The Slouch Purse is Back – and Bigger than Ever

That ‘80s purse style, the slouch purse, is back but don’t call it that. Instead, refer to it as a hobo bag. Why? I suppose being a hobo – and carrying every single belonging in one of these monstrosities – is better than using a term associated with smaller, tacky handbags from 20 years before. According to purse blog, Bag that Style, both Britney Spears and Reese Witherspoon have been spotted with hobo handbags this past month. As a slouch purse could come in any number of available colors, so can a hobo bag, with Britney’s bag resembling the color of bubble gum – a bubble gum handbag for a former bubble gum pop singer? – while Reese’s bag is more staid and, well, adult.

But, when looking at these large hobo bags, what is the difference between an obscenely large hand bag and simply carrying a duffle bag on your shoulder? Aside from the fact that a duffle bag really doesn’t have much style, unless you’re going to the gym, how much stuff do you need to carry around a hobo bag? Make up? A hair brush? iPod? A dog, a curling iron, and a day’s worth of food? 20 years ago, although the slouch purse had much of the same shapeless style, the handbag was smaller and was attached to a thinner strap. These new hobo bags now have more interior space and a smaller, thicker strap. In 2009, do we really have more junk to carry around than, say, in 1987? And, to think that makeup since the early ‘90s has supposedly been low key and natural.

Anyway, as far as the handbags are concerned, they can be spotted all over celebrities and come in various prints and sizes. Although the bags Reese and Britney are carrying are solid colored, some come in prints, while others are textured with python or crocodile skin. Regardless of how you prefer your handbag, the hobo style for this upcoming season has many options to fit your personal style preferences.