All the bags listed on this page should be available in black (as well as other colors).

Lovcat combines the past and present for this unusual Vintage Frame Clutch.

In the hands of a better designer, the unique blend of old and new might have appeared quirky or playful. However here I think it's just a bit confused. Traditional elements like the burnished ...

Louis Vuitton is one of the world's leading fashion houses, but I find its accessories a bit hit and miss. Its signature printed purses appear tired and out of step, but its more minimalist designs make me weak at the knees. Perhaps that's why I'm ...

Lily Waters serves up another colorful quilted handbag with this Casey cross-body.

In many ways this is more of the same from the designer many hail as the new Vera Bradley. We've seen her work with vibrant quilted cloths many times before, However its ...

Laurel & Sunset always delivers affordable accessories, but often its aesthetic leaves a bit to be desired. Such is the case with the Dunsmouth Hobo, which sees some promising elements clumsily sandwiched together.

I can't help thinking of the Bride of Frankenstein when I ...

Latico gives the messenger style a slick makeover with this Reed bag.

The Reed has a really clean look which makes it appear very modern. There isn't any frills or fuss about it, although its bold orange color gives it a real pop. This is far from our ...

Kooba offers two bags for one low price with the Ava.

In regular mode the Ava is a very tall, spacious tote. Its buttery grained leather has a weathered appearance which in this indigo hue is reminiscent of denim. I can just imagine how good it would look ...

La Regale offers sophisticated style for less with this elegant Diagonal Clutch.

The Diagonal's design is much cleaner than many of La Regale's accessories. The classic flap closure is gently angled to make it feel more modern. A band of metallic satin borders the flap for ...

Kathy Van Zeeland shows uncharacteristic restraint with its Flapper Chic hobo.

The name doesn't refer to the flapper style of the 1920s, but the hobo's classic flap closure. This curved element mimics the Flapper Chic's soft, voluminous shape. Pleats near the base ...

Kathrine Baumann's marking the recent 100-year anniversary of the Titanic's sinking with this faithfully recreated minaudiere. Her fans might note she premiered the same purse when James Cameron's epic historical romance swept the Oscars in 1998. With the milestone celebrations in full swing, it seemed ...

I might not always find Judith Leiber's distinctive accessories wearable, but her sparkling purses usually wow me. They're typically colourful creations that seem more like works of arts than simple accessories. However, strangely her Zodiac Minaudere purse has left me underwhelmed.

The Zodiac has all the ...

Jessica McClintock channels old world glamour with this Fashion Minaudiere. However despite a promising start, the design falls a bit flat for me.

I really like this clutch purse's base. The gently curved corners of the structured box are very chic, and the tightly pleated black ...

English Retreads has just added an iPad sleeve to its collection of sustainable accessories. The tablet case joins English Retreads' totes, wallets, belts, and computer bags.

Just like the rest of the English Retreads range, the label's iPad sleeve is carefully crafted from reclaimed truck ...

Ashley Olsen proved she's the kind of gal pal we'd all enjoy having around, when she gave Jessica Biel one of the luxury backpacks from her The Row label.
Clearly thrilled with the gift, Biel shared the photo at right of herself wearing ...

Jason Wu stays right on trend with this elegant top-handled Toni tote.

Top-handled purses like this were trailblazers in the fifties and sixties, but they're enjoying a revival of late. Women love the elegance of the style, which looks feminine without being too fussy. The tan ...

Jack Georges offers a feminine alternative to a traditional briefcase with its Madison Avenue Business Tote.

From the outside it looks like any classic fashion tote. Its design is tried and true, although it's glossy patent leather finish helps separate it from ...

J. Furmani blows its own trumpet with the boastfully titled Elegance Defined Clutch. But is it worthy of such a complimentary moniker?

The short answer is not really. There are some lovely elements here, but as we find with so many budget purses there's ...

Soft tissue silk fabric makes this Lou Lou Clutch from Inge Christopher a feminine option.

Silk purses are a dime a dozen, but it's unusual to see a designer playing with this soft, drapey variety. It's the ideal choice for creating the large gathered ...

Imoshion has fun with fashion with the Rachel tote. But do you enjoy this bold accessory as much as the label?

This bag is far from sophisticated. Its furry pink finish doesn't even attempt to mimic the opulence of animal fur. In fact, it looks like Imoshion may ...

Nicole Richie brings some edge to her House of Harlow 1960 line with the Val Clutch.

The Val takes its cues from Alexander McQueen's iconic box clutches. The rhinestone encrusted leopard's head clasp is like Richie's own skull, a motif observed in ...

Hobo International reminds us of the power of some perfectly placed pleats with its Wren Clutch.

The artfully placed pleats emphasize the quality of Hobo International's rich red leather. The Italian top-grain skin is first rate, and made extra appealing after Hobo International's tumbled it. This ...

All too often Hilary Radley’s bags look as cheap as their price tags. However the label gets things right with the Perched cross-body.

Here Hilary Radley has rejected trend conscious elements in favor of a more timeless design. I love the way the deep ...

Add a pop of color to your everyday attire with this Hype Bauer Shoulder Bag.

The Bauer's boxy shape is modernized with golden zippered sides and a chic turn-lock clasp. I love the way the hardware pops against the rich red lambskin. This hue is quite ...

If a retro shoulder bag hooked up with a piece of carry-on luggage they might give birth to something like Hayden-Harnett's Nackie Satchel.

This handbag has a very unusual look. It seems almost as if two bags have simply been sewn together. That quirkiness will never appeal to ...

In recent years we've seen Harveys evolving from a basic accessories label to one that's a bit more fashion forward. It still plays with seatbelts, but with the Studly it's also added a dose of heavy metal.

While the Studly shows a label attempting to modernize its image, ...

Gwen Stefani tones down her usually cutesy Harajuku Lovers line for this black Yummier backpack.

I'm not saying this black polyester bag is the perfect backpack. Without the usual prints to distract us we see how cheap the material looks. It's got that tacky gloss that ...

Guess puts its best foot forward with the Alfie Dome Satchel.

I haven't warmed to the label's showier styles, but it gets things right here by looking to classic fashion elements. The Alfie's domed shape has a playful retro feel, while the burnished hardware brings the ...

Giuseppe Zanotti serves up just what he tells us with this Beaded Bag.

The name is appropriate, because the beading really is the star here. I really like the crackled turquoise stones, but I'm not so sure about the faceted beads Giuseppe Zanotti's paired them with. ...

Giani Bernini's rejected the trends to create its classic Harrison shoulder bag.

Admittedly the Harrison is an easy bag to overlook. Its casual slouchy silhouette and deep seams will never inspire handbag envy. And while the leather is plush and buttery soft, in basic black it ...

Frye's usual Americana style gets a modern city makeover with this Cameron Cross-Body Bag.

I really appreciate that Frye's reined in its signature look here. There are none of those usual country and western accents that often make Frye's purses seem like novelties. This new urban ...

Franchi has reinvented its Princess purse with the Princess II.

The original Princess was a clutch covered in glittering Swarovski crystals. The newest incarnation takes the form of a small hobo bag, which is every bit as elegant as its predecessor but a bit more practical. ...

It seems Lulu Guinness isn't the only one fond of a lippy print. Emilio Pucci offers an Egyptian interpretation of this romantic body part with the Luxor Lips print tote.

While Guinness' lip prints are playful novelties, Pucci's pattern is much more abstract. In ...

Elie Tahari serves up classic good looks with this Nina shoulder bag.

This purse doesn't make a strong style statement or bow to trends, but that gives it a timeless appeal that shouldn't be overlooked. Covered chain borders its flap and decorates its seams, ...

Echo abandons its usual casual fabrics for something a little more dressed up with this Soft Patent North South Tote.

This tote has all the gloss of a real patent, but its finish is much softer which makes it seem a bit ...

Donald J Pliner brings some edge to bohemian fashion with this Numa Hobo.

The Numa's soft slouchy silhouette and crescent shape are classic hobo trademarks. The long suede fringing which falls softly from its straps brings some extra bohemian style to the design. But ...

Diesel promises to put a smile on your dial with its Happy Days Richie Cross-Body Bag.

The Richie is one of several Diesel bags named after Happy Days characters. They all share a similar retro feel which wouldn't look out of place ...

Coachella may be winding down, but it's just the start of what should be a vibrant summer festival season. If you plan on hitting a few of these musical spectaculars you'll need a reliable bag by your side. Diane ...

Cole Haan infuses the style of the satchel with the smart soul of a tote with its Village Eden bag.

Cole Haan calls is a tote, but the familiar east-west styling seems much more in keeping with satchel bags. The classic satchel silhouette, with ...

Coccinelle takes a leap forward in contemporary design with this Shibuya shoulder bag.

I've always appreciated the label's high quality leathers, but I've never seen it putting the skin to such good use. The Shibuya looks ultra modern with its streamlined box shape and deep geometric ...

Cleobella makes a strong style statement with its Adanna Cross-Body Bag.

Like the rest of the Cleobella collection, the Adanna has a cool bohemian feel. However unlike many of its accessories, Cleobella's thought outside the box on this one. This isn't merely boho by numbers. Without ...

I've always admired Christian Louboutin's irreverent approach to fashion design, but the label may have pushed things a step too far with this appliqued Riviera clutch.

I must admit, I was never a great fan of the original Riviera. Its clean lines and minimalist design were ...

Charles L Thomas serves up a purse that works double duty with the Nancy.

The Nancy has all the features of a wallet, but its styling can go toe to toe with any clutch purse. Its rich garnet leather is so striking, and the ...

It might be some 45 years since Diane Keaton's striking heroine hit screens in Woody Allen's romantic comedy, but Annie Hall continues to be one of pop culture's most enduring style icons. CC Skye pays tribute to this fashion pioneer with ...

Carlo Fellini strips away the fuss and frills with its timeless Claire Clutch.

The clean design is so elegant. We might have seen similar hard case clutches from other fashion houses, but few come at such a low price. It doesn't seem like Carlo Fellini's skimped ...

Bourne embraces its feminine side with this ultra girly Heather clutch.

This is an evening purse destined to divide opinion. There are so many bows plastered onto the front that it's easy to lose count! All those fussy accents will be too much for anyone with minimalist tastes, ...

Look smart when you step out carrying this slim Misha shoulder bag from Botkier.

The Misha's flap-over design is very traditional, but the devil’s in the detail. I love the way the snake style treatment makes the lambskin finish appear even richer. The scales are drawn ...

BUILT will release a limited edition handbag collection to celebrate this year's Tribeca Film Festival. The SoHo accessories firm was also named a Friend of the Festival, and its products called the Official Bags on the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival.
"We're thrilled to partner ...

Timeless design and modern details combine in this Nelida tote from Bally.

It seems counterintuitive to describe an accessory as both timeless and modern, but strangely the Nelida manages to be both. Black leather handbags will always withstand trends, especially when hardware's kept to a minimum. But the ...

Few things irk me more than fashion houses that stop trying. So I felt my heart sink as I spied this two-tone leather pouch from Balenciaga.

There's often a fine line between minimalist and boring, and Balenciaga's crossed it here. Everything is so basic, from the ...

Perhaps the fashion conscious feel of the Orient has rubbed off on Baggallini. Its Shanghai satchel is one of the most stylish bags this label's produced!

It won't go toe to toe with the Prada purses and Hermes handbags, but its quite chic compared to other bags in ...

It's hard to feel very feminine when you're covered in spit up and baby stickiness, but Baby Phat tries its hardest to give new moms a girly pop with this Rugged Quilt Messenger Diaper Bag.

This bag is signature Baby Phat. Its ...