You will be aware that carrying around a handbag will make you appear more stylish, professional and even more put-together, but did you know that a handbag can make you appear slimmer?
It's true. Depending on the shape, size and design of the handbag, you can either appear slimmer or heavier than what you are. So it's entirely up to you how you want others to perceive you.
Let me put the statement into a more simpler way: a large handbag will make you look slimmer and a small handbag will make you will wider, by illusion.
Having a bag in your outfit is actually the best accessory to distract the eyes from the widest part of your body. Much like any other accessory, a style and design can either attract or distract the eye from a specific body part.
When deciding on which handbag is best for you, you have to think lifestyle. Having a bag that will ultimately make you look thinner is one thing, but will it compensate and work with your lifestyle? You have to think of a few factors that you will need your handbag for due to your lifestyle and if it works, then and only then, can you go ahead and purchase the accessory.
Are you taking your handbag to work? Do you need to carry your small pooch around in it? Will it distract you and take up lots of space? All of these things should be considered before buying, so you shouldn't only focus on the shape of your body and how you will look against the accessory, but rather how it will cooperate with your lifestyle.
But if you are a petite woman who is a very small dress size, you should consider how the tips in this chapter of my ebook will work for you. Because if you want to look slightly slimmer and you carry around a large handbag, you will look out of place.
It makes sense really: you will look as if you are struggling to move around, so pick a medium to small sized bag instead.
Another way to work out which handbag will work for you and your body is to research which bag styles will work with your body shape. I will give a quick explanation to the five basic body shapes:
Hourglass
Just about any bag will go with your shape, (lucky you!) Just make sure that you aren't covering up your beautiful shape.
The hourglass shape is full of beautiful curves, so you shouldn't try to cover up anything. Clutch bags are a good choice for your shape as they are small, stylish and don't cover anything up!
But even though your options are stretched out far and wide, you should still be careful and don't go for the first bag that you see. Instead, choose a bag that works for you.
Good styles: ANY STYLE! But ones that especially look good on you are- satchel, tote, clutches, cross body, shoulder and hobo.
Straight/rectangle
You need to add curves to your straight body, so you should work with this when choosing a handbag.
Your figure is rather sharp and to the point, rather than feminine and curvy.
Make sure that the length of the straps make your bag reach down to your hips. Try oversized satchel bags and leave the well-structured, geometrical styles for other body shapes.
Good styles: tote, hobo, oversized satchel, wider bags, soft leather clutches.
Inverted triangle
Keep the attention around your waist area for a more balanced, proportional look. You don't need any added curves around the chest, so you shouldn't go for too small or oversized shoulder bags that have large straps.
Good styles: crossbody, belt, long strapped, clutches, hand-held, long strapped shoulder.
Pear
Since you are heavier from your waist down, you don't want to create an even bigger appearance to that area. Keep the focus around your shoulders and chest. Concentrate on the strap length, never let your bag fall below the waistline, especially if you are carrying a larger, heavier bag.
Good styles: satchel bags, bucket bags, shoulder bags, belt bags.
Apple
If you like larger bags....you're in luck! You need to add the illusion of a more balanced outline of the body, so you need to choose your bag wisely. Stay away from small, short strapped bags that have no structured to them.
Good styles: bowling purses, tote bags and hand-held bags.
