When presenting yourself as a woman, every detail counts. The right handbag pulls your outfit together and is the finishing touch to your feminine look.

The wrong bag, however, can spoil an otherwise perfect outfit and even call attention to body flaws. Who needs that?

Here are 6 things to consider when choosing a handbag:

1. Length

Length is an important and often overlooked detail. Your handbag accentuates the part of your body it falls next to, so keep these tips in mind:

• To make your hips look wider, choose a bag that falls at hip level.

• To make your waist look more shapely, choose a waist-length bag.

2. Shape

Handbags can range in shape from square and structured to soft and rounded. To provide balance, look for a bag with features that are the opposite of your body. For example:

• If you have a straight body shape, look for a slouchy or rounded bag to create the illusion of curves.

• If you’re on the rounded side, a more structured bag will flatter your features.

3. Size

Your handbag should compliment your overall body proportions. If you’re tall and/or stocky, a tiny bag will look out of place. If you’re small, a big that’s too big will overwhelm you. Choose a bag that’s in sync with your proportions.

4. Style

A bag that’s too casual or too formal for the rest of your outfit is a common fashion “don’t.” Study fashion magazines and blogs to learn which bags looks best with specific outfits. I also recommend the Stitch Fix boards on Pinterest for tons of bag+outfit ideas.

5. Function

While your purse should look good, it also needs to serve its purpose. There’s nothing more annoying than a tiny bag that doesn’t fit your essentials… or constantly losing things in a bag that’s too big or has too many compartments. Make sure the size and various compartments of the bag work for you.

6. Color

Color is one of the most important handbag considerations. Here are two tips to keep in mind:

• Forget about the old rule to match your bag to your shoes. While your bag and shoes should coordinate, they don’t have to be an exact match.

• A black or brown bag will give you the most mileage, but don’t be afraid to try something different. Red, burgundy, forest green, and dark blue are surprisingly versatile handbag colors.

Let’s talk bags!

As much as I love shoes, I might be even more obsessed with bags. That’s why my collection is constantly growing. (Thank you, Ebay!)

What about you? How many bags do YOU own?

Take my poll and tell me about your favorite bag in the comments below! Even better, share a photo of it with us!

Love,
Lucille

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

Does your femme self need a quick dose of inspiration? Sometimes a few wise words can offer the perfect pick-me-up.

Read on for 15 quotes to inspire you in your feminine journey!

1. We are not what other people say we are. We are who we know ourselves to be. – Laverne Cox

2. Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of the fear. – George Addair

3. People will stare. Make it worth their while. – Harry Winston

4. If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be. – Maya Angelou

5. If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun. – Katherine Hepburn

6. I would rather die of passion than of boredom. – Vincent van Gogh

7. Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant. – Ayn Rand

8. Nothing will work unless you do. – Maya Angelou

9. In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different. – Coco Chanel

10. Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself. – Coco Chanel

11. Do what you feel in your heart, for you’ll be criticized anyway. – Eleanor Roosevelt

12. Always remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. – Christopher Robin

13. A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous. – Coco Chanel

14. Why fit in when you were born to stand out? – Dr. Suess

15. A year from now you will wish you had started today. – Karen Lamb

More words of wisdom…

Do you have a favorite quote or saying that’s inspired your feminine self? If so, I’d love to hear it!

Please share in the comments below!

Love,
Lucille

P.S. Looking for even more inspiration to help you unleash your inner confidence and femininity? Click here to sign up for my FREE 8 minute Unleash Your Inner Woman hypnosis session.