Don't you hate it when your stuck in traffic and your phone starts ringing, automatically you reach for your bag and start rummaging through the junk to find it, along the way grabbing, make-up, gum, notebooks, fruit, perfume and a magazine before finally getting to your phone only to realize it’s gone to voicemail!

Well, this little event seems to happen to be about once a day.  So I have been thinking I should I get a smaller bag OR a bag with more pockets?  Maybe a clutch like this hot one from handbagsonline.

You can never have too many bags, (no matter what HE says). A bag to a woman is like sports to a man, excitement wise (although they will never grasp that).  One obvious difference is that bags are useful!  They carry all of our precious personals and if need be - our pampered pooches, they can complete or uplift an outfit.
 
When you’re out at night where do your boy and all your other male friends put their keys?? That's right in our bag, can sport do that?

The reason we need lots of bags is because, like people bags come in all shapes and sizes, you need a different ones for different occasions. 

1. straw tote
For summer lazing around the beach.

2. clutch
For that special evening or to make an outfit a little more edgy.

3. sling
For yummy mummies or serious shoppers, to keep hands free for other things

4. the bland bag / something neutral
Last but not least every one needs a trusty neutral everyday bag that can take a good beating.

There's also the handbag as a person, someone you call when you desperately need a good looking date to impress!  I think we call that a Manbag – yowzer!  And how many times have we heard our girlfriends moan ‘he just wants a handbag!’.  Which brings us to the real manbags that men actually carry – but that’s a whole other story.

If you are in the market for a bag, no matter what the occasion, there are a few things you should be asking yourself before leaving the house.

First have a look at what you already have and start from there. What do you need?? What size are you after? Big, Small? What will it's main purpose be? Work Or Play? Leather or PVC? Is it an investment?, PVC is cheaper but leather (if looked after correctly) will last longer & some come with a guarantee (we Likee like!).

A good bag should be able to transform an outfit or mood.  Celeb stylist Rachel Zoe gives these tips when searching for a great bag-

• Buy vintage, they have a lovely worn in feel and are unique.
• Stay away from suede, it doesn't age well.
• If buying an expensive bag, choose darker colours that will wear well.
• Invest in a classic style, one that wont go out of fashion.

You don't need to spend your life savings to get a great bag. Yes, wouldn’t we all love a Hermes Birkin but retailing at $15,000 & up per bag its not really, realistic, unless you want to live in it! I saw an Orange Croc skin Birkin on Ebay for $49,999 and it can’t even do any tricks!!! Remember the episode of Sex And The City where Samantha Jones wants the Birkin but there’s a one year waiting list (a Birkin is hand crafted), so she happens to put down her clients name, actress Lucy Lui.  Instead of getting delivered via Samantha Jones as swiftly as she thought it went straight to Lucy Lui whom loved her supposed present, then there was a little push and shove before Samantha was fired and left Birkinless!  I don’t know about you – but that would make me Burkin mad!

You can get great PVC & leather bags from chain stores for a good price or try second hand stores.  Believe it or not, people do throw bags out, from PVC to designer leather. Gasp, the thought of throwing anything out makes me cringe.

Practicality is another thing to keep in mind when buying a bag, are you like me and carry around you life in your bag?  Are you sick of hunting for mobile phones or lip-gloss?  If so look for a bag with lots of pockets or different sections. If you’re the one of a kind type that only carries around your staple items, then go for a smaller bag with a zip.

Bags will continue to play a major part in every woman's & some men's wardrobes. How else could we carry our lives around?  In our pockets like our sport loving men?? I think not (if you are a sport loving, bag carrying man, disregard that comment).

The it bags of the moment, every girl is carrying and wants, include:

1. The Chloe Bag - either the Paddington or Eldorado ( all of young hollywood have been seen slinging at least one of these styles around!).
2. Balenciaga have a great range of trend-setting bags
3. Dior saddle bags are hot to trot!

Where can you get these hip bags you ask? On the internet of course (thank god for technology!)

If your after a designer or a designer look a like check out these websites!

• www.net-a-porter.com choose from a geat designer range and have it sent to you door!
• www.ebags.com which was voted 2006 website of the year, have limited designer bags but a whole heap of stylish, fairly priced bags!
• www.bagborroworsteal.com this is a great website I found! They have a gazillion designer handbags, new season and old season stock, and if you sign up as a member for a cost you can borrow the latest designer bags!! Thats right just like a bag library, but a bit more expensive. You can also buy them, or try them then buy them! What a great idea!
• www.ebay.com theres always a bag or two to be found here whether it be designer or a copy.

Ring Ring ... now where did I put my phone?