Archive for the ‘Handbags’ Category
Caring and Cleaning for Handbags- How to Keep your Handbags Looking their Best
Perhaps the most functional fashion accessory today is the handbag. Most women use their handbags everyday and count on them to hold their precious possessions. Today women’s handbags come in a wide array of styles, materials and price ranges. Whether clutch or tote, suede or leather, a steal of a deal or an expensive designer bag it is important to take proper care of your handbag. Doing so will improve the longevity of the handbag, keeping it looking its best.
There are many materials used in the construction of handbags these days. Knowing what yours is constructed of will help you find out how to properly care for it. Some examples are:
Leather- A leather handbag can be cared for by using special leather treatment equipment. A soft brush and leather conditioning cream can do wonders for a tired leather handbag. Follow the directions on the label of the product you are using for the best results.
Snakeskin- If your snakeskin handbag needs cleaning beyond a simple dusting it might be taken to a professional.
Patent Leather- If you have scuff marks or if the shine has faded on your patent leather handbag, simple vegetable oil can do wonders. Simply add a small amount of vegetable oil to a soft cotton cloth, buff out, mark and wipe thoroughly with a clean dry cloth to remove the mark and bring back shine to the purse. Petroleum jelly also works to bring back the shine but not to remove marks.
Suede- Use a soft velvet brush to loosen dirt and lift dust from your suede handbag. Never use a leather treatment on suede as it can damage the suede permanently.
Cloth or Fabric- Most cloth or fabric handbags are constructed of canvas, denim or cotton. Dry cleaning is recommended but you can also clean the handbag yourself. A damp cotton cloth dipped in a solution of very mild detergent can be used to gently wipe away the dirt or spill. Before trying this be sure to test a in a hidden area so as not to damage your handbag. Then use a small velvet brush to gently brush along with the grain of the fabric. Allow your handbag to air dry completely before use.
When you first acquire your bag it is a good idea to treat the surface with a protective treatment such as Scotch guard. This will provide a protective coating that will makethe handbag resistant to liquids, spills and stains. Make sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions and all warnings prior to use to be sure that your handbag is made from a material that is safe for the product to be applied to. It’s probably a good idea to test a small part of the bag that may not be as visible to ensure a good outcome.
A soft cloth is a good choice to dust a handbag. For a smudge or spot a slightly damp towel can be used only if you spot check in a hidden area first to be sure that no discoloration or damage is caused when the area dries. Always allow your handbag to air dry if you have cleaned it or have been caught in the rain. Using a blow dryer or clothes dryer will cause heat damage. Takingthe handbag to a professional for cleaning is a good idea for tough stains.
The old saying, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure holds true when caring for your handbags. Using some common sense strategies, you can keep your handbag from being damaged.
Always use clean hands when handling your handbag. Avoid handling just after applying beauty products or hand cream. If you have to go out in bad weather consider switching from your very expensive leather handbag to one made of a fabric that is more durable such as canvas or nylon.
Avoid setting your purse on the floor in public places such as restaurants, theaters and restrooms. Besides dirt and spills there are germs, microbes and bacteria that could be carried home and transferred to your bed or counter top.
If you will be storing your handbag in a drawer, on a shelf or in a file cabinet while at work be sure that there are no sharp edges that would scratch or otherwise damage it. You might consider slipping it into a pillowcase or handbag storage bag for protection. You could also pad the area by lining it with a towel or soft cloth.
Storing your handbag properly is another way to keep it in tip top shape. When not in use it is important to stuff the bag to help it keep its proper shape. Paper or material can be used but bubble wrap is the best option as it does not attract moths or moisture. Manyhandbags come with their own protective storage bag. If not, handbag storage bags can be found in retail stores both online and in your community. A simple and cost effective alternative are cotton pillowcases. Keeping your handbag covered when not in use will keep dust from sticking to it and damaging the finish.
For long term storage it is a good idea to remove the straps or loosen the buckles in order to keep them from developing permanent indentations. These indentations would be unsightly if you decide to change the length of the strap or the handle in the future. If your purse has a chain handle be sure to store it with the handle tucked insidethe handbag to prevent scratches.
Taking good care of your handbag will keep it looking like new and in turn keep you looking your best. By properly caring for yourhandbags you will be able to enjoy them more as it will improve their look and longevity. Always remember that professionals can be a good and inexpensive resource for helping you maintain your handbags.
Top 3 Handbag Styles Always on the Fashion Trend
The style of a designer handbag is one of the main reasons why this particular fashion accessory is fun to shop for. There are so many different styles of handbags to choose from that is why it’s so hard to choose just one handbag. Every outfit calls for different style of handbag so this gives women more reasons to buy a minimum of three handbag styles to match whatever their outfit is. To help you out which types of handbag to buy, this article covers the Top 3 Handbag Styles that never come out on the latest fashion trend.
1. Tote Handbag
Tote Handbags are very popular because they are casual yet very practical to use. These bags usually fall in the middle of the body, around the elbow. They are usually big that’s why they provide a lot of space for women’s essential things that are too large for a purse. They usually only have one or two compartments and are available with a number of images on them or a simple solid color.
2. Clutch Handbag
A clutch is a handbag which does not have handles and is meant to be carried in the hand. That said they are usually quite small and only provide enough space for the personal small belongings of women such as make up, cosmetic products and other girly things. These bags can be casual or dressy and are often worn to an evening gathering and other formal occasions because they are so small and convenient to carry.
3. Satchel Handbag
A handbag that has one, sometimes two, large straps that goes over one shoulder and across the body. This type of handbag is best appropriate in most women who are working in an office. They have to use this handbag because they need to carry their important files whenever they have a meeting or if they need to bring their paper works in their home. It is also often used by most students to help them carry their books and other school stuffs. Using satchel does not only help women to hold their bulky files and things in a more convenient way but also enhance their fashion outlook.
Tips When Buying Ladies Handbags
Aside from shoes, bags are definitely the Achilles’ heel of every female homo sapien. Women go gaga over any kind of bag, and they even take pains in matching their bags with their shoes.
Buying a bag can be a major decision for every woman even though she may already have a dozen or more in her closet. Women can never have enough of bags.
Those who have money to spend are lucky because they can splurge their money on bags of all shapes, colors and sizes. However, for the budget conscious who are nevertheless smitten with bags, it is wise to decide which bag would fit an already existing wardrobe.
When buying bags, consider where it is going to be used so that you will not be easily swayed into buying any bag that catches your fancy. Ask yourself whether the bag will fit into your existing wardrobe. A wise dressed will always know how to mix and match her wardrobe with her bags, shoes and accessories to make her wardrobe more cost effective. Bags and shoes, when mixed and matched with different dressed, will give a new set of wardrobe to the wise dresser.
Be able to put a ceiling or a price range for your target bag so you will not be tempted into buying anything that costs more than you budget. Except of if the price is already a bargain and it can be mixed and matched to several clothing wear. This characteristic will of course make the price of the bag more cost effective in the long term.
There are however a few rules that would have to be followed by a woman before buying a bag. A petite woman should avoid very big bags as this will tend to make her look more petite than she already is. Bags can also hide body imperfections so be sure to know which body parts you want understated before choosing a bag. If you want to avoid getting attention on your big hips then choose a shoulder bag. If you have big breasts or broad shoulders then a waste bag is for you.
Bags can come in all types like pouch bags, shoulder bags, tote bags, flap bags, evening bags and many others. It can also come in various materials like leather, satin, velvet, denim or nylon. There are as many bag designs and materials depending on the creativity of bag makers.