Do you have a friend who always seems to have the perfect bag for every occasion? Ever admired someone’s designer bag and wondered how on earth they can swing that kind of purchase? It’s not difficult to be a handbag maven. All it takes is some thought, basic handbag knowledge, proper planning and a little self-restraint.

How Many Purses Do You Need?

Unless you have a huge bankroll to play with and an extra closet to store them in, having a ton of purses is just plain excessive. Owning lots of purses with a mediocre budget forces you to either a) spend a disproportionate amount on purses or b) buy poorly made bags that fall apart after just one season (if they make it that long). Buying poorly made bags is only advisable if the design is one you just can’t live without and a trend you know won’t have lasting power until next season.
The time of matching outfits and shoes to handbags has passed. And, it’s just not realistic. Now, ladies look for bags they’ll carry more than a few times each season.
In reality, a few versatile purses are all you need regardless of occasion or outfit.
So, how many do you need? You should have at least two purses that you are totally in love with: one small and one large OR one for day and one for night. Oftentimes, your large bag is your day bag and your small bag is your night bag. Keep it simple by finding a small bag that fits inside your large bag. Keep all of your essentials inside your small bag so you’re ready for dinner or a night out at a moment’s notice.
Two bags not enough? If you shop well and find versatile bags, you can easily get away with having no more than four, one each of the main types listed below.

Essential Types of Purses

If you buy every purse that catches your eye, you’ll probably end up with lots of purses suitable for the same occasions. The same is true if you buy lots of different styles of purses (hobo, satchel, tote, etc.) without thinking of the occasions for which you’ll use them. In thinking about which purses are ‘essential’, it’s best to think about when you need a certain kind of purse. Here are my main categories: going out, at the office, casual-I don’t care if it gets dirty-occasions and every other time when you just want a great, luxurious purse. If you shop for handbags online, you’ll notice that they are often organized into similar categories.

Evening Purse

We all need a great purse that’s perfect for a nice dinner or a night on the town. For this, you’ll want something small, that’s not too cumbersome when you’re sitting at a restaurant table or moving from one venue to another. Ideally, you’ll find an evening purse that fits inside your everyday purse, making your day to night transition seamless. In terms of style, find something glamorous, yet versatile. When you carry this purse, you’ll probably be dolled up and need something to accessorize your look. However, you don’t want a purse that only goes with a few outfits. Choose an elegant black clutch like this one that will go with pretty much anything.

Professional Purse

When you go in to the office, for a job interview or even a working lunch, you’re probably toting a few more items. Maybe a laptop, an agenda, a notebook, some pens, etc. Plus, you have all of your regular handbag items. Rather than carrying two separate bags, find a professional purse that can act as your handbag/briefcase. Laptop cases can be fairly unattractive and are not so glamorous. Instead, find a sophisticated leather tote with pockets to hold your business materials and your personal materials. Keep your laptop in a sleeve to protect it. This Tory Burch bag is a great example of an elegant professional purse. Of course, finding the right bag all depends on the size of your laptop!

Casual Purse

Many occasions just aren’t luxury purse-friendly–your nephew’s soccer game, running errands after the gym, ANY event where you’ll have to put your purse on the ground. There’s no reason you can’t still carry a handbag to have all of your necessary items on-hand. For a casual purse, there’s no point in splurging unless it’s made of a very resilient fabric. There’s also nothing that says your casual purse can’t still be super cute. Find a purse that’s big enough to hold all of your essentials, including a water bottle since you’ll probably need one for the types of occasions where you’ll carry this bag. Don’t go too big with this purse though since you might want to toss it in your pool bag. This is a great, inexpensive casual purse from Old Navy.

Everyday Purse

This purse is a must-have. It’s the purse you’ll carry most of the time. It’s also the purse where trends play a bigger issue. You can buy a classic version of any of the other types listed above and be good season after season. With your everyday purse though, why not have a little fun? Your everyday purse is the one that expresses your style the most since it’s the one you’ll be seen with most often. You can opt for a trendy design or stick with a tried and true classic. And, of all the purse types, this is the one that deserves a splurge. Purchase a luxury everyday purse that you’ll love carrying day after day. And, if you choose a classic style, it’s one you’ll have season after season. If you’re keen on carrying your smallish evening purse inside a larger everyday purse, make sure this purse is large enough to accommodate that. Here’s a great option by Andrew Marc.

How Much Should You Spend?

Stick to a budget

If you’re someone who has a weak spot for handbags, tends to spend way too much and then regrets it later, you might consider creating a ‘handbag budget’ for the year. Think about how much expendable income you’re willing to spend to feed your addiction and then stick to it!

But, what’s reasonable?

A reasonable amount to spend on handbags depends on a few factors. First and foremost, determine how much you have to spend. If the bank account is running low, consider purchasing just two handbags that have lasting power from season to season (more on that later). If you have some money to spend, consider purchasing one of each of the four types of handbags. How much you spend on each of those can vary.
Classic Bags If you’ve found a classic bag that you know will maintain its style from season to season, it’s okay to splurge a little. In the long run, this will pay off because a well-made bag will last much longer. I love cheap finds, but vinyl purses really only last a few months. Spending $30-$60 every few months can really add up! I suggest spending no more than $400 on a classic bag made of quality products. Why so much? Well-made bags last longer, like I said. But, they can also be repaired and reworked to make them look like new. Most shoe repair shops will also condition and repair leather purses for a nominal fee. Another rationalization for this price tag is how often you’ll use your bag. A purse is something you carry almost every day. It’s not like an outfit you wear once a month or even a pair of shoes you wear once a week. You get lots of mileage out of a purse.
Otherwise… If buying a classic bag just isn’t your cup of tea, I suggest spending far less on your handbag. If you’re one who likes to have the trendiest bag of the season or would get bored carrying the same classic bag for a few seasons, look for options under $75. Within this price point, you’ll find lots of super cute bags. But, beware. Most of them will be made of vinyl or another cheap material. Check the seams and craftsmanship of the bag to make sure it will last you at least until the end of the season.

What About Designer Purses?

Designer purses are not always better options. You can find attractive, well-designed purses at affordable prices. Oftentimes though, designer purses are made better. You have to decide if your budget affords such a luxury. Or, you might consider a mid-priced designer purse.

Considerations when buying designer

Consider why you’re buying a designer purse before you make your purchase. If you’re buying purely for the label, reconsider your purchase. Generally, purses that are just huge labels aren’t terribly attractive. On the other hand, designer purses are often made of high quality materials and are frequently hand-made. Go for design and craftsmanship first. There’s no point in spending $300 on something that’s going to fall apart after a season of use.

Mid-Priced Designers

There are many mid-priced designers that make affordable, high-quality purses. A few to check out: Big Buddha, Kooba, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Maxx New York, Elliott Lucca, Francesco Biasia, Banana Republic, Steven by Steve Madden.

Classic Purse Styles

If you’re willing to splurge and buy a classic designer purse, consider one of the following classic purses.

Frame Purse

Frame purses are so classic, there’s not much chance of them ever NOT being stylish. Usually in the form of a clutch, this style is petite and elegant.

Quilted Chain Purse

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Quilted chain purses were made classic with the iconic Chanel bag. Now, it’s a style that’s not going away. In fact, chain purses are quite trendy for Spring/Summer 2009. Usually mid-size, these bags can also be quite small or quite large.

Satchel Purse

The satchel style is not quite as vintage as the frame and chain purses, but is equally as classic. Find a satchel purse with front pockets to epitomize the style. You can go with a colored version, but certain colors are not always in vogue. If you really want a classic style that has lasting power, go with a natural brown leather for this style.

Monogram Purse

Monogram purses are basically walking advertisements. But, to be fair, the brand is subtle and is only so noticeable because those brands that have made the monogram bag popular are widely known and respected (see: Louis Vuitton and Coach).

What do you think?

What is your handbag philosophy? Do you have a crazy obsession with owning dozens of different purses? Or, do you keep it simple with one tried and true classic?