Accessories

How To Choose the Right Handbag for Your Body Type

When it comes to choosing the perfect handbag, it’s not just about style. It’s about finding a bag that complements your body type and adds that extra polish to your style. Just like the right outfit can highlight your best features, the right handbag can work wonders to balance your proportions and elevate your overall appearance.
Whether petite, tall, curvy, or somewhere in between, let’s explore how to choose the right handbag for your body type so you can step out in style, no matter the occasion!

black coach top handle bag

Tabby Shoulder Bag

How to Choose the Right Handbag for Your Body Type

 

Choose the right size to match your Frame.

Scale is important to look balanced. Your bag should work with your size, not against it.   If you are petite, a large bag will dwarf you. If you are Statuesque- Tall, tall, full figure, or both, a tiny bag will look like a doll’s bag. Medium frame? A medium size bag is about right.

If this sounds restrictive, it’s not. You can easily go up or down in size and still look balanced.

Choose the right bag Shape to complement your Curves

A little trick to highlighting your curves is picking a bag shape that’s more opposite to your body type. If you’re rounded and curvy, pick a bag with structured, clean lines to add a touch of refinement and contrast. If you have more of a straight up-and-down rectangular build, slouchy bags will make your body appear rounder and soften your look.

Pay attention to where the bag hits your body.

Where your bag falls on your body can completely alter your proportions. If you carry a handbag that hits on your hip or your waist, you’ll draw attention to those areas—so choose wisely!

How To Choose the Right Handbag for Your Body Type

Furla Hobo Bag

Don’t forget to consider your wardrobe and lifestyle

Think about the outfits you tend to wear and the vibe you are after.  Choosing a bag style that compliments your overall wardrobe is key.

If your wardrobe is full of tailored, sleek pieces, a more formal, structured bag can keep everything cohesive. If your style is more relaxed and laid-back, an oversized tote or a hobo bag can keep everything just as chic and practical! 

bucket bag | How To Choose the Right Handbag for Your Body Type

 Baby Always Bucket Bag  

Think about how the straps will affect your look.

This may surprise you, but the length of your bag’s straps can affect your overall look. A bag with a long strap creates more of a casual vibe, whereas a bag with a short strap tends to be more polished and elevated. 

I love how a top-handle bag looks for a day out if I want to be a bit more elegant and ladylike, but I’ll switch to a cross-body bag for a laid-back vibe when I’m traveling or shopping.

Different Body Types

 

Handbags For Different Body Types

Hourglass Shaped Figures

If you’re a gal with an hourglass figure, you have a well-balanced body shape and can pretty much wear any bag.

Your goal is to draw attention to your fabulous waist. To do this,  carry an over-the-shoulder bag that tucks under your arm or lands at your waist. I’m an hourglass, and I have been eyeing this gorgeous burgundy bag lately.

Hourglass types often have rounded tummies, so another option is an over-the-arm purse to camouflage your pooch.

A Crossbody bag also works for an hourglass, so long as it is not too large. Be sure to adjust the strap so it hits a little closer to your waist than your hips.

This leopard crossbody bag is a great way to add a trendy animal pattern without having it compete with your overall look.

To complement your curves, a structured bag with sharper, more defined lines creates contrast and gives the most eye-catching look.

brown suede woven top handle

Woven Suede Handbag

 

 

Pear-Shaped Figures

For all my pear-shaped ladies, you carry most of your weight on your bottom half, so our goal here is to draw attention away from your wide hips and put the focus up high.

A small to medium shoulder bag with a short strap that sits on your shoulder and tucks under your arm is flattering. It gives volume to the upper part of the body and creates the illusion that your shoulders and hips are more balanced. This is a nice snakeskin one.

The worst choice is a bag with a long strap like a crossbody that bumps against your hip or is rounded like a bucket because it adds volume below. 

You have more freedom regarding bag structure. A soft bag or a stiffer bag is fine. This is one of my new favorite bags, which is a little of both. 

How To Choose the Right Handbag for Your Body Type

Sam Edelman Lorraine Bag

 

 

Inverted Triangle Figure

When your shoulders are much broader than your waist and hips, the goal is to add volume to the lower half of your body.  Bags with long shoulder straps and cross-body bags that sit low on the hip are a great choice. This green snake bag is a beauty.

Avoid bags that sit high by your bust and shoulder, as these will make your wide swimmer’s top half look broader.

Another option is a top-handle bag with short straps that you carry low by your hips. Or, try a rounded bucket bag. This quilted leather drawstring bucket bag, which is long and rounded, fills you out at the hips and balances your shape.

Inverted Triangle shapes can pull off carrying both hard/structured and soft/unstructured bags. 

Vince Camuto Bucket Bag

Vince Camuto Bucket Bag

 

 

 

Apple-Shaped Figures

If you have an apple-shaped figure, your hips and shoulders are about the same, and your waist is the widest part of your body.  The goal is to create balance by drawing attention away from your round or oval mid-section. 

You can do this by carrying a large structured tote over your shoulder so it covers your belly. Make sure your bag has long straps so it doesn’t squish up under your arm, and add bulk where you don’t want it.

Other large over-the-shoulder bags with long straps, such as satchels and other structured bags, work, too, to offset the roundness.

If you want a bag with shorter straps, carry it below to highlight your great legs. I like this Teddy Blake handbag for plus-size gals because it is nice and large, 14″ wide.

The worst bag for an Apple is a crossbody, which will emphasize your stomach. Tiny bags will look lost and make you look larger, too.

How To Choose the Right Handbag for Your Body Type

Large Green Structured Tote

 

 

 

Rectangular or Athletic Figure

Since you are straight up and down with pretty much no waist,  the goal for the rectangular gal is to add some curves to make your figure appear more balanced.

A crossbody is a great choice because it cuts your figure in two, giving the illusion of a waist. 

You can also wear any size bag under your arm, higher or lower, so long as it is away from your boxy waist. 

With this body type, the bag’s structure is more important than the length. A big slouchy tote or soft, curvy bag, like a hobo bag, will make your body look softer, rounder, and more feminine.

Avoid anything that is square and boxy and mimics your shape.

I love this beautiful soft bag from Donna Karan. It is soft, squishy, and fabulous for adding curves. 

How To Choose the Right Handbag for Your Body Type

 Essential curve shoulder bag 

 

 

Frame -Petite Figures

If you are petite (5’4″ and under), you need a bag that does not overwhelm your frame and swallow you! An oversized tote or big, super slouchy bag can look almost comical. Instead, try a smaller, more structured bag.

A bag with short straps works best. Longer versions will drag you down and make you look shorter.

Something that aligns more with your figure would be this Lottie flap crossbody bag. It’s modern and chic, but it isn’t too large. If you want something that adds eye-catching texture, but is small, this Quilted Leather convertible bag a beauty.

 You could also get this mini shopper tote made of soft-grain pebbled leather—I’m obsessed with it! One last choice that works perfectly for this body type is this precious little micro chain bracelet bag! It’s just adorable and perfectly petite!

round cream chain bag

Micro chain bracelet bag!

 

 

Frame – Statuesque – Tall – Slim or Full Figured 

If you are Statuesque (5’9″ or above), you can wear practically any bag style! You have the height to carry big, slouchy hobo bags or oversized totes without overwhelming your body shape. 

The only thing I recommend avoiding is a super-bulky bag so it doesn’t add unnecessary width.

If you want a bag that adds some volume and complements your tall silhouette, you could choose something fun like an interesting Hustle Shoulder Bag or this Sanne suede top handle.

black suede bucket bag

 Sanne suede top handle 

 

Note: Style Personality also comes into play when choosing bag size.  No matter how petite or Statuesque you are, Dramatic dressers, for example, may prefer larger bags, while Romantic types prefer smaller, daintier ones. If this is more important to you than body type- go for it!

Option for All Body Types – The Clutch

You can never go wrong with a classic clutch, no matter what kind of figure you have! It’s just the size of the clutch that matters. 

For petite figures, a smaller, more compact clutch like the Kayu Jen clutch adds sophistication without overpowering your look.

Tall and slim women can pull off a larger, oversized option, such as the Sumpter leather clutch in Croc.

For curvier, hourglass shapes, medium-sized, embellished clutches perfectly complement your figure. This woven leather clutch is great for defining and complimenting your curves.

If you have an apple-shaped figure, stick with clutches that aren’t too small or wide. This sable clutch is a fantastic choice if you want something in the middle!

For women with pear-shaped figures, a brightly colored or embellished clutch will work phenomenally to draw attention upward. This clutch from Bloomingdales is a fabulous choice! 

 

green evening clutch

Green print clutch

Follow my content for more tips and tricks!

 

Choosing the perfect handbag that works with your body type is like finding the missing piece to a puzzle. It should enhance your figure, elevate your outfit, and fit seamlessly into your wardrobe. Always ask yourself: is this bag up-leveling my look, or is it dragging it down? If you want more handbag content, check out my post on how to wear a backpack purse

Be sure to keep up with my LTK storefront this is where you can find all my favorite pieces in one place. And as always, don’t forget to show off your new handbag in The Fabulous After 40 Dressing Room, which you can join here! Go talk to other Age-amazing 40+ women about which bag they chose from my list!

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One thought on “How To Choose the Right Handbag for Your Body Type

  1. Loved reading a post that addresses the different body types. I never considered what purse to wear with my rectangular shape. It all made sense.

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