On My Style Radar: White Bags

Saint Laurent Downtown Small Cabas white bag

So I have to admit that I’ve been crushing on white bags lately. They may not be the most practical choice, but wow, do they brighten up an outfit! The Saint Laurent bag, above, is simply gorgeous with the black piping and hardware.

hobo bag in white

This one is also quite good-looking, and more budget-friendly.

pebbled leather tote in Cream

Here’s the same Cuyana tote that I have, but in a cream color. And you can have this one monogrammed with your own initials…

As many of you have mentioned that toiletries and cosmetics are your biggest challenge when packing, I’m always on the lookout for travel-friendly cosmetics options. My Giorgio Armani CC Cream is packaged in a tube that’s small enough to easily fit into my TSA-approved liquids bag, but for those who prefer more coverage, here are options…

cushion compact foundation

I tried this Dior Capture Totale Dreamskin cushion foundation with SPF 50 last week and really liked it. It goes on sheer, though the Sales Associate told me you can build the coverage. For travelers: no it does not count as liquid, and you can carry in your purse and touch up as you need. The price includes one refill, and after that you can purchase refills separately. It claims to have skin restorative properties, but what I liked best was the sunscreen formula: lots of those mineral/barrier ingredients (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) that my dermatologist recommends.

 

foundation compact with SPF 50

 

For those who prefer more full coverage from the get-go, you might want to give this one a try. It’s a cream compact foundation that can be applied either with a sponge or buffed in with a brush. The SPF 50 is provided by zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. I tried this yesterday; it goes on smoothly and does not look cakey. Again, this will not count against your TSA liquids allotment and can be carried in your bag for touch-ups.

brow pencil

This is still my favorite brow pencil both for travel and at-home use. Travel advantages: no sharpener needed, it stays put all day, and comes with its own spoolie. “Blondi” is my color.

And one housekeeping note: I’m shifting my posting schedule to Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. That gives me a day in the middle of the week to catch up. 😉

White Bags (And Off-White, And Blush) To Give Your Winter Wardrobe A Lift…

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12 Comments

  1. Lovely bags! I never thought of carrying a white one for winter but now I may have to change that. With three snow storms headed our way a white bag would blend right in. Keep the Spring posts coming!

  2. I had a lovely white leather bag, but it became stained with the blue die of my jeans. If you pick one, consider not allowing it to rest on your denim or any other colors that may transfer.

  3. I love these white bags, just got one myself, but sadly am afraid to use it very much – concerned about permanent staining or marking until I find a preventive solution. Susan, do you (or any of your readers) have a secret to minimize these types of issues with white bags? Is there something you use on the leather? I took my new one on a trip recently and put it inside it’s dust cover before placing it under the airline seat in front of me…. Would love to know if anyone has a tip.

    1. Hi Pam, two things I’d recommend: first is to treat the bag with a good waterproofing spray. I’ve used and liked Apple Garde, but if you’re unsure, check with your local shoe repair to see what they’d recommend for the type of leather.

      Here’s another thing, and I’d suggest you try on a small area first: to remove stains on light colored bags, I’ve found that a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser can work. Again, it depends on how the bag was dyed and the leather, so try a small area first to be sure it won’t remove the dye. Also, check with your shoe repair shop to see if they can remove stains.

  4. I would opt for a budget option with a white bag–if it meets with disaster you won’t feel as devastated.
    White shoe polish can help hide scuffs, but it risks rubbing off on dark clothes (your shoes don’t rub your clothes the same way your bag does).

  5. Fabulous picks! I’m loving these bags too. One would think we were shopping together. I tried in that It Cosmetics foundation yesterday and decided the same thing about the finish so I’m working on how to blend it better.

  6. I a definitely in the market for a blush bag. Last summer I was torn between blush and cream and chose the cream. But I still had the blush bag in my sights. So I decided to go for it this spring. I will be trying to treat it as a neutral and with the colors I wear, it should work well. Loved a Tory Burch from Nordstrom, but also found a Michael Kors at a more affordable price point. We shall see.

  7. After seeing all these choices (thanks!) I’m now thinking a substantial leather white or cream bag would go better with my winter wardrobe than my summer one. In summer I’m not in the mood for heavy leather bags — but smaller ones or straw’er ones or fabric ones or even plastic ones. Again, thanks for the perspective.

    P.S. Your newest publication calendar makes a lot of sense. Do what works best for you. 🙂

  8. Susan, are you thinking that a bright white bag is suitable for February? I “scored” a white LK Bennett bag at 65% off at Christmas but haven’t taken it out of its dust cover yet. I’ve been using a cream colored Coach bag since I saw your post about the light bags the Parisien ladies were wearing in December, but didn’t think I could get away with pure white until late spring – and I live in the “South”. Thoughts?

    1. I think the old rules about colors and seasons have pretty much been tossed aside. I’d say it’s absolutely suitable, but give it a try with some of your current outfits and see how you feel.

  9. I have always been a fan of cream and white bags. I have a lovely cream one by Furla and a nice white one by an unknown band. The problem is that the handles get so dirty from your sweaty hands. So while the bag itself is still lovely you really need to replace it because of the dirty handles. You have beautiful bags and many by high end brands. I think I will not buy a white or cream one again from a high end brand. Unless they have a brown or black handle. Hmmmm… Perhaps I can change the handles on mine??
    Greetje