The styling essential: A white bag

As fail-safe pieces that complement virtually any look, black and brown bags are stalwarts of the accessory world. But it’s high time we added another hue to their hard-working ranks: white. Yes, really. It’s a color that is often approached with trepidation, particularly with daily-use accessories, but while it needs to be treated with care (we strongly advise using a leather protector before taking your bag for a spin), its wear-with-anything properties more than make up for its vulnerability. Whatever style of white bag you gravitate towards, be it a playful beaded design, a sleek clutch or an of-the-moment mini bag, it will make an elegant addition to everything from blue jeans to louche tailoring and sensual silk slips.