8 Essential Bags Every Well-Dressed Woman Needs
In every well-dressed woman's wardrobe, you'll find some essential bags that you can use time and time again for all different occasions. These don't have to necessarily be designer, but classic bags that will elevate an outfit.
1. Black Structured Bag
A black structured bag is so versatile. It can go with almost everything. It looks just as good worn with jeans as it does paired with workwear, and it can instantly elevate an outfit.
Paired with a plain black outfit, a black structured bag makes the ensemble look chic, not drab. An outfit like this could be tweaked by changing one piece—the jacket in another color, making the jacket the focal piece. The black bag blends with the underlying outfit, simplifying the look.
This is a similar look with an all-black outfit and a white blazer. Black and white always look so classy together. If you have a white blazer in your capsule wardrobe, pair it with black bottoms and a black top, and then add a black bag with the outfit. It's a lovely, simple outfit. I do this look myself with my Teddy Blake bag and an H&M jacket and top. It's a fail-safe combination.
Styling with Prints and Patterns
A black bag looks great worn with prints in a similar color. Polka dots or a geometric print with white is gorgeous, and the bag complements the outfit, keeping it very clean and unfussy. To keep a print from becoming overpowering, pair it with plain colors. A beautiful printed scarf with a black blazer looks wonderful just as it is, and a simple bag adds simplicity and keeps the outfit looking chic and sophisticated.
Animal prints look great with a black structured bag, as the underlying color is black and it combines the outfit together. Adding a black bag to this look would look fabulous.
It doesn't have to be expensive. These bags are all under 100 pounds and would work really well with an outfit like this.
Checks look gorgeous with a black bag, either with brown tones or monochrome. This is a simple outfit of black and white. All it needs is a black bag and it'll complete this look.
Or pair a black bag to a colored outfit. This bright colored coat is the focal piece, and a black bag would look lovely with this outfit.
2. Neutral Tote
A neutral tote can be just as, or possibly more, versatile than a black bag. They don't clash with anything, and they work for all seasons.
A neutral tote looks equally great worn with a casual outfit or with a smarter look. They look gorgeous in the autumn or the fall with darker colors, or just as lovely paired with summer whites and prints. I pair mine with all my wardrobe—black jeans, skirts, blue jeans. It's just that kind of bag that works so well with so many different things. It's a really valuable bag to have as part of your collection to work with all your wardrobe staples.
3. Evening Bag
A go-to evening bag can see you through endless dinner dates and fancy evening occasions. I know we haven't had much use for an evening bag recently, but hopefully that will change again soon.
The most timeless, versatile clutch bag you could own is a simple black satin bag or a metallic clutch in gold or silver. They're the easiest bags to style with most outfits. Ideally, the bag should be as seasonless as possible so you can use it for years and years.
I have a small black clutch bag which I've had for about 25 years now. It's quite timeless, I think, and I love it as much now as when I bought it. And I know I'll still be able to use this in years to come. It's great to have a bag like that that you don't use all the time for when a fancy occasion arises and it's not going to look dated.
4. Crossbody Bag
A crossbody bag complements a classic wardrobe beautifully, and there's a shape out there to suit everyone. It's the ultimate easy accessory.
A classic brown crossbody bag looks fabulous with navy and white. For an outfit idea, you could pair it with white jeans, maybe a navy shirt and a navy blazer for a really classy look. This is a bag I just bought from Marks and Spencer. It wasn't expensive. I put this together with this outfit, but it will look gorgeous worn with a similar look to this. It'll be a really lovely combination.
A black crossbody bag looks great paired with beige and brown tones. This black colored bag coordinates with the check, and I thought this was an overall really lovely outfit combination.
This black bag is paired with gray and white, a very similar look to the camel outfit but equally just as gorgeous. And this could be adapted for the seasons quite easily.
There's so many ways to wear a crossbody bag. It's an essential bag to have in your wardrobe in whatever color, just to finish off an outfit.
5. Brightly Colored Bag
It's great to have a brightly colored bag in your wardrobe in whatever shape and style, something that you can add to an outfit that will transform the look and give a glorious pop of color.
Red Bag
A red bag makes a simple outfit of blue jeans and a white t-shirt look a little bit more interesting. And then by pairing a gorgeous blazer with it, you have a chic, understated-looking outfit. The bag really makes the outfit come alive.
The same thing happens when you pair it with the wardrobe staples of blue jeans, striped top, and a white blazer. The outfit would look lovely with a black bag, but the red bag just makes it look a little bit more special.
The red bag looks gorgeous with a black and white check or polka dots, and it looks just fabulous with camel.
Blue Bag
Blue bags can look very classy, especially pale blue. They look beautiful worn with an all-white outfit or with a black and a coordinating throw or poncho. A bolder blue also looks great paired with white, simply with the classic white shirt or with a blue shirt and white blazer.
Orange Bag
Exactly the same look could be recreated with an orange bag. You don't see orange bags quite as much, but they can add a serious pop of color and they can look really terrific. Pair it with the basics again of white blazer or coat and a striped top and black jeans, and it looks wonderful. It looks nice with other black and white prints too—polka dots and floral prints.
You can change up so many outfits with one colored bag, whatever color you prefer. A colored bag is an essential piece to have in your wardrobe.
6. Weekend Bag
A roomy, good-quality weekend bag is an essential bag for those lovely long weekends away when a big suitcase is just too much. It needs to be large enough to fit a few days' worth of clothes in, but still compact and easy to carry around.
There's a weekend bag out there for everyone's taste and budget. This one's from Everlane. It's 93 pounds. It's a bag that could be styled with wardrobe staples but is practical too.
This is a weekend travel tote from Nordstrom, similar price and a gorgeous color if you like pink. I thought this one was gorgeous, a very feminine-looking bag. This one is also another classy-looking bag, and I love both of these colors.
There's a weekend bag for everyone to make your travel outfits look fabulous.
7. Beach Bag
The perfect beach bag is one that could be worn with beachwear but also with a beautiful summer dress. I love straw bags. They look lovely with beach cover-ups or with beautiful dresses. They're big and spacious enough to fit all your beach essentials in, all your day-to-day bits and pieces.
These are some beach bags that are available right now, and all of these you can see work with day dresses or with beachwear. If you invest in a designer one or a budget one, the beach bag should have a firm place in your wardrobe.
8. Chic Luggage
You'll always find a chic piece of luggage in a well-dressed woman's wardrobe. She knows luggage is more than just functionality—it's an extension of her personal style. All over Pinterest and Instagram, you'll see the glamorous luggage outfit shots. It's never a beat-up old suitcase, but a piece of luggage that looks just as polished as the outfit. A chic piece of luggage is the ultimate finishing touch to an outfit.