If I had to sum up the key to high fashion in one word it would be proportion.  The right proportions in an outfit can make it or break it.    Think about two extreme examples (both of which yield terrible results.)  In one case,  you have  the classic oversized, sloppy wardrobe where  XL sweaters and baggy jeans add 20 pounds to a frame.   In the other case,  tight skinny jeans with  XS tanks can make you look…..well, maybe a way you aren’t intending too.  When pulling together an outfit think BALANCE in size and shape.  There are tons of ways you can apply this principle, but for now I am just going to talk about one.

The importance of the right sized handbag often gets overlooked, but the wrong bag can ruin even the best planned outfit.   Choose a handbag that is in proportion to the size of your body.  If you are tall or plus-sized, you can carry a larger bag than someone that is petite.   And if you are petite, you should carry a smaller bag than someone who is tall.

My friend Michele is almost 40 and didn’t carry a handbag until about 2 years ago.   She said she didn’t want to end up like her mother whose purse held everything from receipts to last nights dinner in it.  So, when Michele started looking for handbags, she gravitated toward these really tiny almost wallet on a string type purses.  I guess she thought the smaller the bag the less temptation to pack the kitchen sink in there.  But, what she needed was a larger satchel type bag to help balance out her figure and wardrobe.  Likewise, there are some people that would look like they were playing dress up in their mom’s clothes if they carried a large, oversized tote.

Here are my picks for tall and plus-sized, petite, and best overall handbags….

Handbag Proportion Control by ThirtyOne featuring Versace shoulder bags