It's officially called a clutch, but this Laura Matthews Designs bag appears much more like a mini tote to me!

Names aside, this lambskin purse is a nice alternative to those ridiculously tiny clutches we're used to carrying. It comes with space for party essentials and then some, and the leather handle ...

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 ...

While many clutch purses are strictly after five affairs, the contemporary good looks of Treesje's Metro make it just as appropriate for daytime toting.

Complementary stitching around the borders of the purse and its flap add definition to the buttery soft lambskin. The sexy angular pleating in the centre adds even more ...

If you're planning on braving the malls for a spot of Christmas bargain hunting, you'll need a good shopper in tow. While your best gal pal fits the bill, I'm thinking of a leather variety. Meet the Tignanello Touchables Belting Shopper.

This is one of those special beauties which combines style and ...

Exotic fabrics are alsways a great gimmick, and eel skin leather is one of the smoothest softest gimmicks around!

I am a particular fan of this leather, and Jalda produce some of the most luxurious materials around. You pay for that luxury, but if you want something a bit special, that is always going ...

Big Buddha hits multiple bag trends with this new stylish Nolita Shoulder Bag. From the overall shape to the details, this purse has a handful of features going for it.

The Nolita is available in quite a few color options, but this rich purple is a great pop of color for the fall. ...

Rampage shows us what happens when a designer follows the trends, and decides to use all of them on the one handbag, with this confused Cadence cross-body tote.

Snakeskin printed fabric. Check. Ruching. Check. Eyecatching metal hardware. Check and check. It's just simply too much. Honestly, the ruching would have been too ...

If a hobo handbag and a messenger had a torrid affair, the Stash Bag from Lucky Brand could easily result.

It's got the soft slouch of a hobo, the foldover flap of a messenger, and the relaxed attitude of both! The casual slouch profile comes from the buttery Italian leather, which falls ...

Lodis is a brand that knows its niche. It’s not one to take risks, but the label always delivers chic and sophisticated accessories.

That might make the Arno Runway seem like a bit of a misnomer. When I think catwalk I think of cutting edge styles and fashion-forward looks. There's none of ...

Kathy Van Zeeland fans are sure to feel their heart race when they clamp eyes on the Heartbeat satchel. But for the rest of us, it probably won't be love at first sight.

Kathy Van Zeeland knows her market, and she gives them what they want. The shiny synthetic looks a little ...

It's got a little name, but the Mia tote from Hype is big, bright, and bold!

This larger than life handbag has enough space inside to hold everything you need, and enough style to impress. The finish is billed as crocodile-embossed leather, but nobody is going to believe this is a genuine ...

Guess is always one to jump on the trend bandwagon. With the Oyster satchel, the brand follows the current taste for colorblock accessories.

Colorblock designs offer a very specific look, and one which isn't likely to last beyond a season or two. Yet the complementary blend of colors here might help ...

The Nausicaa shows a shopper doesn't have to carry your every purchase. Instead, this extra small Furla bag gives you a place for stashing your cash and credit cards.

In a world of oversized shopping bags, this one's dimensions are closer to a petite clutch. The tiny space is lined with suede ...

The Lady Knot tote is something a little different from Foley + Corinna. Gone is the basic body with its front zipper pocket. There's no signature handle with its knotted ends. It doesn't even convert to a clutch. In fact, if you hadn't told me this was a Foley + Corinna ...

Jessica Jensen seems to have a handle on creating unique clutches that will work with a variety of outfits, and this Grace foldover clutch from the label's collection is definitely a standout among others.

In an attempt to bring exotic leather to a reasonable price range, this handbag is crafted from the softest of ...

Cross-body bags tend to be big and bulky affairs. There's convenience in that oversized approach, but not a lot of style. Elliott Lucca delivers a daintier option with the Trieste.

This is one smooth operator, with its inverted pleat design and chic braided strap. The textured leather is incredibly soft, and surprisingly ...

Devi Kroell is the undisputed queen of the exotic. Her designs may not please PETA, but they're a favorite amongst fashion fans. It's not very politically correct, but it's hard to resist the charms of this Roman handbag.

The slouchy shape and casual styling is fairly traditional and tame. That allows the ...

I'm a little thrown off by the name of this Melie Bianco handbag. In a list of other style choices like the Franny, Ramona, and the descriptive Croco Envelope Bag, this technical sounding S9-96 Shoulder Bag seems a little out of place. However, the design is synonymous with the brand's classic ...

This Jessica Simpson handbag design is a simple but interesting change of pace from a brand that can sometimes includes a few too many trends on one purse, in my opinion.

Granted, I have appreciated a few of Simpson's recent releases, such as the Jimmy Satchel and the Runway Tote. Now ...

Here's another installment from B. Makowsky's collection of handbags named after famous cities around the world. There must be something about Havana and hobos, however, since both 7 For All Mankind and Hayden-Harnett have hobos by the same name.

There's aren't too many features that the other brands' versions share with this ...

Just in time for the back-to-school rush comes Bulga's originally named Messenger Bag. Messengers are nothing new, but this one has few details sure to please style-conscious students.

The first thing you'll notice is the fabric. Buttery soft leather is nothing new for Bulga, but it's something a bit different for a ...

Big Buddha gives the hobo a contemporary makeover with the Soho.

It features two of fall's biggest trends: fringe and pyramid studs. Yet by keeping the accents in check, the look is timeless rather than faddish. The fringing is short, ensuring the purse never looks like it's just stepped from the South. ...

The Be & D Guinevere is a purse which embraces the flirty side of femininity.

When so many feminine purses are pink and prissy, it's refreshing to find a clutch which is so much sexier. Choose from smooth purple patent or this polished black crinkled leather. Both are eye-catching options, but the ...

This Verbella tote from Bally is just the thing for adding a dose of vintage sass to your wardrobe.

The front features a retro Bernard Villemot illustration of two sexy girls with knowing smiles and longer than long legs! It's reminiscent of the kind of art we'd expect to see in pre-war ...

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 ...

Why should snake and crocodile get all the accolades? Elaine Turner serves up a different kind of exotic with its Madison Pouchette.

Of course, Elaine Turner doesn't dabble in genuine exotics. Instead it's merely embossed the leather with a tortoise-shell finish. The scales are large and irregular, giving the purse a contemporary ...

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 ...

Marc Jacobs, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways: 1. completely infamous grunge show for Perry Ellis in the 90's 2. the infinitely affordable Marc by Marc line 3. the tattoo on your arm that says "shameless". In the immortal words of Rachel Zoe, "the man is an !#@ing ...

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 Simpson is sometimes hit or miss with me. There aren't many of the brand's styles that I absolutely detest, but I'm not always in love with them either. This Jimmy satchel takes a turn for the better as far as my opinion goes.

Yet again, you can't expect anything even remotely close ...

Green fashionistas are spoiled for choice these days, with cotton canvas, bamboo, straw, and vegan leather giving us plenty of alternatives to animal skins. Grasscloth may not have the profile of many other eco-friendly fabrics, but that makes bags like the Nicole so attractive.

The tightly woven cloth is crafted from several ...

Chinese Laundry has brought a modern attitude to the shoulder bag with the Olivia, part of its fun new fall collection.

The front is adorned with layered flaps, which are cut diagonally to add edgy interest. Layers can look feminine and fussy, but the surprising angles give the bag more of an ...

Lately, I've been starting to think that Betsey Johnson rivals Jessica Simpson for the most variety of styles offered from one brand. The quality isn't exactly comparable since Betsey Johnson's designer bags tend to be nicer and more expensive than the celebrity's label, but the amount of different options that they both have are similar.

It ...

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 ...

Sun N' Sand brings a little art to its summery accessories collection with this purple mosaic tote.

The brand has left the design to renowned watercolor artist Paul Brent. His vision incorporates a sand dollar, surrounded by a border of purple mosaic tiles. The earthy colors of the marine creature contrast with ...

This is a fantastic back-to-school bag for so many reasons. Kenneth Cole New York is a great youth brand; its bags are stylish and fun, and good quality for the affordable price. This is also a classic style that would serve a high school or college student well. Plus it has an ...

This Steven by Steve Madden satchel jumped out at me as soon as I saw it. It wasn't just the bold amethyst purple color either. This spunky Lady Killers handbag has a great combination of edgy and feminine details for an everyday accessory with more than your average bag's personality.

For $248, ...

With the Blackburn, Fossil has created a bag which puts functionality first.

That's not to say this cross body bag is ugly. The super-soft pebbled leather is quite lovely, and some unexpected color choices like eggplant purple and this royal blue really pop. The white contrast stitching also adds a little flair. ...

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, ...

Sometimes I wonder why I don't see more Bulga handbags on celebrities considering this designer brand's range of styles and tendency to produce those ever-popular oversized satchels. It's not that this relatively young label's designs haven't been spotted on any famous shoulders. Jessica Simpson and Miley Cyrus are among their fans. ...

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 ...

The Ava comes to us from Maxx New York's vintage collection which pays tribute to the stars of cinema’s golden age. Being named after Ava Gardner gives this satchel a lot to live up to, and I'm not quite sure it delivers.

I'd never imagine Ava settling for embossed PVC when she ...

Kooba is not a name that's as familiar to me as some fashion brands, but it's certainly nothing new to the handbag world. This company has been creating enviable designer bags for over a decade.

Though I don't think it's been at the top of many shoppers' lists for that long, the company ...

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 ...

Lucky Brand's slouch hobo combines the casual profile we expect from these bags with a new sophisticated attitude.

Slouchy relaxed leather is a hobo trademark, and this purse delivers on that score. But by keeping the design simple, this Lucky Brand bag is more sophisticated than most of its hippie-chic peers. There ...

Now this is what I call a clutch. Though there are plenty of other pretty options or functional versions of the handbag style, this Treesje Harlow is the total package to me.

With a classic shape, unique details, and a decent size, you really won't be lacking anything with the Harlow. I'm sure ...

Chances are you didn't win the Alyssa Tote that Purse Blog gave away earlier this spring before the bag was available to purchase. Someone out there was lucky enough to walk away with the prize, but at least the rest of us can now consider buying one of our own.

I honestly ...

Trust Hobo International to deliver another cute, classic accessory. The brand never really pushes the boundaries, but you can count on it to create the kind of handbags you'll want to carry season after season. The Maralyn is no exception, with its structured shape and compact design channeling vintage Hollywood style.

At ...

Furla takes minimalist design to new levels with the Giselle Shopper.

The simplistic curved design is contemporary, yet too basic to appeal to everybody. It offers a very specific look, with large silver grommets the only respite from that plain matte leather. The Giselle may be a little boring for some, but ...