Handbags: The Ultimate Accessory

Every woman knows it pays to accessorize. And the handbag, that ultimate accessory, has become increasingly important as the list of everyday essentials gets ever-longer. Hardly anyone leaves home these days without keys, credit cards, cell phone, PDA and personal items like lipstick, sunglasses and the like. And the handbag is the carryall that lets you take it all with you.

Handbags range in size from the very small evening bag to the super large shopping tote. Handbags still emphasize style and fashion, but also functionality. For some women, a handbag is their portable office, their lifeline, and the most important part of their fashion wardrobe.

According to Michele Marini Pittenger, president of the Travel Goods Association, current trends in handbag design include: compartmental features within the handbag to provide maximum organization, matching ensemble units (e.g., wallets, eyeglass case, briefcase and handbag), and the use of a diverse materials which range from classic leather to high grade synthetic nylons. “Short shoulder straps are in,” she says, “because they offer better security, giving the carrier better reign over their important personal belongings.” She also states that while there is a trend towards smaller-scaled handbags, the emphasis is on organization with a "place for everything," from a cellular phone to the collapsible umbrella.

Although handbags, purses and pocketbooks have been around for centuries, they continue to reflect lifestyle changes and remain a key element in fashion apparel.

A list of manufacturers and retailers of wallets and small leather goods is available from the Travel Goods Association, Garrett Lai at garrett@travel-goods.org.