How to Wear an Over-sized Clutch During the Day:

I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a ‘bow girl’ at this stage in the game, but I can appreciate a little feminine detail just as much as the next handbag-obsessed shopper. The fact that the bow is whipped together using a slick, waxed, caramel-coated leather makes it that much more appealing.

The ‘Sofia’ silhouette is Susan Farber’s signature, although, I’d be lying if I didn’t say that it bears an uncanny resemblance to eighties fashion (Carlos Falchi sans-exotic skins anyone?). Still, using the past as inspiration is definitely not a new thing, and if the end result is an over-sized clutch like the one below, then by all means, go crazy with historical fashion references.

This clutch also includes a shoulder strap, but for now, I’m not going for the ‘no-hands’ look. The trick is taking what’s normally considered to be an evening handbag, flipping the fashion switch, and wearing it for day.

1. Susan Farber ‘Mezzo Sofia’ Clutch 2. Three Dots Crew Neck Long Sleeve Tee 3. Paige Denim ‘Venice’ Cropped Jeans 4. Pierre Darre Platform Sandals 5. Sobral Flash Marvel Ring 6. Asos Chunky Wooden Bangle 7. AX Armani Exchange Over-sized Round Sunglasses

I’m loving the idea of this slick pleated over-sized clutch fitting perfectly under the arm and right up against a loose, long sleeve beige top that moves with you while you walk. It’s this volume that will balance out the proportion of the skinny Paige denim, medium wash jean it’s paired back to.
(Note: Leave the distressed and slashed skinnies in the closet for this ensemble, and maybe a few others while you’re at it. Who said torn apart, acid washed denim needed to be one of those trends that would come back to haunt us anyway?)

The platform sandals with patent straps play well with the leather on the bag. It’s not a rule that the bag and shoes match, well at least, not to me, but that doesn’t mean you can’t keep the color scheme consistent now and then.
Let’s not forget the towering heel that adds height and elongates the leg beyond the hem of the skinny jean that cuts off mid-calf. Strappy flats in a neutral brown tone would also be perfect here if you’re freaked out about a platform and the potential to break an ankle.

Usually I stick with one focal point when it comes to jewelry, but I liked the idea of the wooden bagle falling low on the wrist of the hand holding the clutch, while the Sobral resin ring (new label I’m obsessed with at the moment) adds another layer to the overall chunky, organic, textural feel.
The oversized sunglasses stay in line with the rest of the browns, creams, and neutrals going on in this look. Most importantly, these ‘sunnies’ keep the plus-sized accessory trend that began with the clutch, going strong.

So, now you’ve seen one approach on how to wear an oversized clutch, but that’s just the beginning. I’m a handbag junkie after two years spent in the European designer bag office, so, this is just the tip of the iceberg. See more of my highly edited handbag picks, plus the looks they’ve made it into that show you how to wear it all.