A selection of shoulder bags:

LeSportsac helps us ring in summer with nautical style with this Regatta Shoulder Bag.

The Regatta has a casual style, but it's more sophisticated than many of LeSportsac's designs. The cutesy prints the label often employs are replaced with wide horizontal stripes. I like this pretty ...

Kate Spade embraces her silly side with this Armadillo shoulder bag.

The designer cleverly weaves wicker to create a three-dimensional model of the quirky South American animal. Why? Goodness knows! But the attention to detail is impressive nevertheless!

Two tan leather straps allow us to ...

Joy Gryson helps us add a little retro pop to our everyday with this Le Ti Shoulder Bag from her Olivia Harris line.

The classic flap design and warm beige color give the Le Ti a playful, retro ...

Isaac Mizrahi serves up a classic purse that costs far less than the ones in his signature line with this Pebble Leather Shoulder Bag from his QVC collection, ISAACMIZRAHILIVE!

With all those capital letters preceding an exclamation mark, I expected something really exciting from ...

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 ...

A smattering of studs helps this Pama Shoulder Bag from Gustto shine.

I appreciate the restraint Gustto's shown here. It knows the studded trend won't hang around forever, so it doesn't allow the metal to take over. The studs are small and used sparingly. The finish ...

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 ...

Furla serves up an exotic looking purse for less than you might expect with this Ardith shoulder bag.

The Ardith's nubbled finish mimics ostrich skin, but it's actually crafted from embossed leather. Embossed leather often looks like the poor cousin of genuine exotic skins, but not ...

Lacoste has extended its polo shirt inspired L.12.12 Shopper Project line for fall/winter 2012.

The collection's accessories combine petite pique and leather in colors inspired by Lacoste's iconic polos. As its name suggests, shoppers are the collection's centrepieces. There are seven in all with sizes ranging from small ...

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, ...

Christian Louboutin is the undisputed king of French fashion accessories. His red-soled shoes have graced the feet of princesses and fashion royalty the world over for decades. Still, his momentum shows no sign of slowing down. Year after year, he brings street chic to the boutique set. This ...

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 ...

Coach shows traditional looks never go out of style with this City Bag from its Classics collection.

While some fashionistas may accuse Coach of playing it safe here, I love the City Bag's clean, uncluttered design. The rich orange-red leather is an eye-catching alternative to the ...

Chinese Laundry serves up a functional but ultimately unsatisfying accessory with the Synch.

There's no mystery about where the Synch got its name. Its drawstring gathers the synthetic fabric together, cinching it and creating subtle pleats. It's not a bad aesthetic element, but it ...

Carla Mancini might have aimed for shabby chic when creating her Audrey bag, but I think it ended up with just plain shabby!

The concept was sound, but I think the Audrey's execution lets it down. The bursts of fringe could have been a ...

Burberry tones down its usual aesthetic with this Pasmore shoulder bag. In fact if I hadn't spotted the discreet engraving on its buckles, I wouldn't know it was a Burberry bag at all!

Of course the nova check pattern we've come to associate with the British ...

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 ...

Ashley M refuses to take itself too seriously with this Panda Face Shoulder Bag.

The label's known for its novelty creations, and this one may be one of its quirkiest. The attention to detail is impressive, with fuzzy black ears and patches ...

Alla Leather Art helps you prepare for your next short getaway with this Tarantella Weekender Bag.

The Tarantella is one of Alla Leather Art's simplest bags, but I think that's for the best. It's so large that it'd appear obnoxious ...

B-Low The Belt has overdosed on the fringe with this Twiggy handbag.

Honestly I've never seen a handbag with this much fringe. In fact, I can't see the handbag at all, because there's so much fringing in the way! There really could ...

Rebecca Minkoff has come to the rescue of frugal shoppers with her new Delight bag, created exclusively for Avon's beauty and fashion boutique, Mark.

By using leatherette rather than authentic leather Minkoff's been able to price her Delight at $60. That's far less than the ...

San Francisco based tech accessories label WaterField Designs has unveiled its latest model, the Indy. This sophisticated shoulder bag is designed to hold Apple's iPad tablets.

This stylish tech bag is crafted from distressed leather and well-appointed with a range of practical pockets. I particularly like the modern ...

Radley takes a traditional approach to design with its Aldgate shoulder bag.

The Aldgate is a perfectly nice bag, but it seems to be lacking the playfulness of Radley's usual designs. Its Scotch Terrier tag is still there, but the pooch seems out of place amongst ...

Choose classic styling over the fast fading fashion trends with this Cherish Shoulder Bag from Rebecca Minkoff.

Bold navy and white horizontal stripes give this spacious tote a fun nautical feel. That makes it perfect for the warm weather ahead, although the pattern is ...

Is this a Juicy Couture bag I see before me? Without any loud logos or splashes of pink, it's a bit hard to believe!

Admittedly Juicy Couture has been showing a more mature side lately, but it's outdone itself with the Blueprint ...

Fendi takes an uncharacteristically subtle approach to design with this Silvana shoulder bag.

I'm used to Fendi covering its handbags with logos and signature prints, a technique which is starting to feel a bit dated. This more minimalist approach is much more in vogue. The logos ...

Reach for the shades and celebrate your girly side with this shocking Clerkenwell Shoulder Bag from Alexander McQueen's McQ line.

There's certainly no ignoring this purse. Its saturated pink hue doesn't just make a statement; it screams one! That color is bound ...

Get high class looks for less with this Mia Shoulder Bag from Danielle Nicole.

The Mia seems to be inspired by a classic envelope purse, but it's much more modern than this traditional style tends to be. Its soft gray body is offset beautifully ...

If you took a classic top-handled satchel and shrunk it down, you might have something like this Edith bag from Melie Bianco.

This purse is very petite but it's made a big impression on style bibles like The Rachel Zoe Report and People Style ...

Kathy Van Zeeland shows uncharacteristic restraint with this Stitchuation Shoulder Bag.

It gets its quirky name from the casual stitching that decorates its voluminous synthetic body. The quilting has a more youthful feel to it than the regular diamond pattern so many ...

A sophisticated shoulder bag that's relatively affordable is music to my ears, so it's only fitting that Zac Posen called this purse from his Z Spoke diffusion line the Melody.

I was instantly attracted to the Melody’s stylish domed top and clean lines. The ...

Versace makes a very strong style statement with this Metallic Leather Shoulder Bag. But do you like what it's saying?

I can safely say this is a bag that you'll either love or hate. It's brash, as fuchsia bags always are. The metallic treatment ...

Valentino takes a break from its feminine flower covered, bow accented bags to create an accessory with a lot more VaVaVoom!

I always enjoyed Valentino's girly creations, but I'm thrilled for the change of pace. This bag is all rock and roll, from its lipstick red leather body ...

Tory Burch gets back to basics with this Robinson Shoulder Bag.

With so many over-embellished, overdesigned handbags flooding the market, something as clean as the Robinson is like a breath of fresh air. The small golden logo is its only accent, and the bag ...

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 ...