During a recent visit to Dillard’s Baton Rouge, we chatted with Joan Martin, entrepreneur and co-founder of the Brahmin handbag and accessory line.
The fashionista shared with us her tips on how to find a trendy, sophisticated and timeless purse—and why Southern women always wear it best.
By April Capochino Myers • All images courtesy Brahmin
“It’s a little more daring these days. You can wear fuchsia shoes with a brown dress, and all of a sudden that’s cool. … Or you can have a fuchsia bag and wear it with a navy dress, whereas in the old days maybe you had to have a navy blue bag with navy shoes. It’s cooler to do something different [now],” she says.
“Heavy embellishments, exotic detailing and gunmetal finishes are trending for the fall,” Martin says.
“New moms are not going to wear a pink plastic bag (as a diaper bag). They’re going to wear a great-looking bag that just happens to have a plastic inner liner that you can throw all of your baby stuff into but [it] looks great.”
“We sell so many large bags. Big bags are still the trend. But not every woman can wear a big bag. The handbag should be proportionate to the size of your body—but you can do things to fix it like adjusting the strap to make a larger bag work on you.”
“You could wear a black outfit and have a stunning bag and all of a sudden you look like somebody. It makes your outfit,” Martin says.
And during her visit to Louisiana, Martin noticed that women here are especially conscious about finding stylish bags and clothes.
“Women from the South are more feminine, and they’re more aware and daring. They want to look good and have a way of doing it. They love the big bags—it’s like the more, the better.”
The most important features to look for in a handbag, according to Martin:
Weight: Lighter is better.
Quality straps: Look for ones that are soft and adjustable.
Organization: Lots of pockets and a wide opening so you can find everything you need.
Quality leather: Watch for details in the stitching and the right inner lining. “Like a good dress, it has to hang right,” she says.
Find a selection of Brahmin handbags at Dillard’s at the Mall of Louisiana. dillards.com or brahmin.com
