First of all, I just want to state that I’m aware that most of these handbags are black, and that that is kind of predictable. I promise I’ll do a post on more brightly hued ones soon. Meanwhile, I am borderline fixated on this Claire V number: the woven leather is so chic, and it’s big enough to fit all of my stuff.

A Madewell bag with handy double straps that looks pricier than it is.

I don’t usually like mini-totes, but this one from Sezane is such a perfect size, and has a ton of handy exterior pockets. I also feel that it will break in really well.

Just a really simple, sophisticated shape here. It also comes in a canvas with leather trim iteration that I quite like.

A sweet bucket bag with a decidedly French vibe.

This faux leather specimen comes in a number of good colors and rings in at under $50.

Mostly I think Coach, the brand, is pretty lost these days, but I like it when they reference their Bonnie Cashin heyday, like with this turnlock bag.

I just think this quilted tote is so fun, and I also dig the shape.

This ruched bag makes just enough of a statement without going overboard.

And finally: a saddle bag shape from Longchamp that also comes in black, but how good is this red?

I have never bought the idea that if you find an article of clothing that works well for you, you should purchase it in more than one color—because the same top that looks fantastic in navy might very well fall flat in red. But as soon as I purchased the above Ace Shirt from the brand Cali Dreaming—in light blue, and on a visit to L.A. a few years ago—I knew I wanted more of them. It’s truly the perfect cotton button-down, with a slightly slouchy fit, and a look that comes off a touch more feminine than a typical menswear button-down. I wore it into the ground, and then ordered a black one that I reached for even more. And then a couple of years later, not long after I moved to Brooklyn, I ordered two more: one in white, and one in army green. That package got lost in the mail for months, and was only just delivered last week, and now I wear these four shirts almost to the exclusion of  everything else. The Cali Dreaming site currently only offers the two colors above, but I found other hues here (where they’re also nicely marked down), here, and also here.

I believe that Isabel Marant was the one to introduce this look, last fall, and I think it’s the perfect layer for early morning dog walks and kicking around on the weekend. This one, from Iro, is on the splurgy side, but I really really dig the color combination. Here it is in another really covetable colorway.

Here’s something similar to above but much cheaper.

You can’t go too far wrong with a classic red and black buffalo check.

So many good details here: the collarless neckline, the shirttail hem, and the black cuff combine to make it really standout.

A nice, subtle option in a tonal beige check.

This lavender plaid number is unexpected and even kind of feminine.

I like the tomboyish feel of this one.