Handbag Collection

You guys, this is a handbag collection post!

Rather than wait till I own all the high-end handbags that I aspire to own, I decided that I would show you what I’m working with right now. This post is up to the minute because it includes new purchases, and it’s a post that I will say I’m happy to share.

I like to make sure that my handbags are a compliment to my dresses and to my shoes. They don’t have to be matchy-matchy (because that would be weird), but they do have to add a little something to what I’m wearing. One thing I don’t do, which might be different or the same as other people, is seasonal handbag changes. I don’t change bags seasonally because I would much rather wear everything I own whether it’s Spring, Summer, or Winter. So, I pick bags that I think work 365 days out of the year. And uh, I have also been gifted with bags that I think work 365 days out of the year.

Although I own a good number of handbags, there are some high-end bags, as I said, that I have both of my eyes on (more on that later). I guess I’ll need a bigger closet to accommodate the collection that I want. And I guess that I might have to give some bags away to make room for new ones (though there are few bags I would never be able to part with) when I reach the pinnacle when it comes to my handbag collection.

Here’s a good look into my handbag collection as it stands now…

Personal Style

 

Personal style is something that is cultivated over time. As for me, I would say that my style, throughout the years, has grown with me. It’s a style that is very logical and effortless (because I wear dresses 95% of the time – a no brainer),  it’s classic in shape, and it’s full of texture, print, and colour. I love things that fit me well, and I love bright colours because they pop against my deeper skin tone.

It is my love of prints, colour, texture, and a classic shape that attracts me to the styles of icons like Diana Ross, Nina Simone, and Josephine Baker. They are, and in the case of Nina and Josephine, were women known for their edgy and unique performances.  Their performance clothing, which was bright, printed, shift-like, glitzy, and fitted, seemed to be an extension of that. Their outfits, when out on the town, were (and still are) something to talk about.

My favorite designers are Prada, Naeem Khan, Elie Saab, Saint Laurent, Erdem, and Duru Olowu. I love Prada, Naeem Khan, and Ellie Saab for their classic silhouettes and use of colour. I love Saint Laurent for its edge and reinvention of the classics, and I love Erdem and Duru Olowu for their use of prints.

When it comes to fashion labels I have my favourites too. Labels, which I feel flatter curves the most, are the following: Vero Moda, Yumi, Smash!, Black Tape (by Dex clothing), Rudsak, Wilfred Free, California Moonrise, Dynamite (a store which has clothing with its name on it), and Chaps. Of course there are names out there that I haven’t yet discovered. And of course there are brands that I’m eager to try (ASOS and Free People leap to mind). However, the brands I mentioned are in my closet, and I would absolutely recommend them to anybody who has a curvy figure and long legs.

I also like vintage dresses. Where I shop, when I buy vintage, is Etsy. Just Etsy. It is the hub for all things vintage and handmade. You might be thinking, why would a tall and curvy woman buy things she can’t try on in advance? To those wondering I say this: when you know your body you can buy just about anything. I measure my waist, hips, leg length, arm length, and bust width because sellers are good enough to post the measurements of their garments in the product information section. So, I’m always comfortable buying dresses online.

As for shoes, I’m very simple: I like clean lines, rich colours (like olive, burgundy, and camel brown), florals and brights (in the Spring and during summertime), and classic shapes. I don’t like buying shoes that often (as I would rather buy a nice dress), but when I do buy a shoe it had better have wearing power (because I wear my shoes to the ground).

I would love to hear about your style! Comment down below an answer to the following questions: Do you prefer to wear dresses or pants (and why)? And what kind of shoes do you like to wear?

Adaora