Most Versatile Purse Color

Most of my clients have no interest in multiple options for their everyday purse so they want to know what color purse goes with everything. I get it. The changing of the guard is a hassle and most women carry the same bag everyday for about a year before switching it up. Professionally, I am with them. I have one chic backpack I carry to all my client sessions. This is my work bag that I never change up, all year long, so I did extensive research on the most versatile purse color to ensure I look put together each day. Spoiler alert, there is no purse color that goes with everything, but there is a color that can go with most everything. This versatile purse color is a pinky beige or an earthy blush. Scroll down if you are ready to shop, but for those who want a little more detail on the best everyday purse color, let’s get into it…

The Five Purse Colors You Need

In my personal life, I am happy to change up handbag, but I don’t need to go crazy. So for my looks outside of my everyday work bag, I have a series of the perfect-sized crossbody bags in the five most versatile purse colors. These five purse colors go with everything I own. If you own these five purse colors, you are set.

1. Pinky beige/blush
2. Tan
3. Off-white/cream
4. Navy
5. Black

These five everyday handbags hang by my door (each on its own gold hook) to ensure an easy transition between bags. Each bag has it’s own hand sanitizer, tissues, and my favorite lip balm. This way the only thing I need to switch between the bags is my small wallet and cell phone. I keep all my various sunglasses in a drawer near the front door to deposit into whichever bag has been chosen for the day. For those wondering, I store my collection of formal clutches and less versatile handbags on a shelf in my closet.

Least Versatile Purse Color For Your Everyday Bag

Right away, a black purse is the least versatile color. Even if you wear black all the time, a black purse is not great. It is too much black in one outfit. A chocolate brown purse is out too. It only works with a fully earth tone wardrobe of tan, forest green, and cream.

Most Versatile Purse Color For Your Everyday Bag

As I already mentioned, the #1 most versatile purse color is a pinky taupe or a blush beige — you could also call it a dusty pink or earthy pink. But keep in mind, the most versatile purse color for your wardrobe may be different. The color purse that goes with “everything” in your wardrobe may be different from someone who wears a different color palette. Here is the full list of the most versatile purse colors with all the various color palettes in mind:

1. Blush Beige or Pinky Taupe (If you don’t wear much black)
2. Mauve (If you have an earthier-colored wardrobe)
3. Light Grey (If you have a lighter-colored wardrobe)
4. Dark Grey (If you have a darker-colored wardrobe)
5. Tan (If you have a darker-colored wardrobe or wear a lot of navy)
6. Soft Metallic
7. Light Blue (If you have a lighter-colored wardrobe)
8. Off-white (If you have a medium to light wardrobe and you don’t wear crisp white)
9. Burgundy/Merlot (If you have a darker-colored wardrobe)
10. Deep Emerald Green (If you have a bright or dark-colored wardrobe)

What Is The Most Versatile Purse Color For You?

I gave you a few quick tips above for which wardrobes work best with each of the most versatile purse colors, but let’s elaborate further. Here are the exceptions to some of the everyday purse colors listed above . . .

1. A bright-colored or pastel wardrobe does not complement an earthy, muted-colored bag. It makes the bag look dirty.
2. A muted-colored wardrobe does not complement a bright-colored bag. It makes the clothing look dirty.
3. If you wear a little bit of black every day (ie: black shoes or black is in all the prints you wear), then a black purse is definitely the most versatile purse color for you.
4. If your wardrobe is based around navy keep in mind that navy is rarely the same color. Pairing a navy dress with a navy purse can often fail because the colors are close, but no cigar. Instead, go for a tan or grey bag.

When in doubt, get a purse color that matches your go-to shoe tone – this is classic advice. If you are wearing lighter-colored shoes, like white and nude, go with a blush or off-white purse. If you are wearing mostly darker-colored shoes, like black, go with a merlot or burgundy purse.

Need a little more help? Feel free to comment below if you still have questions about what color purse goes with everything in your particular wardrobe and I will get back to you within a week.

What Is The Most Versatile Hardware For Your Purse?

When deciding on your everyday bag, keep in mind which jewelry tones you prefer. If you primarily wear silver, a purse with gold hardware will clash with most of your looks. It’s best if your purse has no hardware, but that can be difficult to find. If you must have metal embellishments, choose the metal you usually wear. If you’re wearing both gold and silver, like myself, a champagne or muted metal is the best choice. It is subtle so it can pair with rose gold, silver, and gold without issue.

What Is The Most Versatile Shape For Your Purse?

If you wear a lot of structured garments, a structured purse will suit you best. If you’re wearing more slouchy, bohemian looks, a structured purse will look stiff, or stolen. I tend to go for structured bags for my everyday work purse, and leave the softer bags for my days off. A happy medium is a crossbody camera bag as it is both structured and casual — these bags truly go with everything.

Note: Due to the virality of this post, we update it regularly. Bookmark this page so you can revisit it every time you add a new bag to your wardrobe!

Mark & Graham The Essential Crossbody – Blush

This purse is available at Mark & Graham. Everyone is loving this!

Cuyana Messenger Bag 13-inch

Chloe Sense Medium Calfskin Tote Bag

Tom Ford Small East/West Grained Leather Tote

This purse is available at Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom.

Mansur Gavriel Mini Cloud Leather Clutch

This purse is available at Nordstrom, Mansur Gavriel, Bloomingdale’s and Shopbop.

Saint Laurent Lou Matelassé Leather Camera Bag

This bag is available at Nordstrom and pre-owned at Fashionphile.

AllSaints Small Kita Convertible Leather Backpack

Coach Jamie Camera Bag

This purse is available at Coach.

Parisa Wang Unlocked Baguette Bag

This belt bag, or fancy fanny pack as I like to say, is available at Parisa Wang.

Mark & Graham Elisabetta Slouch Handbag

This purse is available at Mark & Graham.

Bottega Veneta Loop Intrecciato Leather Crossbody Bag

This purse is available at Bergdorf Goodman.

Botkier Hudson Pebbled Leather Hobo

This bag is available at Botkier, Bloomingdale’s, and Nordstrom Rack.

J. Crew Bembien® Carmen bag

This purse is available at J. Crew and Shop Bazaar.

Bottega Veneta The Pouch small gathered leather clutch

This clutch is available at Net-A-Porter and gently used at Fashionphile.

Gucci GG Marmont matelassé mini bag

This purse is available at Farfetch and Gucci.

Cuyana Leather Backpack

Saint Laurent Shopping Leather Tote

This bag is available at Farfetch and preowned at Fashionphile.

Tory Burch Kira Small Pebbled Leather Top-Zip Crossbody

This purse is available at Zappos, Neiman Marcus, and Nordstrom.

Calpak Kaya Faux Leather Laptop Backpack

Tory Burch Kira Pebbled Leather Wallet Crossbody Bag

Saint Laurent Mini Lou Quilted Leather Camera Bag

This purse is available at Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus and Fashionphile.

Bottega Veneta Cassette Intrecciato Leather Crossbody Bag

This purse is available at Nordstrom and Fashionphile.

Fawn Design The Original Convertible Water Resistant Faux Leather Diaper Bag

Freshly Picked Convertible Diaper Backpack

This bag is available at Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s.

Métier London Perriand Medium Cabas

Kurt Geiger London Violet Leather Tote

This purse is available at Zappos and Amazon.

Chloé ’Medium Marcie’ Leather Satchel

This purse is available at Nordstrom and preowned at Fashionphile.

Tory Burch McGraw Leather Crossbody Bag

Rebecca Minkoff Large Edie Leather Top Handle Satchel

This purse is available at Amazon and Rebecca Minkoff.

Kate Spade Knott Large Tote

This tote bag is available at Dillard’s and Kate Spade.

AllSaints Captain Lea Leather Crossbody Bag

This versatile crossbody is available at Nordstrom and AllSaints.

Tory Burch McGraw Leather Camera Bag

This purse is available at Amazon, Tory Burch, and Nordstrom.

Matt & Nat ‘Fabi’ Faux Leather Laptop Backpack

Longchamp Roseau Leather Shoulder Tote

Kate Spade Knott Large Shoulder Bag

This purse is available at Dillard’s and Kate Spade.

Saint Laurent Lou Camera leather crossbody bag

This purse is available at Bloomingdale’s, YSL, Bergdorf Goodman, and gently used at Fashionphile.

Longchamp Medium Roseau Leather Tote in Poudre

This purse is available at Longchamp.

AllSaints ‘Kita’ Leather Shoulder/Crossbody Bag

This purse is available at Nordstrom, AllSaints, and Zappos.

Zac Posen Belay Mini Leather Saddle Crossbody

Chloé Mini Marcie Leather Crossbody Bag

Kate Spade Roulette Medium Messenger Bag

Mansur Gavriel Mini Mini Bucket Bag

This purse is available at Saks 5th Avenue and Mansur Gavriel.

Saint Laurent Toy North/South Leather Tote

This purse is available at Nordstrom and YSL.

Rebecca Minkoff Darren Top Zip Leather Crossbody Bag

This purse is available at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdales.

Most Versatile Purses From Years Past

I originally wrote this post years ago and update it regularly due to its popularity. I’ve left these photos below for nostalgic purposes. Whenever I update older posts, I love to hold on to a collection of images as a bit of a time capsule so we can watch how our style evolves.

Coach Shay Shoulder Bag

Tory Burch Robinson Leather Tote

Kate Spade New York Large Margaux Leather Satchel

Kate Spade Zeezee Large Work Tote

Kate Spade New York Large Polly Leather Tote

Furla Ariana Medium Leather Zip Tote Bag

Kate Spade New York ‘Cameron Street – Lucie’ Tote

Kate Spade New York Polly Shoulder Bag

Brunello Cucinelli Deconstructed Small Lambskin Drawstring Tote Bag

AllSaints ‘Kita’ Leather Shoulder/Crossbody Bag

Bottega Veneta

B. Makowsky