With so many types and styles of handbags available to us trendy ladies these days, it’s no wonder that many of us have developed a bit of an obsession with this fabulous accessory. From the elite of Fendi, Coach and Prada to the everyday practicalities of a Reebok gym backpack, what we gals choose to carry our plethora of essential things in often says a lot about us.

Handbags are much like shoes once you start collecting them, it is hard to stop. Those of us with the handbag obsession know that each handbag has its own personality, and is perfect for different occasions. The diversity of handbags is foreign to many, including my boyfriend, but magical words like clutch, and oversize slouch can almost bring tears of joy to a true obsessor. I personally have a massive thing about bags.

If I go on holiday, my ultimate goal is to shop, usually much to my travelling companion’s dismay. And the ultimate travel purchases tend to be shoes and handbags. Unfortunately these two things tend to take up the most room in a suitcase, but those of use with the handbag obsession know that having to buy another piece of luggage before coming home is a small price to pay.

Those loved ones in my life who fail to understand my handbag obsession can’t seem to grasp the key point that handbags change with fashion trends. Some non obsessors take a totally practical view, and I have been asked such ludicrous questions as “Why do you need another handbag?” and “Don’t you already have a black bag?” And I then have to wave the flag for the You Can Never Have Too Many Handbags camp.

Yes, handbags can be practical, but that doesn’t mean they can’t also be fashionable. Bags for work need to hold a lot more than bags designated for weekends, or nights out, sometimes even having to hide a sandwich or last night’s leftovers. But big bags are cool, if you buy the right kind, and being able to carry everything you need to work doesn’t have to mean lumping a haversack down the corridors. Thankfully for the practical and fashionable amongst us, slouchy and oversized bags are still in fashion and shoulder bags are still cool, which means not only can you actually fit in everything that you need, but you can actually carry it without giving yourself a hernia. So next time one of your kindred ridicule your bag buying behaviour, let them know it’s all about practicality. Plus, with accessories actually currently accounting for a bigger percentage of designers’ sales than their fragrances, far be it from you to not help the economy get that little extra push it needs, right?

On the flip side to the oversized bag are the itty bitty ones that we love dearly. Those of us who pay homage to the handbag understand that some of the most fun bags are similar to the most fun shoes. They are often totally impractical and probably don’t really fit in what they are to supposed to. But then, that’s what your boyfriend’s pockets are for. Clutches for example, possibly offer the most fun you can have with a handbag. Holding a fabulous clutch that matches your fabulous outfit on your way out for a fabulous evening immediately makes you feel more glamorous than if you had slung the bag you took to work around your shoulder. Granted when you are busting a move on the dance floor later, keeping hold of it can become a teensy bit of a pain in the ass, but again I draw the shoe parallel – sometimes it is all about the look and the practicality of the accessory needs to be firmly ignored.

Small handbags with a strap can be a little more practical, and style queen Kate Moss made the chain handle cool again when she was spotted running from the New York paparazzi with the quilted Marc Jacobs variety. You can buy your own version of this style from www.mimco.com.au. 

Although these are only a couple of the hottest handbag options available, the majority of handbags can be broken down into about five very general style categories.

1. The shoulder bag.
This comprises the slouch bag, and the oversized bag and comes in all shapes and sizes. The bags are the most practical fashion bag as they actually fit all of our stuff without a battle.

2. The tote bag.
The tote bag is a very common bag and hangs almost to the waist. These bags are similar to the shoulder bag in relation to the amount of room they offer, and are very practical daytime bags.

3. The strappy handbag.
This bag is much smaller than the shoulder bag, almost on the way to the clutch, but has handles, or a handle, and can be slung over the shoulder or sometimes carried in the hand. These bags are ideal for heading out and about or when a night on the town calls for more space than offered by a clutch.

4. The clutch.
The clutch is the glam sister in the handbag family, and is designed to be carried in the hand only. Many clutches come with a shoulder chain tucked away, but the whole idea is to carry this baby around, and a clutch in the hand gets a lot more attention than hidden under your arm. This kind of bag fits only the bare essentials and is usually taken to the more fabulous of events.

5. The designer bag.
Despite designer bags falling into one of the above categories, I think they still deserve their own mention. These bags have their own allure, and with most of us not having the kind of financing that allows numerous Fendis in the cupboard, the designer bag is usually a pretty exciting purchase for a normal gal.

The joy of handbags is that you don’t need to make any decisions until its time to go out. There is nothing to stop you from owning multiple oversized slouch bags, numerous clutches, several funky laptop bags and traditional style "work" handbags, lots of chain handle bags and oodles of beach-bags. The only dilemma you may face is deciding which ones you have to leave behind every time you leave the house.