As every fule no, this season's It Bag is the clutch. Not quite the equivalent of Chinese foot-binding, but fulfilling the same function - forcing the arm to remain clamped to your side and restricting the ability to make large expressive gestures. And as someone who likes talking, the idea of not having two hands to aid my gob is unthinkable.
Friday, 1 February 2008
The clutch: just say no
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12 comments:
And the clutch also forces one to keep the handbag cotnents down to teh bare minimum. After a few seasons of bags big enough for an expedition I think that might be a challenge for most of us!
I don't know what is worse - a clutch...or these "giant economy sized" clutches I have seen some people carrying - that makes no sense whatsoever. This is the answer to a handbag question that is not being asked. It has a certain nostalgic charm, except that from the "clamping your arm to your side" aspect, it is just not practical. And even at evening events, I need some practicality - how else am I going to balance the glass of wine and the little plate of canapes?
I have found a nifty one which has rings and a band you can put on or not. Also in the default configuration (the smallest size), the one you can actually use the bag as clutch, it is folded in half, so I can make it bigger. It is my most expensive bag, it cost around 200$, it is from good leather, in a neutral dark silver and absolutely timeless. What does this say about me and it-bags ?
Toby beat me to it...what's the point of going to a party if you can't manage a drink *and* food? And even if you're seated, what do you do with it? Place it on a potentially greasy table? Put it in your lap and deal with having to pick it up off the floor repeatedly? If it doesn't have a shoulder strap, pass it up.
The best party bag is the Fendi baguette.
I love clutches! Granted, mine spend most of their time in a tote bag or backpack as a sort of oversized wallet, but that's when I need them most so that I can pick out my essentials easily and quickly. And when I don't need all my stuff, I take the clutch and leave the tote in the car.
I've had no problems carrying mine. I just carry them in my hand when walking, and then stick it under my arm or lay it down when I need both hands. And most have optional wrist straps of some sort if I want to use them.
I carry a clutch with an arm strap and I love it. I actually had it custom made by astrosatchel (http://www.astrosatchel.com/) since they didn't make one quite in the size I wanted.
Heh. If you have to have a clutch, I like the ones with a big band on one side so you can stick your hand through as if it were a muff.
I don't know if I could deal with a clutch - I generally need both hands most of the time and I have a dreadful memory - if I put the thing down on the floor - I know I'd walk away leaving it. At least with a shoulder strap I can hang the bag from my knee (for the most part) and therefore don't leave it behind when I leave the chair.
But I think I might look into the small clutch to go in a large bag - that has potential when I'm traveling and must take a large bag.
I must admit to being one who likes the clutch - in limited doses. I completely agree with Toby about clutches being impractical for evening affairs where one has a glass and a small plate. But those affairs are awkward by their very nature.
I have several of my mother's exquisite vintage clutches, none of which I have ever carried, preferring instead to wield two hors d'oeuvre plates.
The "wristlet" is a great alternative. Clutch size with a small strap to slip your wrist through. Miss J's personal fave, however, is a leather mini-messenger bag she bought 2 weeks bag. Cross-body strap and a just big enough to hold small notepads, wallet & some lip glass...What more do you need? Miss J DESPISES the ginormous It bags.
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