Three "Must Have" Handbags

I’ve seen a lot of “must have” bag lists that have anywhere from seven to twenty bags; to me, that seems a little extreme. Okay, scratch that, it seems a lot extreme. I wouldn’t consider myself a minimalist by any stretch of the imagination, either. It’s not that I don’t love purses, I do, they’re fun little accessories and can add a lot of “oomph” to an outfit. That said, looking over the last month, I’ve cycled through three basic bag types, and I haven’t felt like I was missing out on anything.

1:  The “every-day” bag. 
This is my go-to and, if something happened to it, I’d need to replace it immediately.  This bag is great for taking to work, lunch with friends, or just running errands.

Tips for buying an every-day bag:
*Pick a neutral color like black, brown, or navy so you can wear it with anything.
*Make sure that there are multiple compartments, that way you can easily find what you need rather than fishing for your keys.

2.  A structured bag. 
This is similar to the every-day bag, ample room, but to me has a slightly more polished look to it.

Tips for buying a structured bag:
*Feel free to get a little more colorful with your structured bag, but don’t go overboard with something that’s not going to match a wide range of outfits.
*Make sure there are ample compartments and sectioned areas so you can find what you’re looking for easily.

3.  The over-sized clutch. 
This is an easy way to transition an outfit from day to night.  The clutch is perfectly sized to slip into your every-day bag or your structured bag, for the gal on the go.

Tips for buying an over-sized clutch:
*This is a chance to pick something colorful, patterned, or both.  While I have these bags in neutral tones, I’m also considering something in snakeskin to add a touch of sass to certain outfits.
*Make sure there’s a small chain or other strap that you can attach/detach as necessary, it just makes things easier.  If you can find one with a long enough chain to go over your shoulder, I suggest you pounce.

What are your favorite bags, and why? Did I leave your favorite off the list?