What Your Purse Says About You
Hand Over Your Handbag
As a woman, it is not enough to choose the perfect outfit, matching shoes, and fix your hair. You also need the perfect handbag. Purses send a message to the public. You need the right purse for your personality. I am sure you are wondering what does your handbag say about you? Oh, you weren't thinking that? Well, tough... I am going to tell you about it anyway.
After some extensive research... OK, not really, this is just my opinion... I have come up with some definite conclusions about handbags and what they say to the world. Through years of experience and opinions from everyone around me, I feel I can safely say different purses send different messages. Let's explore the world of handbags and the subliminal messages they send out to the world!
Small Clutch
A small clutch is a super small purse; it is even considered a wallet by some standards. If you are carrying a clutch with you, chances are, you don't need to take much anywhere you are going.
A clutch says to the world, "I am going to a club or bar, and I am not letting a purse prevent me from dancing!" It is possible to take a small clutch to other events, but in general, dancing is going to occur when you see it. Something that small will never hold you back from the dance floor!
If you are using a small clutch, but not going to a fancy event or a dance club, I question your activities in life. Surely a person with a clutch has no need for a hairbrush or coupons. Shesh. What is up with that?
Little Basic Handbag
A small black, beige, white, or brown handbag says to the world, "Hey, I just need a place to keep my wallet, phone, and maybe some tampons." The little basic handbag shows the world you like to follow tradition and you don't need a lot to do it. The small basic handbag has a quiet dignity to it.
Even if you do not use a small handbag all the time, they are wonderful for certain occasions. A girl should always have one on hand for job interviews, weddings, funerals, etc. No one needs to see your giant brightly colored orange handbag at a funeral. It just isn't cool!
A Designer Handbag
In my opinion, a designer handbag is a silly investment. However, I know a lot of people believe in buying a nice designer purse that will last many years. Some of you (and you know who you are!) would rather die than leave the house with a cheap purse.
I suppose the message you think you are sending to the world is, "Look at me! I have excellent taste!" The message you are actually sending to most people is, "I am materialistic!" Sorry, ladies... the truth hurts sometimes.
A Giant Handbag
I feel like as time rolls on, purses are getting bigger and bigger. Perhaps it is just one of the signs of aging. As you get older, you just have a need to lug more and more junk with you everywhere you go. I call a giant handbag the "everything and the kitchen sink" look.
A bigger handbag says, "Yeah, I am getting older and I need a lot of stuff. Deal with it!" It also says to the world, "Economizing is not my thing." Sure, you totally need your wallet, your cell phone, feminine products, mints, a snack, lip gloss, some 
Somewhere in a giant purse lurks items like receipts from 3 years ago, expired coupons, granola bars, random scraps of paper with phone numbers, a small box of Kleenex, and other embarrassing items. It needs to be cleaned out. Oh, and your entire stash of medical supplies could probably go, too. I say this with love, ladies. I, too, have a giant purse. I know these things.
The Brightly Colored or Patterned Bag
A bag with bold colors or patterns is completely in style, but it also clearly states to everyone, "I like attention!" It is fun to be colorful, so I am not judging anyone, especially considering that is my plaid purse shown above. I am just saying a person likes to stand out when they use a handbag with crazy patterns or colors.
The Tote Bag or Book Bag
Some of you gals have taken the handbag to a whole new level. A large purse was not enough for you. No, it has gone too far. You have started carrying a tote bag or 
A tote bag used as a purse tells the whole world, "I carry everything I own with me at all times and I have totally given up on having a fashionable handbag." This says to everyone you might be up for just about anything since you are prepared for everything. You already have that spare pair of shoes, an extra toothbrush, a chicken sandwich, and some hot sauce in your bag.
On the positive side, no one is going to try to mug you because you can beat them over the head with your 20 pound bag. On the negative side, you are starting to hunch to one side due to all the weight in that tote bag. My friend, it is time to cut down just a bit.
Copyright ©2013 Jeannieinabottle
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Comments
AUTHORSunshine625 - My purses tend to get bigger and bigger over the years. I assume I will be using a suitcase in about 10 years. ;-) Thanks for the comment.
DzyMsLizzy - I love purses, but I can understand why you feel that way after having your purse stolen. I think I like to tote around too much stuff. Thanks for the votes!
Hahahaha!! I hate purses. I do not like to be encumbered! I'm a jeans-and t-shirts kind of gal. When my kids were young, I traveled around "guy-style." If it did not fit in my pockets, it stayed home.
In later years, as I needed to carry a few more things, I broke down and started carrying a purse. However, it always had to be a shoulder-strap bag that I could sling on the diagonal across my person, to keep my hands free.
Alas, one day, during stressful shopping expedition to price replacement items after a fire in our garage, I had a brain fart, and left my purse in a cart, and it was stolen before I realized it and rushed back the length of the store. Dealing with the aftermath of that was not pleasant. I had to get a new driver license; replace my credit and debit cards, and have my entire house and both vehicles re-keyed. It was a nightmare, and expensive. Besides that, I lost $600 in cash that I had intended to use to go shopping for my grandkids' holiday gifts.
Since then, I have never carried a purse again. I have not managed to go back to 'pockets only,' but instead of a purse, I carry a belt pouch which fastens around my waist, still leaving my hands free, but with no need or temptation to set it down anywhere even for a moment.
I detest purses! I wonder what that says about me?! LOL
Voted up and funny.
Totes are the best type of purse for me! :)
- AUTHOR
ishwaryaa22 - Thanks so much! I think I like handbags that are a bit too much at times, but oh well. You have to enjoy the little things in life. Thanks for the vote up and for sharing.
Stephanie - I have also gone through many stages with purses too. Now I just stick to the big purse. You never know when you will need a snack... or lip gloss... or a phone...
The funny thing is that I've used each of these kinds of purses at one or another stage in my life. From the clutch when I was so confident, I didn't need anything but a few bucks and driver's license to the tote bag when I couldn't bear to leave the house 10 electronic gadgets, candy bars, hair brush and extra shoes....I've done 'em all! Thanks for a fun hub, Jeannie!
An engaging hub peppered with your famous sense of humor! I am fond of vibrant & brightly-colored handbags as well as fashionable clutches. Well-done!
Many Happy Returns of the Day!
Thanks for SHARING. Funny & Interesting. Voted up & shared on Facebook
- AUTHOR
tammyswallow - You make a really good point. I never bother matching my bag with my shoes either. Who has that kind of free time? Thanks for your comment!
truthfornow - I would love to carry a small clutch, but it won't work for me either. That giant purse is just necessary. Thanks for checking out my hub!
I must confess that I like a big bag. It is heavy but I know I have everything I need. A small clutch just would not do.
This is such a cute hub! I like a bag that can hold everything I need. I either have a really big bag for my child stuff or a small one. I have never been the type to match my shoes and my purse. It just isn't practical. This is such a fun read!
- AUTHOR
My purse weighs about that much, too. I seriously think I could knock someone out with it if I smacked someone with my purse. Thank you for your comment! I am happy you enjoyed the hub.
I am totally lost without my big purse that weighs about 15 pounds. I carry too much junk around, but I love it that way. Fun hub.
- AUTHOR
Injured lamb - I actually rather like carrying a handbag, but mine has grown larger over the years. Sometimes I see a cute, tiny handbag and can't imagine how I used that size all those years. And it is never too late to carry "stuff" wherever you go. :-)
aethelthryth - You are so right. I have used a giant handbag as a barrier to keep people away from me. It works pretty well, too. No one wants to move a giant handbag away from you to get closer. It just looks creepy!
Thank you both for your comments!
I never know when I might be stuck somewhere with time to read, so any "handbag" I carry must hold a reasonable size book. But there is another use to the larger handbags: for single women on a date, a large handbag set between you and the man is a good way to unsubtly but nonverbally suggest he keep his hands off you.
Thanks for sharing this interesting hub with us Jeannie, I enjoy it pretty much actually, well, designer handbag is no way my choice as you have mentioned it's a silly investment...I hate to carry any handbag actually until recent years I found it's a need for ladies to put our "stuff"...not too late huh?
- AUTHOR
Good to know I am not alone with the designer handbag thing. I like going to Claire's at the mall. I got a purse on clearance for $4 one time.... actually, I think it was the plaid purse! Thanks for your comment.
I'm definitely with you on designer handbags, too. It's always nice to hear someone else say that. Alecia's comment about the germs put a smile on my face. You are right about the increased size trend. It is so hard to find something nice that is reasonably sized these days.
- AUTHOR
Hahaha... you are so right. Purses do just sit and collect germs. I figured people would attack me (perhaps with their Coach bags) after talking trash about designer bags, but so far so good. I have also noticed a steady increase in the size of my purses. I miss my delicate, yet reasonable purses sometimes! Thanks for your comment!
I think designer bags are quite stupid as well. Not only do you spend way too much money, but you send a signal as being more into appearances then practicality. Purses sit any and everywhere, collect germs, and hold your stuff- they don't do much beyond that.
I agree with your assessment as well especially as someone who is slowly carrying larger bags than necessary- such is life. Great hub!
- AUTHOR
drbj - Thank you for checking out my hub and thank you for the confession. I was not sure how people would take the designer handbag section, but it had to be addressed. At least I look pretty ridiculous with my giant plaid purse. ;-)
Thanks for this funny handbag expose, Jeannie. Every hallowed word you have written is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I have to confess that too many of the folks I know would rather be found naked and/or dead than to be seen without their favorite designer (genuine or knock-off) handbag.
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