It is the accessory that we carry to all events. The only day that a woman goes to a party without a handbag , I think, is on her wedding day. The godmother also carries a handbag, as this button proves:
Let's start with the size: it should be small, hand-held: clutch , purse , bucket bag ...
It is more elegant to wear it by hand or on the wrist than hanging from its chain, if it has one. Let's leave the chain for dancing. Never under the armpit.
It is held by the hand with all the fingers in front except the thumb, which is held behind, creating a pinch.
You can also hold it from below:
While we are walking, it is carried in the right hand. It is moved to the left when we are going to greet someone or eat at the cocktail party. The hand that carries the handbag is gloved until it is used to greet someone.
If we are at a cocktail party, with a glass in our hand and we have to greet someone, the bag is placed in the left hand and serves as a tray for the glass to be greeted with the right hand. It is never held between the knees or under the armpit.
Once we go to the table, we can leave it on our chair or put it in the center of the table, in front of the bread plate.
As for colors, materials...I would leave metallic , shiny, jeweled... for afternoon - evening events.
At Marcela & Co we have a wide variety of party bags . They are organized by color so you can find them quickly.