Handbags - The Latest Fashion Statement
by Patricia Rowles

Women have been carrying handbags since time immemorial but the status they have achieved in recent years has become almost difficult to describe. Handbags today cost more than jewelry and apparel and are the accessory to have. From names like Coach, Dooney and Bourke and Prada to relatively less expensive names like Guess, Gucci and Nine West, bags are now a necessity. They are no longer that one black or brown handbag you had to keep your wallet and umbrella in.

They have become essential to tote around, even if your ID is in your pocket and the handbag is absolutely empty.

Knockoffs - They say copying is the best form of flattery and that is very evident in the designer handbag industry. With knockoffs being sold in mall kiosks to street stalls, everyone can lug around a Dooney and Bourke look-alike even if it does say D&C instead of D&B when you look at it closely.

Outlet stores are brimming with people from all walks of life trying to get a hold of a new bag each season. The bag may be of far better quality than you can get at a department store, but the price premium is also because of the name. Unfortunately people are judged by what they wear, what kind of house they live in, the cars they drive and now the handbag on their shoulder.

This way you can tote around a cool looking purses without having to be burdened with heavy credit card debt because of it. Two sisters could each buy a different color or style of much coveted handbag and then take turns using it and no one will be the wiser. It is also much easier to sell a used designer handbag than it is to sell shoes as shoes get worn out much faster. Scuff marks, heel damage and other width issues can render even the most expensive shoes pretty useless after a few months.

Season Proof Accessory - Weather plays little role in the handbag scene as opposed to shoes. You can not wear the prettiest flip flops in winter or the coolest looking boots in peak summer, so the supply and demand dynamic keeps changing. With handbags, there are season related colors and styles but not as much. If you have a neutral colored great looking bag you could practically use it come rain or shine.

Rent or Bid - If you do not have ten or twenty friends who want to pool in and get you the handbag of your dreams, you have other options if you insist on carrying only the original. You could rent handbags at various websites like Bag, Borrow or Steal where you pay a deposit and rental fee and can borrow a designer handbag for a specified period of time instead of buying one and getting sick of it soon.

You just might be lucky enough to get the coveted Coach bag for half the price it sells for in stores - but don't get your hopes too high, there will be 100 other women competing with you to grab it first!