Handbags are definitely the area of my wardrobe that I splurge on. I remember reading an article where Victoria Beckham said that a handbag makes a $20 dress look designer, and I think it changed me as a person.
I have always found that the right handbag really can change everything about an outfit. It can dress it up or down or add color where there is none. When I am buying handbags I have a few tenets that I follow. If I'm contemplating adding an investment bag to my collection, I usually keep two things in mind. While the specific brand doesn't usually sway me, the color does. I find it easier to splurge on a bag when it is a neutral color that can be used year-round with tons of outfits. I call these bags Chameleon Bags, and they are magical. They somehow change color with whatever you're wearing. The Chloe Marcie bag is one of these. The other possibility is that the bag is a unique color I've never seen before. Sometimes there are certain hues that are unique and different yet timeless all at once, and those are worth the splurge.
This little mini-bag stole my heart because of its shape and size. It's tiny and great if you don't want to carry a ton of stuff on a walk or for a concert or a vacation.
This little mini-bag stole my heart because of its shape and size. It's tiny and great if you don't want to carry a ton of stuff on a walk or for a concert or a vacation.
SUNNIES (only $12 and beyond fabulous)
Nordstrom is my favorite place to shop handbags because of the huge selection they have. There are budget-friendly bags or there are big-time investment bags. Chloe and Saint Laurent are gorgeous for investment pieces, but so is a reversible, easy-on-the-wallet Street Level tote. They always have the newest Tory Burch finds and it's easy to catch a sale on some amazing Rebecca Minkoffs. If I know I will be splurging on an expensive bag I always save up my Nordstrom Notes to ease the cost a bit. I love using my notes all in one place on something that will last me forever.
INVESTMENT BAGS
The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is an amazing opportunity to score a new Fall bag at a nice discount. (you can see one on my wish list here) This sale is the only one of its kind where we get to shop Fall pieces before they come out, all while they're on sale! Be still my heart. I save my pennies long before the sale hits because I know it's a time where I will definitely do some damage. Until then, here are some of my favorite budget-friendly bags of the moment.
BUDGET-FRIENDLY BAGS
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A special thanks to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post.