Struggling to find a bag to match an outfit, any brand

[pomeline]

I found a beautiful dress for an upcoming occasion and now I'm struggling to find a handbag (and shoes!) to match it. Turns out it's not so easy to find a beautiful leather bag in purple, especially in a slightly reddish purple shade. I don't want to be splurging out too much for the bag because darling hubby is already on the verge of installing a Handbag Ban on me but ideally I would still like to find a good quality bag. I don't care about the brand as much as quality.

Here's a sample of the fabric I'm trying to find a bag to match:



Now, I don't know if I'm just too much obsessed with the idea of the bag being purple but I just feel all the other options aren't as nice. Black? Not so nice during summer (it's going to be a summer occasion) but always a sensible, if boring, choice. Green? Hard to find a matching green and it just doesn't look as nice as purple. White/offwhite/cream/beige? Well, perhaps but not sure.

Here's my demands (or what I'm ideally looking for):

• Size would be something like my old Gianni Chiarini bag: around W25cm x H18cm x D8cm aka W9.8" x H7" x D3.15"
• Ideally leather
• Both top handle and crossbody strap (adjustable), I can live without the top handle but makes it easier to handle
• Not too slouchy but also not too rigid
• I like bags that have a good zipper to close them but I might be ok with a flap too (Osprey London Phoebe is a dream with both but very hard to find now)
• Would like it if the bag had a good lining and some pockets inside, at least for a phone and a zipper pocket
• Ideally within Europe so I can get it in a reasonable time frame and less hassle with the customs, if in UK I'd prefer DDP (delivered duties paid)
• Price ideally less than 200€

I hope this doesn't sound too crazy for you. I've been looking at a no brand Italian camera bag but not sure about the size which is the standard W20cm x H15cm x D6cm (W7.9" x H5.9" x D2.4") but I am not sure if it's slightly too small. I've also found a big camera bag that is lovely purple leather but I'm not sure if it's too large? The size of that one is W29cm x H20cm x D10cm ( WxHxD) and it's in a very good price. The only downsides are the large size (too large...?) and has no pockets inside, plus the shoulder strap might be too narrow to be comfortable. Both bags come straight from the manufacturer so that is why they are very affordable, the larger is even cheaper than the small bag.

Here's the small one

and here's the large



Then I've been eyeing this Coccinelle

and this brand new Gianni Chiarini

https://www.giannichiarini.com/en/bags/cross-body-bags/anita.html?RwDet=true&articoli_ID=13718

But... I'd like a few more options as the two last ones are at the top of the price scale and I've got hubby breathing down my neck for my recent expenditure so I'd ideally like to keep it as low as possible. The event I'm going to is a formal event followed by a less formal gathering.

I would be very grateful for all your thoughts and tips on this. I can see myself also going for something more neutral as ideally I'd be using the bag as a daily bag after the event. I've loved my old Gianni Chiarini (a black, slightly slouchy camera bag, measurements above) because it's an excellent bag when I travel, fits neatly under the armrest in an airplane so saves me from placing it under a seat... But it's old and getting too slouchy for my taste. Plus there's the need for a new, pretty bag for the event.

 

[Evia]

Have a look at Coccinelle. I think they have some styles that might suit your brief, and in lots of summery colours.

 

[papertiger]

At least there are several different different purples to choose from if you go that route.

If you already have a little off-white, beige or black bag bag I would go for that. A little black bag is just going to blend and won't make the outfit 'heavy' like a big black bag could. My pref would be t shop from my own closet (if I have something already)

You could also go for lilac, greyed-sea-foam green, silver, light gold.

 

[Jktgal]

Maybe go to TheRealReal, filter bag by colour and condition (looks like you want a pristine or excellent condition bag), then sort by price, targeting bags at price range you want. Then browse through. You'd probably find one you like at the price point you can accept. And if not, you can browse all the purple bags for some ideas of bags you can look for locally.

 

[papertiger]

Have a look at Coccinelle. I think they have some styles that might suit your brief, and in lots of summery colours.

Great brand for the price point

 

[indiaink]

A cream shade would really bring out the dress and make a classier pairing, IMO. And you'd be able to use it later.

 

[nyeredzi]

There are some lovely purple options that you've found already, so I'll just say that I think you don't have to go with purple to complement that outfit. A bag that's not the dominant color of the outfit would be a lovely complement. So cream, black, or even yellow or green would look lovely with the outfit too. Like @indiaink , I like the idea of cream best with that pattern. I think cream or yellow would look best in the day, and black in the evening. If you really had your heart set on purple, I'd go with the lighter one to pick up the lighter color of the pansy.

 

[pomeline]

I'm starting to seriously consider cream. It would be so much easier to also find shoes with the bag if I choose cream. Plus, I love the thought of having something other than good old, trusty black.
Somehow the shoes I can find in my closet either do not fit me (have they shrunk?) or they just don't seem suitable. I did find a pair of open toe espadrilles in black suede and natural/white heel in the back of my closet but I suppose they don't really go, do they...? Also, I might have splurged in secret and bought a lovely hand fan (how on earth am I going to explain it to my hubby...) I need to fit into my purse. I figured it will most likely be hot and I will be sweating so I might as well have a lovely fan to cool myself.

 

[mocktail]

Honestly I feel like the enjoyment you might get from the “perfect “ bag for this outfit might be overshadowed by the anxiety of spending more than you should right now.

The dress is lovely and your fan sounds lovely too! If you need one more new thing to round out your outfit, maybe a new lipstick or lipgloss could work and you could shop your closet for shoes and a bag? I think black shoes and a black bag are great options with this dress!

 

[CoastalCouture]

I think a small black bag would be a good look with this dress - keep it small and it won't detract or look wintery. For shoes, strappy black sandals would a good look, or heeled espadrilles, again in black.

 

[cologne]

I think white would look good with that pattern. May pop a bit more than purple

 

[gracekelly]

I'd keep it simple and wear a white bag. You don't have to wear white shoes.

 

[880]

I'd keep it simple and wear a white bag. You don't have to wear white shoes.

Or beige/taupe. Re your bag requirements, perhaps aspinal of London if on sale or at resale? Good luck
ETA: coccinel is a better option

 

[gracekelly]

Just want to throw this in because I am thinking about a bright pink clutch and it goes for me as well I think investing in a color that will get minimal use is never a great idea, so I am thinking something pretty and not too expensive it you want to go the color route.

 

[ardenp]

What about a raffia type woven bag, but perhaps with top handle so it's more structured and dressy? Neutral, good for summer, but you could use it again. Or even tie a purple twilly on it for your extra pop of color!