A handbag is a reflection of your style, but how do you choose a bag that suits your lifestyle and your wardrobe? If you are navigating the demands of a busy workday, attending an elegant evening event, or simply enjoying a casual day out, the size of your handbag plays an important role in complementing your look and meeting your practical needs. At Jasper Conran London, we understand that choosing the right handbag is not merely a matter of style but also of functionality and occasion. We have a wide collection of chic, functional handbags thoughtfully designed to suit your lifestyle.
Our style guide delves into the nuanced distinctions between large and small designer handbags, offering insights to help you make informed decisions. We look at the versatility, practicality, and aesthetic appeal of all sizes, providing recommendations tailored to different occasions and lifestyle requirements.
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What are the Advantages of a Larger Handbag Over a Smaller One?
Different elements can influence your decision when choosing your next designer handbag
From work and everyday casual to occasions and events, different handbags suit different needs
A more compact handbag could serve you on evenings out and drinks with friends
Larger handbags make room for everyday essentials, perfect for work and leisure
Once you’ve chosen your next handbag, choosing a dress to match can complete the ensemble
Explore our collection here
How Do I Choose a Handbag Size?
The perfect designer handbag size depends on your personal preferences and lifestyle; no handbag is the same, highlighting various different qualities that make it the ideal handbag for you. When choosing the perfect size, consider the primary usage of the handbag, as well as your own personal wardrobe, longevity and whether you need a casual or formal handbag to complement your outfits.
A woman’s wardrobe often reflects a lot about her lifestyle and personality, and can influence the type of handbag chosen. Sophisticated evening dresses require a compelling evening bag to elevate the look, whereas a casual, day-to-day handbag provides a practical yet stylish addition. To complement a chic, modern wardrobe, our Francine top handle grab bag range is perfect for special occasions and evenings with friends. Our black variant in particular can match with any formal dress, providing you with a reliable handbag that can last throughout the seasons.
Summer nights and holidays abroad can demand both larger shapes and neater compact designs more compact evening bag to complete an ensemble. Our Bryn large stripe canvas tote is a year-long asset; it is the perfect style for summer beach days then summer nights suit our top handles or clutches.
A common distinction when choosing the size of your handbag comes from the nature of its usage; will it be paired with a casual or formal outfit? Casual attire, such as daily errands and trips to the office, can benefit from a bigger bag to make room for items such as your laptop, purse and notebook. Our tote bags such as our Bryn leather tote bag is perfect for work environments, and is available in various colours to suit your wardrobe. More formal dresses need a smaller bag to elevate a look; handbags with a sleek chain such as our Francine leather clutch bags can add an extra touch of elegance to any dress, especially our silk collection.
What Handbag Size is Best for Me?
For many contemporary women, their work wardrobe is their more frequently worn style, with different looks suited to various seasons. A good quality work handbag is essential for withstanding the test of time, and being your go-to accessory no matter the weather. Our Bryn tote bag is the perfect choice for your work wardrobe, combining modern elegance with functional style. Our navy option is incredibly versatile, pairing stylishly with lighter and darker outfit options.
From daily errands to leisurely strolls, a larger handbag can store your items more securely, and leave extra space for any emergencies. Our Bee leather tote bags come in a range of colours, from neutral camel to brighter green, making them to go-to choice for all seasons. Similarly, if you are venturing abroad on a city break, or you’ve opted for a relaxing beach holiday, our Frida canvas tote bag is the must-have accessory to elevate any look. This bag also comes with a detachable pouch.
If you are attending a wedding this summer, or you’re preparing for classic events such as Wimbledon, a smaller designer handbag may be more suited to your taste. Our Bee mini grab cross body bags are ideal for daytime events such as weddings, available in vibrant red and versatile cream and blue.
For a handbag that can easily transition from casual wear to more formal looks, our Darcey leather double flap cross body bag is the ideal choice, with golden hardware and a leather suede interior for an extra touch of elegance. This bag has detachable straps to suit your preferences and comfort, as well as popper top closure for added security.
What are the Benefits of Smaller Handbags?
More compact designer handbags are popular choices for formal and evening occasions; if you are out at a restaurant or a party, a smaller handbag is much more preferable when navigating through a large crowd, and is more inconspicuous when enjoying a sit-down meal. However, just because a handbag is smaller doesn’t mean it has to make any less of an impact.
Smaller handbags are much more portable and therefore perfect for special occasions, such as weddings and birthday parties. Our Francine top handle grab bag is ideal for storing the essentials, and can be the statement occasion bag your wardrobe needs. You can pair our green variant with our Celia silk full skirt shirt dress in green for an undeniable summer look. Smaller handbags are less bulky and more discreet than larger bags, ideal for events such as the races and Wimbledon. For a complete occasions look, consider pairing our Filomena silk full skirt shirt dress with our Francine leather chain clutch in cream; this look could even benefit you on your wedding day or vow renewal.
Compact designer handbags are perfect designed to elevate outfits, ensuring they are your go-to fashionable accessory. Whether you’re taking a trip to the theatre or visiting the pub with friends and family for a few drinks, an evening bag makes a statement, exuding confidence and elegance wherever you go. Our Darcey leather dome cross body bag highlights hands-free portability, presenting a unique shape and gold hardware for catching the eye and starting conversations. Pair this bag with our Darcey medium leather purse to create a complementary pair.
If you’re looking for the perfect evening bag, you can browse our full collection here. To see how different handbags can work for certain events, our previous guides can help you choose the best designer handbag for you.
What are the Advantages of a Larger Handbag Over a Smaller One?
Weekends away, school runs and trips to the office all deserve a handbag that can provide a practical handbag without compromising on style and sophistication. Our handbags at Jasper Conran London are designed with the modern, industrious woman in mind; they need to not only provide a versatile accessory for her wardrobe that has enough space for her essentials, but they need to blend with her existing wardrobe and elevate her look.
Larger handbags such as tote bags are ideal for day trips and weekends away alike, with plenty of internal space to not only store your essentials, but other items such as suncream, beach towels and more for a trip to the seaside or abroad. Our Bryn large stripe canvas tote bag is the perfect choice for trips and excursions, with a stripe weave. Pair this bag with our Fia sleeveless scoop neck denim dress for a complementary summer look.
Our larger designer bags at Jasper Conran London are easily accessible, with many of our designs made from leather for a classic, long-lasting look. If you’re a mum on the go, you’ll recognise the importance of a handbag for all occasions, from the school run to sports days and birthday parties. Our Darcey leather hobo bag is a handbag that has it all; style, sophistication and space. Our black Darcey variant can match perfectly with any outfit, with external and internal compartments for storage and security.
If you work in an office, a larger handbag can save you from carrying multiple items such as laptop bags with you. Bags such as our Bryn leather tote bag have plenty of internal space for items such as your laptop, charger, notebook and purse, with extra space spare for other commodities. Our green Bryn tote bag is ideal across the seasons, and can match with combinations such as our Blythe full skirt shirt dress in white.
You can browse our designer skirt and shirt combinations on our website.
What Dresses Can I Pair with My New Handbag?
Not only does your designer handbag need to provide a practical purpose and be a flexible accessory in your wardrobe, it also needs to match with your personal style. Our handbags at Jasper Conran London can match our popular dress collections perfectly, providing you with a range of choice all in one place. Whether you need an ensemble for day trips out or date nights in your local restaurant, we’ve got the combination for you.
For a day-to-day look that can accompany you to the office, shopping or spending the day with friends and family, our tote bags can pair with a range of our designer dresses perfectly suited to casual occasions. Our light blue Bryn leather tote bag is the ideal summer choice, and can elevate our Ferne A line striped swing dress. This particular dress comes with a detachable belt for comfort, and can even match with our Filippa wide brim hat in cream for a look that can accompany for walk in the park.
For an all-round look that can serve you both during the day and into the evening, our Bee leather mini tote bags are large enough to accompany you on daily errands, but not so big that they can’t be your go-to accessory for dinner parties and events. You can match our green bag with our Betty cotton wrap dress for a harmonious style that can be a friend for your wardrobe throughout the years. Our Darcey leather hobo bag is another good choice for a versatile bag, and both tan and black options can be paired with our signature Blythe full skirt shirt dress in white for a simple yet effective look.
Our evening bags are designed with both style and practicality in mind, with each handbag meeting both sophisticated and versatile criteria. Our Francine collection is ideal for evenings and events alike, presenting a hands-free style available in various styles and colours to suit your preferences. Our Francine leather chain clutch in silver would look perfect with our Daria Broderie A line dress in white, ideal for summer garden parties and outdoor weddings. Our Francine top handle grab bags are an alternative to our hands-free options; our green Francine top handle grab bag would look great with our Flora A-line silk dress in green.
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