I Tried the Tiny Handbag Trend

You know those tiny handbags you’ve seen on red carpets and runways that are still ridiculously expensive for the amount of handbag you’re getting? I tried one.

This was a weird change for me because I typically carry a fairly large handbag and tote bag for work. I haul around a lot of stuff…makeup bag, hairbrush, wallet, iPhone, cough drops, gum, sunglasses, etc. But sometimes, it gets to be too much. So I thought maybe having a tiny bag would eliminate my hoarding of stuff in my purses and force me to live like a minimalist when I go out.

Here are my honest thoughts about carrying a tiny bag:

They are so darn cute. Expect strangers to tell you just how cute your bag is and want to take a closer look. People definitely take notice of a mini purse.
You have to get verrrrry choosy about what to carry in it. I have a large iPhone, so it won’t fit in this bag. If I had the smaller version, it wouldn’t be a problem, but I don’t. So I still end up having to carry my phone, which is a bummer. I usually carry a lipstick, small face power, stick of gum and my license and credit card in this bag-all the true essentials.
When it comes to cost versus value, you’re obviously getting less material and craftsmanship for the price. You’re paying more for the novelty and trendiness of the bag, so just make peace with that going in.
Fancier nights out get easier, because you aren’t lugging around a clutch bag all night. You can take this little sweetheart on it’s delicate chain and it looks great with more formal looks.
People WILL assume you are carrying a child’s purse, which is funny. I reassure them that my son would take a handbag of any kind and just chew on it (or throw it), so this definitely isn’t his.

Final verdict? This will be my one and only tiny bag. It’s cute and fun and trendy, but at the end of the day, not super practical and too much money for something novel. It’s actually gotten a decent amount of use and I’ve even had a photographer ask to shoot photos of it, so it’s been fun to have something that you don’t see on every arm. But give me a bag I can throw everything but the kitchen sink into and I’m a happier gal.

P.S. This sleek black jumpsuit is brand new from Adelyn Rae, one of my go-to designers. They currently have it at Nordstrom. It’s super comfortable and looks great for a night out, with or without a tiny purse!

Photography: S. Jackson