For most people, travel almost inevitably accompanies the holidays. That's why every gal should have a reliable weekender-style handbag to carry with her on those unavoidable plane, train, or automobile trips.

Reliable doesn't have to mean uninteresting, however. On the flip side, chic and stylish shouldn't always equal an outrageous price. That's where ...

Edgy metal studs are one of the biggest trends of the season. But it seems Chocolate took the style writers at their word when it created the City Flap Clutch.

Whether it's right on trend or overdosing, you'll have to decide yourself. There is an awful lot of metal there, but it ...

Do you have a princess at home? The world is full of girly girls who love nothing more than something to cuddle, some magic dust and a whole heap of pinkness. Catering directly for those needs is childhood handbag designer Popatu, the creators of this somewhat awful teddy bear bag.

This purse is the ...

With its cute moniker and even cuter looks, the Tic Tac Tote could only be a Vera Bradley bag.

The name comes from the subtle cross-hatch design with sits over Vera Bradley's signature vibrant prints. This pattern takes us back to childhood with its Tic Tac Toe board appearance. It's playful, but ...

With a name like the Cirque du Soleil, you couldn't expect this Lovecat wallet to be shy or retiring.

The circus-inspired purse is a real performer, with its soft ruched finished embellished by thousands of tiny reflective dots. They make the Cirque du Soleil glimmer and gleam in a way that's bound ...

This Gustto Torsa Tote shares a similar design feature with the Bonba Clutch from the same brand. However, the practicality of the Torsa's larger size and multiple carrying options makes it a better choice for an everyday handbag.

The feature that the two bags share is the softly twisted strips of leather that flank a ...

If you want a well-respected Coach handbag with a bit of a different edge, then one of the brand's graphic pieces is a great option. Inspired by Coach's first designer, Bonnie Cashin, this cute and colorful slogan wristlet can perk up even the dullest winter day.

In vivid shades and with a stylish scribbled image, ...

Cole Haan tends to serve up reserved, work-ready accessories in traditional neutrals like black, brown, or beige. But with the Biscayne Tote, the brand shows us it knows how to have fun.

From a distance the tote looks like woven wicker, but the effect is actually embroidered. Red, orange, pink, and purple ...

Some say that chocolate is a girl's best friend, so it's no surprise that the accessories brand which shares the name of the sweet treat has made a bag so girly! The Sophia Shoulder Bag is fun, feminine, and frilly!

A traditional shoulder bag shape is dressed up with a ruffled appliqué ...

This Betsey Johnson Painted Python purse is totally on trend and off the moment. Just don't expect to pull it out next season.

While it suits the current taste for all things 1980s, the fluorescent snakeskin tones are just too vibrant to appeal for too long. Right now though, I love the ...

Ashley M is one of those rare fashion labels which doesn't take itself too seriously. Its accessories are unashamedly cheap and cheerful, flights of fancy that favor fun over chic styling.

That's definitely the case with this bow tie purse. It's not intended to suit a red carpet occasion or night at ...

This is one Whiting & Davis handbag that doesn't make me automatically think of a bygone era. Well, that's not entirely true, I suppose, since it does have a certain '70s disco vibe going on with it. However, in comparison to some of the brand's truly vintage-inspired designs, this Cross-Body Dance Bag ...

Inject some high-capacity fun into your day-to-day life with this spacious chunky box tote from designer Guess.

The funky silver toned hardware edging the pockets and handles of this Rhonda tote add some great structure to the square bowler bag lines. Add to that a dose of over-sized crocodile skin, brilliant shape and ...

This Brianna bag from Chocolate is an affordable way to embrace this season's taste for textures.

Diamond quilting has a way of making any bag seem richer. So while the Brianna is made from affordable synthetic, it doesn't look cheap. The diamonds are crafted from tiny pleats, which give the bag volume ...

Gwen Stefani's Harajuku Lovers brand certainly has a look quite unlike others. These Tokyo-inspired designs seem to reflect the celebrity's offbeat personality and music a little more than her slightly more grown-up L.A.M.B. brand.

Quite frankly, I'm not a huge fan of the whimsical, often juvenile prints that Harajuku Lovers favors for ...

At first glance, this Buxton Heiress organizer clutch looks like a simple wallet style clutch in a range of pretty colors. Look inside and on the back, however, and you can see just where this "organizer" clutch gets its name.

Everything about this purse aims to make you organized. Your coins are held ...

Jessica Jensen has given a lift to the traditional tote with the Patience.

The geometric, flared shape is classic tote, designed for sophistication and everyday elegance. But Jessica Jensen couldn't let this bag blend into the background, so she's added rows and rows of tiny wooden beads to the front panel. From ...

When it comes to Global Elements, you never know quite what you're going to get. The label loves to frock up, but it can just as easily keep things casual with bags like this cute Beaded Flower Tote.

While its name suggests springtime blooms, there's just one beaded flower on the bag. ...

If you are looking for a classic look with a modern origami handbag twist, Chocolate may have produced a pretty and surprisingly affordable option.

This folded tote isn't cheap as chips, but it only costs $131 and looks pretty high end. The fashionable origami shape is a particular favorite of mine, and tends to ...

If you're a girly girl who loves Ralph Lauren, I may have just found your ideal bag. But if you're not, this open top tote probably won't impress you.

While this pink purse is clearly targeted at Barbie-loving stylistas, it's not as obnoxious as many bags of its ilk. The pink background ...

Kenneth Jay Lane has given the traditional envelope clutch a few contemporary tweaks with the Giza.

The traditional triangular flap and skinny profile is retained, but it's the modern twists which make this more than just another envelope purse. The Giza takes its name from the pyramid shaped studs that dot its ...

Jessica Jensen takes the hobo back to basics with its Artisan bag.

The style is simple and chic, without all the accents we tend to see. Forget fringing and studs: this is minimalism at its most pure. That might not suit the season's taste for embellishments, but the Artisan isn't about catering ...

With a postmodern minimalist flair, Halston has reinvented the tote bag. It's not hard to see how the Post Tote got its name!

The crescent shape reminds me of a hobo bag, but there's none of the slouchiness we associate with that style. The textured leather gives the handbag a little more ...

I love the way Marc Jacobs interprets trends, old and new, and then reinvigorates them in modern downtown designs. Bags like this perfect pony skin bag are just what I'm talking about.

There has been a major rush lately for quilted bags. All those Chanel caviar bags have been making a comeback in ...

Marc Jacobs, king of the West Village, oh how many Carrie Bradshaw wannabes he has spawned. Personally, I think the man's a genius, and one of the few American designers to make others across the Atlantic take notice. But, this bag has got to go.

It's a lot more Elle Woods than Carrie ...

Design doesn't have to mean complicated structures and innovative shapes. Sometimes, as we see with classics such as Chanel or Oscar de la Renta, the timeless shapes and quality materials can speak for themselves.

At first glance I was taken aback by the simplicity and elegant lines of this rectangular purse. With no embellishment ...

This fun shopper shows us that tie-dyed fabrics don't have to look like hippie throwbacks. By keeping things subtle, Magid brings boho style that isn't stuck in the 60s.

The easy breezy look is accentuated by the paper straw finish. It's tightly woven for a little extra strength, but I still don't ...

Vintage materials are all the rage at the moment, as this patent purse with retro Pyrex handles from Stuart Weitzman goes to show.

In bright patent shades of magenta or yellow, this small clutch has an eye catching design. The handles are fashioned from a disk of stylish Pyrex, once the domain of the ...

The Laura from Elaine Turner marries the contemporary attitude of snakeskin with a gentle femininity.

While many snake purses are dramatically dark, the Laura takes a much softer approach. Some might accuse the pastel color palette of being a little washed out, but there's something so pretty about the muted shades. This ...

This Ghibli baguette bag was made with girly girls in mind.

Only the most feminine of fillies will feel comfortable carrying a purse in such a lurid shade of purple. The vibrant fuchsia tone is accented with the python skin's mottled black markings. The oval shape gives this purse a contemporary look, ...

I thought for sure that we were beginning to see the last of the neon color craze, but then I found this brand new canvas tote by Chloé. See by Chloé's offerings are usually on the very edge of mass market trends, but this time they may be just a minute too ...

The global economic crisis has got us all thinking about where our cash is going, or at least how we'll justify that latest handbag splurge to the man in our life. Tepper Jackson has your line of defense sorted with this reversible tote.

The $120 price tag doesn't just buy you one ...

Marc Jacobs' Louis Vuitton collection inspired by late artist Stephen Sprouse might be old news to many bag fashionistas. However, it's a line of designer handbags still worth talking about, in my opinion.

The Louis Vuitton Speedy style is also nothing new to the designer label, but it's a classic style with which ...

Jessica Jensen shows us that a small purse can show plenty of personality with her classic barrel clutches. They don't just come in a range of colors. They also feature a range of unique finishes.

This sophisticated taupe purse has a stylish geometric pleated design. Pleating is more regular and vertical on ...

Everyone knows that the stranger and more eco-friendly the handbag material, the more popular the handbag. We have seen licence plate bags, hosepipe purses and even handbags made from old seatbelts, and all in the name of green credentials and recyclable fashion.

Now little known designer Elaine Turner has jumped on ...

Melie Bianco has a special knack for creating on-trend handbags that don't cost the earth. While the label has been known to "borrow" inspiration from Jimmy Choo and Valentino, it's just as capable of coming up with must-have fashion items all its own. The Franny is this season's head-turner.

The ...

Origami has been one of the most enjoyable trends sweeping fashion circles this year. From beautifully executed folded dresses through to paper jewellery, this Japanese paper art has hit all aspects of fashion face on. New technology means that origami style doesn't have to be made from paper, as this wonderfully structured ...

With a pop of color and plenty of style, Magid bring you this vibrant pleated satin clutch.

The pleating is so interesting here, with creases adding texture in all directions. It's an abstract design, with horizontal lines contrasting delightfully with vertical and diagonal ones. By crafting the entire thing from the same ...

Mad Imports keeps it casual with this cute Leilani clutch.

It's made from natural-toned raffia, jazzed up with an adorable embroidered bird and leaves design. Each Leilani is a little different depending on the color you choose. I love the swooping swallow on this ocean blue clutch, but the blooms also come ...

If the time has come to replace your tired old wallet then this Roxy "Cute You" wallet may well make for a great replacement. With its bright rainbow colors and deckchair style stripes, this is a cute and funky accessory.

It is interesting to see a purse like this that isn't closed with the ...

Liz Claiborne epitomizes cheap and cheerful fashion with the Ripley tote.

It doesn't get much cheerier than the feminine coral pink finish, or much cheaper than PVC. High-end fashionistas may scoff at this fabric, but it only costs $34. If that's all you've got to spare, or you simply want a little ...

Embrace your feminine side with this fun Paris Paxton purse from Lambertson Truex.

That hot pink leather is a real show stopper, accented as it is with strips of snakeskin and sexy silver hardware. Of course, any time a purse features genuine snakeskin, even if it's only just a smidgen, the price ...

Just about everything on this Juicy Couture Pammy tote screams signature Juicy style. That's not necessarily a good thing, unless you happen to be a huge fan of the brand.

While many prefer Juicy's more sophisticated side, as seen on bags like the Small Bowler or the Madge, there is definitely a large ...

One of my handbag ambitions is to own a Judith Leiber minaudiere. Their prohibitive prices and practical restrictions are a big stumbling block, but once I win the lottery I'm going to buy one of those gem encrusted beauties.

I'm not sure of the wearability of the eye-catching animal clutches she favors, ...

Half stylish wallet, half compact clutch, this Coach Soho purse is a great combination of function and looks for the lady who lunches.

Style wise, this colorful purse happily embraces many of the popular trends that have haunted the catwalks all year. Namely, Coach has decorated the lower half of this bold wallet in ...

Slouchy and casually chic, the Kempt Pure Tote is a great choice for the jeans and Frye boots girl come fall.

This is one of those bags that screams autumn. Your hands start to itch for once the weather turns chilly, but it would still be perfectly appropriate other times of the year.

The ...

Joe's Jeans delivers yet another classic tote bag with the Katie. It doesn't push the envelope or offer a lot that's new, but a bag like this will always find a place in your wardrobe.

Here Joe's Jeans combines casual canvas and elegant leather to create an eye-catching geometric design. The combination ...

Sometimes I think you're either a Guess girl or you're not. High-end snobs turn up their nose at the brand's love of PVC and embossed exotics, while plain Janes shudder at the bold colors and the rhinestones. While they never suit everybody, Guess is the arm candy of choice for many ...

It is always nice when a large multi-million dollar brand take a moment out to support and publicize a charity. Which is exactly what Hobo international have done with this cute girlie pink make-up case, 25% of the profit of which goes directly to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Often the allure of ...

Betsey Johnson, queen of girlie bags, has added this feminine satchel to her girlie Betsey Frills range.

The spacious handbag is available in a range of delicate pastel colors, although if light and fragile isn't your thing then the frilled handbag can be bought with a dark (and much more serious) black background.

The ...