Your Bag and Your Body Type

Your favorite fashion magazines may be gushing over the latest oversized bag, but assuming that you’re not paying attention to momentary trends, here are some general guidelines:


For Petite Women
Smaller styles are best, with shorter straps or handles. Choose a bag with minimal hardware and flash. When the body is petite, you need to keep your accessories clean, simple, and tonal to your outfits. Your bag should not compete with your small frame.

For Taller Women
Most styles will flatter your figure. You’re the coat hanger of the body types, so you wear accessories well. But keep in mind that a super-sized bag will only play up your lankiness and small delicate bags will get lost on you. Long shoulder bags, bucket bags, and hobos are all winners. And bags with bold patterns and details will also play well against your model height.

Women with Fuller Figures
Carry a bag that has some volume and size to keep things in proportion with your silhouette. Keep your outfits simple and let your bag do the talking. Smaller pochette bags carried under your arm will only play up your fullness. Make sure the bag sits above or below the fullest part of your body not on it. Try and keep your bag away from your body if possible by carrying it in your hand, in the bend of your arm, or dropped low at your knees.

Women with Larger Busts or Hips
The bag you carry should stop below your bust or above your hips, never at them. This will help you avoid extra padding where you don’t need it. Try a stiff bag with structure to contrast and balance your curves.

The American "Average" Size 8 to 12 Woman
You should have an easy time choosing the size, shape and style of the bag you’ll carry, since most will flatter. Keep things in the middle just like your body. Avoid extremes, large and small, and you should be fine.

Your Purse-onality Type

You can tell a lot about a woman by the contents of her handbag. What you carry in your purse says a great deal about you and your character.



Your Handbag Contents and You
Kathryn Eisman, author of "How to Tell a Woman by Her Handbag" spent two years conducting research into what women carry in their bags. Her books lists 40 different personality types based on her analysis but she has categorized then into four main archetypes. These are:

• Minimal
  These women are the envy of others. Any woman who can make do with a small bag carrying only their necessities – wallet, keys, phone and glasses – has mastered the art of organization and never has to wade through a pile of sweet wrappers or old receipts to find their mobile phone.




• Prepared
  Not quite as clutter free, but still practical and focused, this woman is extremely well-organized and carries items which are sensible and practical. She likes to be prepared for every eventuality. Be it tissues or toothbrush, hair accessories or phone charger, every item in this bag has a purpose. Women who fit into this category very rarely swap bags, according to Eisman, and are likely to choose neutral colors and classic cuts which will never go out of style.




• Creative
  According to Eisman’s research the “creative” woman has a free spirit and “tends to rebel against conformity.” Their bag is most likely to be a treasure trove or a bottomless pit. However, the contents are still relatively organized – full but functional, even though it may appear chaotic to the casual observer. Household bills, medicines, food wrappers and other assortments of random items can be found lurking at the bottom of this purse. The Creative spirit likes handbags in bright colors, showing others that she is fun and approachable, says Eisman.




• Expressive
  The Florence Nightingale of personality types when it comes to the contents of their handbags. These women are caring and sensitive and carry a multitude of items which are useful to others. Medicines, band aids, mints, chewing gum, perfume, tissues, safety pins and other practical items. Expressive personalities also tend to carry sentimental trinkets, photos of loved ones and a book or magazine which they can lose themselves in. Often appearing shy, don’t be fooled by this woman’s exterior, according to Eisman, there is a wild side just waiting to be unleashed!

Your Handbag Style and You
Not only do the contents of our purses reveal our purse-onalities but the handbag styles we choose tell a lot about us too. From a classic style or a designer “it” bag to a clutch purse or an oversized tote, in her book, Kathryn Eisman says that your chosen style says a lot about the kind of person you are.

Colors and Your Personality
Not only can the style of handbag give away your personality type but your color choice is also an indication. According to Eisman, women who go for bright colors tend to be fun loving, friendly and approachable. These are women who will happily strike up a conversation with a stranger, in an elevator or a train compartment.

Choosing neutral, classic colors such as black and brown means that the owner may be more reserved and appear less approachable. Sometimes coming across as shy, these women are confident and are often down-to-earth.

However, it pays to remember that although the contents, style and color of your handbag may say a lot about you as a person, you should still accessorize your handbag with your outfit and body type. A purse can be used to play up or down your ensemble or create your own sense of style. A brightly colored, funky handbag does wonders for making you appear right on-trend and spices up classic wardrobe pieces such as the eternal little black dress or a crisp white shirt.

What Your Handbag Says About You

From Clutch Purse to Tote and Designer Handbag to Backpack.... courtesy of Gill Hart.

The styles and colors we choose give away a lot about our purse-onality type. From clutches to totes and cigar boxes to backpacks – give some extra thought to what you carry by finding out what each style typically represents and what your handbag says about you.

The Shoulder Bag
Women who wear shoulder bags are practical but also want to look good. According to Stephanie Pedersen in her book Handbags – What Every Woman Should Know (David & Charles 2006), “women who prefer shoulder bags refuse to be a fashion victim.”

The Tote Bag
Fun loving, generous and sociable are the main traits of someone who carries a tote. The wearer is youthful in outlook, with things to do and places to go, says Pedersen. This is someone with a busy life, refined, unobtrusive but definitely not passive.

The Clutch Bag
Women who carry a clutch bag are confident enough not to worry about carrying their whole life in their bag. Says Pendersen, they are not afraid to let a man carry their keys or lighter or whatever else won’t fit in their bag.

Under the Shoulder Bag
A small handbag tucked neatly under-the-shoulder implies sophistication and class, according to Cathy Feldman, contributing editor to designerhandbags101.com. According to Feldman, “women of high stature or who work in upscale offices would choose this style of bag.”

The Cigar Box
Currently a big seasonal favorite, cigar box purses are often carried by women who like to stand out in a crowd. Independent and self-confident, women who carry these bags are, says Feldman, “comfortable in their own skin.”

The Backpack
Casual and practical, the backpack represents wearers who are warm and young at heart. Today’s designer styles means that backpacks are no longer relegated to the countryside but are just as at home in the office, worn with business trousers or a skirt.

Bags With Buckles and Zips
Women who choose leather purses with lots of buckles and zippers are leashing out their wild sides. According to Feldman, these women tend to act before they think and are always ready for a good time. The extra buckles and zippers tend to signify a “bad girl" image.

The Crochet Bag
A homely, nurturing woman typically carries a crochet bag. Loved by both people and animals this woman is easy-going with an arty streak.

The Designer Purse
A woman carrying the latest designer 'It' bag lives an exclusive, high-maintenance lifestyle and their designer handbag is a reflection of expensive tastes and appreciation for very, very fine things. Feldman warns “guys – watch out for these girls, they tend to be a handful.”

Oversized Bags
According to armcandyonline.com in their feature “What Your Handbag Says About You”, the oversized handbag is the equivalent of a one-size-fits-all T-shirt. The wearer is a practical person who rarely swaps bags and does not see the sense in spending a month's salary on one accessory.

Women’s handbags are a microcosm of our lives. If the choice of handbag tells a lot about the kind of person we are, then in How to Tell a Woman by Her Handbag, author Kathryn Eisman also goes on to categorize women into four main purse-onality types, dependant on the contents of their bags.

If men want to learn a woman’s innermost secrets they should forget looking into her eyes, but take a look inside her handbag instead!

Cleaning Your Bags

Your bags are sort of a mini luxury investment which some say towards your own self confidence. Use these great tips,

courtesy of Instyle 2007.

ALLIGATOR
Keep your alligator or crocodile bag supple by applying a leather conditioner (like Apple Brand). Use a soft, lint-free fabric like a sheepskin knit (found in shoe repair shops) and test conditioner in an inconspicuous place before using all over.

SUEDE
A suede brush can do wonders, but for serious stains, it's best to see a pro. When storing, wrap leather handles or straps in cloth so they don't rest against suede and leave blotches.

FABRIC
Cloth bags attract dust, so when you're done using a bag for the season, give it a light lint roller before storing covered. For deeper stains or markings, take to a repair shop.

SNAKESKIN
Experts warn against using any type of product on snakeskin, which is quite fragile. Over time, scales will begin to lift. When that happens, you can have the bag lacquered, but the treatment may change the appearance of the scales.

PATENT LEATHER
Seperate light patent leathers from dark hued bags to avoid discoloration. To clean, take a piece of cheesecloth, dampen with a bit of white vinegar and rub. Wipe off with a clean piece of fabric.

Caring For Your Beloved Bags

Keep your favourite and most functional accessories in top shape with these easy tips from the experts.

INTERIORS

Many bags are lined with canvas, nylon or pig suede. To clean, gently pull the interior insides out and use a standard lint roller to pick up debris. Or try the fabric-brush attachment on your vacuum.

ZIPPERS

Keep these fasteners working smoothly by running a piece of natural beeswax (found in hardware stores) over a zipper's open teeth.

HANDLES AND STRAPS

Residue from lotions can discolor and age material.... another good reason to keep hands clean. Also, don't overstuff a bag: too much weight can weaken stitching or damage straps.

HARDWARE

Deep scratches or cracks on metal are virtually impossible to repair. But bag and shoe repair shops can replate hardware to hide finer flaws.

EXTERIORS

Leather, of course, is a skin, so keep it happy and moisturized with a leather conditioning cream. There's no reason to treat it with a protectant or a silicone spray. Caught in the rain? Run for cover, then dab- don't wipe moisture away

BASE

Structured bags with stiff bases/bottoms often have "feet" (metal rivets incorporated into the base) to protect the leather against scratches and stains.