The Quest for the Perfect Summer Handbag

I'm always looking for the perfect bag. And I'm picky. Super picky. My friends have called me obsessed and maybe a bit compulsive, any perhaps they're right. We all have our own little quirks, right?

The list of must-have qualities for my summer bag is quite specific. It has to be functional. Nothing fussy. Not too big, but definitely not too small. Room enough for everything (water bottle, keys, phone, wallet, tablet, snacks, and a book or magazine). It needs to be lightweight. And washable! I don't like carrying my leather bags in the summer, so I typically go for something more casual like canvas or nylon.

Here are some of that bags that have caught my eye this year...




I am tote-ally (see what I did there?) in love with the Retro Metro Bag from Thirty One Gifts, especially the new Sunny Strips print. The two exterior side pockets are so convenient! They're perfect for a bottle of water, your cell phone, sunglasses, keys, you name it. The interior is roomy enough to carry your essentials, some snacks, a beach towel, and a magazine or tablet. The Retro Metro bag is available in seven adorable prints, and retails for $55 from Thirty One Gifts.

If you're more of a crossbody/convertible kind of person, you might like the Retro Metro Fold-Over from Thirty One Gifts instead. Like the Retro Metro Bag, the Retro Metro Fold-Over has two exterior slip pockets and a spacious main compartment. In addition to the adjustable crossbody strap, and there are also two shorter carrying straps. Choose from four trendy prints (Navy Wave is my favorite!). Retails for $65.

If you haven't heard of KAVU, you should really take a look at this unique brand. Based out of the Pacific Northwest, KAVU specializes in men's and women's clothing and accessories has been around since 1993. Make sure you check out the Keepsake bag in Sweet Dots. Functional, cute, and just about perfect. It's got a front external zip pocket, a front external slip pocket, and a back external slip pocket for easy access to your keys or phone, and lots of room on the inside for everything else. This would be the ultimate travel bag! And for only $40, it's a steal! 

Another great travel bag is the aptly named Wander from Haiku. Also based in the Pacific Northwest (Seattle), Haiku "creates meaningful solutions for everyday needs, with bags that bridge style and function. We celebrate individual expression inspired by the beauty and balance of natural landscapes and inner self. We believe in sharing voices and daring to live boldly." Style and function are what the Wander bag is all about! The coolest feature of this bag is that it easily converts from a crossbody bag to a backpack or shoulder bag. It also has tons of storage and places to stash your goodies. There are three exterior zip pockets (including one specifically designed for your phone), multiple slip pockets under the flap, an interior mesh pocket for your water bottle (genius!!), and a padded sleeve for your tablet. At $92, this bag is on the pricier end of my list, but still well worth it in my opinion. Available in four different styles at Haiku.

And last on the list is the bag I ultimately purchased from Eddie Bauer. A few weeks ago I thrifted an older style Eddie Bauer Sling Pack, which I quickly flipped for a profit on eBay. And of course, it ended up being one of those purchases I wished I had kept for myself. So on one of those rare trips to the mall last week, I found myself at the Eddie Bauer store. I took advantage of their 30% off 4th of July sale and picked up a Sling Pack in Blossom (original price $30). I'm so happy I decided to get this bag, and I definitely prefer the new style better. There's a top zip main compartment with a padded sleeve for your tablet, a front zipper pocket with slip pockets, and another front zip pocket that's perfect for my cell phone. There's also a side mesh pocket for a water bottle, and another mesh pocket on the strap that I use for my sunglasses. The strap is adjustable and can convert to be carried on either the left or right side. 

And of course one must always have a matching wallet (yes, another of my obsessions/quirks), so I also purchased the Travex Connect Travel Wallet in Chrome ($15). I removed the strap for using it in my Sling Pack, but I can see that I might like to use it as a crossbody wallet when I don't want to take everything with me. It's also big enough to fit my cell phone (Galaxy 4).

What's your ultimate summer bag? Please comment below! I'd love to hear from you!

And as always, please stop by Dakota Prairie Girl's Closet!