Take Along Straw, Fabric Bags to Fit Summer’s Breezy Style

Dear Fashion Police: I have particular difficulty in selecting purses, but I recognize how much the right purse adds to an outfit. In particular, I’m not sure what kind of purse to use on weekends when I am in my athletic leisure clothes and am going to the mall or the grocery store, and perhaps to the to gym. I am petite so I don’t want to carry anything huge, but purses nowadays need to be large enough for your cell phone and a PDA. I am middle-aged and wondering what you would suggest for a basic purse wardrobe.

--IT’S IN THE BAG

Dear It’s: Lucky for you it’s summer, when casual handbags abound. Since your weekend wardrobe is extremely casual, we suggest your accessories be the same. Since you’re petite, your bag shouldn’t overwhelm you. Yes, we all have oodles of things to carry, but pare down as much as you can (you’ll reduce strain to your back and shoulders, too). Choose a smaller, more lightweight wallet, and carry only what you need.

We like straw bags because they lend an informal, summery look and come in a range of styles, sizes and prices, from big and bold, with 3-D fruit and flower motifs, to smaller and more conservative. Check out Coach’s small straw market tote with leather accents ($188; www.coach.com, or call [800] 223-8647.)

Gcbag.com has a square straw handbag with skinny leather handles ($23.99; www.gcbag.com, or call [800] 382-1731), and Coldwater Creek has a finely woven, cloth-lined bag in bright summer hues ($39; www.coldwatercreek.com, or call [800] 510-2808.)

Cloth is another option; Old Navy has a cute tote in cotton canvas ($12.50; www.oldnavy.com, or call [800] OLD NAVY.) Coldwater Creek offers a lined linen tote ($49), and Coach’s Hampton Twill Market Totes come in various sizes, colors and patterns. Coach also has a Girlie Denim Clip Hobo bag that’s perfect for weekends ($198).

Straw and fabric bags demand a little more care than leather, which tends to be more rugged. Don’t toss these handbags around with abandon--straw may unravel if subjected to a lot of stress. Treat fabric stains per the manufacturer’s instructions.

If you do opt for leather, choose a light shade and casual style. Coach has a small Duffle Sac ($228), and Spiegel offers a leather bag with Lucite handles ($79; www.spiegel.com, or call [800] 527-1577.)

How many bags you have depends on you. If you like to vary your looks, get a couple--maybe one fabric, one straw, and one in a neutral and one in a color or pattern. If you’re hard on your bags, you may need more than one to see you through the season.

Dear Fashion Police: Here is the dumbest question you have ever gotten: I love scarves, especially silk scarves. But I don’t know what to do about the tags on them. If I don’t leave them on, I won’t know for sure which scarves are washable and which are not. Sometimes I don’t remember the designers, which is good to know if I want to buy another of their scarves. Is it an absolute fashion crime to leave the tags on? They often show and sometimes are hard to tie if, for instance, the tag is in the middle of one side on a square scarf.

--IN KNOTS

Dear In: Don’t worry, this isn’t anywhere near the dumbest question we’ve ever gotten. But it is similar to a question from a reader in a previous column about how to take the tags off of scarves (Remove them with a stitch ripper; if the hem becomes undone, sew a few hem stitches with matching thread. Take it to a pro or a friend who knows how to sew if you don’t.)

But it’s no sin to leave the tag on, and many women do, primarily for the reasons you list--and to let everyone know they’re wearing a designer scarf. Of course, some designers have come up with the brilliant notion of incorporating their names as part of the pattern.

If you’re worried about the tag being too conspicuous you can hide it in a fold or a knot. For ideas on scarf tying, try these two Web sites: www.fashionmall.com/guide/scarves/doc/ and www.members. aol.com/modefrance/tying/scarf_ty ing.html.

But having that little tag show shouldn’t ruin your day. And if it does, it’s time to re-prioritize.

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Write to Fashion Police, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles CA 90012, fax to (213) 237-4888, or send e-mail to jeannine.stein@latimes.com.