6 Reasons to Dress Your Handbag

The love of (obsession with) handbags (especially luxury handbags) has much more to do with the expression of one’s personal taste and personality and less to do with the function of the handbag (as evidenced by the price we are willing to shell out for something that does the exact same job as a grocery store plastic bag).

Handbags can add the crowning glory to an outfit—especially for fashion fans like me.  The trend now is not just to style one’s look but to also bring that creativity to dressing up the handbag because why not? It’s all in good fun.

So here are Six Reasons to Dress Your Handbag(s).

1. Express yourself: The same way your choice of handbags can express your personal taste, your quirks and your interests is the same way dressing them can as well. The type of charms, bag straps, brooches, twillies/scarves, patches, etc that you choose to adorn your bag can speak volumes about your personality without you ever having to say a word.
   

   @chichi_chic_md

   

   @chichi_chic_md

   

   @chichi_chic_md

   

   @mel_inmelbourne

   

   @jan_patamapun

    

2. Conversation starter: I have found that most people who have no real interest in fashion do not care what type of handbag you carry (they may not even notice that you have a handbag). But, when you throw in a bag charm or a different type of bag strap, all of a sudden you can find yourself in the most interesting conversations with complete strangers (or even your spouse) brought about by the extra detail on your bag that caught his or her attention.
   

   @Fendi

    

3. Variety is the spice of life: So maybe you are a mere mortal and cannot afford to own 10 different colors of 10 different designer bag–you can use bag charms, straps etc to change up the look of the one (or three) designer bag(s) that you do have mixing things up in a way that can create a unique look each time.
   

   @chichi_chic_md

   

   Clockwise: @mel_inmelbourne @j_que_ @chichi_chic_md @jan_patamapun

    

4. Economical way to enjoy designer trends: Every fashion insider knows that there are specific designer handbags that can be referred to as true investments as they will retain their (and even appreciate in) value. So rather than shelling out major dollars to buy a trendy handbag (that will definitely lose value at resale), one might decide instead to spend much less money to accessorize a classic investment piece in a trendy manner allowing one to experience trends without getting burned by them financially. There are so many dupes of designer bag charms and bag straps out there—so you do not even have to bleed out some of the EXORBITANT amounts of money that the designer versions demand. 

    

   

   Top: Fendi studded peekaboo versus studded strap on another bag Bottom: Fendi PomPom Sac du Jour versus PomPom bag strap and bag charm @chichi_chic_md @fendi

5. Temporary Personalization: Some of these bag charms and straps allow you to add monograms to your handbag (temporarily) without affecting your option to sell the handbag at a later time (and still recoup at least what you spent).
   

   Clockwise: @chichi_chic_md @mydaisybelle @chiaraferragni @my__closet__diaries

   

   Clockwise: @chichi_chic_md , @lydiamillen and @iamchouquette , and @mel_inmelbourne

    

6. Fun! Fun!! Fun!!! It is so simple–I truly enjoy playing dress up and styling my bags is just an added way to extend my joy of playing dress up. C’est fini!
   

   Left: @my__closet__diaries    Middle: @chichi_chic_md   Right: @lvlovercc

   

   Clockwise: @chichi_chic_md , @pursebop and @pursebop

    

   

   @mel_inmelbourne

    

   

   @jan_patamapun

    

   

   Top Left: @marioncotillard and @dior  Top Right: @andaslife Middle @chichi_chic_md Bottom Left: @fashioncoops Bottom Right: @marioncotillard and @dior

    

   

   Clockwise: @lydiamillen @chichi_chic_md @romi.lvoe and @mrslvoemon

So what do you think about dressing handbags? Yay or Nah? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below. Also, please feel free to share your tips on how you style your handbags.