Is your handbag falling apart? Does it no longer match your style? For whatever reason you know need a new one, still, you don’t just want any handbag, you want one that matches your style and is functional for all your needs. Depending on who you ask, you ́ll get various answers, but there are 5 handbags every wheelchair girl needs.
The 5 Handbag Every Wheelchair Girl Needs
There a multitude of types of handbags, some could say ten, others dozens. From Totes and Satchels to Bucket Bags and Backpack Purses to Clutches and Minaudieres to Wristlets and Fanny Packs, (what can I say? The ’90s are back), the handbag types seem endless and confusing. Instead of shoes, I gravitate towards handbags to accessorize my outfits and finding a handbag that matches your style and functionality needs can be somewhat annoying.
The Tote
I like to call these bags everything, but the kitchen sink bags, they hold everything you could need, from laptops (of a certain size, be sure to check the measurements of your laptop before buying a bag) to your daily essentials like hand sanitizers, mirrors, makeup for touch-ups, and more.
The other day I went to JCPenny to pick up a new satchel bag, one that fit with my updated style and purposes, I spent I kid you not at least 25 mins looking at styles from Liz Claborne to Rosetti and several others trying to decide which one was best, only to pick one, get on the line, then realize that it didn’t have all the features I wanted like zippers and more pockets. I left the line and started the process over again only to end up with a tote bag, not my intended purchase, but it worked functionality wise. My tote features: zippers, mini pockets, a color, and a design that can be used from business to personal, yet not too plain must show my personality a little.
The Satchel Handbag
The satchel handbag is my favorite type of bag, it’s big enough to fit everything, except maybe a laptop and small enough to fit at my side in my wheelchair without much effort or on my lap as I go through my day without taking too much away from my outfit. I once put a selfie stick in there just to see if it would fit and it did.
The Crossbody Handbag
The crossbody also known as the sling bag, the bag I use most though if I’m being honest, it has more to do with the functionality of the bag when it comes to the crossbody strap and ease of use when sitting in my wheelchair than it has my personal style. These days most bags have the crossbody strap, but it’s different when you’re in the wheelchair especially considering the size of the bag may not fit comfortably at your side: the tote, satchel, and clutch all have crossbody straps. The crossbody handbag is great to have when you’re just running errands all day, or busy and on the move. You can easily have this bag securely around your body and have body hands free to do other things like pushing your wheelchair or carry other items.
Clutch and/or Minaudiere
Mina-what? I know, it’s a new term for me too. Let’s talk about the classic clutch, then I’ll explain what a minaudiere is in more detail other than to say it’s similar to a clutch.
- The Classic Clutch: This type of bag is classy, elegant and is the perfect accessory when you can´t bring along your go-to-bag to certain events like a wedding for example. Truthfully after getting my dress for a special event, picking a clutch is the next best thing. As much as I love shopping for them, I have a love-hate relationship with them because it’s always a struggle to figure out what I need and what I can leave out. It always takes me longer to pack a clutch, despite it being smaller than my other bags, taking the items out when I need them during the event is a whole other story.
- The Minaudiere: The mysterious minaudiere. A minaudiere is a type of clutch purse with a few important differences from the classic clutch we all know and love, that is most of the time. A minaudiere clutch purse is more structured, therefore it has less give when trying to pack all your necessary items. I thought wass a new trend, but apparently not. I discovered I´ve even owned a few over the years.
Nevertheless, a minaudiere may not be as easy to carry around as a clutch, though just like the classic clutch, there are a few with chains so you can hang on it more easily than a bag you´d have to carry in your hand. The minaudiere handbag is great when you have a low-key evening when you don´t have to carry much, so little in fact that you wonder if bringing a handbag is really necessary, but you bring one anyway.
The Bucket Bag
After the satchel handbags, my next favorite bag is the bucket bag. Bucket bags feature a drawstring closure and a classic bucket shape. These bags often have a shoulder strap for carrying it hands-free as well as a small handle that helps give the bag its name. This type of bag is great, but keep in mind it doesn’t have a zipper to close, just the drawstring. For this reason, I like to ensure that my bag is always within arms reach when I use bucket bags.
Other Honorable Mentions
Your personal style is going to influence the types of handbags you buy and their features from colors, accents, features, etc. There are handbags every girl should have in her wardrobe, as a wheelchair user not every type of bag that matches my style is works out when it comes to actually using and carrying around the bag while in my wheelchair. However, there are different types of wheelchairs and capabilities so I´ḿ adding a few honorable mentions to the list, bag types that would have made the list for me if it weren´t for the structure of the bag or some other feature making it hard for me to use, but may not be a factor for you.
Wristlet
The wristlet is small and looks similar to a clutch designed for you to carry the utmost important items such as items you would carry automatically like your wallet and your cell phone. This item features a small strap so that you can wear the item on your wrist, hence the name. Personally, I wouldn’t really classify this as a handbag, but a type of wallet. This doesn’t seem practical whether or not you’re pushing yourself. When I buy wristlets, it’s usually to put them in the handbag I’m using for the day.
Hobo Bag
A Hobo bag has a slouch kind of look to it. This type of handbag, like the satchel and tote handbags, is one you can carry everything in. Hobo bags, unlike many handbags, out there don’t have a crossbody strap, but they usually feature a few accents. I bought a hobo bag once and while I love the style of the bag, I wished it had more of a sturdy shape and didn’t collapse on itself so easily.
Mini Backpack / The Backpack Purse
The backpack purse is a smaller backpack for casual looks. This my favorite purse, one that I’ve hardly used. Similarly to how I use the crossbody bag because the functionality is great for while I’m in my wheelchair even though it’s not really my style, the backpack purse is the opposite. However, it doesn’t really work or look cute unless you hang it on the back of your wheelchair, but that’s not something I want to do in every circumstance so I avoid using it too much.
Playing around with your style and accessories can be fun, but it can also be tough to find a balance between your style and the things you want to wear with what works for you as a wheelchair user. These types of bags come in all different sizes and designs including color and accents, with a little time you´ll find the handbags that fit your personal style.
Before you start shopping either online or in-store or just in case you scrolled to the end of this post letś recap:
The 5 Handbags Every Girl Needs Are:
- The Tote
- The Satchel
- The Crossbody
- The Clutch
- The Bucket Bag
This post was written with wheelchair girls like me in mind. Personally, I love handbags because it’s not always possible to wear the heels and other shoes that I like, so handbags are one of my favorite parts of accessorizing an outfit. Handbags are a fun way to add depth to your outfit and show another element of your personal style, that is until you accidentally leave something out when switching items from bag to bag.
Sound familiar? Want to stop forgetting items when transferring items from handbag to handbag? Signup below to get access to my New Handbag Survival Checklist and stop forgetting items when you pack your handbag. Rock your new outfit and handbag without worrying you left something behind. I hope this post will inspire so many outfit combinations with your favorite handbags.
~ Kimberly
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