Your Stylist: A chic and versatile day to night bag

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Resident Image stylist and market editor Melissa Magsaysay soothes your sartorial woes in the weekly Your Stylist blog column

All the best dressed girls I know or have spotted out and about recently have been carrying a document-style clutch instead of an evening bag, and often, in place of a traditional daytime work bag. These flat, often slouchy, envelope-esque bags tuck right under the arm and have an ease that’s both elegant and understated.

A friend of mine at lunch recently was carrying a handmade, tan bag with a leather cord that wound around into a small button closure. She got several compliments on the bag, which added a rugged appeal to her long vintage dress. She revealed to everyone eyeing it that it was actually an iPad case. Look twice, and your iPad case could do double duty as a chic envelope-style bag.

As far as the best options for this style of bag, I love the unexpected color and stripe on the Alex document clutch from Ten Over Six ($295, above right). The purple and yellow painted quilted leather would add a fun pop of color to an all-white summer ensemble or of course work as an appropriate accessory for fashion-savvy Lakers fans.

Echo Park-based designer Clare Vivier has been making several styles of this type of bag. Her La Pouchette-style bag with a neon pink stripe down the center ($104, above left) is so on-trend and has a nice flat shape, good for anyone who wants less slouch and more structure. Vivier also makes a more relaxed version that comes in leopard print leather ($139, right). It would give a little edge to a simple black dress or add pop to a fall look like a tan trench coat, jeans and black boots.

Newbark, another L.A-based label, has a couple of clean and modern styles, especially one with cool yellow and gray color blocking ($455, below left). Use these when traveling to hold cellphone and computer cords or papers. Once you unpack, the bag becomes your day-to-night clutch.

And this brown leather double-strap iPad case from JJ Boyles ($178, right) proves that the right iPad case can be versatile enough to transition from gadget holder to cute handbag. It’s got a great broken-in vintage appeal that tones down any outfit from looking too precious.

These bags are versatile, unfussy and perfect for light packing when traveling this summer.

Send your style inquiries to melissa.magsaysay@latimes.com.

RELATED:

Your Stylist: Statement-making espadrilles

Your Stylist: Keeping your red hot hair from fading

Your Stylist: Your search for a stylish sun hat is over

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Photos (from top to bottom): Clare Vivier bag at www.seevivier.com. Credit: Jeana Sohn. / Ten Over Six document clutch at www.tenoversix.com. Credit: Ten Over Six. / Clare Vivier La Pouchette clutch and leopard clutch, both at www.seevivier.com. Credits: Clare Vivier. / Newbark color-blocked pouch at Maxfield. Credit: Newbark. / JJ Boyles double-strap leather iPad case at www.etsy.com. Credit: JJ Boyles.