Hi Friend! I will be honest with you here! You do not need to spend 1000s of dollars on designer handbags to look polished and put together. But shopping at amazon for a bag is not the option here as well. Or hitting the department store to pick up off the shelf bags that look just like the ones everyone is carrying is also not gonna make you look stylish.
Picking the right style of handbag and the right shades that will easy make a statement in your outfit in a good way to elevate your looks is the key. And you can do that in an affordable way as well.
In this post, I am sharing the styles and my top affordable bag picks that will help you look polished in your summer outfits. These summer handbags are not cheap, they are also made in care and are high quality.
Why Does The Right Handbag Matter?
Now, for those of you who keep saying wear what you want to wear and don’t waste money on all of these things, I have something to say. If you are buying a handbag for $100 or under, you already know that the bag is cheap and not high quality and will not stand the test of time. Which means, you will have buy another bag and keep wasting money on these bags that never last. So, you never really pay attention to finding a good handbag that looks stylish and elevates your looks. And this is a big reason your outfits never look polished.
There are many other reasons for why your outfits don’t look polished. But this is one of the reasons for sure.
Best Bag Styles For Summer
White Shoulder Bag
Shoulder bags have become really popular and for a good reason. They look elegant and elevate your outfits effortlessly. Ofcourse I am talking about the right style of white shoulder bags. If you pick a white bag with loads of metal studs or hardwares, then that bag looks edgy and not elegant.
The same way if you pick a white bag with prints or fringe, it looks bohemian and not classy. You want to pick a white shoulder bag that you can literally pair with any outfit and look chic. The bag is statement but not a statement by itself. It compliments your outfits. But if you are going for edgy or bohemian style, totally go for that.
I love a good hobo style white shoulder bag with zipper closure that is casual yet elegant. It has a simple design with white leather that is high quality and will last you for a long time.
And if you are looking for a fun shape of handbag, try a curved handbag. It looks chic and classy and you can easily wear this with all your vacation outfits as well.
A simple elegant handbag design will never go out of style in my opinion.
Freja New York Chrystie Shoulder Bag
PRICE: $389
Red handbags
Summer is all about colors and having fun with it. And you must already be looking at some fun colorful bags. Now, I would love to have all the colors in my collection, but if you are looking to add one colored handbag to your summer outfits, that most certainly should be red. It’s a statement piece but it’s also perfect for everyday wear in the summer season when your outfit needs a little bit of that lift.
In terms of design, again depending on your lifestyle, pick a shoulder bag or a crossbody bag. Either way a structured red handbag will bring a summer chic vibe to your basic outfits. They would also make for an excellent summer travel essential as you create chic outfits on your next trip.
A red bag works best when it’s the only red in the outfit. Let it be the statement, don’t compete with it. Pair it with neutrals, navy, or all-black and it immediately looks intentional rather than matchy-matchy.
Crochet Handbags
Crochet style has been so popular everywhere. You see it as a top, shoes, sweater styles. But the best crochet pics are crochet style handbags. Now I am not talking about crochet tote bags. Ofcourse they are perfect as a beach bag. But these are structure handbags that are crochet detail or have an open knit design.
I am in love with this style. This instantly softens a structured handbag design and you look fun and flirty with those bags. They definitely have the structure you need. But it’s a fun bag you can throw in with your everyday basic outfit and look chic in.
These are also excellent for your next summer holidays whether you are going to Europe or South America.
Woven Handbags
Gone are those days when the only summer handbags we looked up to were these giant basket bags.
These rafia style handbags have come a long way. They are perfect summer fabric and are great alternative to leather bags. When the temperate is hot and humid, you want to wear something that feels summery. Also sweat resistance. But you don’t want to wear tote bags!
These rafia structured bags will elevate your outfits effortlessly. They are structured and sophisticated. So your outfits don’t look frumpy.
The Tory Burch handbag with the leather shoulder strap is like the best of both worlds. It has the leather strap for comfort and rafia body for the summer style.
If you hate the Rafia fabric because it’s itchy, then the Strathberry woven hobo bag in cotton twill is an excellent alternative. It looks classy and sophisticated but perfect for summer days.
Leather Woven Bag
If you still like leather bags but want the Bottega luxe touch that gives forever summer look, then leather woven bags would be perfect options to try. And you don’t need to spend a lot of money for that.
There are plenty of mid-range brands that have high quality designs that look polished and are perfect for upgrading your summer style. I love woven style of leather bags. They have this under stated luxury look that designer handbags with loud logos can never provide.
You can pair them with your everyday casual bags or style them with summer vacation looks. Either way these bags will be versatile and won’t cost an arm and a leg.
Chocolate Brown Handbags
If Black handbags are your go to and you just don’t feel complete without them, then my friend its time to try the chocolate brown handbags. These are the new black bags that you can confidently carry in summer and get summer vibe.
And these bags are much more sophisticated and classy than black handbags. Specially when you are wearing white or light colored clothes, black can come off really intense. The chocolate brown shade on the other hand looks subtle and classy. And the perfect dark shade to carry in summer.
And you can find so many mid-range high quality designers making these modern handbags that you have a lot of choices.
Canvas Bags
Canvas bags have always been popular in summer. When it finally stops raining and you want to take out the canvas bags to enjoy the summer style. But canvas bags have always come in tote style. And they don’t look amazing do they. They definitely make your outfit look frumpy.
But not anymore, these canvas bags have been given a modern makeover by these mid-range designers who set out to revolutionize how we look at the fabric. And I am here for it.
The bold structured design and functionality is something they have focused on and I am all here for it. You can really find variety of styles to choose from, but you know me, my top picks are styles that you can either wear everyday, or pick a summer special event one.
Bucket bags
Bucket bags are here to stay, but they have been redesigned with a modern touch which makes them really wearable. And not just for special occasions. Even with canvas or raffia the modern elevated designs make them easy to style with your everyday casual outfits.
The bags that I love the most are the ones with leather combination which makes it more wearable and practical. Just by itself canvas or raffia bags just don’t look that elevated do they. But adding some leather fabric instantly lifts the style.
They give you the summer vibe but also look practical to wear everyday. Wear them to head to brunch or somewhere fun to celebrate warm weather.
Embroidered Tote Bags
Tote bags have also gotten better. Instead of picking the boring raffia style tote bag, they have been re-imagined with embroideries giving you the ultimate French Riviera look.
But just like what French ladies do, you can wear these bags with your everyday outfits. That’s the beauty of the embroidery details. They liven up the handbag. And make it look polished and sophisticated.
I love these for vacation and in general for your summer everyday looks when you are just out and about. And why not, it’s summer time after all. Pick them in a neutral shade with a fun embroidery and you have yourself a Parisian summer accessory.
