Editor's Note: Before I begin this post, I just want to say, "Congratulations!" to Wilma, the winner of Flattering50's Giveaway of a pair of Shaune Bazner clip-on earrings. Enjoy!
I'm not a gal with a bottomless wardrobe or an unlimited clothes allowance, so to keep my "New Day/New Outfit" Project rolling along, I often have to rely on an accessory or two to create my "new outfit." Recently, I picked up a straw bag (above) at an estate sale. I almost felt guilty buying it. "How could anyone let such a fab bag go?"
Last Saturday, my husband snapped this photo of me by the railroad station in Mattituck on Long Island's North Fork. I thought my straw bag would look great with a weathered farm building in the background. (I love weathered farm buildings!) We were on our way to lunch at the Love Lane Kitchen. (By the by, if you're ever on Long Island, the North Fork is a picturesque destination with charming towns and hamlets, vineyards and farms. Unlike the South Fork, where you'll find those tony Hamptons, the North Fork is laid back and unpretentious. But I digress.)
NOT YOUR "NOSE TO THE GRIND" HANDBAG
I love my new straw bag's shape--round and slender. It's the antithesis of the working gal's smart leather handbag, making it the perfect bag for a lovely, blue sky weekend.
My "New Day/New Outfit" also includes a black and off-white paisley long skirt (old Ann Taylor) and an ultra-thin 3/4 T (new GAP) over a black camisole. (Note to self: Slits in long skirts make it easy to move around, but tend to flap a lot when it's breezy. A pulled-back hairdo is equally challenged in the wind. Sigh.) I made my husband take a side view, so the big old band-aide on the side of my face wouldn't show. (I'll share a little about that episode in my next post.)
In the not-so-distant past, I never would have worn a white T with an off-white and black skirt. I was raised in an era when the fashion ideal was head-to-toe coordination. Everything--top, bottom, purse, shoes, even jewelry--had to match. But these days, I'm all about a little unbalance in my attire. Nothing radical, mind you, just a little mismatching of colors, textures, and/or patterns. In my mind, it adds a bit of interest and edge. It's both energizing and youthful.
Are you drawn to straw handbags?
STRAW BAG BUYS
Looking for a straw bag to complete your "relaxing summer weekend" look? There's a straw bag for just about every woman's taste and purpose. For instance, for the woman over 50 planning a picnic at the Botanical Gardens, there's the classic Nine West Have A Picnic Mini Lady Handbag
Or for lunch with the girlfriends, there are sweet straw clutches, like this Tory Burch Chunky Straw Clutch
Not surprisingly, there are tons of straw stripes with a range of price tags. Some will take you back the free-spirit peasant style of the 1960s, while others are quite modern in their styling. Here are a few examples...
Old Navy Womens Multi Stripe Straw Totes
Mar Y Sol Adelaide Tote
Rebecca Minkoff Woven Straw Bonnie Satchel
Straw bags are like jeans and thong sandals: it's hard to imagine them ever go out of style. So... investing in a straw bag is likely to pay off with many years of enjoyment. This Large Embroidered Straw Tote
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!
Full Disclosure: Product photos are shown to give Flattering50 readers visual examples of current fashion trends. These photos are provided by clothing companies that have an affiliation with Flattering50. If you click and shop at any of the clothing sites, you are supporting this blog--so...Big Thanks!!
