Uptown style, great colors and totally functional. From clutches to strappy swingers, prom and homecoming handbags make a girl look great...and they work just great, too! A prom purse is a must. Fabulous looks are available in crystals, sequins, beads, and trim. Remember to coordinate your purse with your outfit and other prom accessories.

Your ideal prom and homecoming purse should be the right size and color that is in keeping with the dress that you are wearing. Make sure that it will be able to carry the neccessary things you will need at prom and at the homecoming dance:  makeup for touch-ups (like powder or lip gloss), a mini mirror, breath mints, a hair elastic, your cell phone, cab money (just in case for emergencies), clear nail polish to stop a stocking run, and a few safety pins to fix any Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunctions!

HOT TIPS:  A purse for prom requires thought. While your everyday handbag just won’t do, you don’t want to be matchy-matchy either. Go for a purse that’s coordinated, yet playfully contrasting.

• Color. Stay in the same color family as your dress or play up the color of the trim or detailing.
• Shape. Choose something petite, but to be sure you can fit the essentials into your purse, do the fist test. If you can’t get your entire hand in the purse, chances are you won’t be able to get anything else in there either.
• Fabric. If you decide to go with the same color as your dress, definitely do not use the same fabric, too. If your dress has excessive beading, sequins, or embroidery, stay away from heavily detailed bags – instead go for a simple, low-key material.
• As for purse contents, make sure all of your needs are covered, but be selective. It’s not necessary to bring your entire collection of makeup, your whole billfold, and a full line of backup hair products. Lipstick (and that means one tube – not five!), a powder compact, and a few hairpins, is about all you really need. If your purse permits, a cell phone isn’t a bad idea either (because you wouldn’t want stranded friends or a missing date to ruin your night!).

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