In no way is today’s post definitive . . . I’m going to have a lot more fun experimenting with this idea and reporting back to you.  (Can you tell that I’ve already had tons of fun experimenting with the collage feature that I just discovered on Picasa?)  But here’s the gist of my discovery:  if a bright, bulky bracelet can complete a look and take a viewer’s focus off the bust, why not a bright handbag?

Which one do you think looks best? I post my own reactions after the jump, including my favorite.


1.  Cute, but the scale is too small for my frame.

2.  The scale is too large . . . it takes over.

3.  My favorite.

4 & 5.  However, I much, much, much prefer shoulder bags.  In Imogen Lamport’s new ebook that I will review today or tomorrow, she is realistic about this preference:

A bag with short straps will need to be carried either in the crook of your elbow or in your hand, if this would annoy you then don’t choose this style, instead go for one with longer straps that you can either wear on your shoulder or across your body.

In fact, she herself (a 34G, as you know) prefers a cross-body bag!

I find that when I’m out doing a shopping trip with a client I always like to wear a cross-body style bag that is very light in its materials because I’m going to be picking up lots of clothes and their wooden hangers which get heavy very quickly . Not having a shoulder bag allows me to bend and move more easily so that I don’t have to worry about my bag slipping off my shoulder.

I’m going to ask her to post pictures for us and share her tips for cross-body bags.  After I left the store and studied the photographs, I realized that the bag in 4 and 5 is probably meant to be worn across the body.  I think the strap was too thin and the color too bright not to draw attention to my chest, but I’ll have to try this out another time.  I also think the scale of the bag is too small for my frame.

6.  The style is too formal for my outfit.  I’m imagining it with a sheath sundress and a wide straw hat.

7 & 8.  My second favorite.  Actally, it’s my first favorite because of functionality, but looks-wise, I felt that because the body of the bag began at my chest (clearest in 8), it drew attention there.  I’m not sure Imogen would agree.  Here’s another quote from her new book:

Does the bag suit your body? Wherever the bag ends [my emphasis added], will draw attention to that body part, so for example, if you are an A (pear) shape, a bag that sit at your side on a long strap and ends at your hips will make them look wider.

I’m curious to see what you think. Picture 7 looks good to me, and the contrast of the bag against my torso actually seems to bring out my waist. (Of course, the bag is totally empty at this point!)

If you’ve already discovered how to accessorize with bracelets and handbags, I hope you’ll share pics and/or what you’ve learned.  If not, then have fun the next time you go shopping!