PurseBloggers, listen closely. I have an incredibly important announcement that you will either find painfully obvious or oddly helpful: It’s time you add an LBB (aka a little black bag) to your collection.
As the name suggests, the LBB is quite similar to the LBD (little black dress). It’s reliable, chic, flattering, and best of all, it never quite goes out of style. (Or at least that’s the hope. We all need to refresh our LBDs and LBBs every now and then, though. I digress.).
I’ve been so focused on building a handbag collection that’s practical and timeless, I haven’t put much effort into purchasing a matches-with-everything purse that’s both black with minimal design (to avoid outfit clashing) as well as small enough for an evening out. While I do have many (maybe too many…) black handbags, they’re all large enough to fit a day’s worth of stuff, which totally defeats the purpose of the ‘L’ in LBB.
Of course, what comes to mind initially is a mini or small Chanel Flap Bag. But honestly, if I ever do buy a Chanel (?), it will probably be in a size that I can get more use out of. Keep in mind when I say ‘LBB,’ I don’t necessarily mean a purse reserved for evenings only. I’m more concerned with finding a versatile and trusted black handbag, preferably small, that can seamlessly transition from day to night, supermarket to fancy dinner, and so on and so forth.
So yes, I am now on the hunt for an LBB. Won’t you join me? (Or do you already have one/which one do you have? Hey, we’re all learning here!)
Fendi Kan I Small Pearly-Studded Leather Shoulder Bag ($2,300)
JW Anderson Small Bike Shoulder Bag ($1,380)
Gucci Dionysus Leather Mini Chain Bag ($1,450)
Valentino Garavani Rockstud Medium Shoulder Bag ($1,345)
Saint Laurent Betty Small Leather Cross-Body Bag ($1,265)
Mansur Gavriel Top Handle Mini Leather Bag ($495)
Balenciaga Classic City Nano ($1,450)
Sophie Hulme Nano Swing Leather Bucket Bag ($402)
Ratio Et Motus Lady leather Tote ($1,150)
Miu Miu Lady Embellished Smooth and Textured-Leather Shoulder Bag ($1,360)
I was looking to see if the YSL Lou Lou would make the cut. Any thoughts on that one? Funny thing is, I have so many little bags, but they are colorful. I was thinking of either the toy or small black lou lou. Any input on how this bag stacks up with the ones listed?
The Toy LouLou is amazing. The puffy leather is so luxurious feeling. And at 1,190, the price isn’t bad either. The Lou camera bag is also a nice option it comes in at 1,150 and it’s quite spacious. There’s also a belt bag variant on Barney’s website that’s 995 with black on black hardware. The Balenciaga nano city is a good option too but I would search online. When it first came out it was 1,050 now it’s well over 1,200. You can still find them at a good price though. The YSL Betty is too small and I’d go for the Valentino one over the Gucci one any day. Hope this helps.
I’m conflicted about the YSL Toy LouLou, which I love! I’m tall and thin, but when I try on small bags I think they are pretty, but feel they look better on a woman of smaller stature. Does anyone else have this concern?
I think tall and thin people pull off mini bags just as well! Chiara is taller and thin and she looks good with them. At the end of the day it’s how the bag makes YOU feel. Not someone else. The investment is for YOUR happiness. If you look in the mirror and feel like you can take on anything and feel amazing, then buy it.
Thanks for taking your time to answer my question. I appreciate your take on my “dilemma”. 🙂
Whoops…I was trying to send this out as a general question to tall women or men.
I personally am 5’11 weigh about 140 and small bags look best on me. I will not go bigger than a Birkin 25 or a Kelly 28, speedy 25 or most bags in a B.B. size. YSL baby SDJ or sometimes the Nano/Toy size. I don’t carry that much stuff with me and I feel that being thin is the same as being small. If it’s too big; it juts out from my front and backside and it makes it look like the bag is wearing me lol. If I wear a speedy bandolier 30, it just looks straight up like a duffel bag/ luggage on me.
Thanks for the input! the Nano city is cute, but to me it’s not really a day to night bag. I may get one eventually, but not now. I think I’ll end up with a Lou Lou, though I’ll have to see what size looks best. I’ll be in Europe in a couple months so I’d buy it there for the additional savings.
Love Valentino bag.
I need to update mine. Great selection!
Absolutely true! I have one that I love! It’s a black leather Prada I bought 40% off at Prada at their semiannual store sale. It has handles, a crossbody strap with subtle gold hardware and it holds its shape amazingly. It has kind of a camera bag look, which is perfect because it holds my big wallet so I don’t need to switch wallets. It’s completely classic and unlike a gigantic YSL logo or the Dionysos, I don’t see it everywhere and don’t get sick of it.
What month is the semi annual sale??!! 🙂
I think it’s the same timing as Net a porter semi annual sale, my Theresa semt annual sale and the other major luxury goods. After Christmas and then again I think I’m something like July?
I bought mine in the month of January. They showed the sale bags on their homepage.
I have the Ferragamo mini Vara bag and I love it. It fits a ton, is classy and understated, and is under $1,000.
Mine are the Chanel mini square in lambskin with SHW, Chanel So Black mini square in crumpled calfskin and shiny black hardware, Chanel WOC in caviar with GHW, and for fun the Gucci WOC with Insects. Okay, no more LBBs for me, lol.
This entire post is nothing but an advertisement.
Uh, that might be the point. How else does a blog generate revenue!
I said that it was NOTHING but an advertisement. Uh, the point of blogs used to be to be informative and entertaining. You can carry on now.
I love the valentino and the Rato Et mos lady leather bag! i think i like top handles bag for LBB in small structured shape!I have the Chanel purse the 7’inch one and a small one by Furla . Maybe time to refresh!
Love my two Chanel LBB’s — one classic flap and one Le Boy
I’d recommend the Celine Box Bag. Big enough to fit essentials for daily use, elegant enough to wear to evening events but can be styled casually, and understated. I get a ton of use out of mine and I do think it won’t go out of style
I have the Fendi DemiJour in black moc croc with discreet tortoiseshell trim. It’s a beautiful but practical bag. I’ve only seen one in the media — carried by Roger Federer’s wife when the couple went to meet the Queen of England. If it’s good enough for tea with Her Majesty, then it’s good enough for wherever I would carry it 🙂
FYI, in case you’ve never seen it, this is the bag: https://www.net-a-porter.com/us/en/product/441921/fendi/demi-jour-croc-effect-leather-shoulder-bag
Beautiful, but currently sold out.
I have a few that get a lot of action; M Alexa, RM Mini MAB Side Zip, Coach Vintage Penny and for my rare evening outings I sometimes get out an Okay’s clutch in lovely, shiny leather. Lovely for formal outings and when you don’t need a boost of color in your outfit.
I was just thinking of those lovely bejeweled mui mui’s! There is a black one with even more jewels on it, too. Also, I love my Gucci Marmont Matlassé in black with Gold metal, but those velvet one’s are lovely, too!? Even Lady Dior would be be great! (Have you seen the mini?) Faragammo has some killer choices, too! Ack! Too many great choices, to pick just one!
I love my black Balenciaga first for a night out on the town. I love my black Gucci bamboo top handle for dressier events.
the SDJ needs to be on this list. it’s a classic style that will last a long time
I’m not familiar with SDJ, but you make it sound lovely.
I have also never thought of having an LBB as I never really like black for my outfits nor bags. Colourful bags always cheered me up until last year when I saw all my bags and couldn’t find anything to match my outfit that day. Then I started saving for my first ever LBB and I am so glad I have it on my collection now because when everything else fails, I got this one. My LBB is a Chanel flap bag in Chevron quilting in size medium.
I would add the Louis Vuitton Alma BB in Epi Leather to this list! I’ve been using it as a small everyday bag for years and it’s so good.