Three women designers on the summer bag

Maybe it was the heat or the packed calendar but despite a decidedly easier summer wardrobe, I was losing patience rifling through my once-perfectlysized black leather bag. And as what we wear gets lighter and brighter this “season,” the next question — what to tote — is the big decision for summer. It is finally the time of year to loosen up, live easy and infuse more relaxed and playful elements into your ensemble. My own clothing preferences, usually made up of non-colors like black and nude, were suddenly feeling too “city” when what I really wanted to feel like is “resort.” So I have finally been gravitating towards bright pinks, cool blues and the tricky, but oh-so-chic whites, then it was now truly impractical, and simply wrong, to be running around the city holding a black lambskin bag, no matter how ideal it used to be for me. Even a go-to boxy tan leather carryall was looking rather boring and serious for the tropics.

It was time to switch to a lighter, softer, roomier tote. This would save on bag-rifling time and magically solve all my life organization problems. Although I had been avoiding the big bag syndrome which I once truly loved, I found a great reincarnation: a beigeand-yellow sack, a “last piece” from Banana Republic’s last season sale, which now signals a happy start for my day, and makes me feel like I can take on anything and go anywhere. What was sorely lacking now was a good summery clutch I could tuck into it for dayto-night jaunts. Hot summer nights in the city also require a color and style update. If you’re lucky enough to just tote a clutch during the day, I envy you. But for those of us who can at least whip it out from our big bag to signal a relaxing evening ahead, here are pretty cool choices. I turned to: three bag designers — Janina Dizon Hoschka, Amina Aranaz and Lally Dizon — with their suggestions on summer style.