What to Look for in a Purse?

How fun to buy a purse:
1. I would look for a well stictched, no loose threads.
2. Real vs. fake leather (long lasting)
3. a color you like and that goes with most of what you wear
4. some compartments to make useful, not just pretty :)
5. Coach has classic bags, and they have an outlet store if you want to get value for money.
6. Target also has good bags.
7. would also check dept store bags when on sale....

HTH. Jilly

My favorite purse is a Vera Wang from Kohl's. It was really reasonable and here's why I love it!

- Big, but not cavernous
- Pockets inside and out that are a good size for keys, cell phone and mini notepad that I always carry with me
- Has a removable strap so it can be a handbag or a shoulder bag
- Easy to clean leather
- Neutral, but not "boring" color- very soft lavendar

It was a gift and I love it! I really don't like the bags that are so big that you can't find a damn thing in them. I also find tiny bags completely useless at this point in my life.

Another tip (from my grandmother) is to purchase a bright colored wallet b/c the linings to most bags are black or brown. Having a hot pink wallet makes it very easy to locate! I also have a glow-in-the-dark key chain so I can find my keys.

I always chose purses which are unusual & somewhat disposable. Not bling so much.....more quirky than anything! My current purse is "Boss Lady" / "Crack that Whip" in a retro cowboy motif! My best friend gave it to me & I love it. It's made from that crinkly wipe-clean fabric which is used for reusable shopping bags. & funnier than funny: that very same best friend HATES the purse....& laughs every time she sees it!

This purse & all my others have a cell phone pocket which is easily accessible. I also prefer purses which zip close, as opposed to snaps/velcro/open. I change purses with the seasons, sometimes for the occasion/match my shoes! I also have a sturdy khaki canvas Relic bag which I LOVE....it has flaps on the front/back, 2 zippered sections, & can be worn as a cross-body.....which holds true for almost all of my purses. Hands-free, please!

Great point Faye makes about the cell.

Also, make sure it closes well (is zipper closes the entire thing)- not just some snap and the rest of the top is left open. Nothing worse than driving and your purse tips over and everything spills out on to the floor!

I always prefer a light colored inner lining because it is so hard to look inside and find things with a dark lined purse. I currently carry a black coach bag with 3 separate compartments, a light blue inner lining and 2 compartments for both of my cells - I couldn't love this bag any more!

I have looked at so many bags, from $40 target bags to $850 bags at dept stores - I always go back to Coach - who is in the middle of those two price ranges. They are worth the money every time. My diaper bag is a coach as well, and again, couldn't be happier.

I love my coach bags!!! My mom just bought me a purse insert that has all the nooks and crannies.

I always choose one with an outside pocket to slip my cell phone in/out quickly.

Also, size. My BFF is 4'10", 110 lbs, and so when she carries giant purses, she looks like an elf with a giant purse. Ridiculous. Pick one that looks good ON you. It's a fashion accessory, so it must complement you!

I consider my purse an investment and look for quality products. I like a weighted canvas (think Lands End) or leather.

look for good zippers or fasteners. Meaning are they practical. There is nothing worse than NOT being able to fully close your bag and having things spill out from the top or leaving unzipped and it gapes open argh!
Good, versatile color - not so springy, not wintery - I try to avoid black it feels boring to me. I prefer neutrals for versatile.
I don't buy the same style of purse - one bucket, one hobo, one wristlet, etc.
I look for little side pockets to hold cell, lip gloss, sunglasses, but hate it when it is lined with a bunch of pockets (reminds me of the diaper bag).
I like deeper bags so if I have to put a paper or a file folder in I can.
Good strap length - can I swing over my shoulder and it is about hip length.
I think a good rule of thumb is to go to the department store and test some out. Put them on, see what they look like - bend, squat, imitate getting in and out of your car, etc.
Also, don't be afraid of little purses to go inside your bigger one. I have these little coach wristlets and put my makeup in one, a few other esentials in another, etc. then if I only need one thing or am just running into the store, etc I can leave the main purse in car and just use the little one AND it adds a little fun to the inside of your purse.

For me there are thre major factors to a good purse: pockets, size, and color/material.

1. It has to have a lot of pockets. My current favorite purse has 2 pockets outside, and 5 inside. Inside the purse is divided into 2 sides, with a large zippered section between the 2 sides. The pockets keep me organized. I know exactly where my keys, spare change, wallet, cell phone, cash, tylenol, etc are. I need to be able to grab what I need without digging through it, or having to dump it out.
2. The purse must be smaller than a briefcase. I do not like the current fad of big purses. I don't want super tiny, but I don't think my purse should be confused with a tote bag or a briefcase. Size of course is a personal choice, but I like the medium sized ones.
3. All of my purses are brown leather. I prefer brown because it goes with everything and doesn't show dirt and stains. I prefer the leather because it lasts a long time and is easy to wipe clean.

After those 3 big factors I look at other things. I like to be able to wear it on my shoulder, but if I carry it in my hand I don't want it dragging the ground. I also look at the zippers and fasteners. The zippers need to move smoothly, fasteners need to fasten tightly. I don't want my things spilling out.

It depends on what you need to carry with you.
I like something small (usually black - it goes with everything - I've been favoring Baggalini the last few years) with room for my cell phone, some cash, a few credit cards, ID (drivers license, insurance card), keys, a lipstick/lip gloss and a comb. I also like an adjustable strap because most of the time I'll have it over one shoulder, but if I'm out all day I'll want to wear it over my head across my other shoulder. I have a few which convert to carry fanny pack style around the waist.
I cleaned out my main purse a few weeks ago and it seemed like I lightened the load by almost 5 lbs. Although my purse is small, change tends to build up in the bottom and it gets heavy after awhile.

i need it to have a few nooks and crannies. i like to keep my cell phone and keys in one, my comb and emergency makeup in another, wallet and checkbook segregated and so forth. i love the big casual summer bags, but just having everything thrown in would never work for me.
this post reminds me that i'm really due to clear mine out. it's getting obnoxiously heavy.
:) khairete
S.

Make sure it has a small compartment for your cell. Nothing worse than scrabbling around in the bottom of your purse when your phone is ringing. :-)

I like leather, just because it cleans well, other key features for me...feet, nothing worse than having to us a public restroom and not being able to sit my purse down to wash my hands, and a strap long enough that I can comfortably carry it on my shoulder. I also prefer magnetic snap closures rather than zippers.

I have two purses. One is small and one is a larger one. I carry the small one with me at all times. It has all of the compartments I need for those items I just have to have. While the big one I take with me whenever I take my kids with me. The big bag is a life saver because I can just place the smaller bag inside of it on top after I have placed everything I still need for the kids. (Wipes to clean dirty faces, extra clothes just in case, and those snacks that save me money in the long run) You just have to look for what is right for you. There is no right or wrong answer. Just a lot of trial and error!

I like purses, but have always been too practical to spend alot. No more!

I AM practical tho..LOL. I have yet to invest in "pretty purses", but got a nice Fossil across the body (like a mini messenger bag) purse in black leather. I have had it almost 2 years now (it was a $150 or so purse with sale price) and still love it. Its still in excellent shape, just softened up a teency bit. I already had a wallet I love (cheap but perfect for me and had for many years), but its an odd shape..so I needed that to fit!

So make sure your wallet fits, that there is a good spot for your phone (mine has an outside pocket I can slip it into..as wide as the purse so I am not hunting..I can pop my chap-stick and phone and grocery list in there, and all my other stuff fits inside..and there is another big side pocket under flap as well.

With kids, make sure its a bag you can carry and still hold hands, or carry a baby, fit your wallet and whatever you will be carrying..the right length of straps, etc. I love my across the body one as I like hands free, plus I only like a purse on my left shoulder and can't do that too long as I have a minor injury from years ago. Its what works for me...consider the things that will make a purse work for you, and if getting an inexpensive one, have some fun with it!

I love purses!

FYI~Some mentioned leaving the "big" part of a purse in the car....NEVER a good idea..even the trunk. As the wife of a 20 year veteran of the auto glass industry...do not ever leave anything in your car, or put things in your trunk while in aparking lot, etc. You are just inviting a crime to happen. JMO~ but my husband hears it every.single.day. ("But I put it in the trunk before I went in, blah blah"...or "But I hid it under the seat, blah blah". Crooks don't care, will break the glass if they see a belt or anything resembling a purse strap or handbag..or if they see you putting it into the trunk before going in..they can bust out your window and get into the trunk thru your back seat...SORRY..a big pet peeve of mine. Quit being victims)

I don't like the jumbo purses either. Just gives me more excuse to pack more useless stuff inside, lol.

Features I like are:

- something leather, not cloth, since it's easier to clean, especially with kids.
- I like a longer strap so it can hang comfortably down and not up so high where I have to constantly hold it with my hand.
- I like something that can stand on its own more, not flop down.
- I like a zip close and not just a little snap cuz I toss my purse around in the car and don't want things flying out.
- I must have a small pocket for my cell phone, preferably on the outside so I can hear it well when I'm out shopping in loud places, but inside is fine too, just as long as it has it's own slot so I always know where it's at.
- I like a small, zippered pocket inside where I can toss my cards, paper money and a few coins that I grab at all the time. (hate searching in my purse for anything!)
- I like having one strap rather than two because the second strap always seems to fall off my shoulder and gets annoying and in the way.
- I like a brown leather that can generally go with anything for day to day use.

Hope this helps! I guess I'd make a list of ideas of what you carry and don't carry and what features would work best for you. It is hard to find the right one. One purse has some but not others. Crazy.

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

ahh- the quest for the perfect purse- it's never ending :)