A selection of shoulder bags:

While I admire Stella McCartney's commitment to ethical design, I haven't always appreciated her accessories. Her vegan leather often appears cheap, and her designs uninspired. However she's ironed out the kinks with this Structured Shoulder Bag.

The blend of polyester and polyurethane is a ...

Sara Berman plays it safe with this elegant Raphael Day Bag.

This is the kind of handbag that suits any occasion or situation. It doesn't make a strong style statement, but there's an elegant quietness about it that's really attractive. It might not turn ...

Roxy's come a long way since its early days as a surfwear specialist. The Dusk shoulder bag is a great example of the versatile and affordable accessories the label now offers.

The Dusk isn't a pioneer by any means, but it's a lovely homage to bohemian ...

Roger Vivier brings quilting into the 21st century with this New Prismic shoulder bag.

This purse offers a brilliant take on traditional diamond quilting. Rather than neatly dividing the leather body into regular diamond shapes, the New Prismic's stitches create a futuristic ...

I'm not sure whether Radley was influenced by Christina Hendricks' formidable Mad Men character, but there's a delicious retro air about this Holloway Shoulder Bag.

Joan would probably carry something more petite to the offices of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, but I like to think of this shoulder ...

I've always found Nine West's accessories a bit hit and miss, but when it gets things right the results are worth bargain hunters considering. Nine West shows the other labels how colorblocking should look with this Fair & Square ...

If MCM's Sweet Visetos Valentine's Day collection was a little too obvious for your tastes, then Proenza Schouler's dreamy seasonal offering may be more your speed. The high end label has released a small capsule collection of red handbags to mark ...

We're used to Maddalena Marconi creating high class evening accessories dripping in rhinestones and lace. We've criticized the label for being too lavish and too expensive, but we could rarely say it lacked class. So I'm surprised to see a very different side of the ...

Lodis goes mod with this Brooklyn Jada Shoulder Bag.

Taupe isn't a color I ordinarily fall for, but I love the way the colored cross design makes this fairly bland hue much more appealing. The criss-crossing swatches are interesting but not overly feminine which ...

The earthiness of brown leather tends to take me back to the swinging sixties or the wild wild west. But Kooba proves it can scream city chic with this Halle shoulder bag.

Rather than using a common shade of brown, Kooba's opted for a hue with ...

Hobo International shows its claws with this Lola Shoulder Bag.

Hobo International tends to favor matte leathers, so this leopard printed skin comes out of the blue. As if it wasn't already wild enough, Hobo International has also treated the skin with a delicate ...

When I initially discovered Helena de Natalio's designs I was struck by their luscious leather finishes. Lately though I've learned there's another side to the label, one that's glitzier and more brash. That showier style is epitomized by the Grace.

While I ...

It's got a funny name, but the Snaffle Bit by Gucci also comes packaged with a whole lot of style.

For such a small purse, I'm impressed by the attention to detail. Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised, as this is Gucci after all, but ...

I can't imagine this bag ever blending into the background like the reptile that shares its name. Meet the surprisingly eye-catching Fendi Chameleon.

Fendi's given a colorful twist to the basic black shoulder bag. This messenger style purse features white side panels, a fuchsia shoulder strap, ...

Elliott Lucca opts for classic styling with this Bubble Flap Shoulder Bag.

Its name is a bit confusing, because there doesn't seem to be anything bubbly about this bag. Its demeanor is as smooth as its gently pebbled leather. Its teak colored leather is ...

Dooney & Bourke steps away from its usual youthful fare for something a bit more grown up with the Cork Equestrian Bag.

Its name is a bit of a misnomer, as this bag isn't made from any cork at all. Instead its ...

Donna Sharp encourages us to show some team spirit with this Purdue University Utility Bag.

This practical Utility bag features the distinctive black and gold colors of the Purdue University Boilermakers. However unlike so much sporting memorabilia, it's executed in a very ...

Cynthia Vincent brings military flair to the classic shoulder bag with the Vincent, a modern bag from her youthful Twelfth St. diffusion line.

The devil's in the details here, and those details are delicious. The gently rounded bucket shape is lovely, especially in black ...

Christian Dior seems to have taken inspiration from a chef's hat when creating this Granville shoulder bag.

I apologize for making that comparison, I really do. I know that once the image is in your mind it's very hard to shake. But for the purposes of ...

Victoria's Secret babe Alessandra Ambrosio has one. So does blue-eyed actress Megan Fox. And unlike so many other celebrity favorites, you could have one too. Meet the Leight Luxe Fringe Bag from CC Skye.

I'm not sure it's quite as luxurious as its name ...

Bulgari has such a way with materials that it can make even a drawstring handbag seem elegant. This Monete Shoulder Bag is a delicious case in point.

It's strange that I'm so drawn to this shoulder bag because it's everything that I ordinarily hate. I tend ...

Bisadora promises us a design that's more fashion forward with this Runway Baby Belle.

Sadly though, this feels like more of the same from the label. It's not exactly a bad bag, but its name promised so much more flair. Instead the ...

Balmain abandons its typical taste for the avant garde for styling that's actually easy to wear with this Abroad Chain Shoulder Bag.

It seems like Balmain has taken its foot off the pedal a bit here. This clutch is much more relaxed than the ...

Once upon a time I thought I knew American West. Its handbags were inspired by the Western frontier, embellished with hand-tooled details and rendered in earthy tones. But then somewhere along the way things changed. The result is accessories like this ...

Alla Leather Art takes a walk on the wilder side with this Empire shoulder bag.

Ordinarily this fashion house deals with smooth buttery matte leathers. However this time around it's given its skin a luxurious snake print. It does a good job ...

Sherpani's created a purse of uncharacteristic style with the Ivy.

It's certainly not sophisticated, but the Ivy's playful design is much prettier than most of the label's creations. They don't all take my fancy; the neutral Canyon bag's a bit boring and the artsy graphic on ...

Kate Spade continues to wow me with her colorful, whimsical creations. Last week I was lusting after her cute Confectionary Anastasia clutch, and today I'm swooning over the Sorbonne Square Evangeline Shoulder Bag.

This shoulder bag features the same ...

Foley + Corinna gives the baguette a cool casual makeover with this Bridle bag.

Fendi popularized the style with its high-class small structured purses. This is a very different beast; the essence is still there but it's been reinterpreted with a more relaxed touch. ...

Sherpani puts functionality ahead of fashion with this Mia shoulder bag.

It's not that this messenger-style shoulder bag is ugly, but it doesn't have all those things that make us turn green with accessory envy. It's not made from an exotic skin, or even a soft, ...

Paco Rabanne gives his iconic 1969 bag a modern makeover with this unusual transparent acrylic version.

The chain mail effect which has been turning heads for decades is made from a mix of silver links and clear acrylic. It certainly makes a statement, although ...

American West takes a walk on the wild side with this modern Crossroads shoulder bag.

For a while I wasn't sure it was created by that American West. This shoulder bag is a world away from the hand-tooled countrified leather accessories the label ordinarily ...

Zac Posen gets patriotic with this Americana shoulder bag from his affordable Z Spoke label.

Frankly I'm not really sure why Posen's bestowed such a moniker on this bag. It thankfully avoids stars and stripes, or obvious patriotic motifs. It's available in a navy ...

Youth label XOXO takes a more grown-up approach than usual with this Double Vision shoulder bag.

It's not quite the edgy rock and roll inspired purse it intends to be, but it's getting there. The long center zip and front flap pockets call to ...

Versace reminds us that sometimes less is more with this Animal Print Shoulder Bag.

When I first spotted this bag my heart skipped a few beats. I was instantly captivated by the art deco inspired front flap, with its bright red piping and lush ...

Valentino has done it again with this Laser-Cut Patent Leather Shoulder Bag. Done what exactly? Why made me positively giddy!

I'm sure this must be love. What other explanation is there for wanting to own a purse despite knowing it's all wrong for you? It's too ...

Travelon keeps your nosh cold with this slim Pack-Flat Lunch Bag.

Travelon tends to make travel accessories, but with this bag it's created one for every day. It's made from tough 1680 Denier Ballistic Nylon, which is insulated to keep your food fresh and cool. There's a top ...

Tignanello reminds us that it's hip to be square with this shoulder bag of the same name.

Its '80s inspired moniker doesn't come from geek chic looks, but from its striking geometric stitching. Square panels help to make this shoulder ...

I admire Stella McCartney's commitment to animal free products, but I don't always admire the accessories she creates. While I can't fault their sentiment, the synthetics she chooses tend to look a bit shiny and cheap. She does her ...

Spiegel serves up the handbag equivalent of a Sharpei dog with this unusual Frame Bag.

I can't help thinking about the wrinkly canine as I look at this ruched purse. Each one's skin is haphazardly pleated, although the pooch has a bit more fuzz. Spiegel lets the ruching ...

If you asked me what a Betulla would look like, I'd describe a hefty and awkward looking girl, a nice person at heart but a bit of a wallflower. I'd never imagine that ugly sounding name would belong to this beautiful accessory.

Salvatore Ferragamo really has ...

A diva is a woman who knows how to stand out. She might be a little demanding at times, but she's got such presence that she can be forgiven almost anything. Just like the human equivalent, this Diva Shoulder Bag from Roberto Cavalli ...

I must admit, I'm a sucker for colored leather. All it takes is the right shade to make me weak at the knees. And the right shade is precisely the reason I've fallen for this Kit Shoulder Bag from Reed Krakoff.

The saturated teal ...

A little heavy metal makes all the difference with this Daphne shoulder bag from Rampage.

At its core this is a very simple, and dare I say boring, shoulder bag. But by adding some chunky silver chain to the sides, Rampage has made it a bit ...

A jumbled alphabet print gives this Metal Letters shoulder bag from Paul Smith some real personality.

This is a new pattern from Paul Smith, and one that's really refreshing. Let's face it; there are only so many rainbow swirls we can see ...

In recent years we've seen O'Neill evolving from a casual surf brand to a fashion label for all seasons. When once it exclusively produced beach bags, today it makes bags like the Courtney that can work all year round. I appreciate the label's move towards more fashion ...

Nina Ricci's created a vision in fur with this Vision Shoulder Bag.

Of course we all know we really shouldn't indulge in genuine furs. But goodness it's tempting when a designer uses the fuzzy material so well. Mink adds real depth to the simple ...

Michael Kors injects a little luxury into our everyday with this Fulton bag from his MICHAEL diffusion line.

As it's from the more affordable MICHAEL collection, we're given embossed leather rather than genuine python skin. This isn't a bad substitute though; the scaly texture ...

We can always count on Mellow World for low prices, but its handbags aren't always the most stylish on the market. In fact, many of them are downright tacky. So I was pleasantly surprised to see the label take a more sophisticated path ...

Gucci's glamorous, refined aesthetic has set the standard in fashion for decades. This vintage-inspired 1973 bag combines the best of its past and very contemporary elegance.

The combination of materials on the 1973 is total genius. I love the rich tone on the black suede. It's very chocolatey, ...

Oh, Valentino, how do I love thee? I could count the ways or I could count the decades. Either way, the Valentino line has stolen more than its fair share of my heart. Even after the main man's retirement, the house still manages to surprise and delight with bags like ...