Totes and Handbags
Back at the beginning of the summer, @lavishlyjackie posted a video of her travel day outfit. But it wasn’t just any travel day, it was a “fly in/fly out” travel day. She was attending a graduation a short flight away and would be flying home later that night.
To make things easy, she wore what she would be wearing to the graduation festivities on the plane and she carried a tote bag AND a small handbag. And she made a comment about how cool it is to carry both: a tote and a handbag. I couldn’t agree more.
“There’s something really chic about a girl with a tote and a handbag.”
So, that’s what I’ve been doing. Because I like to carry a lot of stuff with me, but I also like to carry a handbag that’s appropriate for the occasion. So, I’ve been packing both. This especially comes in handy at church. I like a small handbag, but also want to carry my journal, bible, pens, a pajmina etc…Some Sundays after church we go out to lunch as a family, and by carrying both I can just take the small handbag into the restaurant, leaving the tote with my Bible and everything in the car.
It also comes in handy on a date night. No one wants to carry a giant tote bag to dinner, but what if we need a little more stuff than what fits in the little handbag? What if I need my notepad, a phone charger, a hair brush, a makeup bag that won’t fit in the small handbag? So why not have both? Keep the tote bag in the trunk for “just-in-cases” and carry the adorable handbag into the restaurant with you.
I think this could also be handy on vacation or even just a pool day. I had a pool day with some girlfriends the other day, so I brought a beach bag with my towel and sunscreen and sunglasses etc, but also brought a little hand bag because we ended up going out to dinner after we got out of the pool and I didn’t want to lug in my beach bag.
Or even just running errands. Below was just a regular Tuesday and yes, I carried my handbag and my tote. I love this random little fix so much!
Honestly friends, I doubt carrying a tote bag AND a handbag is anything new, but it’s just something functional that allows us fashion girlies to wear more of our favorite things at the same time. I LOVE styling. I LOVE fashion. I LOVE keeping my clothes for decades and then pulling it out of the closet for a fun fashion moment. Like below, I pulled this dress out of the closet that can literally be classified as vintage Banana Republic. I’ve had it since college, and even though I don’t often wear it, when I do it feels kind of new.
Everything I’m wearing above is old except the shoes. And they happen to be on sale. They also come in PINK and DENIM. How adorable are the little cherries on top???
If you’re looking for some fun new handbags, here are a few of my favorites. And yes, I am in love with the beaded bag trend! These listed below are ALL under $100! To shop, just click on the picture.
And here are a few of my favorite tote bags. I’ve bought several of mine at Fair and Square in Downtown McKinney. Of course, I have an old trusty, dusty, and stained Neverfull by Louis Vuitton, my basket purse I bought in Cassis—and then a few others that are too cute to ignore. Especially that denim Coach tote that will go so seamlessly into Fall!! Remember guys, The Standard is offering a 20% discount to my readers right now! Use the code FRANCEDANCE20. The Market Tote below is from The Standard.
So friends, I hope carrying a tote and a handbag eliminates some of your first world problems and that you feel inspired in your fashion life just a bit. Have a wonderful week!
