For those who have yet to embrace the life changing magic of tidying up the capsule wardrobe, let me fill you in. A capsule wardrobe is comprised of a minimal number items that can all be mixed and matched with one another giving you a cohesive collection of clothing and accessories to play with. It effectively takes all the guesswork out of getting dressed in the morning to free up your mind for more important matters. I’ve written plenty about how to curate your capsule wardrobe for every season, so now it’s time to move on to the fun stuff—handbags. Here, a guide to the only four styles you need to complete your handbag capsule wardrobe, plus my best tips on how to ensure you’re picking the best pieces you’ll actually use.
How to Build a Handbag Capsule Wardrobe for Any and All Occasions
The only 4 styles you need
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Published Dec 7, 2024
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How to Build a Handbag Capsule Wardrobe
Assess Your Needs
The first step in any capsule wardrobe building process is to take a look as what your regular day-to-day looks like and assess the pieces you reach for most often. Do you commute to work with your laptop and a bag lunch? You’ll definitely want to ensure you have at least one large tote or backpack that can fit everything you need for a jam-packed day. Do you frequently attend dinners or events out on the town? A couple of sleeker shoulder bags or clutches are more likely to serve you well.
Consider Quality
You don’t need a new handbag for every day of the week, but you do need one or two that can handle frequent use without totally falling apart. This is especially true for any handbag your loading up with heavier items like your laptop. Investing in one impeccably-made work tote is going to save you more money in the long run than opting for a cheaper design made with low-quality materials. (It’s just going to fall apart, leading you to spending more to replace it anyway.) You definitely don’t need to spend a fortune, but read reviews of not just the item itself but the company as a whole to determine whether or not you think a bag is worth the splurge.
Feel Free to Ignore Outliers
A capsule wardrobe is great for most occasions, but it can’t cover everything. It doesn’t include a weekender bag or stadium-approved fanny pack for concerts, because these are not items you’re using every week. Don’t feel like you need to stick to this list as a hard and fast rule—treat my suggestions more like guidelines and work out from there.
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1. The Everyday Carryall
This is the workhorse of your handbag capsule wardrobe. It’s the bag you’re toting to the office, for a full day of errands or even as your personal item on a plane. It can comfortably fit your laptop, lunch, gym shoes, water bottle or any other essential you might need while out of the house. For lots of folks this will end up being a leather tote with shoulder-length straps, but it could just as easily be a sleek backpack or messenger bag. The point is that it is large and durable enough to withstand daily use.
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2. The Travel-Ready Crossbody
Whether you’re touring Paris or simply running around your hometown getting errands done, a hands-free bag is essential for days when you’re going to be out and about from breakfast to well past dinner. The most popular option is likely a leather crossbody, but if you prefer a sling bag or fanny pack, those work just as well.
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3. The Party Purse
This is the handbag you reach for for wedding receptions, cocktail parties, dinner dates and other occasions that call for a sleek, petite carryall. It could be a sequin mini bag or a black satin clutch, or it could be a minimalist shoulder bag in a bright color—there are tons of options that fit the bill. The key here is that it should be something that you can wear with just about any party dress or going-out top you own and that won’t take up a ton of space as you carry it under your arm all night.
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4. The Fun Basic
All three of the above styles serve a very specific function, but the purpose of this one is really just to give you a fourth middle-ground option on days when you just aren’t feeling the other handbags in your capsule wardrobe. It still needs to check some distinct boxes—it should be large enough to fit your essentials, a color or pattern that goes with the vast majority of your wardrobe and not limited to a single season—but gives you more room to play. Because isn’t the point of fashion to have fun?
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