Save vs. Splurge: Summer Handbags

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It’s almost Memorial Day, and I’m looking forward to summertime! Warm weather and sunshine sound pretty good after all of the rain we have had lately here in the Midwest.

Handbags are fashion essentials for the summer. A nice black leather handbag can function well throughout the fall and winter, but our needs change as the weather warms up. It is important to have a few bags to meet the demands of all the activities summertime brings.

Two big trends for summer are straw bags with tassels and bags with pom poms.

There are some really cute handbags popping up in the stores right now. Accents such as tassels and colorful pom poms are trending. Below I have featured four categories of handbags that can be considered as summertime fashion essentials: the straw handbag, the brightly colored clutch, the beach bag, and the basic neutral tote. I have featured a Save and a Splurge option for each category. All of the Save options are priced at $50 or less. I love when I can get the look for less and bet you do too! Summer is a time when you can get away with purchasing less expensive handbags since you are usually carrying them for only one season of the year. Handbags designed for summertime are frequently made with straw and canvas and these materials are not nearly as durable as leather, making them less likely to last beyond one or two summers. Personally, I would rather splurge on a nice leather handbag that will last for years and purchase an inexpensive option for summer. This purchasing strategy also makes trying trends less risky since you aren’t out a lot of money if the handbag is no longer in style when summer rolls around again. In my opinion, the one item below that could be considered splurge-worthy is the Madewell Transport Tote since it is made with cowhide.

The Straw Handbag: