Because every outfit needs the right handbag, we set out to build your perfect collection. We've found five styles you need to invest in now — just in time for your most stylish spring yet

Handbags are obviously important—they're the carryalls for your life, crammed with all of your essentials, from iPhones and lip gloss to breath mints and hand sanitizer. If you don't have the right bag, the rest of your look can reflect this. Building the perfect collection that can take you anywhere, anytime, can take years — but to kick things off, we narrowed it down to the five must-haves you need right now. 

The Leather Tote

Take it to work (it fits a laptop and all of your important docs), or toss it over your shoulder for a day trip to the beach. The more broken-in, beat-up and sun-bleached this classic gets, the better. 

The Metallic Clutch 

Getting an invitation to a black tie event might mean you spiral into full-on "what am I going to wear?" panic, but at least you know one thing: The gorgeous pouch in your closet is always there for you, and it's the perfect size for just the essentials (lipstick, phone). 

The Neutral Satchel

The color goes with everything and the style tells the world that you're put together (even if you're secretly not). Even paired with a tee and boyfriend jeans, this find shows that you're on it — whatever "it" may be. 

The Sporty Crossbody

This is the bag you grab when you're running out the door, jumping on your bike, and hitting the streets to run some serious errands. It's not too big, it's not too small-and it won't get in the way as you're checking things off your list. 

The Old-School Designer Purse

If you're lucky, one of these was handed down to you by your mother or grandmother (think Gucci, Louis Vuitton, or maybe even Hermes). If not, start a family tradition and invest in one yourself. It never goes out of style, and it can become a family heirloom that your daughter —and her daughter—can carry.