CLUTCH THESE: $50 MAX
An evening bag may not actually 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. They 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.
Why buy another little black dress for this season’s swirl of holiday parties? Wear what you’ve got and spice it up with an evening bag from Banana Republic in a dazzling peacock blue or radiant yellow satin. At $49.50 for the bag, you can throw in a pair of new shoes or another accessory. The girlish, ruffled Mansfield clutch by Hollywould for Target looks particularly saucy in red and will add texture and color to a simple dress. And at $19.99, 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 this season 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 fit a BlackBerry.
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