An evening bag may not hold much more than a valet ticket, some Listerine strips and a Razr phone, but without one, getting dressed up just wouldn’t be the same.
Evening bags can add extra sparkle or an unexpected dash of color to a simple dress, or breathe new life into an otherwise tired old frock.
But with the prices of accessories soaring, evening clutches can cost more than you paid for the dress, forcing you to use the same bag every time you go to a formal affair.
Thankfully, there are options beyond the diamond-encrusted boxes and bejeweled minaudieres that go for more than a monthly car payment. Less expensive styles are popping up in brilliant jewel-toned satins.
For evenings out, you don’t have to buy a new little black dress. Wear what you have and spice it up with an evening bag.
In recent months, Banana Republic has offered a dazzling peacock blue or radiant yellow satin. At about $50 for the bag, you could throw in a pair of new shoes or another accessory.
The girlish, ruffled Mansfield clutch that Hollywould designed for Target looks particularly saucy in red and will add texture and color to a simple dress. And at about $20, you can afford to like ruffles for just one night and not feel bad.
So, take a break from the frenzy of searching for a new dress and just change out the bag for something bright and festive.
The best part about these bags, other than the price? All of them comfortably hold a BlackBerry.