It’s coming up to party season and most of us will be on the hunt for the perfect party dress (for which I will post about in due course so keep your eyes peeled!) but what is the perfect accompliament to the party dress…the clutch bag.

Clutch bags can have a tendancy to be inpractcal, however if you shop around you will be sure to find one that will fit more than just your lipgloss. Some helpful tips to consider when purchasing a clutch bag…

• Is it secure? Clutch bags tend to be pretty and delicate, which sometimes results in them not being too reliable at holding your valuables. Try picking one that has a zip fastening or clasp mechanism to ensure items wont fall out.
• How big do you want it to be? Recent trends has seen an increase in oversized clutch bags such as the ‘envelope’ bags, but even these bigger clutches can still be a bit impractical if you’re going to be on your feet most of the time, make sure you pick a size that is best for you.
• How many outfits do you ned it to match? Ensure that it will fit it’s purpose, whether that’s to accompany one outfit or several, it needs to be just right!

Here is an example of the ‘envelope’ clutch bags. This one is from Marni available at net-a-porter.

 
Most of us usually buy the dress and then the bag to go with it, but don’t be afraid to go against the grain and splash out on the bag first. Your clutch bag can be your statement item that will make your outfit stand out, those of you who prefer to play it safe with the dress can afford to go all out on the clutch bag!

Here are some of my favourites to choose from…

Faux Fur is making a massive comeback for winter,  great for accessorising with and on trend for this season.

If you are not a fan of real fur , faux fur is the way forward and with the quality you can now get, there is no reason not to try a few key pieces for the season !

When I think of fur I think of Hollywood glamour and elegance, Fur is a great way of building up outfits and layering but keeping warm at the same time.

To start with this fabulous bag form Marc Jacobs £350 is gorgeous and goes with many outfits.

Leopard print seems to never go out of fashion and this skater dress from ASOS £85 is a great shape and balances out your figure by clinching in at the waist, looks great teamed with opaque tights!

I could not resist picking this cute vest from Temperley £295, which has a wonderful wide collar and belt detail, a great piece for layering over leather jackets and knitwear.

Now this is a shop I rarely go to, but I found this collar in River Island £13 and thought it would be perfect tied around last years winter coats and cardigans an investment piece for an instant update, and a great price too.

And finally, for those of you that have Hunter boots these are gorgeous Fur Trim socks £30 , will definitely keep you warm and stylish through winter.

Canvas is a great fabric of choice for a bag as it can be lightweight, come in a variety of colours and prints and, as it tends to be a whole lot cheaper than the leather alternatives, it can be a cheap way of updating your wardrobe and look. Here’s three picks we just adore:

We love the candy coloured stripes of this little clutch -  perfect for injecting a bit of fun and colour into any ensemble. ASOS, £8 (down from £25!) Read more of Crazy for Canvas!