POCKETBOOKS Women may become flashy bag ladies soon
A new handbag is the quickest fix to lift winter doldrums.
WASHINGTON POST
Something about spring sets our shoppers' lust into motion -- we want to lighten up, shed our layers, buy it all -- and we want it now. Of course, that's often not practical. But, this season, the quickest fix to lift the winter doldrums may be as simple as a fun, new handbag.
And we're not necessarily talking big dollar, top designer bags, either. From well- priced, ladylike baskets, to high-volume graphic pouches, to bright, fresh colors or quirky vintage jobs, the choices for pocketbooks abound this spring.
"The bags of the season are ones that reflect someone's personal style," says Ashley Kohn, the Nordstrom eastern region handbag buyer. "They're an emotional purchase; they can make you light up, smile or laugh; and are great conversation starters."
Kohn points to working women as the perfect example of the power of the pocketbook. "They may have to dress in a conservative way, like a dark suit, but they can show their personalities and stylishness by the handbag they wear." At Nordstrom, the range of styles and prices -- from $48 to $1,000 -- is vast, and, says Kohn, the best bags for spring "are beautiful, whimsical and colorful."
"Anything with a dog or cat on it is the first one out the door," says Kohn, "and bags by Juicy Couture in bright colors" are among the hottest sellers.
Bit of color
At the Denver based bag e-tailer eBags (www.ebags.com), spokeswoman Alexandra Elliott says, "What's especially interesting this season is that women who are afraid to break out in color are choosing bags to do it ... and our sales of colored handbags, especially pink and orange, are skyrocketing. Bags are a good way for women to express their individuality," says Elliott. "There are so many choices, like materials -- faux croc, suede, crochet, even feathers. It's a really fun season ... the most fun in a while."
For her own market research, Long Island-based bag designer Linda Williams carried one of her pecan wicker basket bags topped with a silk flower around all last summer. "I said if I got 100 people responding to it, I would start a business. I must have heard 'what a cute bag' at least 1,000 times."
Customized
Today, Williams' business, My Cute Bag (www.mycutebag.com), sells purses to prom girls and grandmas alike for $75 to $120, and Williams will customize. With vintage lining and antique button closures, the bags demurely convey the ladylike look that is the essence of spring this season.
Perhaps the queen of quirky when it comes to bags is Jennifer Tash, whose highly embellished bags for Isabella Fiore feature fab graphics, beads, sequins and flowers and are known to be head-turners. This season, her graffiti-style bag with chains is going gangbusters, as is a stylized basket with a retro bow design in patent leather. Says Nash, "Handbags are to a woman's wardrobe what a man's tie is to his suit. I want someone to stop you on the street, and say, 'Hey, what a great bag!"'