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.
The 6 Handbag Colours That Will Go With Everything You Own:
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.
Shop Burgundy Bags:
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.
Shop Sand Bags:
From the colour and shape to the suede finish, this tote is so versatile.
You can easily take this from day to night.
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.
Shop Dark Green Bags:
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.
Shop Burnt Orange Bags:
An elevated take on the classic basket bag.
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.
Shop Sky Blue Bags:
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.
Shop White Bags:
Maxine Eggenberger is Who What Wear UK’s Deputy Editor and has over fourteen years of experience in fashion journalism. She been creating engaging and authoritative content for Who What Wear UK since 2018, covering runway reports, emerging trends, long-form features, talent interviews self-styled shopping stories and columns, including her edit of the best new-in buys. She ensures the highest editorial standards are met across the site, leads the editorial team in their search and keyword planning, works closely with the fashion and beauty team on strategy and continues to pen many of her own articles. Prior to Who What Wear UK, Maxine's contributed to publications including Grazia, InStyle Marie Claire, Elle and Look, amongst others.
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