Finding the perfect bag is as daunting as it is exhilarating and fulfilling. Your bag implies so much about your personality, your character and your style that the pressure to find the right bag can be somewhat extreme.

 

Narrow down your ideal bag by understanding and realizing your daily needs and essentials. We categorized our top five favorite bags according to lifestyle.

 

Fendi 2Jours Bag

 

Stylish celebrities like Olivia Palermo and Sarah Jessica Parker have been spotted carrying Fendi’s latest gem, decreed as the next “it” bag. The Fendi 2Jours features a structured look, highlighted by a leather hangtag where you have the preference to place a monogram of your name’s initials. Understated and elegant, this bag just screams style and sophistication.

 

Pros: The Fendi 2Jours looks polished and elegant, and instantly enhances any ensemble. This bag is every bit as sophisticated as it is versatile, as it will match your every look.

 

Cons: If you decide to monogram your initials on your Fendi 2Jours, it would be difficult, if not impossible to resell your bag. If you are in the business of trading bags once you get bored with it, this should be a matter to consider.

 

The Fendi 2Jours is an ideal bag for the fast-paced executive—constantly on the go, and with endless meetings and appointments. Fendi’s 2Jours is perfect for bankers, stockbrokers, corporate managers, financial analysts, fund managers and businesswomen. Fendi’s 2Jours would also suit ladies who lunch—socialites who take great care of their appearance and look.

(Available in Rustan’s Makati.)

 

Celine Phantom

 

The Celine Phantom is intriguing and certainly striking. Effortless and nonchalant, the Celine Phantom is quite the chic accessory. This sizeable bag is spacious, characterized by a shopping-bag appearance.

 

Pros: The Celine Phantom is gorgeous in design, and is quite useful as it is practical. The casual feel of this bag makes it easy and uncomplicated, without compromising on style and flair.

 

Cons: The construction of this bag is quite detailed, making it bulky and heavy, even without anything in it. This shouldn’t be a problem, however, if your mantra in life is fashion over comfort at all costs.

 

The glitz and glamour of this bag makes it perfect for the artisans in the fashion industry. We see Celine’s Phantom toted by PR mavens, magazine editors, merchandisers, retail store buyers, fashion writers and stylists.

 

Chanel Maxi

 

A Chanel bag signifies sophisticated grace. The Chanel Maxi’s size is roomy enough for your day-to-day basic essentials—brush, makeup kit, wallet, etc.

 

Pros: You really can’t go wrong with a Chanel bag, and the Maxi bag would be useful as an everyday bag. If you have a fondness for investing, know that the Chanel bag appreciates in value every year. Talk about value for money.

 

Cons: It’s really quite pricey, because of the class and refinement the brand signifies. But, as mentioned, it’s an asset, and with proper care, will last you a lifetime.

 

The Chanel Maxi would suit high-profile professionals and executives. The stature and the price of a Chanel Maxi are ideal for politicians, business owners, celebrities, lawyers, doctors and investment bankers.

 

Proenza Schouler

 

For a blasé and effortless air, the Proenza Schouler is a good choice. It may have a structured design, but the bag still gives a cool and easy feel to your look. While the style might look casual and young, matching the bag with a dressy look would not only be unusual but certainly striking.

 

Definitely a versatile bag, the PS1 matches a wide array of looks, from T-shirts and jeans, to stylish dresses. The leather is soft and supple, but this is the kind of bag that does not call for constant upkeep. The more you wear it, the more worn-out it looks, which adds character and flavor to the design. The messenger look of it makes it adaptable to your closet and personality.

 

Pros: The PS1 features several compartments,  making this bag very practical and useful. If you tend to be disorganized, this bag will serve its purpose.

 

Cons: Given all its compartments, you might find it challenging to rummage through your own bag when you are in a rush to find something.

 

The Proenza Schouler would complement artists in the multimedia arena such as book illustrators, film animators, filmmakers and graphic designers, and also fine art artisans  uch as painters, sculptors and writers.

 

YSL Chyc Cabas

 

My ultimate bag crush is the YSL Chyc Cabas. There’s something about the look, the structure and how it falls on a woman’s arm that makes it so appealing to me. Its structure gives it a prim sophistication without appearing austere or serious in any way.

 

This spacious tote has been seen on glamorous celebrities such as Sienna Miller, Leighton Meester, Nicole Kidman, Salma Hayek and Charlize Theron.

 

Pros: The Chyc Cabas is roomy and with compartments, making it functional for your day-to-day activities and pursuits. The style is versatile—structured enough for work , and fashionable enough for your other endeavors.

 

Cons: In my personal experience, the Chyc Cabas is rather heavy. However, this is not a setback for me as I am able to carry my daily essentials due to its size and construction.

 

The Chyc Cabas is suitable for women on the go—those who travel a lot, working moms who are bustling and active. It is also a perfect fit for architects, interior designers and other professionals who need to bring with them documents and plans.