Lucky Wang's fuzzy little bags at The Pocketbook Man
are made of Christmas tinsel, $40.
Lucky Wang's fuzzy little bags at The Pocketbook Man
are made of Christmas tinsel, $40.
oman cannot live by serious handbag alone.Just as there's more to life than work, there's more to life than the sensible go-anywhere, do-anything, carry-all purse.
Sometimes we just wanna have fun.
Where the sensible bag is generally sturdy, constructed of leather, with compartments galore for toting all the necessities of life -- and extras like the boyfriend's wallet and sunglasses -- the fun bag "doesn't have to be particularly useful," said Jody Rogers Schucart, president of The Pocketbook Man.
The straw bag, in stovepipe form,
$17.95, from The Slipper Store.
That's obvious from the size of these numbers, often no more than 5 inches tall by 7 inches wide. Schucart, whose husband has warned "there's no room in the closet for anymore bags," said, "I've switched from big bags to small bags, which means I have to switch to a smaller wallet."
Of course, many of the new bags are too small to hold even a wallet. It's a flagrant lack of practicality that makes a fun bag oh-so carefree, so sassy, so deliciously deviant.
Fun bags "appeal to women of all ages," Schucart said.
"They're certainly not as essential as a glass of milk, but for people who consider their appearance, and the way they look, and the impression they give important, a variety of handbags are a necessity. They're just like jewelry these days."
Nowhere were first impressions more important than New York City of the go-go '80s, where artist and 20-year handbag aficionado Frieda Hulse made her home at the time.
"The way most people understood respect was to connect it with dollars. At New York's clubs, people would stand around and try to figure out how much a person is worth in terms of the cost of his shoes, bag, outfit. They'd put a dollar value on people as soon as they walked in the door.
The Hula Bag, $265, from Salvatore
Ferragamo's Aloha line.
A fun bag says of its owner, Schubert said, "This is a person who isn't afraid to be a little daring, who wants to cause a bit of a stir. This is certainly a person who will be noticed."
Such wit can be found in the details. The fun bag's design is intentionally kept spare to accentuate its most distinctive features. This is unlike many a serious bag, cursed with numerous and unsightly pockets, snaps and straps.
The fun bag -- whether $15 or $200 -- might possess architecturally inspired clasps and closures and an element of shine, whether the reflective glimmer of sequins and spangles or the luster of crystal beads. Surprising textures and materials are exemplified by Salvatore Ferragamo's provocative Hula Bag ($265). The structured straw bag is trimmed with black grosgrain ribbon and embellished with three tiers of flirty raffia "skirts."
Of course, one should never confuse the act of making a fun statement with plain old bad taste.
Kate Spade's washable ultrasuede bags in citrus tones,
the colors of spring, $200-$275, from The Pocketbook Man.
She said it's very hard to commit a fashion faux pas with a fun bag, even if it's one of those teddy bear backpacks.
"Oooh, I like those. I think if it provokes a laugh, it's fun. It's trying to make an anti-serious statement.
"The epitome of tasteless handbags are faux, like the faux Chanels or faux Louis Vuittons. They're trying to be the real thing when they're not, and that's not funny."
On the high side, Bailey's Antiques offers purses from the
'40s and '50s, above, at $100-plus. On the low side, below, a fabric
lunch sack from The Slipper House doubles as a purse, $14.95.
The hottest name in handbags today is Kate Spade, a former fashion journalist turned designer. This season, she's made ultrasuede totes in citrusy hues of lemon, line and tangerine, that look as lush as real suede. Yet, because ultrasuede is a fabric, it's washable and durable. Available at stores such as Liberty House and The Pocketbook Man, the Kate Spade handbags start at about $190.Purses of similar size and shape by David Dart are made with quilted vinyl, and cost $40.
Also available at The Pocketbook Man are cute, round and fuzzy little numbers, stitched from Christmas tinsel, in red, yellow and blue. These bags, by Lucky Wang, sell for $40, and feature pannier handles meant to be worn on the wrist. This style of handle was popular, oh, about a hundred years ago, when women held them ever-so-daintily parallel to the front of their bodies.
Less pricey are casually elegant crochet purses, studded with faux pearls, $15 at Pocketbook Man.
One of the most popular fun shapes is that of the cosmetics tote. It's available in a variety of materials besides the usual plastic, and is being used as an everyday purse or clutch, according to Jody Rogers Schucart, president of The Pocketbook Man.
Elsewhere, there are colorful lunch sacks for $14.95 at The Slipper House, and a tubular straw bag for $17.95 that is equally fun.
At Town & Country, there are small vinyl backpacks ($20) and smaller hand-carry bags ($16) in see-through candy colors of orange and purple.
And don't neglect the children's departments and stores such as Hello Kiddies at Ward Warehouse, where lovable cartoon characters are emblazoned on a variety of purselike containers that will appeal to one's inner child.
Thrift and vintage shops are also good places to search for fun bags. A beaded bag is always fun, but at $100 to $200 new, the worry that comes with throwing it around and the possibility of the beads coming undone takes the fun out of it. Used versions can be found for less than $60 if you scout thrift, consignment and vintage stores.
At Bailey's Antiques and Aloha Shirts, there's a selection of plastic and Lucite handbags from the 1940s and '50s, running $99.99 to $149.99.