What To Wear To The PGA Championship

The PGA Championship is this week at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, KY. As one of golf's major championships, it's a chance to dress up just a bit more than most tournaments. 

To that end, it's still a golf tournament. It's not the Kentucky Derby or a night out. I think "Athletic Chic" is the perfect aesthetic to keep in mind if you're heading to a tournament. 

That's not a limiting concept. You can still wear stylish dresses, cute shorts and tank tops or even something more traditionally considered "golf attire". 

Golf Tournament Do's

• Bring a small bag. PGA Tour events have a restrictive purse policy. Bags must be smaller than 6"x 6".
• Wear sunscreen to protect your face, hands, neck and arms. I love Elta MD's or Skin Authority's. Learn more about Elta MD here or Skin Authority here.
• Wear a hat, if you're so inclined. Not only does it shield your face from the sun, it's also a homage to the Kentucky Derby, the home of fabulous millinery. 

Golf Tournament Don'ts

LOVE these Gucci sandals, just not for a golf tournament.

• Don't wear hoochie shoes, stilettos or strappy platform sandals with a pointy heel. They'll sink into the grass and make you look like an amateur. Go with wedge heels or a nice espadrille.
• Don't wear a fanny pack. Seriously. I don't know why I have to reiterate this but I see them repeatedly at golf tournaments. 
• Don't sport crazy, patterned shirts or things with wild logos on it. The HP Byron Nelson Championship is known for having ladies from local strip clubs walk the course with their clubs' logo emblazoned across the front. That's fine. For them. For you, go a little classier. Save the logo swag for another event. 
• It bears repeating: DON'T forget about the purse policy. I have friends who have had their bags confiscated. TIP: you can squeeze a malleable bag to get it within the 6-inch rule (about the length of a dollar bill). I have done this a few times to squeeze my Chanel Wallet-on-a-Chain into events.

Browse These PGA Tour-Approved Purses

Shop Golf Tournament Looks

What You Need To Know If You're Heading To The George Strait Concert At AT&T Stadium

If you're going to the George Strait concert at AT&T Stadium on June 7th, the Cowboys' purse and bag policy WILL apply.

Tory Burch's Mini Fleming Leather Shoulder Bag Is Allowed

"Everything at the stadium falls under our purse policy," according to AT&T Stadium spokesperson Bret Daniels.

That means every game whether it be NFL, NCAA or high school, every concert, every soccer match, EVERYTHING. Your opaque bag must be no larger than 5.5" x 8.5" to be allowed into the stadium.

Here is some handbag inspiration to help you figure out what works.

From L to R: Valentino Rockstud Mini Crossbody (I LOVE this calf hair version) | Small Prada Crossbody | Ferragamo Ginny Crossbody | YSL Cassandre Crossbody | Tory Burch Mini Fleming Shoulder Bag (comes in many colors) | Tory Burch Mini Harper Crossbody (also cute in black) | Ferragamo Paris Crossbody | Danielle Nicole Libby Convertible Crossbody

If you attend a lot of events where purse and bag policies are in play, I would suggest getting one bag that works. I have a Chanel Wallet on a Chain I use for each game, along with a clear, quart-size Ziplock I use as Jordan's diaper bag.

I am always updating my Gameday Fashion and Cowboys Fashion boards on Pinterest.  Follow them for a constant stream of bags that will work for both the NFL & PGA Tour's purse policy.

AT&T Stadium Purse Policy TIP:
To determine if your purse will be allowed into AT&T Stadium, simply fold an 8.5" x 11" piece of paper in half.  If your bag is smaller than that, it's good to go.

Here are some weekend sales you need to know about:

• Stanley Korshak: Save up to 40% in every department.
• Ralph Lauren: Shop their designer sale event and save up to 40%.
• Ann Taylor: Get 30% off full-price styles and an extra 40% off sale styles through June 9th. 
• Narciso Rodriguez: Save 40% off their 2014 Spring/Summer collection. 
• Net-a-Porter:  Browse their killer-cool selection of designer sale items featuring Gucci, Givenchy, Burberry and more. 
• The Outnet: Score an extra 30% off sale items from designers like Helmut Lang, Pucci, Oscar de la Renta and others. 

Scroll Through To Shop This Story

Purses You Can Carry at the HP Byron Nelson Championship

If you haven't heard, the PGA Tour now has a purse policy.  It's similar to the NFL's in how limiting the size restriction is: 6"x6".  Yep.  The length and height of a dollar bill (which is a perfect six inches).

So if you're heading to the Nelson this week or the Colonial next weekend, here are some options that will work within those guidelines.

Fair warning: there's not much out there.  It's HARD to find items that are functional and stylish.  Trust me: I looked.

Some of the bags featured, like the smart Coach L-Zip wristlet and consignment Louis Vuitton pochettes, can only be purchased online.  If you order now you can get them by this weekend with rush shipping or in plenty of time for the Colonial.

Learn More About the Bags Featured in This Story 

Learn How The PGA Tour's New Bag & Purse Policy Will Affect You

The PGA Tour is taking a page from the NFL and has implemented a new bag and purse policy for 2014 that restricts what patrons can bring into tournaments.

How will this affect you if you're heading to the HP Byron Nelson Championship May 11-18 or Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial May 19-25th?  Well, the policy is a bit more liberal than the NFL's because it allows opaque diaper bags, something the NFL prohibits.

Louis Vuitton Mini Pochette

The PGA Tour's purse restrictions call for tiny bags, though, allowing a bag that is 6"x6" or smaller.  Finding a purse 6 inches (roughly the length of a dollar bill) or smaller is tough. I scoured the internet for bags that work.

A Louis Vuitton Mini Pochette works for just about any purse policy.  It measures at 5.5" wide and 3.7" tall.

Prada Small Zip Saffiano Crossbody Bag

This small Prada crossbody bag is another stylish option.

Let me vent: This screams of another policy designed by a mostly male staff that has no clue about real world problems women face when it comes to carrying our crap.

Here is the actual policy:

For more information visit the PGA Tour's website.

This is Only the Beginning
Expect restrictive bag and purse policies to become to the norm.  Leagues and organizations claim that the policy is primarily for security, citing 2013's Boston Marathon bombing as the impetus for tighter restrictions.

One NFL source told me that these policies simply make the security screening process easier.  Meaning fans can get into the game quicker because bags are easier to check and security screeners have fewer judgement calls to make.

The source indicated he wouldn't be surprised if the NBA and MLB followed suit.

Shop Purses That Fit Within the PGA Tour's Purse Policy