It's True—These 6 Handbag Colours Go With Absolutely Everything

I'm going to make a bold claim: A handbag is the most hardworking item in any wardrobe. Hear me out. How often do you change your clothes? Every day? Shoes? Depending on said clothes, you likely switch them up a few times a week. Your bag? Well, if you're anything like me, you can carry the same bag for weeks at a time until you fancy a change. Of course, I don't want to assume you're the same, but having spoken with my nearest and dearest ahead of writing this, they all use their bags the same way I do.

This brings me to my point; handbags have to be versatile and work with a multitude of items to make them worth their money, regardless of the budget you're working with. However, in the quest to make my handbags as adaptable as possible, I've fallen into a bit of a trap in that I only really ever buy black bags—or, at a push, tan. Eager to breathe new life into my arm candy collection and save myself from becoming weary with the bags I already own, I've decided to treat myself to a handbag in a different colour. Can you believe it!

This got me thinking—are there handbag colours that go with everything that aren't black or tan? I set about finding out. After hours of analysing, I can confirm that there are six. What I found most interesting was that many of these colours are found in nature, which bestows outfits with an air of calm. Then there are others which act like as palate cleansers against striking clothing.

Whatever your usual preference, I believe there's a bag for you just waiting to be discovered below. Handbag colours that go with everything? Coming right up.

1. Burgundy

Style Notes: It might surprise you to learn that classic red doesn't make my edit. Although there is something timeless about it, I found postbox hues to be too strong set against shades such as greige. Deeper shades of burgundy, however? They work with absolutely everything. 

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2. Sand

Style Notes: The first of our found-in-nature tones, sandy-coloured bags made my edit over the likes of mustard or beige as the tend to loan themselves well to different shades on the colour spectrum. From navy and khaki to pink and even purple, I can picture them with the lot. 

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3. Forest Green

Style Notes: Bright green hues are everywhere right now but handbags in forest green? They're for life. By this point, it should go without saying that I think dark green bags pair with pretty well every other colour out there. Owing to their deep shade, I'd even go as far as to say they work with bright red tones without running the risk looking Christmassy. Now that's impressive. 

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4. Burnt Orange

Style Notes: While tangerine provides a cool contrast against lots of colours, I don't know how expensive ultra-bright oranges look. Instead, I'd recommend orange bags with a rusty undertone, which give the same effect as their vivid counterparts, but won't date a year or so down the line. 

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5. Sky Blue

Style Notes: The more research I did, the more it became apparent that light blue bags are perhaps the most underrated in terms of their versatility. Who What Wear's Editor in Chief Hannah Almassi tells me she herself has a light blue bag which she's yet to find something it doesn't work with. 

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6. White

Style Notes: If you're looking for a bag colour that's 100% guaranteed to go with everything, then you really ought to consider white. Like a pair of box-fresh kicks, a white bag can give any outfit, and any colour of outfit, a cool overhaul. 

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Next Up: I've Been a Stylist for 20 Years — These Are the Key Buys on My 2024 Wish List