When Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen released a $39, 000 alligator backpack through their The Row label a few seasons ago, we all scoffed. Yet it seems the celebrity sisters were on to something. Their luxury handbag sold out, and now it seems other high end labels are ...

With The Iron Lady in cinemas, its muse Margaret Thatcher is inspiring a new generation of fashionistas. The immovable hair and honeyed voice are difficult to replicate, but her rigid top-handled handbags are an attainable way to attract attention and command respect.

Margaret Thatcher's famous accessories became ...

Counterfeit designer handbags are so yesterday. In China they're going nuts for fake designer shopping bags.

I'm not talking about those lovely leather handbags we use to hit the mall. Instead it seems the Chinese are gaga for the paper bags stamped with designer logos, the ones ordinarily ...

There's a new It bag in town, and unlike most status handbags it's friendly to finances. These days leading style makers are embracing tote bags that are free, or close to it.

Sadie Stein, the deputy editor of The Paris Review, loves the simple tote issued by her own magazine, ...

With a new fashion season looming, it's time to spruce up your wardrobe. Many of us don't have the budget to indulge in a whole new wardrobe, but some on-trend accessories can be the perfect way to revamp your closet. Leading pre-loved accessories e-tailer Bella Bag has made its predictions for ...

No your eyes aren't deceiving you; handbags are getting smaller.

New York based fashion consultant said that the modern woman "doesn't want to look like she's lugging around her entire office anymore." Instead girls are opting for smaller purses that make them look "more carefree."

Thumbing through the pages of Vogue's ...

Never underestimate the importance of carrying the right handbag. New research details the way brand names influence our accessories decisions.

The Harris Poll compared the percentage of shoppers who base their handbag purchases on designer names around the world. In China the figure is a whopping 75%, ...

For centuries handbags were strictly a female domain, but it seems the tide is turning. Rebecca Minkoff has launched her man bag collection, Ben Minkoff, and it'll soon by joined by similar lines from Coach, Jimmy Choo, and Swarovski, to name a few.

Fashion bible ...

Forget about the handles, say fashion trend forecasters. The latest way to hold a handbag is to disregard the straps and hold your purse underneath your arm. Called the "cradle hold," the technique is already being practiced by in-the-know celebs like Naomi Campbell, Lily Allen, and Victoria Beckham.

The new ...

It's been a busy time in the fashion world, with high end designers showcasing their latest collections at recent Fashion Weeks in New York, London, Milan, and Paris. Now that the celebrations have drawn to a close we can take stock of the handbag trends we can expect to ...

I was down with the return of neon colors, but I never imagined our obsession with the 80s would see fanny packs on the comeback trail. However the evidence is undeniable, with high-end designers and celebrities all embracing the retro belted satchel.

Several of our favorite ...

We're all starting to reach for our sweaters as fall takes hold, and there's more cold weather ahead. To make sure you're prepared once winter hits, fashion forecasters have already begun to predict the kind of purses you'll want to carry.

The new crop of bags will continue the industry's ...

So many of us look to Net-a-Porter to make sure we stay abreast of the latest fashion trends. Now the high end fashion retailer has made things even easier with the release of its latest Net-a-Porter Bag Guide for fall 2010.

The video guide gets up close and personal with ...

It's time to pull your structured handbags out of the closet, as the ladylike styles are set to be the must-have accessory for fall.

The clean lines of these vintage-inspired accessories are the perfect foil for the long 50s style skirts and tailored jackets we're all going to wear.

While large structured ...

Hermes might charge an arm and a leg for its iconic handbags and stylish scarves, but that hasn’t scared shoppers off in the last few months. The French fashion house has seen a sales increase of 23% in the first six months of the year.

While most of are still smarting ...

While summer weather has well and truly set in, trend forecasters are already casting their gazes to fall. If you want to stay ahead of the game, here's what you should look for in your next season accessory.

The runways are full of exotic skins, so if you have several thousand ...

A new season means a new opportunity to spruce up our wardrobe. As spring weather warms, trend forecasters have released their predictions for the hottest handbag styles this summer.

Just as the temperatures soar, so will the popularity of the cross-body purse. Compact cross-body bags are prized for their organizational features, ...

The plastic shopping bag may go the way of the dinosaur, as the popularity of reusable tote bags rises. And it seems retailers are embracing the shift.
"Retailers are getting ahead of this curve," said Dan Sabbah of Global Way, a company which makes tote bags from recycled water bottles. His ...

We've all lusted after purses made from crocodile, python, and stingray. But salmon? Industry buzz suggests that fish leather may be the next big thing.

The durability and sustainable nature of fish skins have seen these new exotics adopted by big name brands including Prada, Loewe, Christian Dior, and ...

It seems the Chinese can't get enough of luxury fashion items. China now has the second luxury market in the world, behind the United States, but the sector is growing by 15% each year.

Not even high luxury taxes and increased prices due to piracy can stem the increasing demand. Shoppers are ...

Nothing compares to that heady rush of purchasing a designer handbag, but fashion forecasters say its appeal is set to fade.

"Owning stuff is out," the trend analysts predict. Instead we'll swap fashion items with our friends, lease them, or scour vintage stores. As we exchange books at a traditional community ...

If you turn green with envy the moment a woman carrying a designer bag crosses your path, you're not alone. New studies show more than half of all women suffer from "handbag envy" when they spot a purse more lovely than their own.

The research also shows that we don't mind spending ...

I might have been incredulous when I spotted the tie-dyed Betseyville Cat-ch Me Hobo recently, but according to fashion forecasters it's right on trend.

This season we'll embrace our inner hippie chick with tie-dyed tops and knitwear acting as features, and tie-dyed accessories adding a boho touch to neutral ensembles. Understated ...

Not everyone at the 52nd Grammy Awards dressed as outrageously as Lady Gaga or Imogen Heap. Most of the music world's elite opted for timeless elegance, with gorgeous gowns paired with glittering jeweled clutches.

Many stars paired their outfits with Judith Leiber purses. Kristen Bell's Etro gown and ...

New research has confirmed what many fashion fans have suspected: designer labels are falling out of favor in the West, but are as popular as ever in Asia.

The research from Synovate shows 68% of fashion fans in Hong Kong prefer a brand name item such as Prada or Louis ...

Some of her designs are questionable (remember the macaw parrot?), but it seems celebrities can't get enough of Judith Leiber's purses. In a sign that the financial climate is shifting, Hollywood stars are leaving their affordable Kotur clutches at home and opting for Judith Leiber's glittering, and pricy, ...

Forget chihuahuas and teacup poodles. The hottest pet to carry in your handbag now is a pygmy hedgehog!

Trend monitors predict these spiky cuties will grace the purse of every style-loving WAG this winter. And at £250 a pop, they're a lot cheaper than many designer accessories! And just like any ...

While most of us are still rugging up against the cold, the fashion world is already looking towards spring. As the weather warms, those with their fingers on the pulse have begun to predict which handbags will make us hot under the collar.

Spring fashions this year will reflect more than the ...

These days studs aren't simply for wearing in your ears or embellishing the leather jackets of grizzled old bikies. This season, they're one of the hottest ways to dress up a handbag, a belt, or a killer pair of heels.

We've seen the edgy details make a splash on the catwalk, ...

If you're looking to add an animal print accessory to your wardrobe this season, look no further than snakeskin. Whether the genuine article or a more affordable embossed alternative, fashion experts say snake now trumps leopard and cheetah spots.

Andrea Linett, the creative directory of Lucky magazine, says snakeskin's popularity ...

It's all in the details for this season's handbags. Forget your plain leather purses; studded and quilted bags are leading the way.
"Handbags have become the new statement accessories," said Katie Frayard, manager of Kiki. "Clothes are a backdrop for bags."
The fringe fad also hasn't faded, although moderation is ...

With warmer weather ahead, we're all thinking about updating our wardrobe with a few extra pieces. But it can be tough to know where to start! This video, featuring madberries.com style director Donna Ladd's recent appearance on WPIX 11 Morning News, is a great ...

The fashion-following editors at New York Magazine recently gave us a compact version of the recent bag trends seen on the runway at the Big Apple's Fashion Week. Their quick slideshow highlights some of our favorite designers and gives fashionistas a peek at what's to come for handbags.

Expect more big bags ...

Fashion lovers have been in their element salivating over the catwalk looks from New York Fashion Week. All eyes are on London now, but it's hard to resist looking back at the week that was. Here are the top five trends to keep in mind when stocking up on new handbags for the cooler seasons, or recycling an old favorite!
Crayola Colors
Bold, saturated colors are right on trend. Think vibrant amethyst, ruby red, or emerald green to brighten up those gloomy gray days. The Tory Burch suede T-Tote captures the look for everyday, while the woven Lauren Merkin Eve clutch glams up jewel tones for a night on the town.

We've all heard of the man bag. Now meet the men's clutch.

If Bottega Veneta's fall/winter collection for 2009/2010 is any indication, these oversized purses will be the next big thing. Bottega Veneta's creative director Tomas Maier showed off the clutches alongside its new line at the recent Milan fashion ...

The new season is here, and you know what that means. It's out with the old and in with the new. Of course you can hang on to a few classic pieces, but if you want to look chic this fall you'll need a few new bags to spice up your look.

This season it's all about ...