be an investment
for me
this was an investment i made even before building my capsule
my icon bag, is the coach delphine bag in snake
and it was a sample, of course!
made by the ico
nic former creative director, reed krakoff
it was featured in the new york times for god sakes!
it’s the bag i covet the most
what is your icon bag?
second, the retro revivals
a throwback from the 90s or early 2000s with retro nostalgia
think coach classics, classic prada nylon bags, dior saddle bags
preferably thrifted
my fav retro bag is the coach willis top handle bag
what’s yours?
next up are clutches
not the most practical, but a great clutch can elevate any formula
try a gorgeous soft oversized clutch
maybe with a detachable strap so it can be worn as a shoulder bag as well
my fav? the proenza schouler chain tobo bag
next are saddle bags and bucket bags
these are classics! they never go out of style
saddle bags are modeled after the bags on the sides of saddles that kept the riders’ hands free
dior’s saddle bag is classic, but my fav has always been the coach versions saddle bags for the last few years
this is their newest iteration is the beat saddle bag
bucket bags were actually designed to hold champagne bottles
zip top or cinch, these iconic bag give a great added flair to a formula and are usually superior capacity
the most well known is made by louis vuitton
but, my personal favorite is the apc courtney bags
the fifth is the top handle bag
these are the “ladies who lunch bags”
small bags that normally have an adorable handle and small feet on the bottom with a structured look
they instantly dress up any formula and add polish
some of my favs are from oad (mini agnes satchel), anima iris (zaza bags), and the mateo new york (elizabeth bag)
next are hobos
these are absolutely the perfect everyday bag
my icon bag, is essentially an open top oversized hobo
this is a relaxed silhouette that can be dressed up or dressed down
my fav right now is the arch shoulder bag from proenza schouler
not a traditional hobo (only a slight slouch, but a hobo nonetheless)
lucky number seven is the belt bag
it’s still so funny to me that millennials and gen z just woke up and decided that the fanny pack was cool
not only cool, but necessary
and completely renamed them, remixed them, and erased the former stigma
i love us!
once they reappeared in 2017 draped across the chest of models, they were back!
i also love that belt bags are unisex
i personally prefer a men’s belt bag for the sheer size and shape
it’s the capacity for me
my fav belt bags are from coach men’s, the turnlock tab belt bag and the yvonne kone yari bags
lastly are totes!
everybody needs a good tote
this is my least favorite silhouette, just because of how disorganized they can be, however, that being said, i have tons of totes!
oversized shoppers are all the rage
from the telfar shopper, if you can score one, to the yvonne koné filippo tote
get one or several!
and those are the bags…
omg, i absolutely love talking bags
we will definitely do this again
enjoy! Enjoy! ENJOY!!!
also, i will be designing my own bag capsule very soon, launching in 2022
it’s going to be beautiful, functional, and unisex
it’s called thomas reece new york
get into it!
what are your favorite bags and why?
let’s chat in the comments
xoxo
